1918 Bush: on Echinoderms 27 



disk ; adambulacral spines alternately 1 and 2 to a plate or forming 2 rows ; 

 major pedicellariae ovate or lanceolate, and large serrate dermal ones 

 may occur. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



A. Dorsal spines equal, arranged in 5 to 7 rows on each ray. 



B. Surface even; spines not capitate. 1. L. aequalis 

 BB. Surface not even; spines capitate. 2. L. hexactis 



AA. Dorsal spines unequal, not in rows except sometimes in median 

 radial rows. 



C. Rays 5. S. L. epichlora 

 CC. Rays 6. 3a. L. epichlora alaskensis 



1. Leptasterias aequalis (Stimson) Verrill. 



Asterias aequalis Stimpson. 



Rays tapering to acute tips ; disk medium. Dorsal spines very numer- 

 ous, mostly capitate, some club-like, very crowded, equal in height and 

 thus presenting an even surface. Marginals and the 1 row of interactinals 

 longer and sharper than dorsals and arranged in regular rows ; adambu- 

 lacral spines 2 to a plate; major pedicellariae few, large, rather long; 

 minor pedicellariae numerous. — Numerous, along tide line. 



2. Leptasterias hexactis (Stimpson) Verrill. 

 Asterias hexactis Stimpson. 



Similar to L. aequalis in form. Dorsal spines numerous, mostly club- 

 like, some slender, not very crowded, not equal in height, surrounded by 

 wreaths of minor pedicellariae, sometimes arranged singly or in groups in 

 not very definite rows ; other spines and pedicellariae similar to those of 

 L. aequalis, — Numerous, along tide line. 



3. Leptasterias epichlora (Brandt) Verrill. 



Asterias epichlora Brandt; (?) Asteinas camtchatica Brandt; Asterias 

 saanichensis De Loriol. 



Rays 5, shorter than in L. aequalis, more blunt. Dorsal spines short, 

 rather numerous, unequal, mostly conspicuously headed but some club-like, 

 arranged net-like or in groups, median row distinct or not; marginal spines 

 longer than dorsals and arranged in rows ; interactinals similar to mar- 

 ginals, usually in 1 row ; adambulacrals alternately 1 and 2 to a plate ; 

 minor pedicellariae numerous; large stout dermal major pedicellariae occur. 

 — Type not found in our locality. 



3a. Leptasterias epichlora alaskensis Verrill. 



Much like L. epichlora, 6-rayed; dorsal spines more conspicuously 

 headed, sometimes grouped, usually no median radial rows. 3 or 4 were 



