NO. 19.] ECHINODERMS OF CONNECTICUT. 8l 



commonly known as the " daisy brittle star." It extends 

 northward to the Arctic Ocean, and on the European coast 

 reaches southward as far as the English Channel. It is larger 

 than any other of our species, the disk often being 15 to 20 mm. 

 in diameter, and each of the arms 50 to 80 mm. in length. 



The colors are exceedingly variable, not only in hue but also 

 in the arrangement of the patterns. There are all shades of red, 

 purple, brown, yellow, and green. The disk is spotted and 

 blotched in some regular pattern arranged either radially or con- 

 centrically or both, while the arms are either banded or striped 

 lengthwise (Plate XII.) The bright colors are limited to the 

 aboral surface, the under side of disk and arms being commonly 

 gray or yellowish, except that the dark bands on the arms often 

 extend more or less completely over the oral surface. Of a 

 hundred individuals taken at random scarcely two will agree 

 closely in both shade and arrangement of markings, so that the 

 individuality of the representatives of this species of ophiuran 

 is more conspicuous than in almost any other invertebrate. 



Amphipholis squamata (D.elle Chiaje) 

 Plate XVII. 

 This is the smallest species of ophiuran recorded on our 

 coast, and it is also the most abundant and the most widely dis- 

 tributed. On the Atlantic coast of America it occurs from the 

 Arctic Ocean to the coast of New Jersey, and it is also found on 

 the northern coasts of Europe and in the Mediterranean Sea. 

 In America the species is often referred to under trie name of 

 Amphipholis elegans or Amphiura elegans, and in Europe is 

 sometimes called Amphiura squamata. 



Explanation of Plate XVII. Amphipholis squamata. 

 Fig. 1. Four specimens showing both oral and aboral surfaces. The 

 tips of several of the very fragile rays have been broken off. 

 One and one-half times natural size. 

 Fig. 2. Aboral surface. Natural size. 

 Fig. 3. Oral surface. Natural size. 

 Fig. 4. Oral surface. Enlarged ten times. 



Fig. 5. Aboral surface, showing the smooth scale-like plates which cover 



the disk. The narrow radial shields are in close contact with 



each other. Each segment of the arms has three arm spines 



on each side. Enlarged ten times. 



(Figs 2 and 3 from photographs loaned by the U. S. Fish Commission, 



with permission of Dr. H. L. Clark.) 

 6 



