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ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE
OF THE
MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY,
AT HARVARD COLLEGE.
Published by order of the Legislature of Massachusetts.
No. I.
OPHIURIDEH AND ASTROPHYTIDA.
BY
THEODORE LYMAN.
CAMBRIDGE:
FOR SALE BY SEVER AND FRANCIS.
1865.
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University Press: WEtcH, BiceLow, & Co.,
CAMBRIDGE.
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HE publication of the Illustrated Catalogue of the Museum of
Comparative Zodlogy has been undertaken with a threefold
object. In the first place, like the catalogues of most institutions of
a similar character, it is intended to make the contents of our Museum
generally known, and to facilitate our exchanges. In the second place,
to be the medium of publication of the novelties received at the
Museum, which require to be described and illustrated by diagrams
or wood-cuts, or more elaborate plates. Finally, it is hoped that it
may be the basis of a systematic revision of such natural groups of
the animal kingdom as are most fully represented in our collections,
and that it may, as far as possible, present to the scientific world
the results of the investigations carried on in the Museum with a
view of ascertaining the natural limits of the Faun at the present
time and in past ages, and the genetic relations which may exist
between the order of succession of organized beings upon the earth,
their mode of growth, and their metamorphoses during their embry-
onic life, and the plan and complication of their structure in their
adult condition.
The means for publishing this work have been most liberally granted
by the Legislature, at a time when, in a less enlightened assembly,
the material cares of the community would have engaged their
exclusive attention.
L. AGASSIZ.
CamBripGkt, March 28, 1865.
PREFACE.
HIS is a descriptive Catalogue of such Genera and Species of
Ophiuridz and Astrophytida, from the shores of North and South
America and of Greenland, as are now represented in the Smithsonian
Institution (1861) and in the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy at
Harvard University (1864). To these are added notices of the other
species in our Museum.
There are twenty-six genera in all, and one hundred and five species.
Of these, five genera and twenty-six species are new ; also, one generic
name, which could not stand, has been replaced by a new one.
The Catalogue consists of a Preface, an Introduction, a List of the
most important books, a Table of the known Species of Ophiuridee
and of Astrophytide, and descriptions of Genera and Species of the
families Ophiuride and Astrophytide.
I take this opportunity to thank the following gentlemen for their
kind assistance in giving me specimens, and a great variety of valuable
information: Professor Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution ;
Professor 8. F. Baird ; Professor F. 8. Holmes; Professor J. Leidy ; Dr.
J. L. LeConte ; Dr. Wm. Stimpson ; Professor Steenstrup and Dr. C. F.
Litken, of Copenhagen ; Dr. D. F. Weinland ; James M. Barnard, Esq. ;
Rev. J. E. Mills; Mr. T. N. Gill; Mr. Higginson ; Mr. A. 8. Packard, Jr.;
Mr. N.S. Shaler; Professor A. E. Verrill; Mr. A. Garrett ; Mr. G. A. Che-
ney, of Zanzibar; Mr. C. Curtis, of Key West; Dr. Whitehurst, Surgeon
of the post, and Mr. Phillips, Superintendent at Fort Jefferson, Tortugas ;
General Geo. G. Meade, U.S. A.; General D. P. Woodbury, U. 8. A.;
Lieutenant Craighill, U.S. A.; Mr. A. H. Riise, of St. Thomas ; Profes-
sor Valenciennes and M. Rousseau, of the Jardin des Plantes ; Professor
Schmarda, of Vienna; Professor Schlegel and Professor Herklots, of
-, |, hil) nese rouse Weekes te ticorme ene eee Alcoholic.
1059 @ || ChyalMosces |) ow soace G. Wurdeman. “
989 1 | Cape Florida. B51.) pal paillvn sasmememenee te kere &“
1086 2) St.eRhomas:c Bahamasclis eeeuenewene A. Hi. Riise. ee
1108 eae 2 | St. Thomas, W. I. ea tece etre A. H. Riise. j a
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a EE eee
OPHIURA HOLMESII. 21
Ophiura Holmesii Lyman. (Pl. I, Fig. 7.)
Ophioderma variegatum AGAss. MS.
Ophiura Holmesii Lyman ; Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VI. p. 1860.
nw
co
cr
Special Marks. — Disk thick ; arms stout, stiff; in length less than
four times diameter of disk. Color, various patterns of white, and of
different shades of green. No naked scales at base of arms.
