The Echinoderm Fauna of South Africa. 361 



P.F. 18933. Southeast from Cape Agulhas, 3640'S. X 2126'E., 

 C 200 fms. Gn. s. 19 specimens; adult and young. 

 Bathymetrical range, 131-900 fms. 



DICTENOPHIURA * ANOiDEA **, gen. et sp. nov. 

 Plate XIX. Figs. 1, 2. 



Disk 6-25 mm. in diameter; arms, 15 mrn. long; arms about two 

 and a half times disk-diameter. Disk Hat, but thick and elevated 

 above arm-bases, its thickness one-fourth to one third of its dia- 

 meter; there is an indistinct line between the scaling of its top and 

 that of the interbrachial sides; the latter are each covered by about 

 eight scales while the former is occupied by the six primary plates, 

 a radial plate between the proximal ends of each pair of radial shields 

 a proximal and a distal plate in each interradius, rather numerous 

 small triangular plates intercalated among the larger ones, and the 

 live pairs of large radial shields, the distal halves of which are in 

 full contact; these plates are all, thick, smooth, and often shining. 

 Genital plates large and conspicuous, the curved rounded upper end 

 abutting on the outer corner of each radial shield, its breadth about 

 one-third that of the shield. Between the upper ends of the genital 

 plates of any one radius are a pair of closely united, almost soldered, 

 thick, high plates, which effectively separate the radial shields from 

 the arrnplates, as well as the genital plates from each other. On the 

 outer side of each of these thickened plates is a secondary arm-comb 

 of very line papillae, lying just underneath and within the true 

 armcomb. Papillae of latter, 15-20, spiniform and well-spaced, but 

 short and blunt. 



Arms more than a millimeter broad at base, where they are a 

 little flattened, but only half as wide at the twelfth segment where 

 they are nearly cylindrical. Upper arm-plates not at all swollen, 

 the distal ones quite Hat; first plate very short and wide; second 

 much larger, 3 or 4 times as wide as long, extending across the 

 full width of the arm; third, narrower and longer; each succeeding 

 plate becomes narrower, especially proximally so that the sixth and 

 subsequent plates are quite triangular ; basal plates in contact but 

 beyond the sixth or seventh plate, they are well separated. 



* 4 it; = double + xrfi? (root, xctv-) comb -f- ophmra, in reference to the 

 double arm-comb between the elevated ends of the genital plates. The type of 

 the genus is Ophiura carnea Liitken. The only other species are Ophioglypha 

 stellata Studer and the new South African one about to be described. 



** "A privative -\- oiJVo? swollen, in reference to the upper arm plates, 

 which are flat and not swollen as in D. carnea. 



