632 



ECHINODERMATA 



cm. and more : common from Cape Cod southwards, less common or rare 

 northwards to Maine, from the shore to 30 fathoms. 



A. vulgaris Verrill {Asteracanthion pallidus A. Ag). Purple star 

 (Fig. 981). Rays flattened and tending to be pointed; spines numerous, 

 tending to form a noticeable median longitudinal row on the aboral sur- 



Fig. 980 

 Fig. 980 — Asterias forhesi (Clark). 



Fig. 981 

 Fig. 981 — Asterias vulgaris (Claris). 



face of each arm ; madreporite pale yellow ; color very variable, but gen- 

 erally some shade of purple ; diameter 15 to 40 cm. : common from eastern 

 end of Long Island northwards, from the shore to 300 fathoms, ranging in 

 deep water as far south as Cape Hat- 

 teras. 



A. littoralis (Stimp.). Body thick, with 

 very broad rays ; color olive green ; diameter 

 4 to 5 cm.; 2 rows of ambulacral spines: 

 Casco Bay to Cumberland Gulf, in shallow 

 water, often very common on fucus. 



A. tenera Stimp. (Fig. 982). Arms cyl- 

 indrical, slender, and tapering; skeleton 

 firm, with numerous spines; madreporite 

 small and nearly white; color varying from 

 purplish-pink to nearly white; diameter 5 

 to 8 cm. ; from Nova Scotia to New Jersey, 

 in 10 to 85 fathoms, often common. 



A. ochracea Brandt. Aboral plates very extensively developed, with 

 only small holes between them; a prominent median ridge present on 

 each arm; body very large and heavy, 60 to 70 cm. across, with arms 

 6 to 8 cm. in vertical diameter at base; color violet: one of the com- 

 monest starfishes on the Pacific coast, ranging from Alaska to San 

 Diego. 



Fig. 982 — Asterias tenera 

 (Clark). 



