thalassic olla

[Gr. thala a =the sea, and kolla jelly.] Zool.: The type-genus of Thala icollida (q. v.). It contains a number of compound, siliceous spicules embedded in the ectosarc. tha-lăs-sĩ-col-11-dạ, s. pl. [Mod. Lat. thala i coll( a ); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -ida.] Zool .: A family of Radio lari a. The animals consist of structurele cysts, containing cellular elements and protoplasm, surrounded by a layer of protoplasm, giving off pseudopodia, which commonly stand out like rays, but sometimes run into another, and so form networks. The best known genera are Thala ic olla, Sphærozotim, and Collosphæra. They are all marine, being found floating pa ively on the surface of most seas, and vary in size from an inch in diameter downward.