334 Annals of the South African Museum. 



OPHIACTIS ABYSSICOLA. 



Amphiura abijssicola Sars, 1861. Ov. Norges Ech., p. 18; pi. 2, figs. 7-12. 

 Ophiactis abyssicola Ljungman, 1867. Ofv. Kongl. Vet.-Akad. Fo'rh., 



vol. 23, p. 324. 



A recent critical study of the genus Ophiactis has shown that 0. 

 poo, described by Lyman (1882, CHALLE:S T GER Rep., p. 110: pi. XX, 

 figs. 13-15) from near Tristan d'Acunha in 500-1000 fms. is not to 

 be distinguished from Sars' species abyssicola of the North Atlantic. 

 The PIETER FAURE has extended the range of the species far to the 

 southeastward by collecting a. good series of specimens, as listed below. 

 They range in disk-diameter from 3 to 8'5 mm. While they agree 

 well in most details and are with little doubt all to be referred to 

 one species, they show an extraordinary and most interesting diver- 

 sity in the disk covering ; the radial shields, while always large, vary 

 from broadly triangular to a curved pear-seed shape with concave 

 sides towards each other; the disk scales may be few, large and 

 thick, or more numerous and thinner, and in two specimens (from 

 very deep water) they are very numerous with many secondary plates 

 intercalated around and among the larger ones; the disk spines may 

 be numerous, all over the disk or confined to the margin, or there 

 may be only two or three widely scattered ones; these spines are 

 usually long and fairly stout, but they may be very slender and 

 pointed, and in one or two specimens (from very deep water) they 

 are very small. All the specimens are pale gray, pale brown or 

 whitish; some have a pinkish tinge. 



P.F. 2134. Lion's Head, S.E. / 2 E -> 42 miles > 156 fins. D. gn. s. 

 1 specimen; adult. 



P.F. 2798. Vasco de Gaina Peak, N. 71 E., 18 miles, 230 fms. 

 Stns. 19 specimens; adult. 



P.F. 14984. Lion's Head, 55'/ 2 E., 47 miles, 175 fms. Bottom? 

 1 specimen; adult. 



P.F. 15110. South Head, Table Mountain, E. by S. V 2 S., 25 miles, 

 190 fms. Gn. s. and blk. spc. 3 specimens; adult, 



P.F. 16758. Cape Point, N.E. by E. '/4 E., 38 miles, 755 fms. 

 Gn. m. 1 specimen; adult. 



P.F. 17330. Cape Point, N. 86 E., 43 miles, 000-1000 fins. Grey 

 m. 1 specimen; adult. 



P.F. 17541. Cape Point, N.E. by E. 3 / 4 E., 8 miles, 91 fms. S. 

 and spc. 1 specimen; adult. 



P.F. 18154. Cape Point, N.E. by E. 3 / 4 E., 28 miles, 300 fins. 

 Fne. s. 1 specimen; young. 



