OPHIOLEPIDAE 



339 



times three, spine-like tentacle scales, continuing at least till the middle of the arm, 

 the inner one then gradually becoming smaller and disappearing. The tentacle scales are 

 very like the lower arm spines, and not much shorter, so that it is not easy to tell which 

 are spines and which tentacle scales. The genital slits are wide, with the merest indica- 

 tion of papillae distally. Arm comb consisting only of three or four papillae at the distal 

 edge of the radial shields. No papillae across the base of the arms or along the distal 

 edge of the first dorsal arm plates. Colour of the dried specimens whitish. 



Fig. 49. Ophiocten bisquamatum , n.sp. Part of oral (a) and dorsal side (b). xzz'^. 



This is an interesting species, recalling by its large, eccentric central plate O. niegalo- 

 plax, Koehler, with which it also agrees in the shape of the dorsal arm-plates. The small 

 granules of the disk recall O. diibium ; but in the character of the tentacle scales it stands 

 quite apart from the other known species of Ophiocten. 



On the sexual characters I can give no information. On opening an interradius of the 

 largest specimen I found no genital organs developed, which seems to indicate that 

 none of the specimens are adult. 



I may take the opportunity here of stating that OpJiiocten megalophx has separate 

 sexes and is not viviparous. 



Dictenophiura anoidea, H. L. Clark 



Dictenophiura anoidea, H. L. Clark, 1923. Echinoderm Fauna of South Africa. Ann. S.African 



Mus., xin, p. 361, pi. xix, figs. 1-2. 

 Ophiura carnea, Hertz, 1927. Deutsche Tiefsee-Exped. Ophiuroiden, p. 69 {Nan: Ophiura 



carnea, M. Sars). 

 Dictenophiura anoidea, Mortensen, 1933. Echinoderms of South Africa. Papers from Dr Th. 



Mortensen's Pacific Exped., LXV (Vid. Medd. Dansk Naturh. Foren., 93), p. 388. 

 St. 91. S. ix. 26. Off Roman Rock, False Bay, South Africa, 35 m. 3 specimens. 



