240 BULLETIN 82, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



In 1917 I described this species under the name of Nemaster insolitus, not having 

 at that time seen Hartlaub's material and being uncertain as to just what he had. 



In 1918 Dr. Hubert Lyman Clark recorded Nemaster insolitus from the University 

 of Iowa's Bahamas expedition, but the specimen is really referable to A^. rubiginosa. 



In 1921 I recorded this form from a number of stations at Barbados, and f;lso 



from Antigua, on the basis of the collection made by the University of Iowa's 



Barbados-Antigua expedition. 



COMANTHOIDES, gen. nov. 



Comanlhm (part) H. L. Clakk, Biol. Results Fishing Exper. F. I. S. Endeavour, 1909-14, vol. 4, 



pt. 1, 1916, p. 17. — A. H. Clark, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 31, 1918, pp. 41, 42. 

 Comiasia (part) A. H. Clark, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 31, 1918, p. 41. 



Diagnosis. — A genus of Capillasterinae in which the outer cirrus segments are 

 not carinate dorsally, the dorsal processes, including the opposing spine, being 

 straight transverse ridges; the arms are 10 or more than 10 in number — usually 10 

 and never so many as 20; the IIBr series are 2, 4 (3 + 4), or 3 (2 + 3), usually 4 (3+4); 

 the first pinnule on arms following the IIBr axillary is on the first or second brachial ; 

 the basal segments of the pinnules in the proximal half of the arm bear high and con- 

 spicuous spinous crests; on the undivided arms following a IIBr axillary the first 

 syzygy is between brachials 2 + 3 or 3+4; following a IIBr 2 series there may be a 

 syzygy between both brachials 1+2 and 3+4. 



Geographical range. — Southeastern Australia and Bass Strait. 



Bathymetrical range.— From 119 (?91) to 183 (?311) meters. 



Remarks. — The single known species of this genus combines in a most curious 

 way the characters of the genera Comissia and Capillaster of the Capillasterinae, 

 and Comanthus of the Comasterinae. 



There are usually 10 arms, and these 10-armed individuals very strongly resemble 

 species of Comissia. If there are more than 10 arms the IIBr series are usually 

 4 (3+4) and the two arms following the IIBr axillary have the first pinnule on the 

 second brachial and brachials 3 + 4 united by syzygy, as in Comanthus. But some- 

 times following a IIBr 4 (3+4) series the inner arm has a pinnule on the first brachial 

 tind a syzygy between brachials 2 + 3, as in Capillaster, while on the outer arm the 

 first pinnule is on the second brachial and there is a syzygy between brachials 3+4, 

 as in Comanthus. Following a IIBr 2 series, the inner arm in the same way may have 

 a pinnule on the first brachial and a syzygy between brachials 2+3, while the outer 

 arm has the first pinnule on the second brachial and the first syzygy between bra- 

 chials 3 + 4. In some cases the IIBr series are 3 (2 + 3), like the IIIBr series in 

 Capillaster — the only instance of IIBr 3 (2+3) series to be found anywhere in the 

 comatulids. These IIBr 3 (2 + 3) series are followed inwardly by a Capillaster-\ike 

 arm, and outwardly by a Comanthus-\ike arm. 



In its pinnules and in its cirri Comanthoides agrees most closely with Comissia, 

 and it seems best to regard it as an aberrant member of the Capillasterinae rather 

 than as a connecting link between the Capillasterinae and the Comasterinae. 



