3 
80 ‘* ENDEAVOUR” SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 
OPHIOCREAS SIBOG, Koehler. 
Ophiocreas Siboge, Koehler, Ophiures de l’Exped. du Siboga, 
i, Ophiures de Mer Profonde, 1904, p. 165. 
It is not without some hesitation that I refer these seven 
specimens to this East Indian species, after comparing 
them with a cotype of O. siboge. The most obvious 
difference is in colour, the cotype being uniformly yellow 
and the Australian specimens reddish flesh-colour with 
a more or less heavy purple cast. This difference, how- 
ever, must be disregarded since Koehler gives the colour 
of O. siboge as ‘‘reddish-purple violet,’ not altogether 
unlike the Australian material, apparently. Other differ- 
ences, somewhat intangible, though noticeable when the 
specimens are side by side, I believe may properly be re- 
ferred to individual diversity. The ‘ Endeavour” speci- 
mens are all adult and are in fine condition; the largest 
has the disk 25mm. across and the arms 610mm. long. 
This is, I believe, much the largest specimen of Ophiocreas 
yet recorded. Although this species and the preceding 
(O. phanerum) were both taken east of Flinders Island, 80- 
300 fathoms, I do not infer from this record that they occurred 
in the same haul of the trawl, but of course it is possible they 
did. They are so obviously unlike in their arm-spines 
(tentacle-scales) and teeth, that they cannot be confused, even 
if taken together. 
In regard to the use of the generic name Ophiocreas, I regret 
to see that Doderlein and Matsumoto treat it as a synonym of 
Asteroschema. While it is probable that the old line of 
division between the two genera is not by itself valid, I think 
it is practically certain that we are dealing with two natural 
groups which ought to be kept separate. I therefore propose 
to continue the use of Ophiocreas for species like O. phanerum 
and O. siboge, and of Asteroschema for species like oligactes 
(Pallas), even though I am not yet prepared to define either 
genus accurately. 
Locs.—East of Flinders Island, Bass Strait, 80-300 fathoms. 
Great Australian Bight, 129° 6’ 30” E., 200-300 fathoms. 
Family GORGONOCEPHALIDE. 
Genus ASTEROPORPA, Liitken. 
ASTEROPORPA AUSTRALIENSIS, H. L. Clark. 
Asteroporpa australiensis, H. L. Clark, Mem. Austr. Mus., 
ive, 12> 1909; p. 547. 
This is a nice series of this interesting species, the disk- 
diameters ranging from about 7 to nearly 18 mm.; in the 
