129 
The size appears to be, upon the whole, smaller than in the 
type, which has a diameter of disk of 6 mm. The New Zealand 
specimens, which are most of them in various stages of reproduc- 
tion after division through autotomy, do not exceed a size of ca. 4 mm 
diameter of disk. Three of the specimens which have, appearently, 
finished dividing, since they 
have all 6 arms equally devel- 
oped, and which would thus 
appear to have reached full 
size, measure only 3—4 mm 
diameter of disk. The mouth 
shields are generally broader 
than in the type; they are, 
however, subject to some var¬ 
iation. The difference in the 
shape of the infradental pa- 
pilla, which is represented 
here as trifid, while in the 
type it is simply triangular, 
pointed, is of no value as a 
distinguishing feature, being 
altogether too inconstant; even 
in one and the same spec- 
imen we may find both shapes 
represented. For the rest it 
is hard to point out any note- 
worthy differences between the 
typical form and the New Zea¬ 
land specimens, excepting the faet that the latter have 4 armspines, 
while the typical form has only three. 
The characters here pointed out, viz. the smaller size, the dif- 
ferent shape of the mouth shield and the different number of arm¬ 
spines, would seem to necessitate distinguishing the New Zealand 
specimens as a separate variety, the more so as the typical form 
was found in the Gulf of Panama and at Galapagos, in depths of 
550—900 fms. 
The weight to be attached to the wide separation of the local- 
ities is, however, considerably lessened through the faet that Koeh- 
Fig. 13. Ophiaetis profundi, var. Novæ-Zea- 
landiæ. 1—2. Part of oral side of two differ- 
ent specimens ; 3. part of dorsal side ; 4. two 
armjoints, from middle of arm; dorsal side, 
The two figures 1 and 4 are from an 
aberrant specimen, from oflf the North Cape 
(cf. p. 131). 
Vidensk. Medd. fra Dansk naturh. Foren. Bd. 77. 
9 
