A MONOGRAPH OF THE EXISTING CRIN0ID8 483 



Genus COMANTHERIA A. H. Clark 



Actinomeira (part) P. H. Cakpenter, Notes from the Leyden Mus., vol. 3, 1881, p. 208, and following 

 authors. 



Antedon (part) Bell, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1882, p. 534. 



Comasier (part) A. H. Clark, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 33, 190,8, p. fiSC. 



Phanogcnia (part) A. H. Clahk, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 3.5, lOOS, p. 121. 



Comanthus (part) A. H. Clark, Smiths. Mi.scoll. Coll., vol. 52, pt. 2, 1908, p. 206. 



Comantheria A. H. Clark, Vidensk. Medd. fra den naturhist. Forening i K0benhavn, 1909, p. 142 

 (diagnosis; genotype Antedon briareus Boll, 1884); Memoirs Australian Mus., vol. 4, pt. 15, 

 1911, p. 733 (in key; key to the Australian species); p. 751 (original reference; characters; 

 range); Crinoids of the Indian Ocean, 1912. p. 11 (ab.sent from the west coast of the Malay 

 Peninsula and from farther we.st) ; pp. 56, 50 (in key) ; p. 89 (original reference; type) ; Amer- 

 ican Naturalist, vol. 49, 1915, p. 525 (bathymetrical range); p. 539 (asymmetrical disk); p. 540 

 (1 or more rays dwarfed) ; Unstalked Ciinoids of the Sihoga Exped., 1918, p. 34 (in key; range) ; 

 p. 42 (key to the included species). — Gisl^n, Nova Acta reg. Soc. .sci. Upsaliensis, ser. 4, vol. 5, 

 No. 6, 1922, p. 52 (pinnule combs); p. 56 (discussion'); Zool. Bidrag fr;ln Uppsala, vol. 9, 

 1924, p. 74 (syzygies); p. 117 (relation to fossils). 



Comanthus {Comantheria) A. H. Clark, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 39, 1911, p. 535. 



Diagnosis. — A genus of Comastorinae in which" the elements of the IBr series 

 and the first 2 ossicles following each a.xillary are united by synarthry; most of the 

 axillaries bear either 2 division series or 2 undivided arms; the IIBr series arc all, or 

 at least mostly, 4 (3 + 4); all, or nearly all, of the IIIBr series are 2, but IIIBr 4 

 (3 + 4) series more or less frequently follow IIBr 2 series, particularly on the posterior 

 arms; some, most, or all of the division series following the IIIBr series are 4(3 +4). 



Geographical range. — From Fukien Province, China, Formosa (Taiwan), southern 

 Japan, the Philippine and Bonin Islands, and Australia south to Ballina, New South 

 Wales, and the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, westward to Java. 



Bathymetrical range. — From the shore line down to 150 meters. Of the 11 

 included species 8 do not descend below 60 meters, 6 are found between 60 and 120 

 meters, and only 1 descends deeper than 120 meters. 



Remarks. — The genus Comantheria as here understood is a rather heterogeneous 

 assemblage of forms, a few of which occupy a somewhat isolated position. 



One group of species (comprising polycnemis, alternans, and briareus) includes 

 forms in which the centrodorsal seldom or never bears functional cirri and is often 

 reduced to a very small stellate plate. In all these species the number of arras 

 reaches a ma.ximum of from 160 to 170. 



Because of the large size, great number of arms, and absence of functional 

 cirri, these species often at fii'st glance resemble the species of Comanthina, and in 

 very large individuals there may be a heavy interbrachial plating as in that genus. 

 In some cases also they might be taken for exceptionally large individuals of Coman- 

 thus timorensis without cirri. But their general appearance is quite characteristic, 

 and after a little experience with them they may be distinguished at a glance. From 

 the species of Comanthina they are usualh' easily distinguished by their less massive 

 proximal structure, the usually narrower and always more convex division scries, 

 and the tendency to develop synarthrial and articular prominences, especially in 

 briareus. From the species of Comanthus they are readily distinguished by the 

 short IIIBr series. 



