737 



THK RKCKNT CKINOIDS OF AUSTRALIA — CLAKK. #^T^- 



Comatuld fimbriate, 1816, Lam;trck, Hist. Nat. des animaux Sius 

 vertebres, vol. 2, p. 535 (Australia). 



Comalnla coccodisioma, 1862, Dujardin and Hupe, Hist. Nat. des 

 zoopliytes, Echinodermes, p, 208 (nomeii nudum) {Mada- 

 gascar). 



Cotnntvla {Actinotnetra) bonieensis, 1875, Gfube, Jahre:sbei'. 

 scliles. Ges. vaterl. Cultur, 1875, p. 75 (North Borneo). 



Aclino)iietra coppe))(jeri; 1882, Bell, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1882, p. 535 

 (Flindkrs, Clairmont); 1S84-, Report Zool. Coll. H.M.S. 

 "Alert," p. 168, pi. xvi., fig. B. (idem). 



Actuiometra midtiradiata, 1888, P. H. Carpenter, "Challenger" 

 Reports, Zool., vol. 26, ]\ 322 {Prince of Wales Channel, 

 8fms.); 1889, Studer, Die For.schungsreise S.M.S. "Gazelle," 

 iii., Thiel,Zool. u. Geol., p. 195 {19° 42-1' S. kit, 116° 498' 

 E.long, 91-5 meters) ; 1894, Bell, Ptoc. Zool. Soc, 1894, 

 p. 394 (xV. IF. Australia). 



Capillaster midtiradiata, 1909, A. H. Clark, Zoologische Anzei^er, 

 vol. 34, p. 364 {Dirk Ilartog I., 7 J ins.) ; Vidensk. Meddel 

 fra den Naturliist. Foiening i Kobenliavn, 1909, p. 134 

 (discussion). 



Actiywmetra multifida, Biit. Mus., MS. 

 Anledu)i anceps, Brit. Mas., MS. 



Differential Characters. — This species usually has between 

 fifteen and twent3'^-five arms. It is the only Au-traliau Comaculid 

 in which the first brachial of the free arm boars a pinnule, and 

 is therefore easily recognised. 



Australian Records. — Known since 1816 from "Australia," it 

 is only within comparatively recent years that exact records of 

 locality touching the occurtence of this species in Australia Lave 

 been published. The "Gazelle" obtained it in 7 fathoms at 

 Turtle Bay, Dirk Hartog Island, West Australia, and in 19" 421' 

 S. lat., 116^ 49-8' E. long, (oft" West Australia) in 91-5 meters 

 (about 51 fathoms); Bell records it from " North-west Australia " ; 

 the "Alert" dredged it at Flinders Island, Claremont, in 11 

 fathoms ; and the " Challenger " dredged it in Prince of Wales 

 Channel (10° 30' S. lat., 142° 18' E. long.) in 8 fathom.s. 



Distribution. — Cajjillaster midtiradiata is found at Madaga.scar 

 and Mauritius, and ranges (Vom Ceylon eastward along the shores 

 of the Indian Ocean, including the more northern coasts of 

 Australia, occurring abundantly about all the East Indian Islands, 

 and reaching as far as Kogoshima, .lapan, and the Caroline 

 Islands.'^ 



2 The form occurring on the Kouth-eastern coast of Africa, and at Mada- 

 gascar and Mauritius, differs slightly from the typical East Indian variety, 

 and has been differentiated under the subspecifio name of C. m. roccodistoma 

 cf. Proc. U.S. Nat, Mus., vol. 40, p. J 6). 



