1080 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Martens ) a with which Doederlein & has recently united purpureus, the 2 having been taken at 
Mauritius; and the former is recorded also from Amboina and Flores, and the latter from the Seychelles. 
The name refers to the large granules which have the appearance of scales. 
Ophidiaster triseriatus, new species. 
aOstasiat. Echinod.<Arch. f. Naturg., Bel. 32, 1866, p. 62. 
t>Bericht. u. d. v. Uerrn Prof. Semon bei Amboina ges. Asteroidea, in Semon, Zool. Forsch. in Australien u. d. Malay 
Archipel.<Jenaische Denkschrift, Bd. vm. 1896, p. 317. 
PI. xxx, fig. 3; pi. xxxi, figs. 7, 7a. 
R=18.5 mm.; r=4 mm. R=4.6 r. Breadth of ray at base, 4.75 — 5 mm.; ray about 5.2 
Rays 5. 
times as long, measured on side, as width at base. 
Disk rather large for genus, rays stout; slightly tapering to a blunt extremity which is capped by 
a tumid terminal plate bearing 3 or 4 low tubercular knobs. Rays well arched above, slightly flattened 
actinally, yet rounded. Interbrachial arcs acute, fairly wide. Abactinal and marginal plates very 
tumid, forming 7 fairly regular series separated by conspicuous furrows containing papular areas. 
Medioradial and superomarginal plates largest and most convex, some of them appearing almost hem- 
ispherical. Proximal plate of each radial series largest of all, forming a regular pentagon on disk. 
Between inferomarginals (which are smaller than superomarginals) and the adambulacrals are 2 rows 
of aetinal intermediate plates proximally, becoming 1 on distal two-thirds of ray. The granulation is 
of medium coarseness. Granules are roundish or roundish polygonal, and are a trifle larger in the 
center of those plates which are wholly covered than in the papular furrows. Transverse, fairly regu- 
lar, fine cracks between larger plates are bordered by slightly enlarged granules. The cracks are 
usually conspicuous between marginal plates, and on proximal portion of ray. Most of the plates of 
median radial series (including the large primary radial) and of superomarginal have the exposed 
rounded surface either partially or wholly free from granules. A number of the adradial and infero- 
marginal plates, which are not so tumid as the others, have a naked central area. This exposed por- 
tion of the plate is quite smooth and on the distal half of the ray is rather more hemispherical and 
prominent than elsewhere (excepting the 5 primary radials). A number of adradial and superomar- 
ginal plates possess a 2-jawed spatulate narrow pedicellaria with curved spectacle-shaped (pince-nez) 
fossae very similar to those of 0. sclerodermus. The fossae are surrounded by a small naked area. Papu- 
lar areas in 6 longitudinal rows,- 3 to 5 small pores to each area. On distal portion of ray, owing to the 
crowding of the adradial series of plates by enlarged radial and superomarginal plates, the adradial 
series of papulae is absent and the superomarginal is reduced to a single pore to an area, or, at very tip, 
where the superomarginal and radial plates touch, both series of papulae may be wanting. Inside 
apical area of disk there is but 1 pore to a papular area. 
Adambulacral furrow spinelets 2 to each plate, oblong, equal, round-tipped to truncate. Separated 
from these by a distance equal to one-half to three-fourths their length is a flat obovate squamiform 
spinelet or tubercle, on aetinal surface of plate. These form a very regular series and are directed away 
from furrow. Touching the base of each of these spines on the aboral side is a round-tipped slightly 
compressed granule, larger than the other granules of aetinal surface, the series of which is quite regu- 
lar and is intermediate between furrow and aetinal spines. Granulation of aetinal surface is very 
slightly coarser than that of abactinal, but surrounding the adambulacral spines is a trifle finer than 
on aetinal intermediate plates. On one ray there is a single pedicellaria on 1 of inner plates of latter 
series. 
Madreporic body subcircular, situated between 2 large convex radial plates. Striations irregular, 
branching, centrifugal. Six or 7 enlarged granules surround subcentral anal aperture. 
Variations: Another much smaller specimen from the same station (R=7 mm. ) agrees very well 
with the type except that the plates, especially the primary radials, are not so prominent, and all of 
the latter but one are covered with granules. The intermediate series of adambulacral granules is 
much more prominent than in the type, nearly or quite equaling the furrow granules or spinelets in 
size. As would be expected, papula: are fewer, there being but 1 to each area. Pedicellarise are as 
yet undeveloped. Many of the plates of ray, as in the type, are naked, but this portion is not quite 
so prominent, although already very convex. 
Locality: Station 4128, vicinity of Kauai Island, 68-90 fathoms, coarse brown coral sand, foram- 
inifera, 2 specimens. Type no. 21176, U. S. National Museum. 
I ! 
