VERRILL 



SPORASTERIAS PERRIERI (Smith). 



Asterias perrieri SMITH, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, xvn, p. 106, 1876 

 (non Studer, 1884; non Anasterias perrieri Ludwig, 1905). 



This is a true Sporasterias, with well developed skeleton and numer- 

 ous spines. It is reguarly six-rayed. Smith states that his largest 

 specimen carried hundreds of attached young, all of which were six- 

 rayed. It appears to be clearly distinct from the rugispina-antarctica 

 group. 



The type was from Kerguelen Island, in 5 to 10 fathoms. 



SPORASTERIAS RUPICOLA Verrill. 



Asterias rupicola VERRILL, op. cit., 1876, p. 74. 



This is a small, short-rayed form. The types, which were from 

 Kerguelen Island shore, have the following characters when dry : 



The dorsal skeleton is pretty well developed, openly reticulated, 

 with numerous moderately large papular areas, evenly distributed, 

 larger on the basal part of the rays, mostly with two to four or five 

 papulae; single ones occur distally. The dorsal plates are not con- 

 cealed by the dermis ; the dorsal spines are evenly distributed, short, 

 clavate, subequal, with no evident larger median row, one to three 

 on the small nodal plates. 



The superomarginal spines form a distinct simple row, one to a 

 plate. The plates being stout and imbricated. The inferomarginal 

 plates mostly bear two larger and longer clavate spines. A wide lane 

 between the upper and lower marginal rows, broadening proximally, 

 has a row of large papular areas, with three to five papulae separated 

 by stout descending apophyses of the superomarginal plates, some 

 of which carry a single small spinule. 



A short interactinal row of small plates exists proximally, some of 

 them bearing a single spine. Between these is a row of single papulae ; 

 the proximal ones are often larger than the spines and inflated, as in 

 other allied species. 



The adambulacral spines form a single regular row; they are 

 smaller and more slender than the inferomarginals, and are distinctly 

 clavate. The interradial axils are covered with a thicker canaliculated 

 dermis without spines. The jaws are narrow. 



Major pedicellariae a*e few and small; some along the furrow 

 margins and on the oral spines are thick, ovate or blunt-lanceolate ; a 

 few smaller, more acute ones are on dorsal spines. Minor pedicellariae 

 appear to be lacking in the several types. They are abundant in 

 6". rugispina (Stimpson) and most of the other allied forms, and there 

 are other notable differences in the spines and skeleton. 