Description of an Individual. — Diameter of disk, 19.2"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slits, 7.4" ;
greatest width of arm without spines, 4.4""; length of arm, about 74";
distance from outer edge of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-
papille, to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 2.8: 4.2". Mouth-
papilla: small, stout, rounded, pointed ; from 16 to 18; outermost one
somewhat longer than rest ; one next to outermost, broad and flattened ;
two innermost pointing to centre, and somewhat longer than those near
them. Teeth, four in number; uppermost one longer than others, flat,
and sharp-pointed ; three lower ones thin, flat, and with a rounded, cut-
ting edge. Mouth-shields long heart-shaped, with pomt mward; on
outer edge a slight indentation ; length to breadth, 1.8: 1.6"™ ; madre-
poric shield shorter and broader, and with a small depression near outer
edge. Side mouth-shields small, rounded, thickened, varying somewhat
in shape, but commonly short, rounded, triangular; length to breadth,
1.2:1™"; leneth to that of mouth-shields, 1.2:1.8"". Under arm-plates
squarish ; outer side curved, laterals a little re-enteringly curved, inner
side and inner laterals short, of about equal length, and lying almost in
one line; farther out on arm, inner laterals and inner side are very
decidedly inclined to each other, and the curve of outer side is broken
up into an outer side and two outer laterals, so that here the plates
have the form of a nearly regular octagon ; between first and second
plates, and second and third plates, a pair of pores, separated by a little
tooth. First plate very irregular oval, with a notch on its inner side ;
length to breadth, .8:14™™. Second plate with a curved outer side,
lateral and inner sides re-enteringly curved, the latter most so ; length
to breadth, 1:1.4™". Third plate, outer and inner sides curved, the
latter the less; lateral sides re-enteringly curved; length to breadth,
1.2:1.6™". Fifth plate, same as third; about one third out on arm,
plates octagonal, length to breadth, 1.2: 1.4; near point of arm heart-
shaped, with point inward. Side arm-plates compactly soldered with
surrounding parts, stout, a little overlapped by upper plates, their outer
edges showing plainly, by reason of shortness of arm-spines ; they con-
tinue till quite near end of arm without meeting either above or below.
Upper arm-plates much broader than long, outer corners rounded, inner
DY OPHIURA HOLMESII.
ad
side a trifle shorter than outer side; incision in disk includes three
plates ; first plate rudimentary, in form of segment of a circle, with its
curve inward, length to breadth, .8 : 1.2"; second plate similar in form,
length to breadth, .8:1.8""; third plate similar in form, length to
breadth, 1:37"; fourth plate of normal form, length to breadth,
1.2:3.2"™; about two thirds out on arm, plates proportionately longer,
outer corners much rounded, inner side shorter than outer so that
lateral sides slope; length to breadth, 1:2""; length of inner side,
1.4"; close to tip of arm, plates wedge-shaped, the pomt inward,
leneth to breadth, .4:.4"", outer side slightly curved. Disk, granula-
tion of upper surface pretty close and regular, about one hundred and
eighty grains to a square mm.; granulation of interbrachial spaces below
same as that above, and extending to bases of mouth-papilla excepting
side mouth-shields; scales at base of arm completely covered by granu-
lation. Arm-spines short, stout, flat, rounded, varying very little in size
on the same joint; upper ones, however, a little largest and longest.
Second and third joints, three spines, lengths to that of under arm-plate,
8:1; fourth joint, four spines ; fifth joimt, five spies; sixth joint, six
spines ; seventh joint, eight spmes ; eighth joimt, nine spines ; length of
uppermost and lowest spines to that of under arm-plate, .8, .8:1.2; a
few of upper spines are as long as 1™™; about two thirds out on arm,
six spines, length to that of under arm-plate, .6: 1; close to tip of arm,
four very short, stout spines, length to that of under arm-plate, .4 :.6.
Tentacle-scales: the two that belong to each tentacle continue till near
tip of arm, where there is only one; mside scale much lke an arm-
spine, but broader and flatter; outside scale shorter, being cut square
off at the end. Color, in alcohol: disk, above, with a dirty white patch
in centre; rest of upper surface having a ground-tint of light yellowish-
brown (yellow ochre and vandyke brown) slightly clouded with olive ;
arms above dirty olive, irregularly barred with same brown as ground-
tint of disk, but lighter ; bars include usually two or three joints; lower
surface of disk and arms, uniform dirty white, with a brown tint just on
edges of disk ; arm-spmes white.
Variations. — The color is almost as variable as in QO. appressa.
