I
383.1
C52
SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF THE EXPEDITION TO THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA
IN CHARGE OF C. H. TOWNSEND, BY THE U. S. FISHERIES STEAMSHIP
'ALBATROSS' IN 1911. COMMANDER C. H. BURRAGE, U. S. N.,
COMMANDING.
Published by Permission of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries.
V.
Echinoderms from Lower California, with Descriptions
of new Species.
BY HUBERT LYMAN CLARK.
AUTHOR'S EDITION, extracted from BULLETIN
OF THE
Hmerican flDuseum of IRatural
VOL. XXXII, ART. VIII, pp. 185-236.
New York,' July 9, 1913.
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Article VIII.— ECHINODERMS FROM LOWER CALIFORNIA,
WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.1
BY HUBERT LYMAN CLARK.
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.
[By permission of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries.]
PLATES XLIV TO XLVI.
The collection of echinoderms made by the 'Albatross' Expedition to
Lower California in the spring of 1911 proves to be of more than ordinary
interest. It consists of 1881 specimens representing 107 species, of which
40 are starfishes, 31 are ophiurans, 18 are echini and 18 are holothurians.
There are no crinoids in the collection. There is one apparently new species
among the echini and two undescribed forms in each of the other classes.
Unfortunately no less than 33 species are represented by only one or two
specimens and as these are not infrequently in poor condition and occa-
sionally without a locality label, there are a considerable number of speci-
mens whose identification is dubious.
The region explored by the ' Albatross ' is on the boundary between the
Panamic region and that of the North Pacific, at least 54 of the species
having been previously taken in the Panamic region. Yet there are a
considerable number of northern forms, especially among the starfishes.
These, however, are as a rule from the more northern stations. So far as
littoral forms are concerned the boundary between the two regions appears
to be about in the latitude of San Diego. Echinoderms were taken at all
of the 'Albatross' dredging stations except three, Nos. 5679, 5680 and 5681.
These three stations are in 325-405 fms. off the southern end of Lower
California and it seems very strange that no echinoderms whatever were
gotten that day, March 22. At about half of the harbors and anchorages
visited, littoral echinoderms were gathered. The largest number of species
taken at any one spot was 18 at 5694; 28 species were taken in that general
i Scientific Results of the Expedition to the Gulf of California in Charge of Dr. C. H.
Townsend, by the U. S. Fisheries Steamship 'Albatross' ju 1911. Commander G. H.
Bui-rage, U. S. N, Commanding.
185
186 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
region on April 26, stations 5693-5695, 451-640 fms. This locality is
southwest of the Santa Barbara Islands, California. Off Monterey County,
California, stations 5696-5699, 440-659 fms., 19 species were taken; and
off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California, stations 5673, 5674,
5691, 5692, 590-1090 fms., 17 species were collected. Off Cape St. Lucas,
at station 5682, five species were taken while at 5683, in slightly deeper
water, five wholly different species were found. These two hauls were
however, four weeks apart in time, as the 'Albatross' did no dredging
while in the Gulf of California.
The chief interest of the collection lies in the light which it throws on
the distribution of previously known species. Little light is thrown on
bathymetrical distribution, and the bottom temperatures are surprisingly
uniform. Nevertheless, where a species was found at more than three
stations, 1 have given a summary of its bathymetrical and temperature
ranges, so far as the present collection shows them. Several of the new
forms are of more than ordinary interest. Of the two new starfishes one is
a Zorofisfir, apparently intermediate between the typical members of the
genus and Fisher's proposed subgenus Myxoderma; the other is a Pcdi-
cell aster remarkable for its large size. Of the ophiurans, one is a repre-
sentative of the very large cosmopolitan genus Ophhtra, while the other
represents a new generic type, allied to Opkioderma, but even more spe-
cialized. The new echinoid is one of the perplexing genus Urechinus,
characteristic deep sea spatangoids. Among the holothurians it is inter-
esting to find a new, well-characterized species of the very diversified genus
Niehojiux, the members of which are at present in a condition of the greatest
confusion. Fortunately the three Pacific coast species are not only well
set off from the rest of the genus but are readily distinguishable from each
other. The other new holothurian seems to represent a new genus, re-
markable among the Elasipods for the absence of dorsal appendages of any
kind.
Holotypes of the new species are deposited in the United States National
Museum. Thanks to the generosity of the American Museum of Natural
History, paratypes of five of the seven are in the collections of the Museum
of Comparative Zoology, while paratypes of the two holothurians are in the
American Museum. In this connection I desire to put on record my sincere
appreciation of the courtesies shown me by the authorities of the American
Museum in connection with the preparation of this report. Particularly
I wish to thank Dr. C. H. Townsend and Director F. A. Lucas for entrusting
the collection to me for study, and for granting all my requests concerning
both the specimens and the report.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 187
ASTEROIDEA.
Eremicaster tenebrarius.
Porcellanaster (Eremicaster) tenebrarius FISHER, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24,
p. 293.
Eremicaster tenebrarius LUDWIG, 1907. Zool. Anz., Vol. 31. p. 318.
There is a single speeimen of this species in the collection. It has R :
25 mm. and r = 8 mm. Each of the superomarginals carries a conspicuous
spine. There is only a single furrow spinelet on each adambulaeral plate,
but the segmental papillae are conspicuous nearly to the end of the arm.
The terminal plate has only three spinelets. There are hut ten supero-
marginal plates. In all these points, this individual resembles Alaskan
specimens more closely than it does those from California.
Station 5(5X4. Southwest of Santa Margarita Island, west coast of
Lower California, 1700 fms.
Eremicaster pacificus.
Porcellanaster pacificus LUDWIG, 1905. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 32, p 89.
Eremicaster pacificus FISHER, 1907. Zool. Anz., Vol. 32, p. 14.
Both adults and young are represented in this series, the largest having
R = 24 and the smallest, R == 8. As the latter is considerably smaller
than any hitherto described, a few details of its structure may be worth
recording. There are eight or nine adambulaeral plates but only five or six
marginals. Most of the supermarginal plates carry a spine and the adam-
bulacrals usually have two, but the distal ones may have only one. The
terminal plate of each arm carries five spines, of which the median is 1^ mm.
long. The median cribriform organ is made up of eight to ten lamellae
but the lateral ones are much less developed and have only four to six
lamella?. The madreporite is large and the periproctal tube is 1\ mm. long.
Station 5073. Off Ft. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms.
Station 5091. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
80S fms. Bottom Temp., :-!7.20.
Station 5092. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1070 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.1°.
Eleven specimens.
188 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Ctenodiscus crispatus.
Asterias crispatus RETZIUS 1805- DLss. sp. cog. Ast., p. 17.
Ctenodiscus crispatus DUBEN and KOREN, 1S40. K. vet. Akad. Handl. f. 1844,
p. 253.
A single small specimen (R - •• 15 mm.) is all the collection contains of
this common and widespread species.
Station 56X6. Off Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower California, 930
fms. Bottom Temp., 37.3°.
Leptychaster inermis.
Parastropecten inermis LUDWIG, 1905. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 32, p. 76.
Leptychaster inermis FISHER, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 76, p. 53.
The two specimens are both small, the larger being about the same size
as the larger of Ludwig's types (R - : 18 mm.). They seem however, to
belong to the Panamic species rather than to the more northern anoiiuiliix
for there are six or seven furrow spines on each adambulacral plate and only
four papula? around each paxilla-base. The larger specimen answers well
to Ludwig's description and photographs except that the rays are relatively
a little shorter. The geographical range of the species is extended far
northward by its occurrence off California.
Station 5685. Southwest from Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 645 fms.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Astropecten erinaceus.
Gray, 1840. Ann. Mag. Nat . Hist., Vol. 6, p. 182.
The status of the Astropectens of the Pacific coast of America which
have spines on the superomarginal plates is still uncertain and probably
must remain so until satisfactory collections can be made on the coast of
Ecuador, preferably at Punta Santa Elena, whence Gray's types came.
Fisher follows Perrier in considering crin«rHinifrr. As the present specimen
entirely lacks the characteristic pedicellariae of dissonus and shows other,
slight differences, I cannot consider it that species. On the other hand
the adambulacral armature is utterly different from that of pectinifer as
described by Ludwig. But the latter only had a single specimen, much
smaller than mine, in which R = : 140 mm., and perhaps with more material
the differences might sink into insignificance. In the specimen before me
the aboral portion of the margin of each adambulacral plate is much longer
than the adoral until near the tip of the arm; or, in other words the angle
of each plate which projects into the furrow and separates adjoining tube-
feet is much nearer the oral end of the plate than it is the aboral. Ludwig
says the opposite condition occurs in pectinifrr. In the present specimen,
there are only four or five furrow-spines on each plate, one on the adoral
side, one (the largest) on the point of the angle, and two or three on the
aboral side; on the actinal surface of the plate are eight to twelve somewhat
smaller spines, well-spaced and only indistinctly in rows. Ludwig says
there are eight or nine furrow spines and four to seven on the surface of the
plate. In my specimen there are eleven or twelve adambulacral plates to
ten inferomarginals, while Ludwig says that in pectinifer there are only
nine. — In view of these differences, I think it possible that the specimen
before me represents an undescribed species but more material must be
examined before the question can be settled.
Station 5676. Off San Juanico, west coast of Lower California, 647 fms.
Bottom Temp., 39°.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 193
Pseudarchaster pusillus.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 304.
