NO. 5 CLARK : ECHINI OF WARMER EASTERN PACIFIC 329 



Encope micropora L. Agassiz 



Plate 55, Fig. 47 



Encope micropora L. Agassiz, 1841, pp. 50, 146, pi. 10a, figs. 4-8. 



Encope calif ornica Venill, 1871, p. 586. 



Encope micropora var. borealis A. H. Clark, 1946, p. 6, pi. 4. 



The very large series of Encopes from the Gulf of California is con- 

 vincing evidence that there is but one species of Encope in that Gulf [be- 

 sides E. ffrandis.] The Velero collection included 712 specimens from 21 

 stations. They range in size from 6 to well over 100 mm in diameter. The 

 finest specimens are from south of Mangles Anchorage, on the west side 

 of the Gulf, in Lat. 26° 16' 55'' N, in 3-5 fms and from Puerto Refugio, 

 Angel de la Guardia Island, Lat. 29° 42' 37" N, along a rocky shore. The 

 largest measures 127 mm long by 130 mm wide and 13 mm high. The only 

 microporas in the collection from outside the Gulf of California are a 

 handsome specimen, 105 x 104 mm and two very young ones (16 and 17 

 mm across), collected on the west coast of Lower California, at Lagoon 

 Head Anchorage (28° 12' 25" N) Station 612-37, in 7 fms and a small 

 bare test from San Juanica Bay, (Station 615-37). The attempt to dis- 

 tinguish varieties borealis and calif ornica fails completely in the light of 

 this abundant material, which is notably homogeneous in general appear- 

 ance even though the color ranges from a deep brown, almost a purple 

 brown, through chocolate brown, red brown or deep yellow brown to a 

 sort of fawn brown. The position of the apex of the test ranges from well 

 anterior to distinctly posterior but the character is not associated with any 

 other distinctive feature and seems to have no taxonomic value. 



Distribution. — According to other authors, micropora ranges from 

 Lower California to Peru and the Galapagos Islands. (The Galapagos 

 records are probably based on what is here treated as E. galapagensis.) 



Type. — Paris Museum. 



Type locality. — M. Stokes "mais il n'en est aucun dont I'origine me 

 soit connue." 



Depth. — Shore to 16 fms. 



Specimens examined. — 712 specimens from 21 stations. 



