Noctiluca miliaris, a marine dinoflagellate, exhibits spontaneous flexion of its tentacle. The movement of the tentacle is always accompanied by perturbations of membrane potential, termed the 'tentacle regulating potentials' (TRPs) (Eckert and Sibaoka, 1967). Though the waveform of the TRPs is liable to variation, it consists of four successive basic components: (1) a Na-dependent depolarizing...

Four new species, Macrocarpaea dies-viridis (Ecuador), M. luctans (Ecuador, Peru), M. lucubrans (Panama), and M. opulenta (Ecuador), and two natural hybrids, M. × acuminata (Costa Rica) and M. × mattii (Ecuador), are described. Macrocarpaea × acuminata Weaver (pro sp.) is recognized as a natural hybrid between M. subcaudata and M. valerii, rather than as a distinct species, and M. × mattii is d...

The light organs of female specimens of the glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca were investigated by enzyme histochemical tests, lipid stains, and electron microscopy. Differences, both histochemical and in fine structure, were found between the cells of the photocyte and reflector layers. The photocytes contained a vesiculated reticulum, photocyte granules, amorphous granules, and numerous mitochondr...