STARFISHES OF THE PHILIPPINE SEAS. 441 



Family ACANTHASTERIDAE Fisher, 1911. 



Genus ACANTHASTER Gervais. 



Acanthaster Gervais Diet. sci. nat., suppl., vol. 1, 1841, p. 470. Type, A. 

 echinus {=A. plaiici Linuaeus.) 



ACANTHASTER PLANCI (Linnaeus). 



Asterias planci Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, Appendix, 1758. p. 823. Quotes 

 Columna, Phytobasanos, pi. 33, fig. A. — Veerill, 1914rt, p. 364 ; 1914&. 

 p. 16. 



Asterias echinites Ellis and Solandee, Nat. hist, zooph., 1786, pi. 60 to 62. 



Acanthaster echinus Gervais, Diet. sci. nat., suppl., vol. 1. 1841, p. 474. 



Acanthaster echinites Ltjtken, Vidensk. Medd., 1871, p, 292. 



Acanthaster planci Veerill, 1914a, p. 373. 



The largest specimen, from Pangasinan Island, has: R=185 nun., 

 r=:85 m., 6 madreporic bodies, and 15 rays. The abactinal spines of 

 the disk are of medium length (10 to 15 mm.), those of the distal 

 two-thirds of the ray being much stouter and longer (25 mm.). 

 The spines have prominent pedicels or columns to which they are 

 articulated, and the abactinal pedicellariae are long and slender. 

 There are generally 3 furrow spines of conspicuous size, with a 

 very short, stubby spinelet at either or both ends ; or in place of the 

 adoral spinelet, a short, obtuse, slightly tapered two-jawed pedi- 

 cellaria. A majority of the plates have a prominent compressed, 

 tapered, two- jawed pedicellaria, about three-fourths as long as the 

 longest furrow spine, situated on the furrow face of the plate, near 

 the adoral edge. It is usually oriented so that the jaws are dorsal 

 and ventral. The subambulacral and actinal intermediate spines are 

 prominent and grooved on the outer side of the distal half or third. 



In the specimen from near Zamboanga, which is smaller than the 

 last (R=130 mm.), the spines are all longer, the abactinal spines 

 of disk being 20 to 25 mm. long and those near the end of the ray 

 about 35 mm. There are 13 rays and 8 madreporic bodies. Furrow 

 spines usually 3, sometimes 4. The prominent furrow pedicellaria 

 is usually present. The subambulacral and actinal intermediate 

 spines are slenderer and not so prominently grooved at the tip. 

 The abactinal pedicellariae are long and slender (about 2.5 mm.). 



In the specimen from Cataingan Bay (R=160 mm.) the abactinal 

 spines are still longer, being about 25 to 35 mm. in length on disk 

 and 45 mm. on ray; rays 13; madreporic bodies, 4; furrow spines 

 usually 3, with an adoral, rather prominent, pedicellaria, and an- 

 other in the furrow. The subambulacral and actinal intermediate 

 spines are tapered and grooved for a short distance at the tip. 



A relatively small example from Destacado Island (R=73 mm.) 

 has long abactinal spines, 14 rays, and 5 madreporic bodies. 



Type-locality. — Goa, Portugese India (Columna's figure). 



