37-4 Annals of the South African Museum. 



ECHINOTHURIDAE. 



This remarkable family is sparingly represented in South African 

 seas. Two species are in the PIETER FAURE collection and there is 

 little doubt that the same two species are mentioned by Bell [1904, 

 Mar. Inv. S. Afr., vol. 3, p. 169) as being in the collection he exam- 

 ined. He did not trouble to identify his specimens but simply says 

 they are "allied respectively to P. tonne A. Ag. and P. bursarium 

 A. Ag." The specimens before me are indeed allied to these Paci- 

 fic species but they are nevertheless North Atlantic forms. They 

 are easily distinguished from each other as follows. 



Key to the South African Species of Echinothuridae. 



Many actinal primary spines enclosed in skin bags, none with "hoofs"; abactinal 

 and actinal surfaces abruptly and strikingly unlike . Phormosoma placenta. 



Actinal primary spines not enclosed in skin bags, some at least ending in "hoofs"; 

 abactinal and actinal surfaces not abruptly and strikingly unlike 



Echinosoma petersii. 



PHORMOSOMA PLACENTA. 



Wyville Thomson, 1872. Proc, Roy. Soc, Edinburgh, vol. VII, no. 84, 

 p. 617. 1874, PORCUPINE Ech., pis. LXII and LXIII, figs. 1-8. 



This well-known North Atlantic species is represented in the 

 PIETER FAURE collection by a good series of specimens ranging from 

 7 to 120 mm. in diameter. The last is the largest specimen yet 

 recorded for this species. Bell (I. c.) says that the Phormosoma from 

 the Cape received by him was allied to P. bursarium but I am 

 satisfied that the PIETER FAURE specimens are all placenta. I have 

 compared them with specimens of placenta, sigsbri, bursarium and 

 indicum and feel quite sure of the identification. They were taken 

 at the following stations: 



P.F. 16702. Cape Point, N.E. by E. ] /. E., 38 miles, 755 fms. 

 Gn. m. 2 specimens; adult. 



P.F. 16741. Cape Point, N.E. by E. '/ 4 E., 38 miles, 755 fms. 

 Gn. m. 2 specimens; adult. 



P.F. 16790. Cape Point, N.E. by E., 36 miles, 650-700 fms. Gn. 

 m. 3 specimens; adult. 



P.F. 16902. Cape Point, N.E. by E. V 4 E., 40 miles, 800-900 

 fms. Gn. m. 5 specimens; very young and young. 



P.F. 16944. Cape Point, N.E. by E. V* E., 40 miles, 800-900 

 fms. Gn. m. 1 specimen; young. 



