74 THE ECHINODERMS OF TORRES STRAIT. 
To cap the climax the color is very dark, almost black, and not at all red. This specimen 
may perhaps be senescent, but it certainly does not answer well to the account of any known 
Leiaster, though it seems nearest to leachit. 
Leiaster speciosus. 
Von Martens. 1866. Arch. f. Naturg., 32, pt. 1, p. 70. 
(Plate 11, and Plate 27, Figures 1 and 2.) 
The type of this sea-star was taken at Larentuka, Flores, Dutch East Indies, and is 
said to have had an ‘‘arm radius”’ of 255 mm. If this is not a typographical error, speciosus 
is not only one of the largest Leiasters but one of the largest linckiids known. The fine 
specimen taken at Mer had R = 150 mm., and its gorgeous color is perfectly shown on plate 
11. The color is well preserved in the dry specimen. Sladen says nothing of the size or 
color of the specimen he reports from Kandavu, Fiji (1889, p. 408). 
There is a specimen in the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy from Port Galera, 
Mindoro, Philippine Islands, which has R=115 mm. It shows the same brilliant color 
as the Torres Strait specimen. The only other record of the species I have found is Bell’s, 
of a young one from Macclesfield Bank. The specimen of Leiaster in the Amsterdam 
Museum, from the Moluccas, recorded by Sluiter (1895) as leachii, is probably speciosus. 
There is no doubt that the species is nearly allied to leachii but in all the specimens 
as yet taken the rays are much stouter and pedicellariz are present. The latter character 
needs further demonstration, for prolonged search on the specimen from Mer reveals at 
most only one or two rudimentary pits which may be the last remains of pedicellariz. As 
the Philippine specimen has about 30 pedicellariz, it occurred to me, as suggested above, 
that the pedicellarixe are lost with increased size and the development of the thick, slimy 
skin. This is obviously not the case if von Martens’ measurement of his type is correct 
as printed; if the diameter is meant (which would give R=120 mm.+) it might be true. 
Sladen’s specimen from Fiji is said to have pedicellarize present but ‘‘not nearly so numer- 
ous’”’ as in the type. No doubt there is much individual diversity in the matter. Possibly 
larger series of specimens will demonstrate that speciosus is an eastern subspecies of leachit, 
or even that the supposed differences are matters of individual diversity only, but for the 
present the two forms may well be kept separate. 
The only specimen of this brilliant sea-star which we found at Mer, and the only 
Leiaster yet known from the Torres Strait region, was found among the corals near the 
outer edge of the western end of the southwestern reef at extreme low tide on September 
29, 1913. It was very smooth and slimy to the touch and responded to handling by a 
prompt autotomy of two of its rays. It was subsequently narcotized with magnesium 
sulphate and preserved without further damage. Prolonged search during the following 
four weeks failed to reveal another specimen, but it must be admitted we did not again 
during our stay have so low a tide as on that notable day. 
Leiaster brevispinus ' sp. nov. 
(Plate 30.) 
R=130 mm.; r=11 mm.; br=13 mm. R=12r or 10br. Rays long and cylindrical, 
moderately slender and not tapering appreciably until near tip. Disk small and rather 
flat in the dry specimen. Abactinal skeleton, as usual in Leiaster, made up of 3 longitudinal 
series of plates besides the 2 series of marginals on each side; all are finely granulated at 
center but it is probable (one might almost say certain) that in fresh or alcoholic material 
this granulation would be entirely concealed beneath the skin. Madreporite, as usual in 
1 Brevis =short + spinus =a spine, in reference to the short furrow spines. 