Often the disk is nearly white above, while the arms are dark green,
and banded. According to drawings in possession of Prof. Agassiz, a
common pattern in the living animal is a dark sap-green disk, with a
blotch of white in the centre, and arms banded with darker and lighter
green. Specimens with a disk of 14" have the under arm-plates more
octagonal and proportionately longer than among the larger.
This species stands between QO. brevispina and O. olivacea ; from the
former it is distinguished by proportionately thicker arms and stouter
disk, and by proportions of under arm-plates it is also a larger species,
OPHIURA OLIVACEA. 93
aw
twenty millemeters being about an average diameter for the disk of an
adult ; from O. olivacea it is distinguished by its barred arms and varied
coloration ; and from both of these by having no naked scales at the
base of the arm.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
|
Catalogue | Original Number 4 When 4 A Nature of
Number. | Number. of Spec. Locality. Collected. Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
111 20 6 Charleston, S:€. | .....-. Prof. Agassiz. Alcoholic.
112 ae 1 SullivanisislandsSi1Cs |) 0 ee Prof. Agassiz. Dried.
113 a 8} Olnodlasoyn, $5 || ssoaas Prof. F. S. Holmes.
Ophiura olivacea Lyman.
Ophioderma olivaceum Ayres ; Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., IV. p. 134. 1852.
Special Marks. — Uniform greenish above, without bands on arms;
lower arm-plates nearly square, with outer side curved; arms broad
near base, quickly tapering; side mouth-shields naked.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 11"; from outer
edge of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 4.7"™ ; width
of arm without spines, 2.2"; length of arm about 52"; distance from
outer edge of mouth-shield to inner points of teeth, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, 2.5: 2.2. Mouth-papille sixteen, outer one
small, next four stout, squarish, rounded ; innermost one longest, flat,
and tapering ; the rest like innermost one, but smaller. Teeth five or
six, similar among themselves, flat, tapering, pointed. Mouth-shields
heart-shaped, with a truncated angle turned inward, and inner sides a
little re-enteringly curved; length to breadth, 1.5: 1.5. Side mouth-
shields small, and almost wholly naked, connecting mnermost under
arm-plate with mouth-shield. Under arm-plates squarish, rather broader
than long, pretty strongly overlapping, bounded without by a long
curve, within and on the sides by nearly straight lines, which are, how-
ever, slightly re-enteringly curved, length to breadth (twelfth plate),
6:8. As the plates overlap a good deal, the imner laterals are very
short, while the outer laterals form a common curve with the outer side ;
hence comes the characteristic, even, square look of the plates. First
plate narrow oval, with a projection without, separating a pair of pores ;
next three or four plates with rather longer inner laterals, and more
curved outer sides, than those beyond ; about two thirds out on arm,
plates no longer oyerlap, so that inner laterals are well developed, giving
24 OPHIURA OLIVACEA.
the plates nearly an octagonal shape. Side arm-plates encroaching less
than usual between lower arm-plates. Upper arm-plates broader than
long, bounded, without and within, by very straight, clean lines ; inner
side shorter than outer; outer corners well rounded; three or four
plates enclosed by projections from disk, and modified in form accord-
ingly ; length to breadth (sixth plate), .9: 1.8; about two thirds out on
arm, same general shape, but proportionately longer. Disk, except side
mouth-shields and a very few naked scales at base of arm, closely coy-
ered with very fine grains, about 170 to a square mm. Arm-spines six,
of equal length and size, somewhat flattened, but little tapering, points
rounded ; length to that of under arm-plate, .5:.6. Inside tentacle-scale
oblong, with straight sides and rounded point; length to that of under
arm-plate, .4:.6,; outside scale shorter and broader. Color, in alcohol :
above, uniform dark sap-green, without bands on the arms ; below, the
same, but lighter ; interbrachial spaces slightly mottled, and of a darker
shade than arms.
Variations. — The specimen above described is below the ordinary
size of well-grown individuals. A specimen with a disk 14.5" in diam-
eter had eight strongly flattened arm-spines, fifteen mouth-papille, and
mouth-shields longer than broad, and pretty regular heart-shaped ; disk
with about 130 grains to a square mm. The number of teeth varies
somewhat; four seems to be most common. 1 Womby | — I) cooaao University Museum,
Copenhagen. a
Ophioglypha nodosa Lymay.
Ophiura nodosa LUTKEN. Vidensk. Meddelelser. Nov., 1854.
Ophiura nodosa LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 48.
