STARFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 345 



series reaching a little over a fifth. The plates are closely covered 

 with small granules immersed in membrane, the tips of the granules 

 often protruding slightly from the membrane or visible yet covered 

 by membrane. In the former case the granules appear to be em- 

 bedded in a matrix. A majority of the plates bear 1, sometimes 2 

 or 3, small spatulate entrenched pedicellariae. 



Adambulacral plates slightly longer than wide, with an angular 

 furrow margin, the 2 facets of the apophysis being somewhat var- 

 able in length, but the distal always the longer and slightly concave 

 as in Nymphaster. Spinelets proximally 10 to 12, distally 6 to 9, 

 rather short, stout, round tipped or truncate, in a crowded series, 

 the longest on the angle, and compressed in a plane transverse to 

 the plate, the others gradually shortening slightly and with flat side 

 to furrow. Actinal surface of plates slightly convex, covered with 

 20 to 35 granules immersed in membrane. Near or at the inner 

 adoral corner of the plate there is usually a pedicellaria with 2 to 4 

 variable granuliform jaws. There is no enlarged subambulacral 

 spine on the distal plates. On the outer part of the ray the apophyses 

 of opposite plates tend to meet in the middle of the furrow and 

 to segregate consecutive pairs of tube feet. 



Mouth plates very slightly convex, coarsely granulate, the granules 

 being conspicuous; marginal spinlets 16 to 19, robust, increasing in 

 size toward the inner angle, where the spinelets are very strongly 

 compressed, broad, and leaflike. The furrow surface of each plate 

 has a shallow vertical depression for the first tube feet. 



Madreporic body one-third minor radius from center; ridges 

 coarse, radiating. 



Anatomical notes. — Gonads are arranged in a short series nearly 

 parallel with the radius and 7 or 8 mm. therefrom. There are 6 or 7 

 closely placed tufts in the series examined, and it extends only about 

 10 mm. The coelomic sacs leave a slight interradial area ventrally 

 and adjacent to margin, lined with very fine fibrous tissue, which 

 more or less occludes the cavity. Tube feet with conspicuous sucking 

 disks. 



Type.— Csit. No. 28659, U.S.N.M. 



Type-locality. — Station 5655, Gulf of Boni, Celebes, 608 fathoms, 

 gray mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 39.2° F. ; 1 specimen. 



Distribution. — East coast of Luzon, and the Gulf of Boni, Celebes, 

 565 to 608 fathoms, green or gray mud. 



Specimens examined. — In addition to type, a badly mutilated 

 specimen from station 5460, Lagonoy Gulf, east coast of Luzon, 

 565 fathoms, green mud. 



Remarks. — This curious species is notable for the development of 

 the superomarginal plates at the expense of the inferomarginals. 

 The former define the ambitus, and when the specimen is viewed from 



