SHALLOW-WATER STARFISHES 



193 



the different forms of the minor pedicellariae. The dorsal and mar- 

 ginal spines are longer than in the typical form, and the papulae are 

 more numerous. 



Fia 9. 



Allasterias rathbutii rortonensis Ver. Pedicellariae from the axillary or actinal interradial 

 areas; a-c, acute lanceolate forms; d, e, m, the same with the valves spatulate and dentate; 

 g-l, small short forms. X 32. 



ALLASTERIAS ANOMALA Verrill. 



Plate Lix, figure 2 (type, actinal side) ; plate Lx, figure 2 (type, dorsal) ; plate 

 LXix, figure 5 (type, actinal X 5%) ; plate lxxvii, figure 3; plate lxxviii, 

 figures 3, 4 (pedicellariae and spines). 



Allasterias rathbuni, var. anomala Verrill, op. cit., 1909, p. 66, figs. 5, 6. 



Rays five, broad at base, regularly tapered to rather acute tips, and 

 margined on the sides with a fringe of superomarginal spines. Radii 

 of the type, 23 mm. and 87 mm. ; ratio, i : 3.8. Breadth of rays at 

 base, 29 mm. 



The dorsal ossicles are slender and loosely reticulated, leaving 

 large papular areas, with numerous papulae. The dorsal spines are 

 short, small and numerous, not crowded, clavate and capitate. They 

 mostly stand isolated on the ossicles around the papular areas, often 

 forming imperfect circles or polygons having twelve to twenty 

 spines in the groups, so that they present a somewhat reticulated 

 arrangement. A median radial row is distinct, due to the increased 

 number of spines, not to their larger size. 



The madreporic plate is large, round, and convex, without any 

 special spines around it. 



The superomarginal spines form a conspicuous marginal fringe, 

 owing to their numbers rather than to their size. They are short, 

 14 



