ASTEROIDEA 231 



unequal in size and irregular in shape. A meandering series of slightly larger carinal 

 plates can be readily distinguished in a prepared specimen. Their spinelets are closer 

 together than elsewhere because the carinal plates imbricate directly, or through one 

 spineless plate between ; whereas on the dorsolateral region 3 or 4 elongate ossicles may 

 separate two primary plates. The form and imbrication of the marginals can best be 

 appreciated from the figure (Fig. K, 36). There is no trace of actinal plates. The above 

 obtains on the proximal half of ray. Distally the mesh-work gradually becomes dis- 

 connected through the absence of intermediate ossicles until on the outer fourth of ray 

 there are only spaced primary spiniferous plates. What really happens, of course, is that 

 on the distal younger part of the ray the primary plates appear first, and only later, 

 during further growth, the connecting ossicles develop. On the distal part of the ray the 

 inferomarginals imbricate in a complete series. To the upper lobes of each is imbricated 

 an oblique superomarginal. These are separated one from another by a conspicuous 

 interval of membrane, encroached upon sometimes by a small disconnected abactinal 

 plate. Even on the proximal half of ray the superomarginal plates are sometimes dis- 

 connected ; or they are joined directly by overlapping lobes or by intermediate plates 

 belonging to the abactinal system. 



The crossed pedicellariae are diagnostic and recall those characteristic of Notasterias. 

 The most frequent size varies between 07 and 0-93 mm. in length, but almost as 

 numerous are various smaller sizes down to o-6 mm., and a few as small as 0-5 mm. 

 Each jaw is wide at the base and tapers to a narrow tip having 2 prominent teeth between 

 which are usually several smaller ones. On the vertical inner edge of each jaw the 

 denticles are numerous but very variable in details. At the attached end, the pedicellariae 

 are wide and each jaw has a relatively large cavity for the accommodation of powerful 

 "biting" muscles, as in the case oi Notasterias. 



The gonoducts open ventrally by prominent pores in the very constricted actinal 

 interradial area. The pores are not symmetrically placed side by side but one is nearer 

 margin than the other. Those of the female (smaller specimen) are larger than in the male 

 (type). The small ovaries are attached lower on the side of the interbrachial septum 

 (coalesced sides of rays) than the voluminous testes. The interbrachial septum contains 

 calcareous plates. The tube-feet are crowded into 4 ranks and their ampullae are single, 

 pyriform, voluminous. 



Type locality. St. WS 821. Falkland Islands, 52^ 55I' S, 60° 55' W, 351-367 m., 



2 specimens. 



Subfamily Asteriinae Verrill (emended) 



Asteriinae Verrill, 1914, p. 42.— Fisher, 1923, p. 250; 1928, p. 57; 1930, pp. 2, 217 (key to genera). 



Genus Anasterias Perrier 



Anasterias Perrier, 1875, p. 81; 1891, p. 91. Type Anasterias minuta Perrier.—Fisher, Smit/isonian 

 Misc. Coll., Lii, 1908, p. 52; Zool. Anz., xxxui, 1908, p. 356; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 9, x, 

 1922, p. 592; xvni, 1926, p. 197; 1930, p. 221; 1931, p. 6. 



Asteroderma Perrier, Comptes Rendiis, cvi, no. 11, 1888, p. 763; 1891, p. 96. Type Asteroderma 

 papillosum Perrier. 



