ASTEROIDEA OF NORTH PACIFIC AND ADJACENT WATERS— FISHER 95 



a 2 . The inner as well as outer inferomarginal spine carries a cluster of crossed pedicellariae; adam- 

 bulacral plates with two spines. 

 b 1 . Secondary oblong ossicles between consecutive plates of both carinal and superomarginal 

 series; crossed pedicellariae characteristically large, doublc-fangcd. All primary 

 plates spiniferous; one or two series of four or five-lobed dorsolateral plates in quincunx 

 and connected by one of more slender ossicles, forming a very open-meshed skeleton with 

 large, triangular, and lozenge-shaped papular areas; a few relatively huge, unguiculatc, 

 straight pedicellariae; actinal plates rudimentary, spineless; adambulacral spines two, 

 mouth angle stout, with two pairs of contiguous postoral adambulacral plates; not 



fissiparous. Type, Asterias forreri de Loriol Stylasterias Verrill. 



6 2 . Carinals and superomarginals directly imbricated in series, without interpolated secondary 

 oblong ossicles; three (or the equivalent of three) or more dorsolateral series (often very 

 irregular) of papular areas on either side of the carinal plates. 

 c 1 . Actinal spines absent, or, if present, are devoid of attached pedicellariae; adoral carina not 

 especially long or narrow, nor actinostome sunken (two or three pairs of contiguous 

 postoral adambulacral plates). 

 d 1 . A definite series of spineless actinal plates, hidden under a thick integument; each 

 carinal and superomarginal plate regularly spiniferous. 

 e'. Crossed pedicellariae with two enlarged terminal teeth on each jaw, conspicuously 

 larger than the median terminal teeth; dorsolateral plates not exceptionally 

 numerous, in two or three regular or irregular series on each side; one species 

 with large unguiculatc straight pedicellariae; odontophore with one pit on outer 

 margin. (PI. 43, fig. 5.) Type, Aslerias (Stolasterias) stichantha Sladcn 



Dislolasterias Perrier. 

 e 2 . Crossed pedieellarise without enlarged terminal teeth; predominant straight pedicel- 

 lariae relatively very large, broadly spatulate, with long curved tines (resembling a 

 pair of clasped hands); dorsolateral plates very numerous, small, crowded, irregu- 

 larly arranged, but in the equivelent of four to six (or more) scries on each side; 

 spines ornately fluted; odontophore with 2 pits on outer margin. (PI. 02, fig. 1.) 



Type. Asterias nanimensis Verrill Lelhaslerias Fisher. 



d 1 . A conspicuous series of actinal spines (without a cluster of attached crossed pedicel- 

 lariae); crossed pedicellariae very small, without any of the terminal teeth enlarged; 

 all straight pedicellariae slender, lanceolate; two pairs of contiguous postoral adambu- 

 lacral plates; each carinal and superomarginal not regularly spiniferous, usually only 

 the alternate plates; dorsolateral spines few, scattered. Type, Coscinaslerias dubia 



Clark (Australia, Tasmania) Australiaster Fisher 



c 2 . A definite series of well-developed actinal spines, each with a conspicuous cluster of crossed 

 pedicellariae on its outer side; crossed pedicellariae without two terminal teeth, larger 

 than the other teeth; straight pedicellariae large, broadly lanceolate, compressed, to 

 spatulate denticulate or unguiculate; oral carina narrow, with upward of five con- 

 tiguous pairs of postoral adambulacral plates, actinostome sunken. Type, Asterias 

 koehleri de Loriol (0. Columbiana Verrill) Orthasterias Verrill. 



Remarks.- — Very poor results have followed attempts to squeeze the known 

 species of Coscinasteriinae into a few genera. In the foregoing key the analysis of 

 the subfamily has been allowed to proceed as far as the facts seem to warrant. A 

 number of monotypic groups has resulted but the divisions are more natural than 

 any which have heretofore been recognized. 



The form of the crossed pedicellariae and their distribution on the marginal and 

 actinal spines have been given considerable weight. They have shown themselves 

 to be conservative and reliable characters by the simple process of testing results by 

 other structural features. I have introduced tentatively the odontophore and tho 

 actinostomial ring. Only more observation will determine whether the pits to the 

 outer margin of the odontophore are constant and reliable generic characters. The 

 double pits of Astrostole, Meyenaster, and Lethasterias appear to be reliable, hut too 



