A STALKLESS SUBSPECIES OF CLATHRULINA-ELEGANS CIENKOWSKI (1867) FROM THE PLANKTON OF LOCH-NESS, SCOTLAND

During the course of a detailed investigation of the plankton dynamics of Loch Ness, Scotland, we have discovered a stalkless form of Clathr ulina living in the plankton. This heliozoon was established in cultur e and its life-cycle events observed. Though broadly similar to the se quence of events described by Bardele [4] for Clathrulina elegans, it differs in respect of lacking a stalk and in the number of fission pro ducts produced. We propose that the planktonic form of the species liv ing in the pelagic zone of Loch Ness be regarded as a sub-species, Cla thrulina elegans var. planktonicum.