70 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Feb., 



Ophiadis = -I +11 -III. 

 Ophiopholis — +1 —II —III. 

 Ophiotrichidce = —1 —II +III. 



Ophiophragmus japonicus sp. nov. 



Diameter of disk 7 mm. Length of arms 45 mm. Width of 

 arms at base 1 mm. Disk five-lobed, with very convex inter- 

 brachial borders, covered with fine, imbricating scales, among which 

 the six primaries are more or less distinguishable. Radial shields 

 semilunar, one-third as long as disk radius, twice as long as wide, 

 joined in pairs, being, however, separated only at proximal end, 

 which is obtusely pointed. A row of large and squarish scales 

 borders disk. Scales of ventral interbrachial areas just outside 

 this marginal series turned up, so as to form the sort of fence 

 characteristic of genus. Marginal scales more elevated than arms; 

 ventral interbrachial areas strongly convex below. Genital slits 

 long. 



Oral shields rhomboidal, with inner sides much longer than outer, 

 inner angle very acute, outer and lateral angles rounded; much 

 longer than wide. Adoral shields triangular, tapered within to a 

 point, not meeting each other. Four oral papillae on either side of 

 each jaw, close-set, subequal, blunt, innermost somewhat stouter. 



Dorsal arm plates elliptical, large, outer border curved, inner 

 border strongly convex, forming part of a circle; as wide as arms, 

 twice as wide as long, slightly in contact with each other. Lateral 

 arm plates inserted like so many wedges between successive dorsal 

 arm plates above and ventral plates below; well separated above and 

 nearly so below. First ventral arm plate very small, quadrangular, 

 much wider than long; those beyond pentagonal, with very large 

 inner angle, and slightly notched distal margin, wider than long, 

 only a little in contact with each other. Arm spines three, conical, 

 subequal, blunt, nearly as long as corresponding arm joint. Two 

 very flat, thin tentacle scales; inner one smaller than outer and 

 overlaps its base. Color in alcohol: light yellow. 



Numerous specimens; Kagoshima Gulf; 8-L5 fathoms. Two speci- 

 mens; Enoura, Suruga. 



This species somewhat resembles 0. affinis Duncan, especially in 

 number of oral papillae, but differs from it in shape of radial shields, 

 oral shields and of dorsal arm plates. In my opinion, AmphipJiolis 

 andrece Liitken, Amphiura prcestans Koehler and Amphiodia perierda 

 H. L. Clark are referable to Ophiophragmus, each showing certain 

 affinities to the present species. 



