304 Annals of the South African Museum. 



than here but as a matter of convenience, and for lack of material, 

 I have left it in this family. 



Of the 7 species hitherto known from South Africa, only 3 are in 

 the PIETER FAURE collection; on the other hand, that vessel secured 

 a fourth species, which seems to be new to science. Of the four 

 species recorded from South Africa but not in the PIETER FAURE 

 collection, two are well defined and there is no reason to doubt their 

 occurrence as recorded, but Bell has thrown some doubt on the vali- 

 dity of Asterias capensis and there is a possibility that A. africana 

 is identical with A. rarispina. The following key distinguishes the 

 eight species included in this report. 



Key to the South African Species of Asteriidae. 



Abactinal plates small and rather uniform, arranged in very regular longitudinal 

 (and also transverse) series, the intervals occupied by small but distinct groups 

 of papulae; plates well covered by small blunt spinelets and numerous pedicellariae 



Stichaster felipes. 

 Abactinal plates not as above. 



Adambulacral armature of 1 spine (monacanthid). 

 Rays 5. 



Large pedicellariae of ambulacral furrows, slender (length 3 4 x 

 thickness) . . . Marthasterias glacialis. 



Large pedicellariae of furrows, stout (length about twice thickness). 

 Abactinal spines on rays few, all of one kind, stout 



Marthasterias rarispina. 

 Abactinal spines numerous, large and small 



Marthasterias africana. 

 Rays 612. 



Disk moderate, its diameter -25 '30 R ; rays not very long, R = 6 

 or Ibr . . . . Coscinasterias calamaria. 



Disk small, its diameter only '20 R; rays long and slender, R = 10 br 



Coronaster volsellatus. 

 Adambulacral armature of more than 1 spine. 



Diplacanthid (with 2 adambulacral spines); rays 5 or 6 Asterias capensis. 

 Polyacanthid (with more than 2 adambulacral spines) 



Perissasterias polyacantha. 



STICHASTER FELIPES. 

 Sladen, 1889. CHALLENGER Ast., p. 433; pi. 101, figs. 1, 2. 



The specimens at hand, one with R = 88 mm. and the other with 

 R = 44 mm., are quite typical. Verrill says this species is not a 

 member of Stichaster in a strict sense, indeed he intimates that 

 Stichaster is monotypic, but he does not suggest in what genus he 

 would place felipes, and its final disposition may be left until the 

 co-called Stichaster idae are properly revised. 



