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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
ASTEROIDEA. 
STARFISHES. 
The Fish HawFs collection of starfishes is of considerable interest, although 
no new species were found. There are 103 specimens, representing 11 species, but 
one-third of these belong to a single species of Astropecten. With one exception 
the species are common West Indian forms, and the list is almost a duplicate of one 
published in 1898 as “The Asteroids of Jamaica” (Johns Hopkins Univ. Circ.,Nov., 
1898). These starfishes are readily distinguished from each other, as they represent 
no less than 7 families, and the following artificial key will make their determination 
easy, although it is worthless for any other species. 
A. Rays shorter than diameter of disk, the general shape of animal pentagonal. 
I. Size large, disk high Pentaceros reticulatus. (7) 
II. Size very small, disk flat Asterina folium. (8) 
B. Rays much longer than diameter of disk. 
I. Rays more or less flattened, and spiny, at least on the sides. 
a. Disk large; general form star-shaped; marginal plates of rays on upper side very prominent. 
1. Marginal plates without spines ' Astropecten cmtillensis. (1) 
2. Marginal plates with erect, conical spines .....Astropecten duplicatus. (2) 
b. Disk smaller, rays longer, marginal plates not prominent. 
1. Rays 9, flat and long Luidia senegalensis. (5) 
2. Rays 5, flat and long, not spiny above Luidia clathrccta. (4) 
3. Rays 5, banded alternately with green or purple and yellow, somewhat flattened, long, 
and covered with small spines Luidia alternata. (3) 
4. Rays 5, not much flattened, short, blunt, and bearing a few (30 to 60) coarse spines... Echinaster crassispina. (11) 
II. Disk very small, rays very slender, and almost cylindrical. 
a. Rays rather blunt and quite smooth. 
1. Groups of openings through skeleton arranged in regular longitudinal rows on rays. . Ophidiaster guildingii. (9) 
2. Groups of openings through skeleton, without any definite arrangement Linckia guildingii. (10) 
b. Rays tapering, and more or less spiny, at least on sides Zoroaster fulgens. (6) 
1. Astropecten antillensis Liitken. 
This common starfish occurs throughout the West Indies, on sandy bottoms. It is generally very 
light colored, whitish or pale brown, and reaches a diameter of about 175 mm. There are thirty-six 
specimens in the Fish Hawk collection, ranging from 6 to 185 mm. across. The smallest has the 
paxilhe with 6 or more spinelets, 4 marginal plates on each side of ray, and a A -shaped plate at tip; 
infero-marginal plates with one lateral spine, the second just beginning to appear. Specimens 12 to 15 
nun. across have the second lateral spine nearly as large as the first, except on the 2 infero-marginal 
plates at angle of the rays; the paxilhe spinelets are more graniform. In specimens 24 mm. across the 
paxilhe spinelets are nearly granular. Small specimens are easily distinguished from small specimens 
of the next species by their flatness, breadth of rays, the paxilhe, and bluntness of lateral spines. 
Collected at Arroyo, Mayaguez, and Puerto Real. 
2. Astropecten duplicatus (Gray). 
This species seems to occur in deeper water than the preceding around Porto Rico, but may be 
found with it. There are several differences between them, but the spines on the marginal plates 
sufficiently distinguish duplicatus. It reaches the same size and has the same distribution as antillensis, 
but varies more in color, being sometimes bright reddish brown. 
There are 11 specimens before me, varying in size from 18 to 178 mm. across and in color from 
almost white to brownish orange, with feet red, green, or pale brown. The smallest has only 4 or 5 
spinelets on each paxil la and no spines on supero-marginal plates. 
Collected at stations 6058, 6072, 6084, 6085, 6091, and 6096; none taken in less than 6 fathoms. 
3. Luidia alternata (Say). 
One of the handsomest starfishes of the West Indies, often found with the two preceding. It 
reaches a large size, 250 mm. across, and its striking colors make it very conspicuous. There is only 
one small specimen in the Fish Hawk collection (65 mm. across), from station 6097, in 10 fathoms. 
The colors are purplish and yellowish. 
