222 



BULLETIN 75; UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



scarcely so below; each plate carries eight or nine smooth, stout 

 spines, of which the two uppermost are longest and about equal to 

 two joints. Tentacle scales two on first pair of arm pores but single 

 thereafter, large, flat, rounded, with a decided tendency to curve 

 around the base of lowest arm spine. Color (dried from alcohol), 

 brown; inner ends of radial shields and a broad longitudinal stripe 

 on each arm, white; arm spines, disk granules, and oral surface very 

 light. 



Locality.— Albatross station 4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30° 58' 30^' N.; 

 long. 130° 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 

 60.6° to 56°, 1 specimen. 



Fig. 102.— Ophiacantha leucorhabdota. x 3. a, from above; b, from below; c, .side view of two 



ARM joints near DISK. 



Type.— Cat. No. 25655, U.S.N.M., from station 4934. 



This species is easily the handsomest OpJdacantha in the collection. 

 The combination of large, bare radial shields, rhombic upper arm 

 plates in contact, numerous oral papillae, numerous stout, smooth arm 

 spines and characteristic tentacle scales, with the striking coloration, 

 will prevent confusion with any other species. Of course, it must be 

 borne in mind that the coloration may prove to be a very inconstant 

 and therefore unreliable character. 