Special Marks. — Primary plates irregular in form, but regularly
arranged ; disk thick ; arms often twice the diameter of the disk ; arm-
spines one, two, or three, separated from the tentacle-scales.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 7; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 4.5"; width
of arm without spines, 2"; length of arm, 9.5™" ; distance from outer
side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papille, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, 2.9: 1.5. Mouth-papillee, ten to each angle
of mouth ; short, flat, stout, blunt, set close together, those within nar-
rower than the outer ones. Teeth four, remarkably short, resembling
mouth-papille, flat, stout, with a curved cutting edge. Mouth-shields
broader than long, cleanly rounded without, and more or less tapering
inwards ; length to breadth, 1.6: 1.2. Side mouth-shields very narrow,
occupying only the inner end of mouth-shields; where they meet
within, they make an angle, and run still farther mwards, side by side.
Under arm-plates rapidly lessening in size towards the tip of the arm ;
narrow, swollen, rounded without, taperimg inwards ; first plate largest
of all, triangular, with one angle inward, stout, somewhat swollen ;
length to breadth, .9:.9; second plate rather smaller, squarish, with
rounded corners; beyond this the plates grow more and more rounded
7
50 OPHIOGLYPHA NODOSA.
and narrower within. Side arm-plates occuping a large part of the
under surface, but not meeting below till about two thirds out on the
arm; swollen, thick, rounded, projecting laterally, so as to make vertical
creases along the sides of the arm; not meeting above till close to the
tip. Upper arm-plates small and swollen, much broader without than
within, outer side curved, inner side nearly straight, lateral sides straight ;
leneth to breadth (fifth plate), .8:1; the first plate is triangular, and
very minute ; this and the second plate are included by the notch in
the disk; at the point of the arm the plates become triangular, with
the outer side rounded. The primary plates of the disk. are irregular
in shape, stout, and swollen, but are regularly arranged ; in the centre
of the disk, above, there is a close rosette of six; one in the middle,
having a diameter of 1.4", and five more, rather smaller, ranged about
it; there are two more separate ones in each interbrachial space, of
which one is just on the margin of the disk; the spaces between the
primary plates are filled with closely crowded smaller scales, of various
shapes. Radial shields longer than broad, broader without than within,
irregular in shape, corners rounded ; jomed except at their ner ends,
where they are separated by a single scale ; length to breadth, 1.5: 1.1.
Along the free edge of the radial scale, and so passing downwards and
inwards along the whole length of the genital slits, is a close row of
about eighteen short, stout papilla, which are longer and more poimted
above, and gradually become very minute below; the longest have a
length of about .2"™. Arm-spines near base of arm, commonly one,
sometimes two, very short, blunt, and rounded; length about .2™™.
The tentacle-scales on the mside of the pores resemble the arm-spines,
and near base of arm are four or five in number; those on the outer
side are similar, but are a little broader and flatter; on the first three
or four pores there are two, then one, and, nearer the end of the arm,
none ; on each side of the innermost tentacle pore are three, sometimes
four, scales, in a close row; they resemble the others, but are rather
broader. Color, in alcohol, dull gray.
Variations. — The proportions of the arms to the disk may be 5:9,
5:10, 6:10.5, 7:9.5; or, according to Liitken, 6.5: 16, or 8.5: 17.
There may be either one, two, or three arm-spines, near the base of the
arm. This irregularity might be expected in such ill-developed parts.
O. nodosa may be told from O. Stuwitzii by its regularly arranged
primary plates, and arm-spines separated from the tentacle-scales ; the
arms also are longer. It has been found on the coasts of Greenland
and Newfoundland.
OPHIOGLYPHA STUWITZII. 51
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number P When at Nature of
Number. | Number.) of Spec. Locality: | Collected. | Whence obtained. Specimen,
|
Museum of Comparative Zoélogy.
40 ane 5 Greenland. Mae acto: o Prof. Sars, 1852. Alcoholic.
41 44 2 | Greenland. Hoo. pave University Museum,
| Copenhagen. if
42 Ll Re University Museum,
Copenhagen. @
207 dee 1 Cape Florida. Apr. 1858. | G. Wurdeman. o
Smithsonian Institution.
1162 4 Sit Iie Welk [l i bao obo University Museum,
Copenhagen. "
179 34° 1 Tcelandtay eis Yan tick) bas University Museum,
Copenhagen. 6
180 34! 8 | Kattecat and Oresund.| ...... University Museum,
Copenhagen. @
EM | eC) MO Crone se. | Saboon University Museum,
Copenhagen. ie
182 12+| Boston Bay. © $$$| ...... Prof. Agassiz. 0
183 12+) Grand Manan Island. | Oct. 5, 1857. | J. E. Mills. &
184 IPSS! Wasyaiordis We ~~ . | 6a0a50 J. E. Mills. f
185 to Regal Mr. Higginson.
