222 BULLETIN 7ti, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



w liicli, on the contrary, lias a reticulate abactinal skeleton. Several authors, notably 

 Koehler and Verrill, have followed Ludwig. The genus erroneously called Anas- 

 terias was named I/ysasterias by me in 1008. 



The type specimen of Anasterias minuta was indicated by Perrier in 1801 

 (p. 93) as that bearing the label "Voyage de l'Astrolabe; M. M. Hombron et Jacqui- 

 not," and he gives reasons for believing it to have been collected at Port Famine, 

 Magellan Strait. 



In 1923, thanks to the cooperation of Prof. L. Joubin, I examined this specimen 

 at the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle and published some notes on it. 36 



The type specimen of A. minuta is in alcohol and is labelled E 702, M. M. Hom- 

 bron et Jacquinot, 1847. The rays are short. Measurements, according to Perrier, 

 R 12 mm., r 6 mm. The integument entirely conceals the abactinal skeleton. I 

 subjected the abactinal surface of one ray to treatment with potassium hydrate, which 

 revealed a fairly regular series of small carinal plates, between which and the regular 

 inferomarginals (each with one short spinelet) is an irregular, very open, incomplete 

 net of plates, strongest next to the superomarginals. The net is in part composed of 

 about 14 irregular transverse tongues of plates on either side, extending inward toward 

 the carmals and each corresponds roughly to a marginal plate. The inferomarginals 

 have two spines, which are the largest on the body and are separated from the smaller 

 single superomarginal by a fairly broad channel with a row of papulae. Actinals 

 apparently not developed; adambulacral plates strictly monacanthid. The abactinal 

 surface though soft and somewhat pulpy is not papillose in the sense that Lysasterias 

 and Eoehleraster are. Abactinal spinelets are few T and scattered. 



It is quite necessary to fix the attention on this type specimen of Anasterias 

 minuta which establishes the identity of the species and hence of the genus. The 

 specimens of Anasterias minuta listed by Perrier in 1801 may or may not be A. 

 minuta and have nothing to do with the status of Anasterias. 



It is a fact that Anasterias Perrier has a connected dorsal skeleton, whereas 

 Anasterias Ludwig has not; A. minuta also lacks the pustulated or papillose abactinal 

 integument which is described as being characteristic of Anasterias Ludwig (Lysas- 

 terias Fisher). 



Anasterias Perrier is closely related to Sporasterias, as exemplified by S. ant- 

 arctica and its alleged synonym, S. rugispina (the genotype). In fact Leipoldt, 

 1805, synonymized Anasterias minuta with S. antarctica and S. rugispina; while 

 Perrier, himself, writing in 1S01, 37 says: 



Les (Jtoiles do mer que j'ai nominees Anasterias minuta, Asterias rugispina Stimpson; celles que 

 M. Studer appelle Asterias antarctica Liitken; celles que M. Bell a appellees Asterias spirabilis 

 sont done des formes extrememenl voisines, sinon identiques. 



Furthermore Koehler (1020, p. 11) writes: 



Je dois dire que j'.ii eu en communication plusieurs Anasterias minuta du Jardin des Plantes 

 [but evidently nut the type] et j'ai pu constater que toutes dtaient parfaitment identiques a de 

 jeunes Sporasterias antarctica. J'estime done YA. minuta forme jeune d'une Sporasterias ou peut- 

 fitre d'une autre Anasterias, ae doit pas figurer parmi les especes du genre Anasterias. 



'• N"otrs on the Asteroidea. IV. Ann. Mag. Nut. Hist., ser. 'J, vol. is, 1B2R, p. 197. 

 '" Miss. SCl. < a]i Horn. p. 15. 



