A. E. Verrill — New Genera and Species of Starfishes. 67 



Asterias ( Urasterias) forcipulata Ver., sp. nov.* 



A very large species, allied to U. Linckii. Rays long and 

 slender, gradually tapered; length of ray, S25 mm ; breadth, 

 2§mm . ^gk sma rj # Dorsal skeleton weak, with large papular 

 areas nearly concealed by vast numbers of unusually large 

 minor pedicellarise. 



The dorsal plates are small, three or five-lobed or stellate, 

 each of the larger ones usually bearing a rather long tapered 

 subacute spine ; these are well spaced and form about five 

 irregular or indefinite rows. The spines are surrounded by 

 wreaths of the large minor pedicellarise, but these also occur- 

 in larger clusters scattered over the integument between the 

 spines. Large major pedicellarise are also scattered over the 

 back ; these are stout, ovate-lanceolate, with obtuse tips, which 

 are usually strongly denticulate. 



On the sides of the ray and separated from those above by 

 a wide papular band there is a row of small, mostly four- 

 lobed marginals, usually bearing a single long spine. They are 

 connected to those above and below by weak transverse bars, 

 leaving large papular areas between. The spines are rather 

 longer and larger than those of the dorsal surface. Between 

 these and the adambulacral spines there is a single row of 

 stouter spine-bearing plates, the infero-marginals ; each corre- 

 sponds to -Q.ve or six adambulacrals. Most of these bear two 

 long, tapered spines, usually blunt and somewhat flattened or 

 sulcate at the tips, rather larger than the upper marginals, 

 usually 7 to 8 mm long. Between their bases there are often 

 scattered large and strong, denticulate, major pedicellarise, 

 similar to those of the back, but mostly stouter and more 

 obtuse ; with these are some that are much smaller, lanceolate, 

 and subacute. The large pedicellarise also occur on the naked 

 spaces below, both on the papular areas and on the adambula- 

 cral plates. There are also some small synactinal ossicles con- 

 necting the peractinals with the adambulacrals, but not bear- 

 ing spines. The adambulacral spines form two regular close 

 rows, two on each plate ; they are slender, tapered, mostly 

 flattened, subacute, about 5 to 5'5 mm long. The ambulacral 

 pores are large and form four rows. 



The dorsal minor pedicellarise are remarkable for their great 

 size and abundance ; in life they probably nearly conceal the 

 whole upper surface and spines, and are borne on slender 

 pedicels. 



Departure Bay, Brit. Col., 18 fath., gravel (C. H. Young, 

 1908), Canada Geol. Survey. 



* The subgenus Urasterias is now proposed for this species, with U. 

 Linckii and U. panopla Str. of the Arctic. It is characterized by the absence 

 of spiniferous actinal plates, weakness of dorsal skeleton, great size and 

 abundance of both kinds of pedicellarise. Type U. Linckii. 