186 | 12 | Eastport, Me. Uw Lo USNs. og o Ba 0 68 D6 ce
187 | 12 | Trenton, Me. July, 1860. | Messrs. Verrill and
Shaler. ¢
188 12+) Grand Manan Island. | 1859, Sum’er.) A. E. Verrill. Ke
189 1 | Marked “ Florida,” but
| UMP OMOKy MON) Goeoas || sooo uGGaoGD fe
190 leone e\Vlassachusetts: mans s Mill cmenee ts Prof. Agassiz. Dried
191 NW |) eooccnusdoooa YW acooeooe Sl ooatwano6 6 “
192 QeNahante hep ll raecdnas che Prof. Agassiz. a
193 IDI ome | so ooo Dr. Horatio Storer. ; length of arm, 19"; distance
from outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papille,
to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, .8:.7. Mouth-papille
regular, stout ; three on each side ; outer one longer than inner ones,
and about twice as wide; two inner ones of about equal size, nearly
square, with corners rounded ; the innermost one runs upward to the
teeth. Teeth five, flat, thin, squarish ; lowest one smallest and most
pointed ; uppermost one a good deal the largest. Mouth-shields broad
heart-shaped, with a sharp point within ; rather small; length to breadth,
.3:.4. Side mouth-shields comparatively stout and large, meeting within.
Under arm-plates shield-shaped, having an angle within, the outer side
nearly straight, and lateral sides a little re-enteringly curved ; outer
corners rounded; length to breadth (sixth plate), .3:.5; even the
plates at the base of the arm are separated by the side arm-plates ;
first plate diamond-shaped, very small. Side arm-plates encroaching
more below than above. Upper arm-plates rounded ; outer side nearly
straight ; mner and lateral sides included in a common curve ; all are
slightly separated by the encroachment of the side arm-plates, except
one or two at the base of the arm; length to breadth (third plate), .4 :..
Disk-seales of pretty even size above and below, the latter considerably
smaller; above, about 25 to a square mm. Radial shields joined for
their whole length; shaped somewhat like a slender pear-seed, but with
the inside edge straight ; their two sharp ends are separated within by
a single small scale ; length to breadth, .9:.5. Where the scales of the
under surface meet those of the upper, there is a distinct line, made by
the upturned edges of the lower scales. Arm-spines three, short, stout,
of equal length, a little rounded and flattened, even, tapering, blunt ;
upper one broadest and stoutest ; second, third, and fourth joints, only
two spines, which are stouter and more rounded. Tentacle-scales two,
rather short and broad, with a strongly curved, free edge ; standing to
each other at an angle somewhat less than a right angle. Color, in
alcohol: nearly white.
Variations. — The disk may be to the arms as 3.6: 10, or 4.7: 16.5.
The mouth-shields vary in breadth. There are sometimes four arm-
spines on one or two basal joints. A. squamata has been dredged in
from three to six fathoms, and is found creeping over shells and stones.
When alive, its color is dark grayish-brown, with radial shields lighter
(Ayres). It stands very near to A. fenera and A. pugetana, but the
former has the middle arm-spine thickened at its base, and the latter
has arms about twice as long; A. Puntarene has a notch in the outer
side of the lower arm-plate, A. microdiscus has differently shaped upper
arm-plates, and A. violacea has much smaller mouth-shields.
AMPHIURA TENERA. 128
This widely-spread little creature, extending from the Mediterranean
on the east, to Massachusetts Bay on the west, possesses a high interest
as being viviparous, a fact first noticed by Professor De Quatrefages
(Comptes Rendus de PAcademie, XV. p. 799, 1842), and afterwards
more fully treated by Dr. Schultze (Miller's Archiv., p. 37, 1852). I
myself found a good number, during the month of June, in the basin
of Arcachon, south of Bordeaux. They lived just below low-water-mark,
among bits of broken shell. On being captured, the gravid individuals
would often cast off their disk, from which would wriggle out numerous
orange-colored young !
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
| Catalogue | Original | Number oli When P Nature of
Number. oa ial of Spec. Locality. Collected. Whence obtained, Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
242 | 68 1 @resun dee eee eed ret ecco University Museum,
Copenhagen. Alcoholic.
240 me 2 Birdelsl=Bostaklarbors|) ee ae Prof. Agassiz. “
Q41 we ZEA |e aa eaten eres cis Igiroit | aan pe eee eee Prof. Agassiz. “
377 &378, .. Pema Nahant Massie ecu, cenersy pla || scutauey pases vtous “
Snuthsonian Institution.
