No. 19.] ECHINODERMS OF CONNECTICUT. 63 



Asterias tenera Stimpson 



Slender-armed Starfish 

 Plate X. 



In the paper by Stimpson* in which the original description 

 of Asterias tenera occurs, there is described another, very similar 

 species, Under the name of A. compta, based on a single specimen 

 three inches in diameter. 



Asterias compta was thought to differ from A. tenera in 

 being of somewhat less slender proportions, in having the rays 

 more depressed, and particularly in having the spines, especially 

 towards the tip of the rays, surrounded by broad wreaths of 

 pedicellarias. The type locality for A. tenera was Massachusetts 

 Bay, and for A. compta off the coast of New Jersey. 



From an examination of the records of the collections of 

 this species by the United States Fish Commission, Verrillf gives 

 the distribution of A. tenera as Cape Cod to Newfoundland in 

 ID to 129 fathoms, and states that the species is abundant in 

 Massachusetts Bay and the Bay of Fundy in lo to 40 fathoms. 



Verrill states that A. compta is large and abundant in the 

 cold area south of Rhode Island and Marthas Vineyard in 20 

 to 50 fathoms. He emphasizes the close relationship of the two 

 so-called species, and suggests that A. tenera may be only a 

 poorly nourished, slender variety of A. compta. Clarkt has 

 examined both varieties and considers them specifically identical. 



An examination of a large number of specimens of both 

 forms belonging to the Yale University Museum has failed to 

 show any definite anatomical characters by which they can be 

 invariably distinguished. Many of the specimens can be placed 

 without hesitation in the one group or the other, but others, and 



* Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., pp. 269, 270, 1862. 



t Distribution of the Echinoderms of Northeastern America. Am. Journ. Science, 

 vol. xlix, 1895. 



t Bull. U. S. Fish Commission, 1902. 



Explanation of Plate X. Asterias tenera. 



Fig. I. Oral surface of dried specimen showing the slender spines sur- 

 rounded by dense wreaths of pedicellariae ; about twice natural 

 size. 



Fig. 2. Aboral surface; natural size. 



Fig. 3. Oral surface of a small specimen preserved in alcohol, showing 

 the broad ambulacral grooves with tube-feet; natural size. 



Fig. 4. Oral surface of dried specimen; natural size. 