There is a very good series of this species, ranging from R = : 14 mm. to
R = 40 mm. They show very little variation among themselves but the
paxillse spinelets and the spines of the marginal plates and actinal surface
are all so slender and so well spaced that the general facies is different from
typical pusillus and at the opposite extreme from the form described and
figured by Fisher from off San Diego, 'Albatross' St. 4367. But there is
little reason to doubt the identity of the specimens for they do not approach
the Panamic forms described by Ludwig.
Station 5675. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fms. Bottom Temp., 44.6°. Thirty specimens.
Ceramaster leptoceramus.
Tosia leptocerama FISHER, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish , Vol. 24, p. 306.
Ceramaster leptoceramus FISHER, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 76, p. 210.
Neither of the two specimens before me is adult. In the larger R == 35
mm.; in the smaller R = 26 mm. Few of the adambulacral plates in
either specimen have more than six furrow spines. The range of the species
is extended southward some distance, by its occurrence at the following
station.
Station 5675. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fms. Bottom Temp., 44.6°. Two specimens.
Ceramaster patagonicus.
Pentagonaster patagonicus SLADEN, 1889. 'Challenger' Asteroids, p. 269.
Ceramaster patagonicus FISHER, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 76, p. 214.
A pentagonal starfish with conspicuous marginal plates and having
R = 30 mm. seems to belong to this species as described and figured by
Fisher. I am inclined to think that more abundant material will show that
the north Pacific specimens are not conspecific with patagonicus.
Station 5682. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 491 fms. Bottom
Temp., 40.8°.
194 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Hippasteria californica.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 310.
A specimen with R = 130 mm. represents this species.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Hippasteria spinosa.
Verrill, 1909. Amer. Jour. Sci., Vol. 28, p. 63.
A specimen with R only 9 mm. seems to be undoubtedly the young of
this species, although it was taken at a considerably greater depth than has
been hitherto known for spinosa. There are only four marginal plates in
each series. These carry conspicuous thick spines; if there are two or
three on a plate, one (the median of three) is notably larger than the others.
The abactinal plates are each bordered with spiniform granules from four
to twelve in number according to the size of the plate. The primary plates
are conspicuous and each carries a central spinelet. Actinally the furrow
and subambulacral spines are conspicuous, but the spiniform granules of
the actinal intermediate plates are very small. No pedicellarise are to be
seen anywhere actinally but five or six on the abactinal surface are very
conspicuous; there are none on the marginal plates.
Station 5693. Northwest of San Nicolas Island, California, 451 fms.
Oreaster occidentalis.
Verrill, 1866. Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 1, p. 373.
There are two small specimens from Agua Verde Bay, east coast of
Lower California. The larger has R = 80 mm.
Amphiaster insignis.
Verrill, 1868. Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 1, p. 373.
A fine specimen (R = 80 mm.) from Magdalena Bay, west coast of
Lower California, is the only representative of this remarkable starfish.
Linckia columbise.
Gray, 1840. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. 6, p. 285.
This species is represented by a young individual from San Josef Island,
Gulf of California, and four small adults from San Francisquito Bay, east
coast of Lower California. The largest specimen has R = 82 mm.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 195
Phataria unifascialis.
Linckia (Phataria) unifascialis GRAY, 1840. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Vol. 6,
p. 285.
Phataria unifascialis SLADEN, 1889. 'Challenger' Asteroids, p. 786.
Of this common and characteristic west Mexican species, there are three
small specimens from Pichilingue Bay, east coast of Lower California.
The largest has R about 70 mm.
Echinaster tenuispinus.
Verrill, 1871. Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 1, p. 577.
These specimens call for no special comment. The largest has R = 50
mm.; in the smallest R = 18 mm.
San Bartolome, west coast of Lower California.
Agua Verde Bay, east coast of Lower California.
San Francisquito Bay, east coast of Lower California.
San Esteban Island, Gulf of California.
Five specimens.
Honricia clarki.
Fisher, 1910. Zool. Anz., Vol. 35, p. 573.
There is a single individual in the collection, which seems to belong to
this species. In it R = about 75 mm. On only a few of the proximal
adambulacral plates are there as many as three spinelets in the furrow, and
in a few other details the specimen is not typical but in view of the locality
and depth, there can be little doubt of its belonging to this species.
Station 5682. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 491 fms. Bottom
Temp., 40.8°.
Henricia laeviuscula annectens.
Fisher, 1910. Zool. Anz., Vol. 35, p. 572.
Two small Henricias, with R about 20 mm. seem to represent this form.
San Bartolome, west coast of Lower California.
Station 5693. Northwest of San Nicolas Island, California, 451 fms.
186 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Solaster paxillatus.
Sladen, 1889. 'Challenger' Asteroidea, p. 452.
Each of the three specimens has eight arms. In the smallest, R =
37 mm. In one of the large ones R = 135 and the ray is 35 mm. broad at
the disk-margin, while in the other large specimen, with the rays about
equally long, br is only 23 mm. These two large specimens have no locality
label but there is reason to think they came from Station 5694, southwest
of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms. The small specimen is from
Station 5695, southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.; bottom
Temp., 38.9°. The occurrence of this Japanese species, so far south on the
American coast, is noteworthy, but I can find no good reason for refusing
to refer these specimens to that species.
Solaster borealis.
Crossaster borealis FISHER, 1906, Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci., Vol. 8, p. 134.
Solaster borealis FISHER, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 76, p. 320.
One of these specimens has only ten rays but each of the others has
eleven. The largest specimen has R = 135 mm. while the smallest has R
only 20 mm.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5696. Off San Luis Obispo County, California, 440 fms.
Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 440-659 fms. Temperature range, 39.9°-37.9°.
Ten specimens.
Heterozonias alternatus.
Crossaster alternatus FISHER, 1906. Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci., Vol. 8, p. 131.
Heterozonias alternatus FISHER, 1910. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), Vol. 5, p. 172.
There is a fine series of this interesting starfish, of which one has nine
rays, 26 have ten rays and one has eleven. The largest specimen has R =
160 mm. while in the smallest R is only about 13 mm.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 197
Station 5697. Off Monterey County, California, 485 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.8°.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 475-659 fms. Temperature range, 39.9°-37.9°.
Twenty -eight specimens.
Lophaster furcilliger.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 312.
These specimens are all typical furc-illiger, as would naturally be expected
in view of the depth at which they were taken. The smallest has R = 20
mm. In the largest R = 60 mm.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Twelve specimens.
Peribolaster biserialis.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 313.
In these specimens R ranges from 10 to 17 mm. but there is nothing
noteworthy about them.
Station 5696. Off San Luis Obispo County, California, 440 fms.
Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Four specimens.
Pteraster jordani.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 314.
A single specimen with R = 70 mm. is in the collection.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
198 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Hymenaster perissonotus.
Fisher, 1910. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, (8), Vol. 5, p. 170.
Although only the smallest individual is well preserved, there is little
doubt as to the identity of these specimens. There are only four oral spines
on a plate, as a rule, and there is thus an approach to cjracilis in this
particular, but occasionally there are five and very rarely six such spines.
The largest specimen has R = 40 mm.; in the smallest, it is about 30.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Station 5691. Off Pt, San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
868 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Four specimens.
Hymenaster quadrispinosus.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 315.
These specimens are poorly preserved but show the characteristics of
the species fairly well. R ranges from about 37 to nearly 60 mm.
Station 5690. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 1 101 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.1°. Four specimens.
Zoroaster evermanni.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 317.
There is an excellent series of this interesting species, which seems to be
common all along the coast of California between Monterey and San Diego,
in four to seven hundred fathoms. The largest specimens (R = 220 mm.)
are much larger than Fisher's type, and the coarseness of the reticulation
of the abactinal skeleton is very marked. But there is only a single series
of abactinal plates between the radial series and the superomarginals and
even at the extreme base of the ray, there are but three series of actino-
lateral plates. In the smallest specimen (R = 70 mm.), the third series of
these plates is to be found only just indicated by two or three plates.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Station 5696. Off San Luis Obispo County, California, 440 fins.
Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 199
Station 5697. Off Monterey County, California, 485 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.8°.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 440-659 fms. Temperature range, 39.9°-37.9°.
Nineteen specimens.
Zoroaster ophiurus.
Fisher, 1905. Bull. Bur. Fish., Vol. 24, p. 315.
This seems to be a more southern species than the preceding, occurring
along the coast of Lower California in eight to eleven hundred fathoms.
The specimens before me range from R = 25 mm. to R = 160 mm.. The
latter are thus larger than the type. In the small specimens, the spines on
the primary plates of the disk and on the radial series of each ray are very
conspicuous, 1-2 mm. long. In half grown specimens they are apparently
no larger and hence are no longer conspicuous. In the little specimens,
there are only two or three series of actino-lateral plates at the base of the
ray.
Station 5686. Off Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower California, 930
fms. Bottom Temp., 37.3°.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Station 5690. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California,
1101 fms. Bottom Temp., 38.1°.
Six specimens.
Zoroaster platyacanthus 1 sp. nov.
Plate XLIV, Figs. 1 and 2.
Rays 5. R = 67 mm.; r = 9J mm. R = 7r. Breadth of ray at base, 10 mm.
Disk rather convex (concave at center in type) ; rays moderately long, more or
less flattened not attenuate; median radial ridge not prominent ; spines and spine-
lets not very numerous, rather stout, rough-tipped; abactinal pedicellarise not very
conspicuous.
