PORANIA. 79 
1. PORANIA. 
Goniaster (pars), Ag. Mém. Soc. Neuch. i. (1836) p. 191; Forbes, Mem. 
Wern. Soe. viii. (1839) p. 118; ed. Brit. Starf. (1841) p. 122. 
Porania, Gray, Ann. § Mag. vi. (1840) p. 288; Norman, Ann. § Mag 
Xv. (1865) p. 122; Sladen, Chall. Rep. Ast. (1889) p. 356, 
Asteropsis (pars), M. 7'r. Syst. Ast. (1842) p. 64. 
Porania is a Gymnasterid in which the marginal plates carry 
spines, but in which there is no row of spines along the middle of 
each ray. The plates of the dorsal surface are covered with mem- 
brane, but with only few, if any, spines. On the lower surface the 
intermediate plates are large and closely packed. 
1. Porania pulvillus. (Plate X. figs. 7 & 8.) 
Asterias pulvillus, O. F. Miill. Zool. Dan. i. (1788) p. 19, pl. xix. 
Goniaster templetoni, Forbes, Mem. Wern. Soc. viii. (1839) p. 118, 
pl. iv. figs. 1 & 2; ad. Brit. Starf. (1840) p. 122; Thompson, Nat. 
Hist. Irel. iv. (1856) p. 440. 
Porania gibbosa, Gray, Ann. § Mag. vi. (1840) p. 288. 
Asteropsis pulvillus, M. Tr. Syst. Ast. (1842) p. 64; Sars, Norg. 
Ech. (1861) p. 44; Duyj. § Hup. Ech. (1862) p. 410. 
Porania pulvillus, Gray, Brit. Rad. (1848) p. 22; Norm. Ann. § 
Mag. xv. (1863) p. 122; Perr. Arch. Zool. expér. v. (1876) p. 96; 
Henderson, Proc. Roy. Phys, Soc. ix. (1887) p.333; Sladen, Chall. 
Rep. Ast. (1889) p. 560. 
R=2r. 
Rays rather short, triangular, tapering rapidly to a rounded 
point. Ambulacral groove moderately wide, with two rows of dis- 
tinct, stout, blunt spines on either side. The integument on the 
lower surface is marked out into definite areas, corresponding with 
most of which (for a few do not extend as far as the margin) are 
two short marginal spines. The upper surface is smooth and greasy 
to the touch, and the only processes on it are the scattered groups of 
papule ; in dried specimens the surface is closely reticular ; the dorsal 
plates can often be seen. The large madreporite is often obscured 
by the thick skin and is placed high up on the descending side of 
the disk. Considerable differences obtain in the height of the disk. 
Colour in life bright red above, lighter below ; in spirit yellowish ; 
dried, red to dark brown. 
R. r. Height of disk. 
7 35 25 
7 33 21 
55 27 17 
59 26 22 
33 16 12 
29 15 10 
28°5 13 10 
Distribution. Eastern North Atlantic. To 106 fms. 
