88 THE ECHINODERMS OF TORRES STRAIT. 
TAMARIA. 
Gray. 1840. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 6, p. 283. 
Genotype: Tamaria fusca Gray, 1840, l. c. Monotypic. 
It is somewhat unfortunate that fusca is necessarily the type of this genus, for it is 
not only a very variable species, but it is not ordinarily very typical of the group; young 
individuals are more generally typical than adults. As a whole, the genus is a fairly homo- 
geneous one and easily distinguished from Ophidiaster by the absence of papular areas 
below the inferomarginal plates. It is true that papule do sometimes occur on the actinal 
surface but they are always isolated or at most only 2 or 3 together and never form distinct 
areas, so that no species of Yamaria has actinally the facies of an Ophidiaster. 
As Gray’s name has never been in use, all of the species, which it seems to me should 
be brought together here, have been described as Ophidiasters, except dubiosa, which was 
placed in Linckia, when first described. As these species are included in the table given 
above (p. 77) of forms called Ophidiaster, it is not necessary to give a full bibliography here 
with each species. 
The characters which seem to differentiate the members of the genus are the nature 
of the abactinal and marginal plates, the size and arrangement of the papular areas, the 
presence and character of pedicellariz, the form and proportion of the rays, and the 
distribution of spines or spinelets on the actinal surface. 
Key to the Species of Tamaria. 
A. Abactinal plates relatively low, convex or flattened, not at all tumescent. 
B. Abactinal and marginal plates, at least on distal half of ray, with one or more central ~ 
granules conspicuously enlarged to form a tubercle or tubercles. 
C. Tubercles erect, more or less pointed, often solitary; pedicellarix present as a rule in adults 
but often wanting in young. 
D. Papular areas moderate with usually fewer than 10 pores; tubercles developing with 
ages sraysitaperine sbluntly;pointed™=enicemacee tae aelyaee cee ees cnit fusca 
DD. Papular areas large, forming very conspicuous regular series, each with 10 or more 
pores; tubercles disappearing with age; rays more cylindrical, stout, blunt.. twberifera, juv. 
CC. Tubercles low, rounded, in groups on every abactinal and marginal plate; no pedicellariw . lithosora 
BB. Abactinal and marginal plates without tubercles, though central granules may be a little 
larger than those around them. 
C. Pedicellariz present, at least on actinal surface. 
D. Disk small (R =7-8 r) and rays slender (R =5.5-7 br). 
Ei. Papular areas large with numerous (10 or more) papule; pedicellariw wide, 
Btraight,, withtjawaldenticulatenn sa... \mecniaeeer croc eee eee renee tuberifera 
EE. Papular areas small with 1 to 3 pores; pedicellarie narrow, curved, with jaws 
[11 01010) 1) ee RS See een er Pee Ree oy EO Um msoae oobodd tenella 
DD. Disk large (R =3.5-5 r) and rays stout (R =4-5 br). 
E. Rays very short and stout, R =3.5-4 r; measured alongside, ray is about 2.5 times 
as long as wide at base; interradial actinal areas, each with 12 to 15 flat, 
rounded spinelets similar to subambulacrals.................-.000002000 floride 
EE. Rays longer (R =4.5-5 r) and less stout; no actinal interradial spinelets. 
F. Pedicellarie straight, wide, 8-shaped with denticulate jaws; few (38 to 5) 
papule to an area; subambulacral spinelets in two series...............04- pusilla 
FF. Pedicellarie often curved, narrow, with jaws not denticulate; 9 to 14 papule 
to an area; subambulacral spines in one conspicuous series..............-- scleroderma 
CC. Pedicellariz wanting. 
D. Subambulacral spines in two series, one often more or less indistinct or incomplete, well 
separated from’ furrow-spines*) Ri=7—Sirs .)sec ci oa. ere elec remieis eete sees marmoraia 
DD. Subambulacral spines in one series, contiguous to furrow spines; R=5-6r......... dubiosa 
AA, Abactinal plates (at least many on distal half of ray) conspicuously tumid. 
B. Rays stout, R=4-5r; abactinal plates unequally and irregularly tumid; subambulacral 
spinelets in two series, the inner of much smaller spinelets................- triseriata 
BB. Rays more slender, R=7-8r; abactinal plates uniformly tumid; subambulacral spines in a 
SUN FIST ROTICS 7 asters oscars yeilavons eevee hs op 5c5, 00 ona yok aves Pe eaa RVG oe es aPais Seat TONER OIE tumescens 
