ASTEROIDEA OF NORTH PACIFIC AND ADJACENT WATERS — FISHER 39 



marginals. The combined breadth of the second, third, and fourth series is only a 

 trifle greater than the width of the first series alone. As mentioned above, after the 

 first sixth of the ray is passed, only three actinolateral series remain. The terminal 

 plate is relatively large, broadly elliptical, and rounded-truncate. It lacks the 

 characteristic notch on the proximal side, or has but a slight indication of it. The 

 plate is 4 mm. long (or the length of the last four carinal plates) and a trifle over 2.5 

 mm. broad. In the large specimen of ophiurus from the same station, the terminal 

 plate is small subglobose or subquadrate, about 2 mm. long by 2 broad, the proximal 

 margin broadly notched for a third of its length; it is about as long as the last 

 four carinal plates, which are therefore very small. 



Papular pores small; there are five regular longitudinal series, with the beginnings 

 of a sixth at the base of ray, and they also form regular transverse series. There are 

 two dorsolateral, one intermarginal, and two actinolateral series, plus one rudimentary 

 series. In ophiurus there are three actinolateral series plus a few pores of a fourth. 

 Papulae solitary and small. 



Prominent adambulacral plates with a transverse series of five spines. The first 

 is deep in the furrow on the apex of the projection, is slightly compressed, and has a 

 terminal flap of tissue carrying upwards of eight small unequal tapered pedicellariae. 

 The second is about the same length, slightly compressed, and usually carries a 

 pedicellaria about 1.5 mm. long attached to its base. The third is tapered, bluntly 

 pointed, and a little longer than the second, or about 2.5 mm. The fourth and fifth 

 (and sometimes a sixth) are very delicate, similar to the actinolateral spinelets, and 

 about 1.5 mm. long; No. 5 may be lacking. The nonprominent alternate plates 

 have a transverse series of four or five spinules, the innermost small and situated 

 adorad out of line with the others. The second is commonly enlarged, about 1.75 

 mm. long, and corresponds to No. 3 of the prominent plates. The outer one or two 

 spinelets are delicate. All spines, and particularly spinelets, are sheathed with pulpy 

 soft membrane so that they appear unnaturally robust. The mouth plates have 

 three actinostomial and two suboral spines. Ambulacral furrows rather narrow; 

 tube feet in four series, crowded. 



No superainbulacral plates. Ampullae, when empty, with two subequal lobes. 

 Gonads two to each ray. 



Madreporic body quite small, situated 7 mm. from center. 



Type— Cat. No. 37039, U.S.N.M. 



Type-locality.— Station 4765, 53° 12' N., 171° 37' W.,43.5 miles northwest of west 

 point of Yunaska Island, Aleutian Islands; 1,217 fathoms, fine black sand; bottom 

 temperature, 35.2° F. (Albatross, 1906.) 



Distribution. — Known only from the type-locality. 



Remarks. — As nearly as can be determined, this species is a north Pacific repre- 

 sentative of Zoroaster fulgens, from which it differs, however, in rather fundamental 

 ways, as enumerated in the diagnosis. Sladen is quite explicit in his description 

 with regard to the size and armature of the actinolateral plates — the plates of the 

 uppermost series being broader than those of the three lower (as in actinocles) but 

 the plates of the three lower series have "usually one to three spinelets much longer 

 and more robust than the accompanying miliary spinelets. These are nuked, deli- 

 cate, cylindrical, and taper to a fine extremity, and are generally arranged in slightly 