1060 2 | Massachusetts Bay. | ..---. Wm. Stimpson. Alcoholic.
1047 2 Grand Manan Island. | ...... Wm. Stimpson. ct
Amphiura tenera LirKen.
Amphiura tenera LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 124.
Special Marks. — Length of arm usually about four times the diam-
eter of the disk. Middle arm-spine swelled at the base.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 3.2"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 1.5"™ ; width
of arm without spines, .4™; length of arm, 10.5"; distance from outer
side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papillx, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, .6:.6. Mouth-papille, three on each side ;
outermost one wider than both the others together, flat, with a curved,
cutting edge ; two inner ones separated, nearly equal, small, rounded,
bead-like ; innermost one of all running upwards to the teeth. Teeth
four, longer than broad ; two uppermost ones flat, squarish, thin ; two
lowermost the same, but more rounded, tapering, and pomted. Mouth-
shields heart-shaped, with straight sides, and a sharp point turned
124 AMPHIURA TENERA.
=
9
inward ; length to breadth, .3:.3. Side mouth-shields proportionately
very large, meeting within, shaped like regular wedges, with the broad
end out. Under arm-plates a trifle longer than broad, shield-shaped,
with an angle within; outer side nearly straight, lateral sides a little
re-enteringly curved, outer corners rounded, length to breadth (sixth
plate) about .3:.3. Side arm-plates encroaching above and below, so
as to separate both upper and under arm-plates. Upper arm-plates with
outer side slightly curved ; inner and lateral sides included in a common
curve, which has the form of an arch; length to breadth (third plate)
about .3:.4. At the tip of the arm, the joints are much longer than
broad, wide without, but greatly constricted within; they are embraced
by the side arm-plates, the upper and under plates being small in size,
and occupying the outer end of the joimt. Disk-scales pretty regular
and even; above, about 36 to a square mm.; below, considerably
smaller; along the margin of the disk, the free edges of the lower
scales make a distinct line. Radial shields shaped like elongated pear-
seeds, with one side nearly straight; jomed for their whole length,
except their inner points, which are separated by a single scale ; length
to breadth, .7:.2. Arm-spines three (close to disk sometimes an addi-
tional one above) ; uppermost and lowest nearly equal, short, rounded,
a little flattened, tapering, rather sharp; lengths to that of under arm-
plate, .3:.5; middle one a trifle shorter, rounded, not flattened, swelled
at the base, and contracting suddenly to a pomt. Close to tip of arm,
there are two or three spines, of which the lowest is longest ; they are
sharper and more elongated than those near base of arm. Tentacle-
scales two, of moderate size, standing partly erect, and at an angle to
each other. Color, in alcohol: nearly white, with faint traces of
brownish on disk.
Variations. — The disk may be to the arms as 3:12, 2.7: 10, or
2:6.6. Otherwise the specimens vary scarcely at all. A young one,
with a disk of 2™, had the under arm-plates proportionately longer,
and the side arm-plates more developed; the disk-scales were in like
manner larger, and the primary plates more conspicuous.
A. tenera is distinguished from A. sguamata and A. pugetana by its
swollen middle arm-spines; from A. Orstedii, A. violacea, and A. mi-
crodiscus, by different upper arm-plates; and from A. Puntarene by
wanting a notch in the lower arm-plates. It has been taken at St.
Thomas in four fathoms (A. H. Riise).
AMPHIURA PUGETANA. 2,
Or
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number ali When 7 is Nature of
Number. | Number | of Spec acalitys Collected. Whenne obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
237 67 2 Wiestiindiess = "5, Saar University Museum,
Copenhagen. Alcoholic.
238 aus 2 |Charleston,S.C. | ...... Prof. Agassiz. us
239 ils} || isin dUromresh Wvode |] oo po o oc A. Hi. Riise. “
Smithsonian Institution.
1113 ae 6 Sis Nines Welk § || boo do A. H. Riise. Alcoholic.
Amphiura pugetana Lymay.
Amphiura pugetana Lyman. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VII. p. 193.
Special Marks. — Arms long ; often eight times the diameter of the
disk ; a light line running along their upper side.
Description of a Specimen.— Diameter of disk, 5.5°™ ; from outer
edge of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 1.5™™ ;
greatest width of arm without spines, .7""; length of arms, 24.5" ;
distance from outer side of mouth-shield to inner pomts of mouth-
papille, to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, .6:.5. Teeth
four, stout, flat, rather thick, squarish, with cutting edge curved.
