238 



GEODIA ATAXASTRA VAR. LATANA. 



diameter. S7nall strongylosphaerasters : from seven to twenty straight or conical, 

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



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

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

 0.4-1.5 /t 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 /( in diameter; total diameter 4-8.3 //; connected by transitions with the 

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

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

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

 diameter 8-16 Irregular sterraster-derivates (sterroids): observed only in 

 var. latana; a simple or lobose central mass with extensive tufts of ray-like 

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

 47-57 IX. 



Eastern Pacific. Gulf of Panama; Perico Island. 



Geodia ataxastra var. angustana Lendenfbld. 

 Ante, p. 79. 



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

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

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

 oxyasters present, 40-50 fx long, the three- to seven-rayed 21-40 pt in diameter. 

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

 ters up to 78 fi long. 



Eastern Pacific. Gulf of Panama; Perico Island. 



Geodia ataxastra 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 fx. Average anatriaene-clade angle 47°. Minute 

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

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

 present, 13 /x in diameter. Sterroids present, 21-50 jx in diameter. Sterrasters 

 up to 65 jx long. 



Eastern Pacific. Gulf of Panama; Perico Island. 



