110 Bulletin, Vanderbilt Marine Museum, Vol. IV 



Ophiolepis scolopcndrica Muller and Troschel, Syst. der Aster., p. 



96, 1842.— Stimpson, Smiths. Contrib. to Knowl., vol. VI, p. 13, 



1853. 

 Ophiopholis bellis Lyman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. I, p. 96, pi. 1, 



figs. 4-6, color plate, 1865. 



Family: OPHIOTRICHIDAE. 



Genus: ophiothbix Muller and Troschel. 

 Ophiothrix angulata (Say). 



Type: Say's type was collected in Charleston Harbor, S. C, and 

 is deposited in the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. 



Distribution : This species and its numerous varieties are found 

 from North Carolina southward throughout the "West Indian region 

 and on the northern coast of Brazil. Bathymetric occurrence : Littoral 

 to 200 fms. 



Material examined : One specimen, Thompson Key, Florida, Janu- 

 ary 27, 1923, collected by the "Am." Two, dredged in 150 fms., 7 

 miles off Alligator Keef, Florida, March 30, 1926. 



Color: There is very great variation in the color of this species, 

 but there is usually a characteristic white longitudinal stripe on the 

 dorsal side of the arms. The ground color of the dorsal surface is 

 more frequently some shade of bluish purple or brown, but may also 

 be carmine, green or yellow. 



Discussion: Dr. H. L. Clark's discussion of the great variation 

 existing in this species and his designation of six distinct varieties 

 is a most welcome and helpful contribution to the knowledge of this 

 very beautiful West Indian species (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., LII, p. 

 313, 1918-19). 



The three "Ara" specimens before me are young individuals, which 

 are unfortunately broken and in poor condition, owing to their having 

 been preserved in formalin. 

 References : Ophiura angulata Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., V, 



p. 145, 1825. 

 Ophiothrix angulata Ayres, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., V, p. 249, 

 1852. — Th. Lyman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., I, pi. 2, figs. 1-3, 

 1865 (color plate).— H. L. Clark, Bull. U. S. Fish. Comm, XX, 

 p. 244, 1900 ; Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., XXV, p. 269, 1901-15. 

 Ophiothrix hispida Ayres, op. cit., p. 249. 



Ophiothrix violacea Lutken, Vid. Selsk. Skrifter, Bd. V, p. 252, Tab. 

 V, fig. 1, 1861.— Raekke, 1861, pt. II, p. 252, pi. 4, figs. 1 a-g. 