Mouth-shields nearly diamond-shaped, the outer and side angles slightly
rounded ; length to breadth, .3:.2. Side mouth-shields large, thick, and
somewhat swelled ; meeting within, closely joined to surrounding parts.
Under arm-plates five-sided, with the fifth angle directed inward ; length
to breadth, near base of arm, .5:.4. Side arm-plates strong and well
developed, meeting above and below. Upper arm-plates bounded within
by a strong arch, without by a slight curve ; their lateral sides short ;
length to breadth, near base of arm, .5:.7; they do not quite touch
each other. Scales of disk mostly rounded, smaller below than above ;
those above of pretty even size, with a few little ones; near edge of
disk, about 50 to a square mm.; those toward the centre larger. Radial
shields closely joined for their whole length, oval, with the inner end
pointed ; length to breadth, .7:.3. Arm-spines three, sometimes four
on joints close to disk; evenly tapering, moderately stout, of even
lengths; length near disk, .5™. Tentacle-scales two, small and rounded,
placed obliquely side by side. Color, in alcohol: disk, above, light
126 AMPHIURA PUGETANA.
4
greenish-gray ; below lighter, radial shields darker; arms, above and
below, straw-color, with a faint white line running lengthwise above.
Variations. —'The angles of the mouth-shields may be more or less
rounded. Among younger specimens the scales of the disk are more
even in size, and the primary plates have their corners not entirely
rounded off The proportion of the arms to the disk varies somewhat ;
thus: diameter of disk to length of arms as 3.5: 24.5, 3:21, or
2.5 : 22.0.
This species is distinguished from others of the genus as follows:
A. Orstedii has the radial shields longer, and separated a part of their
length ; four or five spines and upper arm-plates broader. A. Pumta-
rene has rather longer arms, a small notch in the outer side of the
under arm-plates, and the upper arm-plates regularly oval. A. violacea
has mouth-shields proportionately much smaller, and the arms shorter ;
the color must also be quite distinet. A. microdiscus has, even in small
specimens, the upper arm-plates touching each other, and twice as broad
as long. A. tenera has the middle arm-spine swelled at the base. A.
squamata stands very near the present species; but the arms, in speci-
mens of the same size, are not more than half as long.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number r When * Nature of
Number. |Number.| of Spec. Locality. Collected. Wuhencelobtamned. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodloqy.
23a eee 12+| Mendocino, Cal §$| ...... Alex. Agassiz. Alcoholic.
232 | 1057 IA eRuceh Sounds Gee ss ula-ecween Dr. Kennerly. a
80 California. 0 og I. Sis yeaeni a all) ecpsucire vememei ae G
Smithsonian Institution.
1053 | 1p Peucet}Sound wage an a meeaieeiaa: Dr. Kennerly. Alccholic.
1057 | Ae Wieneay Stan) lb. Gib o Dr. Kennerly. v3
1037 | 1S PRuser sound. ess @lleeteriieee | Dr. Kennerly. ue
|
AMPIUURA ATRA. 127
Amphiura atra LirxKen.
Ophiolepis atra Stimpson. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., TV. p. 225. 1852.
Amphiura (Ophiolepis) atra LivKkrn. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 118.
Special Marks. — Three arm-spines; under arm-plates narrower with-
out than within, their outer side re-enteringly curved ; mouth-papillee
making a connected line ; innermost pair running upwards to the teeth.
