A MONOGRAPH OF THE EXISTING CRIN0ID8 435 



In 1913 I listed and gave notes upon all of the specimens of this species in the 

 British Museum, and in another paper listed this form as among the comatulids 

 occurring on the coast of China. This was an error, due to my having placed Pule 

 Edam in the China Sea. 



In my report upon the comatulids collected by the Siboga in the Dutch East 

 Indies, this form was included in the key to the species of the genus Comaster and the 

 range was erroneousl3^ given as "Pulo Edam, China Sea, to Singapore." 



COMASTER MINIMA A. H. Clark 



Plate 52, Figures 155, 156 

 [See also vol. 1, pt. 2, fig. 187 (dorsal view), p. 106] 



Phanogenia minima A. H. Clark, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 36, 1909, p. 392 (description; Albatross 



station 5108). 

 Comaster minima A. H. Clark, Crinoids of the Indian Ocean, 1912, p. 89 (synonymy; locality); 



Unstalked Crinoids of the Siboga Exped., 1918, p. 35 (in key; range); p. 38 (references; notes; 



stations 37, 302); pp. 271, 276 (listed); pi. 16, fig. 23. 

 Coviaster minimus H. L. Clark, Records Australian Mus., vol. 15, No. 2, Nov. 18, 1926, p. 184 



(off Ellison reef; 5-15 fathoms). 



Diagnostic features. — Very small and exceedingly delicate, with extremely 

 narrow division series and excessively attenuated arms and pinnules. The arms 

 average 20 in number. The centrodorsal is greatly reduced and stellate. 



Description. — The centrodorsal is small and stellate. 



There are no cirri. 



The radiais are entirely visible, trapezoidal, proximally twice and distally three 

 times (or rather more) as broad as long. The IBr, are four times as broad as long, 

 decreasing sHghtly in width distally, and entirely free laterally. The IBr2 (axillaries) 

 are broadly pentagonal, twice as broad as long. The IIBr series are 4 (3 + 4), 

 rarely 2; the IIIBr series are 2 (1+2); the IVBr series are 2 (1+2), but are rarely 

 present. 



The arms are about 40 in number, 70 mm. long. The brachials and pinnules 

 resemble those of C. gracilis, but are proportionately more slender and delicate. 



The color in alcohol is dull yellowish with numerous longitudinal narrow hnes 

 on the radiais and division series, and transverse lines on the arms, of dark brown. 



Notes.— One of the specunens from Siboga station 37 has 16 arms about 40 mm. 

 long. There are 2 IIBr 4 (3 + 4) series, each of them bearing 2 IIIBr 2 series. The 

 centrodorsal is a very thin pentagonal disk without cirri, but with obsolete cirrus 

 sockets. 



I am rather doubtful about the correctness of the determination of this example. 

 Though agreeing well with the type of C. minima, it does not show the extreme 

 delicacy of build characteristic of that form, and it is possible that it is only a very 

 young individual of C. multijida. 



The other specimen from Siboga station 37 is very small; it has 10 arms 20 mm. 

 long. The centrodorsal is much reduced and bears V cirri which have 8, 9, 10, 12, 

 and 12 segments. 



