130 OKHAMANDAL MARINE ZOOLOGY REPORT 



ORDER AXIFERA. FAMILY MURICEID^. 



4. Astromuricea stellifera, n. sp. 

 PLATE, figs. 1, 2, 3. 



Some beautiful red fans, with the characters of the genus Astromuncea, seem 

 to require the establishment of a new species. Of the three specimens examined 

 the largest is 14cm. in height, and 28cm. in breadth. From a basal trunk (l'5cm. 

 high and 7 mm. thick) two main branches diverge, each giving rise to a flabellate 

 system. The smaller of the two gives off a third fan parallel to the others, with 

 which it anastomoses at several points. The colony is attached by a basal disc 

 about 2 cm. in diameter. The main branches arc 4 mm. in thickness, the larger 

 is 25cm. long and the smaller l^cm. 



A second specimen is 8 cm. high by 14 broad, with three main branches. 

 The third specimen is somewhat incomplete, forming one-half of a fan 10 cm. high, 

 with three main branches. 



The branching is frequent, mostly alternate, and in one plane. The larger 

 branches arise at an angle of about 60, but this angle is often exceeded, and most 

 of the smaller branches form an angle of 90. Anastomosis is frequent among both 

 large and small branches. The branches vary from I to 2 mm. in diameter, the 

 smaller twigs being often slightly swollen at the tips. The colony is very flexible 

 and not at all brittle. 



The axis is horny, solid at the base, and hollow in the branches, of a dark 

 glossy brown colour and almost smooth. 



The vcrrucse are closely crowded, and occur on all sides of the stem and branches, 

 but in no regular order. In two of the specimens they project but little from the 

 surface of the coenenchyma ; in the third they project for about half their diameter. 

 They are cylindrical in shape, with a diameter of from 0'5 to 1 mm. On their 

 summit there is a circular aperture fringed by about a dozen projecting spiny spicules, 

 similar to those with which the wall of the verruca is covered. The anthocodise 

 are completely retractile within the mouth of the verruca. There is a low, almost 

 horizontal operculum, formed by the convergent tentacles with their armour of 

 spicules. On the aboral side of each tentacle lie two spicules converging towards 

 the tip of the tentacle to form a very narrow isosceles triangle. Round the base of 

 the tentacle there is a single or double ring of spicules. 



The coenenchyma is moderately thick, and its surface presents under the lens 

 a characteristically rough appearance. 



The spicules of the coenenchyma are (1) numerous irregular warty stars and 

 stellate toothed plates, 0'14 0'28 mm. in diameter; (2) a few stout spindles with close- 

 set tuberculate warts of which the following measurements were taken : (length and 



