ASTEBOIDEA OF NORTH PACIFIC AND ADJACENT WATERS FISHER. 37 



Remarks. — Attention is again called to the marvelous variation exhibited by 

 this species and to its very extended range. It is extremely doubtful if Ctenodiscus 

 australis Liitken, 1871, from off the east coast of southern South America is a 

 distinct species. The differences noted by Sladen are among the most variable 

 characters. Compare the various figures of imdoubted crispatus published here- 

 with, and then the figures publislied by Sladen. It would not be difiicult to mnkc 

 at least two species in Bering Sea and a third in the Sea of Japan with greater 

 differences than seem to exist between "austraHs" and "procurator." Perrier " has 

 already expressed the same doubt as to the difference between austrnUs and European 

 crispatus. 



This starfish, judging by its wide distribution, seems well adapted to life on soft 

 mud. The creatures are usually gorged witli mud, from which they evidently 

 derive their food materials. 



Family ASTROPECTINID.^ Gray, 1840, emended. 



AstTopectinidx Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 6, 1840, p. 180 (includes also Luidiidae, 

 Henrieia, and Solaster). — Perrier, Revision des Stell^rides, 187.5, p. ,329 (includes also 

 Chartaster, Luidiidae, Archaster, Ctenodiscus). — Viguier, Squelette des Stell^rides, 1879, p. 225 

 (includes also Ctenodiscus, Luidiidae). — Perrier, Mem. sur les Etoiles de Mer, etc., 1884, 

 p. 266. — Sladen, Challenger Asleroidea, 1889, p. 174 (includes Luidiida; andCraspidasler and 

 omits Plutonaster and allies). — Verrill, Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. 10, 1899, pp. 201, 218 (omits 

 Plutonastcr and allies). 



Phanerozonia with large marginal ])lates, true paxillcT, and parapaxilla*; with 

 pointed tube feet (a flat or true sucking disk being always absent); with double 

 ampullaj; no cribriform organs, but fi'equently well developed marginal fascioles 

 which are never webbed; with an intestine and usually an intestinal coecum; anus 

 absent, small, or well developed; superambulacral plates always present. 



Remarks. — Tliis family is distinguished from the Porcellanasteridse by the 

 absence of cribriform organs, and in having double instead of single ampulla; 

 from the Goniopectiuidse in lacking webbed fascioles, and webbed pa.xillar spine- 

 lets; from the Luidiidse in having an intestine, intestinal coecum (as a rule), and 

 superomarginal plates; from all other families in lacking a sucking disk to tlie 

 tube feet. 



The family .Vstropectinida? as here limited includes the -Vstropectiniche of 

 Sladen less his Luidiinse plus liis Plutonasterinae. It comprises Yerrill's (1899) 

 Astropectinidte plus his Plutonasterinae. I regret that it is necessaiy to emend 

 Yerrill's classification, which was a great improvement upon that of jirevious authoi-s. 

 A study of the genera involved, however, demonstrates that his Plutonasteriilaj 

 can not be maintained, for the group has just the weakness of the old Archasteridiie 

 of Sladen and recent authors. The family can not be diagnosed with a rccpiisite 

 degree of precision to exclude the majority of Astropectinidae and j'et include the 

 genera which he would desire to form the nucleus of the group. I have shown 

 elsewhere that the Pontasterina? of Verrill really belongs with the Benthopectinidav 

 The MimasteriiUB have well-developed suckers on the tube feet and belong near 

 the Pseudarchasterinse. 



oExp. f>c\. Tap Horn, 1891, pp. 143, 144. 



