Subfamily 2. Sethoperida, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 433.
Definition.—Tripocyrtida with the basal mouth of the shell fenestrated (vel Dicyrtida triradiata clausa).
Genus 550. Sethopera,[1] Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 433.
Definition.—Sethoperida (vel Dicyrtida triradiata clausa), with three divergent ribs enclosed in the latticed wall of the thorax. Cephalis with a horn.
The genus Sethopera is probably the oldest form of the Sethoperida, and may therefore be regarded as the common ancestral form of this subfamily. The thorax exhibits three radial ribs, which are completely enclosed in its wall. Sethopera may be derived either from Dictyophimus or from another of the Sethopilida (Lamprodiscus, Clathrocanium) by development of a basal lattice-plate closing the mouth. There are often wide holes or open spaces between the three radial ribs.
1. Sethopera tricostata, n. sp. (Pl. 97, fig. 11).
Cephalis subspherical, spinulate, with a pyramidal horn of the same length. Length of the two joints = 5 : 8, breadth = 5 : 8. Thorax also nearly spherical; in the upper half with three stout, prismatic, convex, divergent ribs, and three large ovate holes between them; in the lower half with numerous small and irregular pores, spinulate.
Dimensions.—Cephalis 0.05 diameter; thorax 0.08 diameter.
Habitat.—Western Tropical Pacific, Station 225, depth 4475 fathoms.
2. Sethopera oceania, Haeckel.
Cephalis hemispherical, with a small bristle-shaped horn of half the length (broken off in Ehrenberg's figure). Length of the two joints = 3 : 4, breadth = 3 : 4. Thorax nearly spherical; in the upper half with three divergent ribs, separated by some larger, irregular pores; in the lower half with numerous small, irregular, roundish pores.
Dimensions.—Cephalis 0.03 long, 0.03 broad; thorax 0.04 long, 0.04 broad.
Habitat.—North Atlantic, Station 354, surface; Canary Islands and Azores.
3. Sethopera pyrum, Haeckel.
Cephalis hemispherical, with a small conical horn of half the length. Length of the two joints = 3 : 10, breadth = 3 : 7. Thorax pear-shaped, with rather large, regular, quincuncial pores;
- ↑ Sethopera = Sieve-pouch; σήθω, πήρα.
