here throusrhout the year — perhaps from lack of 

 suitable substrate on which to feed, or because of 

 their inability to withstand winter cold or occa- 

 sional lowered salinity in the shallow estuaries. 

 The starfishes of North Carolina predominantly 

 have a southern aifinity. Eighteen species range 

 from North Carolina southward and nine from 

 North Carolina northward. Only six are found 



both north and south of North Carolina, and four 

 of these are more southern than northern. One 

 (Cosclnasferias) extends only as far north as Vir- 

 ginia, and three as far as New Jersey. Comparison 

 of figures 2 and 3 shows that strictly "northern" 

 species — those that range nortliward from North 

 Carolina — are rare south of Cape Hatteras. They 

 appear in the cool south-flowing Virginian Coastal 





36 



Cape HofietQs 



35^ 



Cape Fear 



KM. 50 



34"n 



• •■• 



%f 



78° 77° 76° 75°W 



Figure 2. — Stations in North Carolina at which 16 of the 18 "southern" asteroids have been taken. 

 SEA-STARS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



131 



