STARFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 57 



marginal spines absent or rudimentary; more open cribriform or- 

 gans; relatively larger inferomarginal spines; the odd interradial 

 double series of actinal intermediate plates broader at inner end 

 and with more plates ; first adambulacral not markedly compressed ; 

 more numerous (12-13) furrow spines. R=250 mm., r=50 mm.^ 

 R=:5 r; breadth of ray at base, 56 mm,; at tenth superomarginaly 

 28 mm. ; at middle of ray, 20 mm. 



Description. — General form robust; disk large, rays long, com- 

 paratively slender, but relatively shorter than in gracilis., and broader 

 at the base. Paxillae conspicuously larger than in analogus and 

 gracilis., and, like those of Gonio'peGten asiaticus., closely crowded^ 

 and as in other species arranged in oblique transverse rows on either 

 side of the midradial strip of irregular ones. Pedicel of paxilla 

 stout, often compressed, bearing a flat-topped polygonal group of 

 equal, terete, blunt spinelets, about 25 to 30 occupying the periphery, 

 and 20 to 40 the center. Far along ray there are about 2 to 5 central 

 and 10 to 15 peripheral spinelets, blunter or more capitate than 

 those on large paxillae. The paxillar area tapers evenly to the ter- 

 minal plate, none of the superomarginals being in contact medially. 



The abactinal plates were examined from the inner side on the 

 ray only. Here the plates are independent, kite-shaped (6-sided, 

 with the transverse diameter the shorter) and arranged in regular 

 oblique rows on either side of the midradial band where the plates 

 are irregularly elliptical, somewhat irregular in arrangement, and 

 larger than the lateral plates. Papulae in sixes. There is a distinct 

 though small anal aperture. 



Marginal plates with rather open cribriform organs in interbra- 

 chium. The width of the exposed area of fasciolar spinelets is equal 

 to one-fifth, or slightly less, the height of superomarginal. Beyond 

 middle of ray the f ascioles are roofed over by the marginal web, un- 

 less the latter is unduly shrunken by alcohol. Superomarginal plates, 

 74 in number, confined to side of body in interbrachium. Far along 

 ray they gradually encroach upon the abactinal area until near ex- 

 tremity the width equals or slightly exceeds the height. The special 

 superomarginal spinule is either absent, or present as a small spinelet 

 on the proximal half of the ray. Inferomarginal spine larger than 

 in analogus and about as in gracilis. In the interbrachium it equals 

 or exceeds half the height of a superomarginal plate. One or 2 

 proximal plates have 2 spines. 



Actinal interradial areas similar to those of gracilis., the interradial 

 double series being broad at inner end, and containing, each, 10 

 plates. Besides the fasciolar spinelets there are here and there a 

 very few superficial spinelets under the membrane. The intermedi- 

 ate plates extend to tenth inferomarginal. 