Abactinal skeleton rather heavy; primary plates of disk not specially conspicu-
— flat wide + aKavda. = prickle, spine.
200 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
ous and median radial series on arms not much larger than superomarginals; all of
the larger plates carry spines and scattered well-spaced spinelets; on each plate
there is a central spine, 1-2 mm. long, stout and more or less blunt, and there may be
also two or three smaller spines, but the latter are not very constant in number or
position; pedicellarise occur on most of the plates, but the largest of them are much
smaller than the central spine.
Between the median radial series of plates on each ray and the superomarginals
there is only an incomplete series of small plates, and these are found only at the
very base of the ray; the superomarginals are nearly as large as the median plates
and the inferomarginals are little smaller; between the latter and the adambulacrals
are three series of actinolateral plates, the uppermost of which are nearly as large as
the inferomarginals and the lowermost are much smaller, nearly quadrilateral and
about three times as long as high. Each marginal and actinolateral plate carries a
central spine, and a few small spines or spinelets, well- spaced and mingled with
pedicellarise; the spines on the superomarginals are like those on the median series;
those on the inferomarginals are imperceptibly longer; those on the uppermost
actinolaterals are longer and slightly flattened near the tip; those on the second
series of actinolaterals are the longest (3-4 mm.) and are very wide and flat; those
on the lowest actinolaterals are a little shorter, somewhat more slender and are less
flattened. All three series of actinolateral plates are continued nearly if not quite
to the tip of the ray.
Between the lower series of actinolateral plates, there are no papular areas,
but between the upper and second series, the areas are as large as abactinally. Be-
tween the median and the superomarginal plates the papular areas are arranged in a
double, alternating series. Elsewhere these areas are in single longitudinal series.
There is only one papula to each area, and while it is large, it does not occupy all of
the area, by any means.
The adambulacral plates are arranged as usual in the genus, plates projecting into
the furrow alternating with those which do not. The plates are separated from
each other by distinct, membranous spaces; each plate is about three times as wide
as long. On the projecting plates is a single series of four or five slender spines, the
first of which is well up in the furrow; the second and third are about on the
rounded angle of the plate, and the fourth (and fifth, when present) are on the actinal
surface; the fourth spine (or fifth) is the smallest and more or less distinctly sacculate
at tip; the second and third spines are of about equal size (2 mm. ±) or the
third is largest. On the non-projecting plates are two or three spines, of which the
first is largest and about equals the third spine of the alternating plates; the other
spine (or spines)' is slightly sacculate at tip. Pedicellarise are not specially abun-
dant; each furrow spine may carry one to three but many have none; in the inter-
radial angles are a very few pedicellariae larger than elsewhere, and these may be 2
mm. long. Oral plates very short (as usual in Zoroaster), each with two marginal
and two suboral spines, 1-2 mm. long; the distal marginal spine carries a cluster cf
three or four small pedicellarise.
Tube-feet in four distinct series. Madreporite smaller than a primary disk-
plate, situated about half-way between center of disk and margin. Terminal plate
of ray moderately large, with two spinelets at the tip and numerous much smaller
ones crowded over its surface. Color completely lost in the preserved specimens
which are dingy brownish-yellow.
Type.— Cat. No. - -, U. S. N. M. from Station 5675 (not yet catalogued).
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 201
In the presence of only three series of actinal intermediate plates and in
its small median, radial plates, this species resembles Myxoderma, a sub-
genus suggested by Fisher. But the spinelets are not sacculate, not at
least to any notable degree, and there is only one papula to each area.
This combination of characters taken with the long flat spines along the
sides of the ray, actinally, serve to distinguish the species from any Zoroaster
hitherto described. It is difficult to decide whether the flattened appear-
ance of the rays is natural or artificial, but it is quite marked in both
specimens. Possibly these specimens are not adult and spinelets and
pedicellarite would both be more abundant with age.
Station 5675. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fms. Bottom Temp., 44.6°.
Two specimens.
Heliaster kubiniji.
Xantus, 1860. Proc. Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Sci., p. 568.
All but one of these specimens is adult. Ten have 23 rays, three have
22 and one has 24. The largest has R -- 70 mm.
Pichilingue Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Ricason Island, Conception Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Fourteen specimens.
Pedicellaster hyperoncus l sp. nov.
Plate XLIV, Figs. 3 and 4.
Rays 5. R = 68 mm.; r == 7 mm. R = 9| r. Breadth of ray at base. 7 mm.
Breadth of ray, 10 mm. from base, 11 mm. Breadth of ray, 10 mm. from tip, 7 mm.
Disk small, flat; rays rather long, decidedly constricted at base and correspond-
ingly swollen just beyond, not attenuate, bluntly pointed; median radial ridge
not prominent ; spines not numerous, rather small; pedicellarise abundant. Papular
areas on rays with 2-5 papulae. Adambulacral plates numerous with only one spine
but often with a large pedicellaria also. Tube-feet in two well-defined rows.
Abactinal skeleton fairly heavy on disk, but very open and rather delicate on rays.
None of the primary plates are easily recognizable on disk. All of the disk plates
carry spines, none of which are conspicuous, but the one near center of plate is the
largest. On the rays, the plates usually carry only a single spine each. All the
abactinal plates carry numerous small forcipiform pedicellariae ; they occur actinally
as far as the inferomarginal plates, each of which carries one or two.
1 virtpoyxos = overgrown, of excessive size.
202 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Between the median radial series of plates and the superomarginals there is only a
single, somewhat irregular series of abactinal plates. There are here and there
indications of a second series but they are very scattered. The inferomarginals are
widely separated from the superior series but adjoin the adambulacrals very closely,
as there are no intermediate plates whatever. As a result of the widely reticular
skeleton, the papular areas on the rays are large and conspicuous. On the disk they
are small or moderate, each with one, or rarely two papulae. On the rays, each
papular area is wider (or higher) than long and contains 2-5 papulae; these are usually
arranged in a vertical series but are occasionally more scattered. The area may also
contain an isolated calcareous plate or may be more or less bisected by a calcareous
projection from one of its boundary plates. The areas between the two series of
marginal plates are about 2| mm. high by one millimeter long and generally contain
three (or two) papulae.
The adambulacral plates are very numerous, about twenty to an octet of infero-
marginals; they are small, the width about equal to the length and about two thirds
of the height. Each plate carries one spine, 1.5 mm. long; in addition many plates
have, usually on the inner margin, a large forficiform pedicellaria almost a millimeter
high. Each inferomarginal plate carries, close to the adambulacral series, a spine
2 mm. long; these are the stoutest spines found on the animal. They are distinctly
rough under a lens, more so than any of the other spines. Oral plates short; each
carries two, or less commonly three, spines a trifle longer than those on the adambula-
cral plates; generally two large forficiform pedicellarise are also present.
Tube-feet large, in two well-marked series. Madreporite small, little more than a
millimeter across, close to margin of disk. Color completely lost; the preserved
specimen is the usual dingy brownish-yellow, approaching white.
Type.— Cat. No. - — , U. S. X. M., from Station 5675.
Although this species resembles the following in form and size, it is dis-
tinguishable at once by the more numerous papulae and the characteristic
adambulacral armature. The forficiform pedicellarise are also larger and
much more numerous. The large size marks this species, in comparison
with other members of the genus, for except the Indian species at rat us
Alcock, which doubtless deserves separate generic rank, and the Panamic
species improvisus Ludwig, with which it was taken, it is the giant of the
genus. None of the Arctic, Atlantic or Antarctic species of the genus are
half as large.
Station 5075. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fins. Bottom Temp., 44.6°. One specimen.
Pedicsllaster improvisus.
Ludwig, 1905. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 32, p. 216.
The specimen representing this species was taken with the one just
described, and as it is in very poor condition, it was at first supposed to be
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 203
that form. Examination however revealed the interesting fact that it is
really the adult of improvisus, and is nearly twice as large as Ludwig's
biggest specimen. R = 80 mm., r = 10 mm., R == Sr. The double series
of adambulacral spines and the single papula in each area distinguish the
species, and are well shown by this specimen, although it is discolored, badly
distorted and shows the effect of an acid reagent of some sort.
It is certainly an extraordinary fact that the 'Albatross' should have
taken two specimens of Pedicellaster at Station 5675, representing perfectly
distinct species, and then not met with a specimen of the genus elsewhere
on her cruise. But I find it impossible to consider the two specimens from
Station 5675 conspecific and the only other alternative is the " extraordinary
fact" just stated.
Pisaster ochraceus.
Asterias ochracea BRANDT, 1835. Prod. desc. Anim., p. 269.
Pisaster ochraceus FISHER, 1908. Smiths. Misc. Coll., Vol. 52, p. 89.
Three good specimens, with R about 125 mm., represent this species
but as there is no locality label, we can only assume they were collected at
San Diego or some point still further south. The species has not yet been
recorded from Lower California.
Asterias forreri.
De Loriol, 1887. Rec. Zool. Suisse, Vol. 4, p. 401.
