Ernst Haeckel, Adolf Giltsch
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Astrosphaera. / Spumellaria. – Schaumstrahlinge.

Lithograph by Ernst Haeckel and Adolf Giltsch

Plate 91 from Kunstformen der Natur.
Spumellaria: Order of Radiolaria (single-celled organisms)

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The varied legion of ‘foam-radiants’ (Spumellaria) of which more than 2000 species are known, is characterized by strict regularity and multiplicity in the structure of its delicate lime shell. They usually form a tender grill excreted from thousands of minute plasma threads, emanations of the unicellular soft body. While simple or multiple grill-shells cover and protect the latter, prickled or wing-shaped appendages serve as hovering apparatuses to prevent the small, swimming body to descend in the ocean. Four orders of this huge legion are differentiated: globose (Sphaeroidea), plum-shaped (Prunoidea), disc-shaped (Discoidea) and lentelliptic (Larcoidea).
The central capsule, the internal part of the unicellular body (that covers the nucleus), and also the outer gelatinous cover (Calymma), protectively covering it, are originally globose, in Sphaeroidea, fig. 1, 2. When an axis of the central capsule elongates it becomes ellipsoid or plum-shaped, so in Prunoidea, fig. 3-10. When, however, the axis decreases it turns lentil- or disc-shaped, in Discoidea, fig. 11-14. (Cf. also plate 11). Finally the central capsule and the Calymma, accordingly, the grill-shell resting on it, develop into a flattened Ellipsoid (lentelliptic), so in Larcoidea, fig. 15; here the three body axes sitting vertically one on top of the other are of different length. All illustrations of this plate are with high magnification; only the lime skeletons are presented.
Regarding the encased soft body and the Pseudopodia emanating from it compare plates 11 and 51.

Translation of the original German introduction by Ernst Haeckel:

Phylum of Protozoa (Urtiere); - main class of Rhizopoda (Wurzelfüßer); - class of Radiolaria (Strahlinge); - legion of Spumellaria (Peripylea or Schaumstrahlinge).

Translation by VR Translators Bangalore

This is one of the 100 pop science biology illustrations that were published from 1899 – 1904 in Leipzig by Ernst Haeckel through Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts.

We've scanned the original lithography at 1200dpi on the Epson A3 scanner of A3 scanner huren. You can download a 400dpi JPEG here.