ASTEROIDEA OF NORTH PACIFIC AND ADJACENT WATERS FISHER. 161 



aster). If one were to use us a family character the abactinal membrane (to which 

 one is practically reduced by eUmination), what about Dptogonastcr and its allies, 

 or CJiitonaster? These would be equally deserving of family rank. It seems that 

 the characters of the Antheneida> are really not characteristic in the sense of exclu- 

 sive and that the family is itself an artificial one. 



Consequently the limits of the Goniasteridie have in tliis paper been somewhat 

 extended to include the Anthcneidse of Pcrrier and authors, anil Psrudarchastrr and 

 its close allies. Thus the grouj) corresponds to the Pentagonasterid» of Sladen (ISSO) 

 and in addition Pseudarchnster, Aphroditaster, Anthenoides, and Amphiafsier. The 

 last was classified by Slailen in the Oreasteridro (a family very close to Goniaster- 

 idse), but its affinities are rather with Goniastcr. If it were left in the Oreasteridse, 

 there would be some trouble including it within the family diagnosis. 



Within tills family the range of outward form is great, between such genera as 

 Pseudarchaster or Nyntphaster on the one hand, and Ilippasteria, Anthenoides, and 

 Anthenea on the other. The genera agree in having well developed marginals, large 

 actinal interradial areas, with the ilitermediate plates fiat, tessellated, and fairly 

 regular; block-like adambulacrals with a straight or not very prominent furrow 

 edge; and abactinal plates either flat or tabulate, in mosaic, or variously joined by 

 intermediate plates, but never in the form of isolated paxilhf. The tube feet 

 always have a well developed sucking disk. 



The scheme of classification adopted is as follows. The asterisk indicates 

 genera of which I have examinetl species. 



Family GONIASTERID.E Forbes, emended. 



Sulofaixiily >II]VIA.S'l'ERIN">fi: Sladen. 



Genus MIMASTER Sladen. 

 Genus *GEPH YREASTER" Fisher. 



Svil. family r>SE:TJDA.riCHA.STERI>r^S: Sladen. 



Genus *PSEUDARCH ASTER Sladen. 

 Genus APHRODITASTER Sladen. 

 Genus *PARAGONASTER Sladen. 



Subfamily ISTECrRUNJE Terrier. 



Genus *NECTRIA Gray.* 



a Remarks have already been made concerning the intermediate character of this genus. The abac- 

 tinal plates and mouth plates recall Pseudarchaster, while the marginal and adambulacral plates, with 

 their characteristic armature, are similar to those of Mimaslcr. ilimasUr itself is the least goniasterid 

 of any genus in the family. 



6 Xectria is placed in a separate subfamily on the basis of the intermarginal paiiulte. Sladen places 

 the genus near Mediaster, but Perrier makes a special subfamily Nectriinas (1S94, p. 333). In 1S75 he 

 placed Nectria with the Goniasterida? and in 1878 in the I.inckiida-, from which .Sladen removed it in 

 1889. Perrier and SLaden do not mention the important character of the intermarginal papulte. Pedi- 

 cellarise and superambulacral plates are also present. For further details, see Xcclria, below. 



57444°— Bull. 76—11 11 



