276 Annals of the South African Museum. 



me by two small specimens but these also are from Mozambique. 

 The only truly South African species is the interesting Austrofromia 

 from False Bay. 



Key to the South African Species of Ophidiasteridae. 



Papulae on actinal surface; adambulacral armature spiniform. 

 Papulae single; rays 3 or 4 times as long as wide at base 



Austrofromia schultzei. 



Papulae in areas; rays 5 or 6 times as long as wide at base Nardoa variolata. 

 No papulae on actinal surface; adambulacral armature granuliform. 



Inner (furrow) series of adambulacral spines with spines separated from each 

 other by vertical series of little granules. 



Colour blue; arms relatively short and wide, E = 5 or 6 br 



Linckia laevigata. 



Colours orange and green; arms relatively long and slender, R = 1 126r 



Linckia multifora. 



Inner (furrow) series of adambulacral spines with small spines alternating 

 with larger and no vertical series of little granules between Linckia diplax. 



* AUSTROFROMIA SCHULTZEI. 



Fromia schultzei Doderlein, 1910. Jena. Denkschr., vol. 16, p. 249; 



pi. 4, figs. 3-36. 

 Austrofromia sclndtzei H. L. Clark, 1921. Echin. Torres Strait, p. 49. 



This interesting species is based on a single specimen from False 

 Bay, Cape of Good Hope. Its nearest ally, A. polypora H. L. C., 

 occurs on the southern and western coasts of Australia. No nearly 

 related forms are known from the African coast. 



* NARDOA VARIOLATA. 



Asterias variolata Retzius, 1805. Diss. Ast., p. 19. See Linck, 1733, 



De Stell. Mar., pi. 8, no. 10. 

 Nardoa variolata Gray, 1840. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 6, p. 286. 



This well-known Indo-Pacific species is recorded by Bell from 

 Mozambique, whence Peters also reported it half a century ago. 

 Curiously enough, it has never been well figured, for Linck's figures 

 while recognizable are far from good. 



* LINCKIA LAEVIGATA. 



Asterias laevigata Linne, 1758. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, p. 662. 

 See H.L.Clark, 1921. Echin. Torres Strait, pis. 9 and 26. 

 Linckia laevigata Nardo, 1834. Oken's Isis, p. 717. 



This handsome sea-star, notable for its colour, so unusual among 

 echinoderms, has been reported from Mozambique by both Peters 

 and Bell. 



