Figure 15. — Astropecten articulatus. A. aboral ; B, oral. 

 5 cm. indicated. 



three sliort, flattened, subacute spines. Aboral 

 paxillae with S to 10 long clavate or capitate 

 spinules surrounding 1 to 3 central ones. At 

 base of rays, paxillae may have 12 to 16 spin- 

 ules surrounding 4 to 8 central ones. Paxillae 

 of generally uniform size and iri'egular ar- 

 rangement. Er= 5.3:1. Color reddish brown 

 or gray. 



^^Wom, 



^:^h^^ 



'%>«. 



% 



FiouEB 16. — Astropecten dupUcatus. A, aboral ; B, oral. 

 3 em. Indicated. 



Range : 



North Carolina to Brazil, 5 to 185 m. Al- 

 though much less abundant, this species is 

 sometimes collected with A. articulaius. It oc- 

 curs mainly south of Cape Hatteras. 



Astropecten nitidus Verrill, 1915 



Description : 



Body thick, stellate, with five short, acute rays. 

 Superomarginals wide, convex, with deep 

 transverse sutural grooves forming wide 



SEA-STARS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



145 



