OPHIOLEPIDAE 30S 



Ophiolebella, n.g. 



Disk covered with distinct, but irregular, not distinctly imbricating scales, among 

 which the primary plates are not distinguishable. Generally some small granules are 

 found on the plates or on the borders between the plates. Radial shields small, but 

 distinct. Dorsal arm plates usually with a supplementary plate at the proximal edge. 

 Mouth-papillae close-set, square. Teeth, no tooth papillae; there are only three teeth 

 on each jaw. Pores of second mouth tentacles wholly within the mouth slits. Genital 

 slits exceedingly short, scarcely 0-5 mm. long. Tentacle pores very small, covered by the 

 small tentacle scales. Arm spines short, not much appressed. Arms often strongly 

 inrolled. 



Genotype: Ophiolebes biscutifer, G. A. Smith. 



The reference of this characteristic species to the genus Ophiolebes I think quite un- 

 acceptable. In the shape of the mouth papillae in particular it is different from the 

 typical Ophiolebes and this character seems to show conclusively that this little Ophiurid 

 is no Ophiacanthid but an Ophiolepidid. The inroUing of the arms, of course, is unusual 

 for an Ophiolepidid ; but in Ophioceres also there is a tendency in this direction, and of its 

 being an Ophiolepidid there can scarcely be any doubt. I think then that the present 

 form belongs to the Ophiolepidae, but as a rather aberrant form, apparently not very 

 closely related to any of the known genera, though in some degree recalling Ophioceres. 



Ophiolebella biscutifera (G. A. Smith) 



Ophiolebes biscutifer, G. A. Smith, 1923. Report on the Echinoderms coll. during the voyage of the 

 'Quest' (1921-2). Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 9 Ser., xn, p. 374. 



St. 27. 15. iii. 26. West Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, no m. 9 specimens. 



St. 39. 25. iii. 26. East Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, 179-235 m. 2 specimens. 



St. 42. I. iv. 26. Off mouth of Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, 102-104 m. Several specimens. 



St. 123. 5. xii. 26. Off mouth of Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, 250 m. 2 specimens. 



23. xii. 26. Stromness Harbour to Larsen Point, South Georgia, 122-136 m. Several 



Off mouth of Stromness Harbour, South Georgia, 178 m. 3 specimens. 

 . Mouth of East Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, 200-234 m. 3 specimens. 



• 53" 51' S, 36° 18' W, South Georgia, 245 m. 6 specimens. 



• 53° 51' S, 36° 21' W, South Georgia, 200-236 m. 5 specimens. 

 . 53° 48' S, 36° 08' W, South Georgia, 160 m. 3 specimens. 



Off Shag Rocks, South Georgia, 177 m. Several specimens. 

 St. WS 840. 6. ii. 32. 53° 52' S, 61'" 49' W, 368-463 m. 2 specimens (one 6-rayed). 

 St. MS 71. 9. iii. 26. East Cumberland Bay, South Georgia, 110-60 m. i specimen. 



Referring to the description of this species given by G. A. Smith (op. cit.) I may con- 

 fine myself to giving some additional remarks and some figures, Smith giving only a 

 figure of the dorsal side. 



The granules of the disk are exceedingly variable, as appears from the figures. Often 

 there is a conspicuous group at the distal end of the radial shields, while other specimens 

 show no granules at all, or only very few; but though the general appearance of such 