In deference to the opinion of my good friend and highly respected
authority on starfishes, Dr. W. K. Fisher, I have been strongly inclined to
record these specimens, the largest of which has R only about 48 mm., as
Asterias sertulifera Xantus. But as I am unable to understand how they
can belong to that species, I have finally decided to let matters stand as
they are. When Professor H. S. Jennings was about to publish his most
interesting and important paper on the behavior of Asterias, he did me the
honor of asking me to identify the species with which his work was done,
and specimens were sent me from La Jolla, California. It was soon evident
that the species was either sertulifera Xantus or forreri de Loriol. As the
former is described as having the rays only 2j times the diameter of the
disk, the wreaths of pedicellarise near the tips of the spines, no pedicellarise
scattered among the spines and only a single series of adambulacral spines,
while forreri has the rays 4 times the diameter of the disk, the wreaths of
pedicellariae near the bases of the spines, numerous scattered pedicellarise
204 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
and a double series of adambulacral spines, I was satisfied that the La Jolla
specimens, which showed clearly the latter group of characters, were
forreri. Accordingly Dr. Jenning's paper was entitled "Behavior of the
Starfish, Asterias forreri de Loriol." Recently there has appeared the first
report of the Laguna Marine Laboratory of Pomona College. On page 89
"Coscinasterias sertulifera" is listed and Dr. Fisher is quoted as authority
for the statement: 'This is the species (under the name Asterias ferrcri]
upon which Prof. H. S. Jennings carried on a number of experiments at
La Jolla. It is a member of the southern fauna, the type locality being
Cape San Lucas. The true Coscinasterias ferrcri belongs to the northern
fauna and is not found along shore." (Of course, Dr. Fisher is not re-
sponsible for the misspelling of forreri). In correspondence Dr. Fisher has
confirmed this statement and says further that sertulifera may have a
double series of adambulacral spines. If this is so, I am puzzled to see
what essential difference there is between the two species. In the M. C. Z.
collection there is a large specimen of forreri from the type locality, Santa
Cruz, on Monterey Bay, California. There are also two specimens from
Monterey, identified and labelled by Dr. Fisher as forreri. Then there are
specimens from La Jolla and from Lower California, which I have called
forreri. On going over this material again and comparing it with the speci-
mens in the 'Albatross' collection now before me, I am unable to see what
the specific differences are. I have never seen an authentic specimen of
sertulifera but to judge from Xantus' description, it ought to be quite differ-
ent horn, forreri. It may be that specimens of forreri from deep water are
distinguishably different from the shore specimens, like those from La Jolla,
which I have called forreri. However, in view of the present confusion
existing in the American Pacific coast species of Asterias, I think it best to
present this case as I have and leave the matter with Dr. Fisher for ultimate
decision.
San Francisquito Bay, east coast of Lower California. Fourteen
specimens.
Brisinga panamensis.
Ludwig, 1905. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 32, p. 258.
All of the specimens are badly damaged and only one has any arms still
attached to the disk. They show considerable diversity in some details
but on the whole, it seems probable they all represent the Panamic species.
The largest has the disk 24 mm. across; in the smallest it is 11. Only the
largest specimen has 9 rays; all the others have 8. Among Ludwig's
specimens only one had 8; all the others had 9.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 205
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms.
Station 5690. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 1101
fms. Bottom Temp., 38.1°.
Station 5691. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
868 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Six specimens.
OPHIUROIDEA.
Ophioderma panamensis.
Liitken, 1859. Add. ad Hist., pt. 2, p. 91.
This species is evidently common in the Gulf of California, as a large
series was brought home by the 'Albatross.' The largest are about twenty
millimeters across the disk. Young individuals have the arms quite
distinctly banded, but in large specimens, the bands seem to be confined to
the tips of the arms.
Pichilingue Bay, east coast of Lower California.
San Francisquito Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Sixty-one specimens.
Ophioderma variegata.
Liitken, 1856. Vid. Med., p. 21.
The most highly colored animal in the whole collection is one of the
representatives of this tropical species. The disk is bright green, the arms
are banded with green and grayish-green, and the base of each arm with
the adjoining portion of the disk is bright rose-red. In two specimens, the
disk is dull yellowish-brown. The largest individual is 10 mm. across the
disk. McClendon (1909, Univ. Cala. Publ. Zool., Vol. 6, no. 3) does not
include this species in his list of ophiurans from the San Diego region and
it is quite possible that it does not occur on the west coast of Lower Cali-
fornia.
"Lower California."
Agua Verde Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Four specimens.
206
Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Diopederma l gen. nov.
Disk very flat; arms flattened, especially at base, where they are twice as wide as
at middle. Disk more or less completely covered with granules. Oral papillae
numerous; teeth present, but no tooth-papillae. Arm-spines small and numerous,
appressed to side arm-plates. Tentacle scales two. Genital slits small, four in each
interradial area, of which two lie close to oral shield, one on each side, and two are
dorsal in position, lying just distal to radial shields; these dorsal slits are placed in
slight prominences which carry papilliform granules, those adjoining the slits being
the longest while the more distant ones merge into the disk granulation; the long
axis of each slit is nearly at right angles to the long axis of the arm.
Type-species. — Ophiura daniana Verrill, 1867. Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 1,
p. 254. From La Union, Salvador. Type in Peabody Museum, Yale University,
New Haven, Conn.
In his description of the type-species, Verrill says: 'The peculiarity
in the form and position of the upper genital openings may hereafter require
this species to be separated generically from Ophiura, if accompanied by
corresponding internal differences in structure." In my judgment, such
an extraordinary arrangement of the genital openings, indicating as it does
an extreme development of the unusual condition characteristic of Ophio-
dcrma, is ample ground for establishing a new genus, regardless of " in-
ternal differences," although one can hardly doubt that such a marked
external character is accompanied by internal peculiarities. The genus is a
most interesting one and I have selected for its type the species described by
Verrill, since it is possible that the following species will prove to be identical
with it.
Diopederma axiologum - sp. nov.
Plate XLV, Figs. 5-7.
Disk 16 mm. in diameter; arms 54 mm. long; the smaller specimen is 10 mm.
across. Disk pentagonal, very flat, closely covered with a fine granulation (about
150 grains to a square millimeter). This granulation leaves uncovered the greater
part of each radial shield and the following plates in addition; in the type, a series
of three plates along each radius, two lying between the radial shields and the third
proximal to them; the first and biggest of these plates is larger than the first upper
arm-plate, which lies distal to it; (the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth upper
arm-plates are each successively bigger, until the sixth is the widest of the upper arm-
plates, while the succeeding plates are longer but become successively narrower; the
first five plates are within the limits of the disk); a series of three or four small
1 51- = double, 671-17 = a hole in the
name of the most nearly allied genus).
= remarkable.
roof,
skin (the terminal portion of the
1913.] Clark, Echinoderma from Luu-i r California. 207
plates in each interradius, the most distal the largest; a very small plate on each side
of the first upper arm-plate, and two very small plates lying on each side of the radial
series, proximal to the radial shields; in the smaller specimen, these plates are all
relatively larger and are fully exposed; in addition, about forty other plates on the
disc are bare, but these are small and do not seem to be definitely arranged. Around
the dorsal genital slits, the granules are from a fourth to a third of a millimeter in
length and are thus quite spiniform. Upper arm plates at base of arm, wider than
long, tetragonal, in contact for their full width; they gradually become longer than
wide and broader distally than proximally, until at tip of arm they are triangular
and scarcely in contact. Interbrachial spaces below granulated distally but proxi-
mally the plates are simply bordered with minute grains. Genital slits very small;
first pair (close to oral shield) is scarcely half the length of the first side-arm plate;
second pair about as long, situated transverse to the long axis of the arm, in an ele-
vation on the dorsal side of the disk, just distal to the radial shields. Oral shields
distinctly longer than wide, hexagonal with rounded angles in the type, but in the
smaller specimen more nearly triangular with a rounded, distal base. Adoral plates
rather short and wide, at sides of oral shields; they meet within in the smaller speci-
men, but are widely separated in the type. Oral plates large, two thirds as large as
adorals, bearing in the smaller specimen a few granules, which are much more
numerous in the type. Oral papillae, nine on a side; ninth (distalmost) longest but
very narrow; eighth largest, nearly as wide as long; inner ones successively narrower
and more pointed. No pores between basal under arm-plates. First under arm-
plate large, wider than long, roughly hexagonal; succeeding plates hexagonal, or
somewhat octagonal, with rounded angles, broadly in contact, wider than long on
basal third of arm but gradually becoming longer than wide and more pointed proxi-
mally, until at very tip of arm, they are triangular and well separated from each
other; the fifth or sixth plate is widest, measuring in the type, 2 mm. wide and about
1 mm. long. Side arm-plates large, but broadly separated both above and below
until near tip of arm; each plate carries on its distal margin, six (at middle of arm)
to eleven (eighth side arm-plate), short, flat, appressed spines; uppermost sharply
pointed, lower ones less noticeably so; third from bottom longest, about equal to
one half the length of the arm-joint. Tentacle-scales two, inner the larger: outer
does not overlap base of lowest arm-spine. Color (dried from alcohol) pale ashy-
gray above, finely mottled with black and cream-color; most upper arm-plates have
a light spot on their distal margin; arms faintly banded with blackish, some 15-
20 indistinct dark markings showing on each arm; lower surface pale cream-color;
smaller specimen like type, but a little darker.
Type — Cat. No. - — , U. S. N. M. from Cape St. Lucas, L. C.
Whether these specimens represent a new species or should be referred
to Ophiura daniana Verrill has been a source of much perplexity to me.
Through the kindness of Miss K. J. Bush, one of the type specimens of
Yen-ill's species was loaned me by the Peabody Museum and I have thus
been enabled to compare the specimens from Lower California directly
with one of those from Salvador. While the distance of fifteen hundred
miles between the two localities is not specially significant, I have concluded
that until specimens are known from the intervening coast, it will be quite
208 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
proper to consider the differences between the specimens as probably.specific.
