78 



ECHINODERMS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 



plates carry several similar spines arranged in 2-4 transverse 

 series of 3-4 spines each. Pedicellarise may occur on the paxillse 



Fig. 42. — Odontaster mediter- 

 raneus ; young specimen. 

 Dorsal side. Slightly en- 

 larged. 



rs^^m 



Fig, 43. — Mouth and adjoining 

 parts of oral side of Odontaster 

 mediterraneus, showing the five 

 large recurved spines on jaws ; 

 from the specimen shown in 

 Fig. 42. X 15. 



of the dorsal side. R = ca. 2 r. Colour in life unknown. Reaches 

 a size of at least 39 mm. R. 



Biology and development unknown. 



In British seas this species has been taken at 51° 26' N., 

 11° 45' W., 990 m. ('' Helga ").i It is elsewhere known only 

 from the Bay of Biscay (1804 m., " Princesse Alice ") and from 

 the Mediterranean, 414-1196 m. 



II. Family Goniasterid^ 



Marginal plates large and distinct. No odd interradial 

 marginal plate. Dorsal side flattened, with short, flat spines, 

 arranged like paxillae, or with spines surrounded by grains. 

 Pedicellarise alveolate or valvate, in some forms very large. 

 Papulse as a rule only in the radial areas. No recurved hyaline 

 spine on jaws. Genital organs in the interradii, not passing into 

 the rays. 



This family includes a great number of genera, distributed 

 into several subfamilies (sometimes regarded as separate families), 

 distinguished mainly through differences in the structure of the 

 dorsal skeleton ; three of these subfamilies, Goniasterince, 

 PseudarchasterincB and Hippasteriince, are represented in the 



^ Hitherto unpublished record. Two small specinaens were taken at this 

 locality. 



