238 GEODIA ATAXASTRA VAR. T>ATANA. 



(liamoter. Small stiwigylosphaerasters : from seven to twenty straight or conical, 

 distally often thickened rays, 0.2-0.8 jtt thick; centrum 0.6-3 pi, whole aster 2.6- 



6.4 fi, in diameter. Ataxasters: from one to eight cylindrical, or cylindroconical, 

 truncate, simple or rarely bifurcate, rough or spined rays, 0.3-2.8 /£ long and 

 0.4-1.5 // thick; the rays are very irregularly distributed and often very un- 

 equal in size; they arise from a spherical or irregularly tuberous centrum 1.4- 



4.5 n in diameter; total diameter 4-8.3 fx; connected by transitions with the 

 small strongj-losphaerasters. Acanthtylasters: rare, from ten to fifteen cylin- 

 drical, simple or rarely branched rays, 1-2 /< thick ; their distal ends bear dense 

 dusters of large divergent spines and appear thickened; no centrum; total 

 diameter 8-16 /(. Irregular sterraster-deri rates (sterroids): observed only in 

 var. lalumr, a simj)le or lobose central mass with extensive tufts of ray-like 

 spines 4-8 /£ long; total diameter 21-50 /(. Sterrasters : 55-78 by 50-67 by 

 47-57 fi. 



Eastern Pacific. Gulf of Panama; Perico Island. 



Geodia atazastra var. angustana Lenoenfeld. 

 Ante, p. 79. 



Generally whitish. Large amphioxes up to 2.8 mm. long; orthoplagio- 

 triaene-rhabdomes up to 2.3 mm. by 70 /(. Average anatriaene-clade angle 34°. 

 Minute dermal anaclades present, their rhabdomes 190-340 /i long. Two-rayed 

 oxj'^asters present, 40-50 /i long, the three- to seven-rayed 21-40 n in diameter. 

 Oxysphaerasters with stout smooth rays and sterroids not observed. Sterras- 

 ters up to 78 /£ long. 



Eastern Pacific. Gulf of Panama; Perico Island. 



Geodia atazastra var. latana Lendenfeld. 

 Ante, p. 79. 



Lilac-gray. Large amphioxes up to 1.9 mm. long; orthoplagiotriaene 

 rhabdomes up to 1 .7 mm. by 45 /<. Average anatriaene-clade angle 47°. Minute 

 dermal anaclades not observed. Two-rayed oxyasters not observed, the three- 

 to seven-rayed 17-28 /i in diameter. Oxysphaerasters with stout, smooth rays 

 present, 13 fi in diameter. Sterroids present, 21-50 ju in diameter. Sterrasters 

 up to 05 /« long. 



Eastern Pacific. Gulf of Panama; Perico Island. 