The most striking of these differences is in the granulation of the disk; in
the specimens from Lower California, many plates are exposed, while in the
one from Salvador (see also Verrill's description) no plates except portions of
some radial shields are free from the granules. The interbrachial areas
below are also more closely granulated in the Salvadorian specimens, and
the oral shields are less angular and more oval. These differences are not a
matter of size, since Verrill's cotype is intermediate between the two from
Cape St. Lucas, but it may be that they come well within the limits of
individual variation in daniana. Until this can be shown however, the
latter name may be kept for the southern specimens wyith no exposed disk
plates, while a.riologum should be used for the northern form with many
exposed disk plates. If this difference is shown to be inconstant, then
axiologum will become a synonym of daniana, but the status of the genus
and its designated type will remain unaltered.
Cape St. Lucas. Two specimens.
Ophiura flagellata.
Ophioglypha flagellata LYMAN, 1878. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 5, p. 69.
Ophiura flagellata MEISSNER, 1901. Bronn's Thierreichs, Vol. 2, pt. 3, p. 925.
There is a single adult specimen with the disk 25 mm. across and well
covered with plates. Lines of decalcification radiate from the center of the
disk in each radius and interradius; the latter are the longer, extending
two thirds of the way to the margin.
Station 5677. North of Cape San Lazaro, west coast of Lower Cali-
fornia, 735 fms. Bottom Temp., 38.6°.
Ophiura superba.
Ophioglypha superba LUTKEN and MORTENSEN, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23,
p. 116.
Ophiura superba MEISSNER, 1901. Bronn's Thierreichs, Vol. 2, pt. 3, p. 925.
Ophiura hadra, H. L. CLARK, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 75, p. 80.
While comparing one of these newly taken specimens with a cotype of
xi/perba L. &. M. and a cotype of hadra H. L. C., it became perfectly obvious
that those two species are identical and there is no excuse to be offered for
publishing hadra as a "new species." The present collection contains a
good series, with disk-diameters ranging from 4 to 33 mm.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 209
Station 5685. Southwest from Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 645 fms.
Station 5686. Off Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower California, 930,
fms. Bottom Temp., 37.3°.
Station 5693. Northwest of San Nicolas Island, California, 451 fms.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 451-930 fms. Temperature range, 38.9°-37.3°.
Thirty-two specimens.
Ophiura irrorata.
Ophioglypha irrorta LYMAN, 1878. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 5, p. 73.
Ophiura irrorata MEISSNER, 1901. Bronn's Thierreichs, Vol. 2, pt. 3, p. 925.
See also H. L. Clark, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 75, p. 62.
Three very large specimens add a new locality to the range of this almost
cosmopolitan species. The largest one (disk-diameter, 38 mm.) is consider-
ably larger than any that has hitherto been recorded.
Station 5684. Southwest from Magdalena Bay, east coast of Lower
California, 1760 fms.
Ophiura leptoctenia.
H. L. Clark, 1911. .Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., no. 75, p. 51.
The finding of this species off central and southern California extends
its known range far southward. None of the specimens are noteworthy.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Twenty-eight specimens.
Ophiura ponderosa.
Ophioglypha ponderosa LYMAN, 1878. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 5. p. 93.
Ophiura ponderosa MEISSNER, 1901. Bronn's Thierreichs, Vol. 2, pt. 3, p. 925.
A single small specimen is the only representative of this species.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
210 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Ophiura oligopora l sp. nov.
Plate XLY, Figs. 8 and 9.
Disk 9 mm. in diameter (6 in the smaller specimen); arms broken but about
22 mm. long. Disk moderately high, especially the radial areas; the center is some-
what depressed. Disk covered by some 200 plates, among which the central primary
plate and a plate near each interradial margin are rather conspicuous; in the smaller
specimen the primary radial plates are also easily made out. Radial shields large,
(longer than wide), in contact at middle and clistally, but with outer ends separated
by first upper arm-plate and inner ends separated by one or two large scales. All the
plates of the disk are thick and many are more or less swollen, but there are no
knobs or tubercles developed. Arms rather short, nearly cylindrical. Upper arm-
plates tetragonal, the proximal margin less than the distal; outer corners rounded:
first three or four plates wider than long but remaining plates increasingly longer
than wide; all broadly in contact so far as the broken arms indicate. Interbrachial
areas below covered by 30-35 plates. Oral shields larger, longer than wide, penta-
gonal with a proximal angle, which the adoral plates adjoin, and the outer corners
rounded; genital slits cause a slight reentrant angle on each side. Adoral plates
narrow, on proximal sides of oral shields; oral plates about equal in size to adorals,
swollen at proximal end. Oral papillae about five on a side; outermost as wide as
next two together; only innermost, papillifonn. Genital slits long and conspicuous.
Genital scales short and wide distally; broadly visible from above; each scale carries
ten or a dozen small papillae, which form a continuous series orally with the minute
papillae on margin of genital slit ; aborally the two or three papillae, visible from above,
are the largest, but they are inconspicuous and the arm-comb has the appearance of
incompleteness. First under arm-plate very large, almost as large as second, wider
than long, imperfectly octagonal with rounded corners; second plate pentagonal,
wider than long; third plate similar but proximal side very short and distal angle
rounded, about as long as wide; succeeding plates wider than long becoming almost
spindle-shaped but outer corners rather obtuse; all the plates except first and second
(and in the type, the second and third) are separated from each other. Side arm-
plates large, broadly in contact beneath but narrowly separated above, at least on
basal half of arm; each plate bears three minute, well-spaced, blunt, peg-like
arm-spines, of which the uppermost is a trifle the longest. Oral tentacle-pores not
opening into mouth-slit, guarded on either side by three or four small scales; on
succeeding pores the number of scales becomes rapidly reduced, until on the fifth
pore there are only two scales on outer side and one on inner; the seventh pore
has one tentacle-scale and after that not even a pore is visible. Color (dried from
alcohol), white.
Type.— Cat. No. 00000, U. S. N. M. from Station 5683.
Comparison of descriptions alone shows that this species is very near
0. rugosa Lyman, collected by the 'Challenger' in 700 fms. near Xew
Zealand. Comparison of specimens of the same size however, reveals
1 6X170? = few + Ttopos = pore, in reference to the reduction of the tentacle-pores.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 211
differences which show that we are dealing with two species. The general
appearance is dissimilar because the disk-scales of rucjosa are fewer and much
more swollen, and the arms, while fully as short, are much more slender.
The arm-spines too are pointed and the upper arm-plates and oral shields
have a different shape. Apparently the tentacle pores do not continue to
the tip of the arm in rugosa but there seem to be more than in oligopora.
This new species is quite unlike any yet recorded from the western
Pacific ocean and is not likely to be confused with any of them. It was
taken, unfortunately, at only one station.
Station 5683. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 630 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.1°. Two specimens.
Ophiocten pacificum.
Liitken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z.. Vol. 23, p. 131.
This is apparently one of the commonest ophiurans of the North Pacific
ocean, as it has been found in numbers by the 'Albatross' at numerous
stations from Ecuador to Washington, and in Japanese waters as well.
Most of the specimens in the present collection are in very poor condition
and are not noteworthy.
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California.
1090 fms.
Station 5688. Off Cedros Island, west coast of Lower California,
525 fms. Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Station 5691. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California, 868
fms. Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Station 5692. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1076 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.1°.
Station 5693. Northwest of San Nicolas Island, California, 451 fms.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 451 to 1090 fms. Temperature range, 39.9°-
37.1°.
Two hundred and thirty -three specimens.
212 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Ophiernus adspersus.
Lyman, 1883. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 10, p. 236.
For some notes in regard to this specimen, see under the following
species.
Station 5676. Off San Juanico, west coast of Lower California, 647 fms.
Bottom Temp., 39°. One specimen.
Ophiernus polyporus.
Lutken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 109.
A dozen or more specimens of Ophiernus seem to be referable to this
species, but studying them in connection with the single specimen just
mentioned has raised grave doubts as to whether polyporus is a valid species,
distinct from adspersus, or not. The specimen of adspersus listed above
from station 5676 is a large adult and comparison with West Indian speci-
mens shows it is a typical example of the species. Another specimen,
almost exactly like it, and also from station 5676, has the characteristic
pores of polyporus present on the fifth joint of each arm and in four of the
arms on one or both sides of the fourth or sixth joint, and in one arm on the
seventh and eighth joints also; the pores are smaller than in a typical
polyporus but are otherwise similar. In a third specimen from the same
station, the pores are present on the third to eighth joints of all the arms.
In typical polyporus, the pores extend out to the fifteenth to twenty-fifth
joint. So far as I can see the presence of these pores is the only thing
which distinguishes polyporus from adspersus, and I have therefore drawn
an arbitrary line by which one of these specimens (as noted above) is set off as
adspersus and the rest are called polyporus. The available material is in
too poor condition for me to satisfy myself as to whether the presence of a
few pores is indicative of hybridization or whether the presence and num-
ber of pores is a matter of individual diversity. The fact that polyporus
has as yet been taken only in the vicinity of southern Lower California,
off the Mexican coast and near Panama, while adspersus is practically
cosmopolitan in deep water, indicates the specific importance of the pores.
