ASTEROIDEA 239 



Anasterias conferta (Koehler) 



(Plate XIX, fig. 5) 



Kalyptasterias conferta Koehler, 1923, p. 43, pi. 4, figs. 1-7. — Fisher, 1930, p. 234. 

 Anasterias conferta Fisher, 1931, p. 9. 



St. 53. Port Stanley, East Falkland Island, 0-2 m., 19 specimens. 



Koehler gives good figures of alcoholic and dried specimens which are probably adult, 

 as R varies from 60 to 70 mm. They were taken in 4-7 m. at Port Louis, Falkland 

 Islands. 



The Discovery specimens range in size from R4-5 mm. to R 34 mm. The larger 

 agree with Koehler 's figures. The small ones closely resemble specimens of A. minuta 

 but, generally speaking, have a more arched disk and more convex rays which taper from 

 a broader base. The straight pedicellariae are few and smaller. 



The abactinal skeleton consists of a weak, very irregular and open reticulum in which 

 the small carinals form a sinuous interrupted series much weaker than in the type of A. 

 stolidota. The superomarginals are well developed, imbricate strongly and usually carry 

 a small spinelet. There is, however, great variability in these features. In a specimen 

 which I reported (193 1, p. 9) from Teal Inlet, Falkland Islands, the abactinal plates 

 have degenerated so that they are entirely disconnected. The skeleton is represented by 

 scattered small circular and slender elongate ossicles. Similarly, the marginal plates are 

 reduced in size, the spineless superomarginals forming a slender sinuous longiseries as 

 in the type of Kalypterias conferta. 



Koehler (1923, p. 46) was handicapped by lack of knowledge of the skeleton of 

 Calvasterias stolidota Sladen, which greatly resembles conferta. It may be stated that 

 stolidota is not a Calvasterias but is an Anasterias closely related to conferta. The two may 

 be forms of the same species. The small specimen of stolidota recorded by Sladen 

 (1889, p. 591) from Port William is probably referable to conferta. 



The type of stolidota measures R 44 mm. and is from the Messier Channel between 

 Wellington Island and the west coast of Chili. In 1928 the late Mr G. A. Smith of the 

 British Museum (Natural History) made for me photographs of the skeleton of a ray, 

 which I think,will serve a very useful purpose in the present connection (PI. XIX, fig. 6). 



As will be seen the skeleton is of the reticulate type with strong imbricating carinals 

 and stout spiniferous superomarginals. The dorsolateral mesh consists of normally 

 developed plates. The whole might illustrate A. antarctica or A. studeri. 



Genus Lysasterias Fisher 



Lysasterias Fisher, Smithsonian Miscell. Coll., lii, May 1908, p. 88; Zool. Anz., xxxni, August 1908, 

 p. 356. Type Anasterias perrieri Studer, 1885, but not Perrier, 1891.— Fisher, 1922, p. 594; 

 1923, p. 606; 1926, p. 197; 1930, p. 235. 



Anasterias l.\xA\N\g, 1903, p. 42.— Koehler, 1906, p. 12; 1908, p. 566; 1912, p. 10; 1920, p. 11; 1923, 

 p. II.— Verrill, 1914, p. 354.— Not Anasterias Perrier, 1875; not Asteroderma Perrier, 1875. 



Paedasterias Verrill, 1914, p. 355. Type Anasterias chirophora Ludwig.— Koehler, 1920, pp. 16, 30. 



