PORAXI \. 



1. PORANIA. 



Goniaster (pars), Ag. Mem. Soc. Neueh. i. (1836) p. 191; Forbes, Mem. 



Warn. Soc. viii. (1839) p. 118 ; id. Brit. Star/. (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. Tr. Sijst. 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. Mull. Zool. Dan. i. (1788) p. 19, pi. xix. 

 Gouiaster templetoni, Forbes, Mem. Wern. Soc. viii. (1839) p. 118, 



pi. iv. figs. 1 & 2 ; id. 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, Norq. 



Ech. (1861)p. 44; Duj. 8f Hup. Ech. (1862) p. 410. 

 Porania pulvillus, Gray, Brit. Bad. (1848) p. 22; Norm. Ann. 8,- 



Mag. xv. (1863) p. 122; Pen: Arch. Zool. exper. v. (1876) p. 96; 



Henderson, Proc. Boy. Phys. Soc. ix. (1887) p. 333 ; Sladen, Chall. 



Bep. Ast. (1889) p. 360. 



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 

 papulae ; 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. 



Distribution. Eastern Xorth Atlantic. To 106 fms. 