Better material must be awaited before the question can be definitely
settled. Apparently Ophiernus is very fragile, all reported material being
more or less badly damaged by its collection or journey in the trawrl. The
specimens of polyporus in the present collection were taken at the following
points:
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 213
Station 5676. Off San Juanico, west coast of Lower California, 647 fms.
Bottom Temp., 39°.
Station 5682. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 491 fms. Bottom
Temp., 40.8°.
Fourteen specimens.
Ophiomusium glabrum.
Liitken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 132.
Ophiomusium multispinum H. L. CLARK, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No.
75, p. 113.
This is one of the commonest deep water ophiurans of the western
Pacific, ranging from the equator to 47° N. lat. in water from 480 to 2232
fms. deep. The largest specimen in the present collection has the disk
35 mm. across and comparison of this individual with a cotype of multi-
spinum shows that the latter is, as I suspected when describing it, identical
with glabrum. The differences pointed out are individual and not specific,
proving to be quite inconstant.
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms.
Station 5684. Southwest from Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 1760 fms.
Station 5686. Off Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower California,
930 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.3°.
Station 5687. Off Pt. Santa Eugenia, west coast of Lower California,
480 fms. Bottom Temp., 41.1°.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lowrer California, 879 fms.
Station 5690. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 1101 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.1°.
Station 5691. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
868 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Bathymetrical range, 480-1760 fms. Temperature range, 41.1°-37.2°.
Seventy specimens.
Ophiomusium lymani.
Wyville Thomson, 1873. The Depths of the Sea, p. 172.
This, the commonest and most widespread of deep-sea ophiurans, is
represented by a large and uninteresting series of specimens, whose disk-
diameters range from 2| to 30 mm.
214 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms.
Station 5686. Off Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower California, 930
fms. Bottom Temp., 37.3°.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Station 5690. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 1101
fms. Bottom Temp., 38.1°.
Station 5691. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
868 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Station 5692. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1076 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.1°.
Bathymetrical range, 868-1101 fms. Temperature range, 3S.1°-37.1°.
Two hundred and thirteen specimens.
Amphiura carchara.
H. L. Clark, 1911. Bull. U. S. N. M., No. 75, p. 142.
The occurrence of this species off Lower California extends its range very
far southwards on the American coast. The specimens range from 4 to
8 mm. across the disk but show no notable peculiarities.
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms. Four specimens.
Amphiura diomedeae.
Liitken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 151.
This wide-ranging species is represented by four adult specimens; in
one the disk-diameter exceeds 15 mm. but the arms are all broken; in
another the disk measures 13 mm. across and one of the arms is about
135 mm. or fully ten times the disk-diameter.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 215
Amphiura serpentina.
Lutken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 143.
Although the specimens are not in very good condition, I do not think the
identification is in doubt. They seem to be intermediate between the
typical form and the var. a of Lutken and Mortensen.
Station 5GS3. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 630 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.1°.
Station 5685. Southwest from Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 645 fms.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Six specimens.
Amphiodia dalea.
Amphiura dalea LYMAN, 1879. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 6, p. 27.
These specimens, of which the largest is 15 mm. across the disk, agree
almost exactly with those discussed by Lutken and Mortensen (1899, Mem.
M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 154), and on comparison with cotypes from the southern
Atlantic I find no reason to criticize their identification. Verrill (1899,
Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 10, p. 315) places the species in Amphioplus, no
doubt because of Lyman's figure, but as Lutken and Mortensen point out
that figure is misleading. There are really only three oral papillae on each
side.
Station 5684. Southwest from Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 1760 fms.
Station 5692. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1076 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.1°.
Three specimens.
Ophionsreis annulata.
Ophiokpis annulata LECONTE, 1851. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., Vol. 5, p. 317.
Ophionereis annulata LYMAN, 1860. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. 7, p. 203.
There is a good series of this well known species, the smallest 5 mm.,
the largest 18 mm., across the disk.
Northern end, east side, Cedros Island, west coast of Lower California.
216 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
San Francisquito Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Pichilingue Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Forty specimens.
Ophiacantha bairdi.
Lyman, 1883. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 10, p. 256.
The specimens are all in poor condition and call for no comment.
Station 5688. Off Cedros Island, west coast of Lower California,
525 fms. Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5693. Northwest of San Nicolas Island, California, 451 fms.
Five specimens.
Ophiacantha bathybia.
H. L. Clark, 1911. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 75, p. 233.
These specimens call for no special comment but the occurrence of the
species off Lower California extends its range very far southward. The
bathymetrical and temperature ranges are scarcely affected however.
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms.
Station 5691. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
868 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Twelve specimens.
Ophiacantha moniliformis.
Liitken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 171.
These specimens extend the range of this species considerably to the
northward and into much shallower water.
Station 5675. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fms. Bottom Temp., 44.6°. Three specimens.
Ophiacantha normani.
Lyman, 1879. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 6, p. 58.
This species is one of the most common in the North Pacific ocean, and
there is nothing notable about its numerous representatives in the present
collection.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 217
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 475-659 fms. Temperature range, 39.9°-37.9°.
One hundred and fifty-three specimens.
Ophiacantha rhachophora.
H. L. Clark, 1911. Bull. U. S. N. M., No. 75, p. 201.
There is always room for doubt in the identification of small Ophia-
canthas and the occurrence of this species on the coast of California and
near Cape St. Lucas is certainly unexpected, but after comparing the present
specimens with others from Bering Sea and Japan, I think they may fairly
be called rhachophora. It is quite likely however, that the young of several
species are now included under that name. The largest of these specimens
has the disk only 7 mm. across.
Station 5683. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 630 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.1°.
Station 5693. Northwest of San Nicolas Island, California, 451 fms.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Twelve specimens.
Ophiocoma setliiops.
Ltitken, 1859. Add. ad Hist., pt. 2, p. 145.
Only a single specimen of this common Panamic species is in the collec-
tion. It is a large adult from Angel de la Guardia Island, Gulf of California.
Ophiocoma alexandri.
Lyman, 1860. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. 7, p. 256.
There is a good series of this less common species but it was only found
at one locality.
San Francisquito Bay, east coast of Lower California. Ten specimens.
218 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Ophiothrix spiculata.
LeConte, 1851, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, Vol. 5, p. 318.
Another common Panamic species, this Ophiothrix, is represented by
only a small series, mostly in poor condition.
San Esteban Island, Gulf of California.
San Francisquito Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Station 5678. Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower California, 13^ fms.
Five specimens.
Astroschema sublaeve.
Lutken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 187.
This fine species is represented by only a single specimen, but that is an
adult in beautiful condition.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Asteronyx dispar.
Lutken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 185.
The large series of Asteronyx in the collection fall into three groups,
representing species two of which were found by the 'Albatross' in 1891 in
her exploration of the Panamic region, while the third was taken by the
same vessel at numerous stations from California northward to Bering Sea.
It is interesting to note that no two of these species occurred at the same
station either in 1891 or in 1911. The present species, dispar, has a wide
range, extending from the Galapagos archipelago to southern California.
It seems to be a well defined species, easily recognized by the number and
appearance of the arm-spines. The specimens at hand range in disk-
diameter from 5 to 17 mm.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Station 5690. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 1101
fms. Bottom Temp., 38.1°.
Station 5691. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
868 fms - Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Station 5692. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1076 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.1°.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 219
Station 5693. Northwest of San Nicolas Island, California, 451 fms.
Bathymetrical range, 451-1101 fms. Temperature range, 3S.1°-37.1°.
Twenty-one specimens.
Asteronyx excavata.
Lutken and Mortensen, 1899. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 23, p. 185.
This species seems to be confined to the region of southern Lower
California and the Tres Marias Islands. It was found in the latter area
by the 'Albatross' in 1891. It is a well characterized, and apparently rare
species. The largest specimen in the present collection is 26 mm. across
the disk, or about one third larger than the specimen described by Lutken
and Mortensen.
Station 5682. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 491 fms. Bottom
Temp., 40.8°.
Station 5688. Off Cedros Island, west coast of Lower California,
525 fms. Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Five specimens.
Asteronyx loveni.
Muller and Troschel, 1842. Sys. Ast., p. 119.
Except for the large lot (79) of young specimens taken at Station 5675,
this well known species was not common, but was taken only three times
and then off the coast of California. The largest specimens from Station
5675 are only 16 mm. across the disk and while I fail to find any good
reason for not calling them lomii, I confess to being suspicious of them.
They are certainly not either plana, dispar or excavata and comparison
with young loveni from off British Columbia and Alaska has made me feel
they should be called loveni. If some adult loveni had been taken at the
same or some neighboring station, I should be better satisfied with my
decision.
Station 5675. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fms. Bottom Temp., 44.6°.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom Temp., 37.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 284-659 fms. Temperature range, 44.6°-37.9°.
Eighty-two specimens.
220 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
ECHINOIDEA
Eucidaris thouarsii.
i
Cidaris thouarsii AGASSIZ and DESOR, 1846. Ann. Sci. Nat., Vol. 6, p. 326.
Encidaris thouarsii DODERLEIN, 1887. Jap. Seeigel, p. 42.
There is only a single specimen, a small one, from San Josef Island,
Gulf of California.
Centrostephanus coronatus.
Echinodiadema coronata VERRILL, 1867. Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 1, p. 294.
Centrostephanus coronatus A. AGASSIZ, 1872. Rev. Ech., Pt. 1, p. 97.
This little known species is represented simply by young individuals,
the largest only 25 mm. h. d.1
San Josef Island, Gulf of California.
