59.39(72.2) 



Article VIII. ECHINODERMS FROM LOWER CALIFORNIA, 

 WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. 1 



BY HUBERT LYMAN CLARK. 



Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. 

 [By permission of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries.] 



PLATES XLIV TO XLVI. 



The collection of echinoderms made by the 'Albatross' Expedition to 

 Lower California in the spring of 1911 proves to be of more than ordinary 

 interest. It consists of 1881 specimens representing 107 species, of which 

 40 are starfishes, 31 are ophiurans, 18 are echini and 18 are holothurians. 

 There are no crinoids in the collection. There is one apparently new species 

 among the echini and two undescribed forms in each of the other classes. 

 Unfortunately no less than 33 species are represented by only one or two 

 specimens and as these are not infrequently in poor condition and occa- 

 sionally without a locality label, there are a considerable number of speci- 

 mens whose identification is dubious. 



The region explored by the ' Albatross ' is on the boundary between the 

 Panamic region and that of the North Pacific, at least 54 of the species 

 having been previously taken in the Panamic region. Yet there are a 

 considerable number of northern forms, especially among the starfishes. 

 These, however, are as a rule from the more northern stations. So far as 

 littoral forms are concerned the boundary between the two regions appears 

 to be about in the latitude of San Diego. Echinoderms were taken at all 

 of the 'Albatross' dredging stations except three, Nos. 5679, 5680 and 5681. 

 These three stations are in 325-405 fms. off the southern end of Lower 

 California and it seems very strange that no echinoderms whatever were 

 gotten that day, March 22. At about half of the harbors and anchorages 

 visited, littoral echinoderms were gathered. The largest number of species 

 taken at any one spot was 18 at 5694; 28 species were taken in that general 



i Scientific Results of the Expedition to the Gulf of California in Charge of Dr. C. H. 

 Townsend, by the U. S. Fisheries Steamship 'Albatross' ju 1911. Commander G. H. 

 Bui-rage, U. S. N, Commanding. 



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