San Esteban Island, Gulf of California.
Agua Verde Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Five specimens.
Arbacia incisa comb. nov.
Echinocidaris incisa A. AGASSIZ, 1863. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 1, p. 20.
(= Arbacia stellata, Echinus stellatus DE BLAINVILLE, 1825, non Gmelin, 1788).
Since it is certain that Echinus stellatus of de Blainville is not identical
with Echinus stellatus Gmelin, it is clear that the name cannot be used for
de Blainville's species even though we do not know at present what species
Gmelin had in mind. A. Agassiz's name seems to be the first available
one. The species is characteristic of the Panamic region and while its
northern limit is not yet definitely known, it is probably south of the
United States. In 1901, I published (Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. 29,
pp. 331, 332) records of the occurrence of this and four other Panamic
echini and one or more Panamic starfishes, in Puget Sound. Some years
later it came out that the collections sent to me as from Puget Sound,
contained material not only from Puget Sound but from some point on the
Pacific coast south of the United States and also apparently from the West
Indies. Fisher (1911, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 76) has recently called at-
tention to this regrettable fact, in the case of the starfishes and I therefore
i This abbreviation for "horizontal diameter" will be used throughout this report.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 221
wish to correct, so far as possible, the errors concerning the Echini. The
Arbacia stellata recorded is undoubtedly from somewhere in the Panamic
region, on the west coast of Central America or Mexico, or in the Gulf of
California. The same is true of the Diadcina j/ic.ricanum, To.n>i»i mutes
semituberculatus and Clypeaster rotundus. As near as can be determined
now the " Echinomctra oblonga" was an Echinometra lucutttcr from the West
Indies but as the specimen seems to be no longer extant, the matter cannot
be positively determined.
None of the Arbacias in the present 'Albatross' collection are adult, the
largest being only 17 mm. h. d.
San Josef Island, Gulf of California.
San Esteban Island, Gulf of California.
Agua Verde Bay, Gulf of California.
Twelve specimens.
Lytechinus anamesus.
H. L. Clark, 1912. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 34, p. 254.
This recently described species was met writh at only one place, although it
is widely spread in the region. The largest specimen is very much larger
than any previously known, measuring 37 mm. h. d. and 23 mm. high.
San Bartolome Bay, west coast of Lower California.
Off Pt. San Bartolome, west coast of Lower California, with "boat-
dredge." Depth not given. March 14, 1911.
Six specimens.
Lytechinus pictus.
Psammechimts pictus VERRILL, 1867. Trans. Conn. Acad. Vol. 1, p. 301.
Lytechinus pictus H. L. CLARK, 1912. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 34, p. 258.
All of the specimens are young, the largest only about 16 mm. h. d.
"Lower California."
Agua Verde Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Twenty-six specimens.
Strongylocentrotus fragilis.
Jackson, 1912. Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. 7, p. 128.
This is still another species represented only by young specimens, the
largest only about 40 mm. h. d.
222 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Station 5687. Off Pt. Santa Eugenia, west coast of Lower California,
480 fms. Bottom Temp., 41.1°.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5696. Off San Luis Obispo County, California, 440 fms.
Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Three specimens.
Strongylocentrotus franciscanus.
Toxo<-iix from Lower California. 223
The largest in 110 mm. across, but only 92 mm. long, owing to the fact that
both posterior divisions of the test (between the median lumile and the
postero-lateral notches) were long ago lost (bitten off?) and although healed
are not at all regenerated. One specimen is 25 mm. across, and the lunule
and all the notches, except the mid-anterior, are distinct. The smallest
specimen is about 14 mm. across and only the lunule and posterior notches
are clearly seen. These small specimens are pale brown, almost fawn-
color, while the adults are deep purplish-brown, almost black.
Cape St. Lucas, Lower California.
Mulege Bay, east coast of Lower California.
Tiburon Island, Gulf of California.
Nineteen specimens.
Encope micropora.
L. Agassiz, 1841. Mon. Scut., p. 50.
These specimens are all large, measuring 90-120 mm. across, the length
not quite equalling the width. The color varies from dull yellowish-brown
to almost black. One specimen is labelled "Tiburon Island" but as all
the others are from the west coast of Lower California, while the other
Encopes from Tiburon Island are (/ntix/ix, it seems possible there may have
been a slip in the labelling. Yet in view of the wide range of micropora,
its occurrence in the Gulf of California is most probable; indeed, it has been
recorded from Guaymas, Mexico.
Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower California.
South end of Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower California.
Tiburon Island, Gulf of California.
Ten specimens.
Urechinus loveni.
Cystechinus loveni A. AGASSIZ, 1898. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 32, p. 79.
Urechinus loveni MORTENSEN, 1907. "Ingolf " Ech., Pt. 2, p. 50.
This rare and remarkable echinoid is represented by only one complete
specimen, although the fragments of a number of others show that it is
common in certain places such as Station 5684. The test is so thin and
fragile and the depth at which the animals live is so great, it must be rarely
indeed that unbroken specimens are brought to the surface. The larger
of the two measurable specimens before me is 70 mm. long, 63 mm. wide
and 43 mm. high. According to Agassiz's figure, his specimen, 88 mm.
224 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII >
long, was 75 mm. wide and 60 mm. high, and so was some seven per cent
higher than mine. But some of the fragments at hand indicate higher
tests than that of the whole specimen, so I do not think this difference is
important. The color of the test is deep reddish-purple, but this color
seems to be superficial and easily rubbed off leaving the bare plates purplish-
white. Excepting that no globiferous ones were found, the pedicellarire agree
well with the description and figures given by Mortensen (1. c.). I agree
with the latter that Cystechinus cannot be distinguished from Urechinus.
Station 5684. Southwest from Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 1760 fms. Eight (?) specimens.
Urechinus reticulatus J sp. nov.
Plate XLVI, Figs. 10-13.
Length of test, 67 mm.; breadth, 62 mm.; height, 46 mm. Color deep reddish
purple, but spines, pedicellarise and the surface of each plate, except around margin,
dull greenish-yellow. The effect of this coloration is a yellowish animal, handsomely
reticulated with deep purple. The plates composing the test are noticeably higher
in proportion to their width than in loveni, from the ambitus upward. The plates
of the ambulacra differ little from those of the ambulacra in either height or width.
Thus the antero-lateral ambulacrum is 21 mm. wide at ambitus and has 20-21 plates
in each column, while the antero-lateral interambulacrum is 21.5 mm. wide and
has 17-18 plates in each column. An ambulacral plate just above the ambitus is
10 mm. wide and 7 mm. high; an adjoining interambulacral plate is 9.5 mm. wide
and 8 mm. high. The abactinal system is somewhat distorted and obviously not
normal; the madreporic genital lies, as in U. loveni, directly in the long axis of the
animal, but there are only two genital pores, a left anterior, in a plate separate from
the madreporic genital, and a right posterior; the oculars are distorted and the left
posterior genital seems to be imperforate. The periproct is just below the ambitus,
on an oblique surface, and not completely actinal as in loveni. The mouth is more
nearly central than in loveni, lying more than two fifths of the long axis back of the
anterior margin, while in loveni, it is distinctly less.
The pedicellarise are exceedingly characteristic and indicate that this species is
quite distinct from loveni. Four kinds of pedicellarise were found, but the globiferous
are very uncommon, only two being seen. The ophicephalous pedicellarise are not
to be distinguished certainly from those of loveni; they occur chiefly in the region
about the periproct. The ordinary tridentate are similar to those of loveni but are
at once distinguishable by the low basal portion of the valves with straight lateral
margins; in loveni. the base is higher and its lateral margins are angular and often
with a tooth at the angle. The most conspicuous pedicellarise on reticulatus are the
stout, tridentate, which are common around the mouth and abundant on the peri-
proct. The heads are very robust, the valves measuring .40 to .60 mm. long and
.25 to .-±0 mm. wide. The blade is nearly circular (i. e. as wide as it is long) but
otherwise the valves are much like those of naresianus as figured by Mortensen (1. c.
i reticulatus - with lines like the meshes of a net.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California.
Plate IX, fig. 15). The globiferous pedicellariae have the basal part of the valves
about as long as wide, while the tubular blade is somewhat shorter; the opening of
the blade has a lower lip from which extend horizontally four, five or even six, very
slender teeth, much longer than the diameter of the blade; the back or upper lip of
the opening has an angular margin but carries no teeth. The valves are about
.40 mm. long and the teeth below the opening of the blade are about .08 mm.
While these pedicellarise are no doubt of the same general structure as those of
Urechinus giganteus, they are not at all like them in detail, yet I know of no others
which they resemble more closely.
Type.— Cat. No. - — , U. S. N. M., from Station 5689.
Before examining the pedicellarine, I was inclined to consider this
unique specimen, a peculiar individual variant of loveni, but the pedicel-
lariae are so characteristic, I have no doubt that reticulatus is a good species.
The test is higher, firmer and apparently thicker than in loveni, but these
may be simply characters associated with the much shallower water in
which the specimen was taken. Possibly the shallower habitat is charac-
teristic of the species.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Schizaster townsendi.
A. Agassiz, 1898. Bull. M, C. Z., Vol. 32, p. 82.
The occurrence of this species off California extends its known range of
distribution far to the northward. The specimens range from 18 to 54 mm.
in length, the latter being somewhat larger than Agassiz's biggest specimen.
Station 5696. Off San Luis Obispo County, California, 440 fms.
Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5697. Off Monterey County, California, 485 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.8°.
Thirty-two specimens.
Schizaster latifrons.
A. Agassiz, 1898. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 32, p. 81.
This species, originally taken in the Gulf of California in 995 fms.,
seems to have a more restricted range both geographically and bathyme-
trically than the preceding. Attention should be called to the fact that
the figures published in 1898 as representing this species really represent
the preceding species, townsendi (see A. Agassiz, 1904, Panamic Ech., p. 207).
The figures in "Panamic Echini" (Plate 102, figs. 1-4) give a good idea of
the species, although the specimen was a very small one. In the present
226 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXIi,
collection there is one individual 58 mm. long. In large specimens, the
unpaired ambulacrum is not so extraordinarily broad, but the short posterior
petals will always distinguish this species from townsendi.
Station 5683. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 630 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.1°.
Station 5685. Southwest from Ballenas Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 645 fms.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Six specimens.
Brissopsis columbaris.
A. Agassiz, 1898. Bull. M. C. Z.. Vol. 32, p. 82.
The specimens are small, less than 35 mm. long, and one is broken in
fragments. Their occurrence off Cape St. Lucas, while not at all unexpected,
extends the known range considerably to the north.
Station 5682. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 491 fms. Bottom
Temp., 40.8°.
Two specimens.
Brissopsis pacifica.
Toxobrissiis pacificus A. AGASSI/.,. 1898. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 32, p. 83.
Brissopsis (Toxobrissiis) pacifica MORTENSEN, 1907. "Ingolf" Ech., Pt. 2,
p. 44.
Although this species was abundant at Station 5675, it was not found
elsewhere. The specimens range from 11 to 34 mm. in length, none of
them being full grown. Some are remarkably flattened, the abactinal
surface being more or less concave rather than convex; one such specimen
is 26 mm. long, 24 mm. wide, 8 mm. thick at margin and 6 mm. thick at
center of abactinal system. The cause of such a deformity is not easy
to imagine. The species was previously known only from Panama.
Station 5675. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fms. Bottom Temp., 44.6°.
One hundred and seventy specimens.
Lovenia cordiformis.
A. Agassiz, 1872. Bull. M. C. Z., Vol. 3, p. 57.
A single small specimen, only 20 mm. long, from Cape St. Lucas, is the
sole representative of this species in the collection.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 227
HOLOTHURIOIDEA.
Leptosynapta inhserens.
Holothuria inhaerens 0. F. MULLER, 1776. Zool. Dan. Prod., p. 232.
Leptosynapta inhcerens VERRILL, 1867. Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. 1, p. 325.
There are two S3rnaptids in the collection, which agree in all respects
with each other, and except for color and texture of the body wall, I cannot
distinguish them from L. inhaerens. But the body wall is soft and rather
thick and the color is nearly black. The texture of the body wall may be
the result of having been at first preserved in formalin, though there is no
other indication of that reagent, but for the color I am quite unable to
.account. Each specimen is about 40 mm. long; the anchors are .16 mm.
and the plates .14 mm. long in the posterior part of the body. Unfortu-
nately the locality of these specimens is quite uncertain; one was in a jar
with the specimens of Holothuria lubricn, which lacked a locality label;
while the other was in a vial with the label "Station 5684." Now since the
depth at station 5684 was 1760 fms., it is impossible to believe that this
characteristically littoral genus occurs at that place. The appearance of
the two specimens is such that I have little doubt both came from the same
littoral station where the Holothuria lubrica were taken.
Protankyra abyssicola.
Synapta abyssicola THEEL, 1886. "Challenger" Holoth.: Pt. II, p. 14.
Protankyra abyssicola OSTERGREN, 1898. Ofv. Kong. Vet. Ak. Forhandl., Vol.
55, p. 116.
The specimens are all more or less fragmentary and in poor condition.
The largest one is about 90 mm. long and was probably 150 mm. in life.
The anchors have 2-7 teeth on each arm, so that the specimens cannot be
referred to P. pacifica. Further material is necessary to show whether
the latter species can be maintained. In the light of the present material,
it seems quite improbable. These specimens are strongly tinged with red,
due to a red pigment in the skin. In one specimen, this pigment was of a
blackish-brown color.
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms.
Station 5684. Southwest from Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 1760 fms.
228 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°. Specimen decalcified and dubious.
Ten specimens.
Molpadia intermedia.
Trochostoma intermedium LUDWIG, 1894. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 17, p. 161.
Molpadia intermedia H. L. CLARK, 1907 (1908). Apodous Holoth., p. 33.
There is a very good series of this well known molpadid, the young
being in the Ankyroderma stage, and having many more, and much more
perfectly formed, tables than the adults. The largest specimen is over
100 mm. long, while the smallest is only 33 mm. of which 13 mm. is tail.
Station 5676. Off San Juanico, west coast of Lower California, 647
fms. Bottom Temp., 39°.
Station 5683. Off Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, 630 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.1°.
Station 5688. Off Cedros Island, west coast of Lower California,
525 fms. Bottom Temp., 39.9°.
Station 56S9. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Station 5690. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 1101
fms. Bottom Temp., 38.1°.
Station 5694. Southwest of Santa Cruz Island, California, 640 fms.
Station 5697. Off Monterey County, California, 485 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.8°.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Bathymetrical range, 475-1101 fms. Temperature range, 39.9°-38.1°.
Twenty-two specimens.
Molpadia musculus.
Risso, 1826, Hist. Nat. Prin. Prod. Europe, Mer., p. 293.
These specimens are small (the largest only 70 mm. long, of which 20 mm.
is tail) and two are in very poor condition. These two have minute,
scattered phosphatic bodies and. some anchors and rosettes, and undoubt-
edly are the form called by Ludwig, Ankyroderma spinosum. In the largest
specimen neither phosphatic bodies nor anchors were found.
Station 5684. Southwest from Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 1760 fms.
1913.] Clark, Echinoderms from Lower California. 229
Station 5692. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1076 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.1°.
Three specimens.
Caudina californica.
Ludwig, 1894. Mem. M. C. Z., Vol. 17, p. 155.
These specimens are small, 70 mm. long of which about half is tail, but
their identity is unmistakable.
Station 5698. Off Monterey County, California, 475 fms. Bottom
Temp., 39.9°.
Station 5699. Southwest from Monterey Bay, California, 659 fms.
Bottom temp., 37.9°.
Two specimens.
Cucumaria abyssorum.
Thdel, 1886. "Challenger" Holoth.: Pt. II, p. 66.
This species is represented in the collection by a good series, ranging
from 30 to 80 mm. in length, but showing no noteworthy peculiarities.
Station 5673. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1090 fms.
Station 5684. Southwest from Magdalena Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 1760 fms.
Station 5691. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
868 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.2°.
Station 5692. Off Pt. San Tomas, west coast of Lower California,
1076 fms. Bottom Temp., 37.1°.
Bathymetrical range, 868-1760 fms. Temperature range, 37.2°-37.1°.
Twenty -nine specimens.
Sphserothuria bitentaculata.
Ludwig, 1894. Mem. M. C- Z., Vol. 17, p. 141.
This remarkable species, so fully described and discussed by Ludwig, is
represented by some specimens about 16 mm. long. The shallowness of the
water and the high bottom temperature at the spot where they were taken
is notable.
230 Bulletin American Museum of Natural History. [Vol. XXXII,
Station 5675. Southwest of San Cristobal Bay, west coast of Lower
California, 284 fms. Bottom Temp., 44.6°.
Four specimens.
Psolus squamatus.
Holothuria squamata O. F. MULLER, 1776. Zool. Dan. Prod., p. 232.
Psolus squamatus McANDREW & BARRETT, 1857. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (2)
Vol. 20, p. 45.
A large Psolus, 88 mm. long, 45 mm. wide and 30 mm. high in its fully
contracted condition, seems to belong to this northern species. I have
compared it with specimens from Norway and cannot find any satisfactory
grounds on which to separate them. Nevertheless I shall not be surprised
if abundant material in good condition shows that the California!! Psolus
is specifically different from the North European species.
Station 5695. Southwest of Santa Rosa Island, California, 534 fms.
Bottom Temp., 38.9°.
Achlyonice ecalcarea.
Theel, 1879. Bih. Kongl. Svenska Vet. Akad. Handl., Vol. 5, no. 19, p. 13.
Although the specimens are in poor condition, it is possible to determine
their generic position, the number of tentacles being constantly 12 and the
arrangement of the pedicels and dorsal papillae being determinable by
comparison of the different individuals. Although there are calcareous
rods present in the tentacles, I could find no calcareous ring nor any parti-
cles in the body-wall. I think therefore that their absence in Theel's
specimens was not due to their dissolution in the alcohol. In any case
however, Theel's change of the name to paradoxa is of, course inadmissible.
The best individual before me is only about 60 mm. long and is thus much
smaller than the 'Challenger' specimens.
Station 5689. Off Rosario Bay, west coast of Lower California, 879 fms.
Five specimens.
Laetmenoecus l gen. nov.
Body elongated, more or less cylindrical. Lateral ventral ambulacra with rela-
tively few (15-20) large pedicels; mid- ventral ambulacrum possibly with a few similar
pedicels posteriorly. Dorsal ambulacra apparently without appendages. Tentacles
15. Calcareous particles in the body-wall, wheels and rods as in Lsetmogone.
Type-species. — Lcetmenoecus scotoci