Description of a Specimen.— Diameter of disk, 9.5"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 5.6™™ ;
width of arm without spines, 2"; length of arm about 95™™; dis-
tance from outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papille,
to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 1.6: 1.6. Mouth-papillee
wide, somewhat angular, applied end to end, so as to form a connected
line ; innermost pair extending upwards towards the teeth, and thus
partly holding the place of tooth-papille ; usually six, sometimes eight,
to each angle of the mouth. Teeth nine; lowest one small, irregular,
often broken in two or three pieces; the rest squarish, flattened, very
regular, increasing a little in size towards the upper ones. Mouth-
shields small, diamond-shape, longer than broad ; length to breadth, 1:.6 ;
madreporic shield larger and swollen. Side mouth-shields comparatively
large, meeting within, broader without than within, and with a slight
curve like an S. Under arm-plates broader than long, broader within
than without; inner and lateral sides nearly straight, outer side re-
enteringly curved, corners rounded ; length to breadth (seventh plate),
.9:.8; the plates are in contact only at the base of the arm; about the
twelfth plate they begin to be separated by the side arm-plates, and
begin also to have a slight peak on their inner side, which is the point
of juncture of two slightly curved inner laterals; the first plate is quite
rudimentary. Side arm-plates rather feeble, long, encroaching above
and below, having a very small ridge for spmes. Upper arm-plates
much breader than long, pointed oval, with outer side nearly straight,
and inner sides curved ; separated from each other except on the mid-
dle line; length to breadth (tenth plate), .6:1.7. Disk with closely
overlapping scales, about 36 to a square mm.; below finer ; near radial
shields larger ; from near the outside corner of the radial shields runs a
single straight row of larger scales, passing diagonally over the edge
of the disk. Radial shields rather large, irregular oval, with a point
within, united without, within separated by a group of scales ; length to
breadth, 2:.9. Arm-spines short, round, tapering, sharp ; lengths of two
lower ones to that of under arm-plate, near base of arm, .9, .9:.5; upper
one somewhat shorter. Tentacle-scales two, broad, short, erect, with a
128 AMPHIURA URTICA.
curved edge, and standing nearly at right angles to each other, the
inside one running along the lateral side of the under arm-plate. Color,
in alcohol: nearly uniform faded gray.
Variations. — Another specimen of about the same size had the
scaling of the disk somewhat finer, and the radial shields almost as
wide as long. Mr. Stimpson says that the disk of the living animal is
lobulate, and very soft. The creature is of a very dark-gray color,
nearly black, except the white madreporic shield; the arms jet black
above, except at their extremities. It lives at low water, buried in
the mud.
This species is pretty distinct from other Amphiure, and has some
resemblance to Hemipholis. It seems to stand nearest to A. Riisei,
from which, however, it differs in having longer arms, separated under
arm-plates, sharper arm-spines, &e,
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
| |
Catalogue | Original Number a When F Nature of
Number. Number. | of Spec. | Locality. | Collected. Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
246 es; 1 Fort Johnson, Charles-
tombs 9 lly oes ee Wm. Stimpson. Alcoholic.
Amphiura urtica Lyman.
Amphiura urtica Lyman. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VII. p. 195. 1860.
Special Marks. — Some of the disk-seales bearing fine prickles on
their edges. Arm-spines sharp, rounded, tapering.
Description of a Specimen.— Diameter of disk, 6"; outer side of
mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 2" ; width of arm
without spines, 8"; length of arms about eleven times diameter of
disk (a specimen having a diameter of disk 5.5"™, had 55™™ length of
arm); distance from outer edge of mouth-shield to imner points of
mouth-papillz, to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 1: 1.
Mouth-papille rounded and bead-like, three on each side. Teeth six,
rather irregular, three upper ones largest, stout, longer than broad,
thickened ; two next smaller and more pointed ; lowest one very short
and swollen, like a tooth-papilla. Mouth-shields nearly square, with an
AMPHIURA URTICA. 129
angle directed inward; outer angle truncated, and making a slight
peak ; other angles slightly rounded; length to breadth, .5:.5. Side
mouth-shields not meeting within. Upper arm-plates irregular oval,
outer side less curved than inner side ; length to breadth, .5:.7. Under
arm-plates scarcely touching each other; inner one five-sided, the rest
nearly square, with a strong notch in the outer side; leneth to breadth,
4:.4. Seales of disk fine and even, about 140 to a square mm.; some
of those near margin of disk bearing very fine prickles on their edges.
Primary plates not conspicuous. Radial shields elongated oval, tapering
within, jomed for their whole length ; length to breadth, 1:.5. Arm-
spines three, about as long as the joints, delicate, sharp, regularly
tapering. ‘Tentacle-scales two, both of them small and delicate. Color,
in alcohol: upper and under surface of disk dark greenish-gray, with a
margin of light; arms light straw-color.
Variations. — The mouth-shields vary in shape to an unusual degree ;
sometimes they have a strong peak without, and again none at all;
they may be nearly rectangular, or almost oval, and some are not far
from round. The under arm-plates may be more or less pentagonal ;
but, in the adult, most of them are nearly square. The young, with a
disk 2.5"°" in diameter, have the under arm-plates pentagonal, with a
deep notch in their outer side, and separated by the side arm-plates ;
they have also, on the back of the disk, a conspicuous rosette of round
primary scales.
This species differs from A. occidentalis in its notched under arm-
plates, sharp spines, and prickly scales of the disk. It is a somewhat
aberrant species, and by its prickly scales approaches Ophiocnida sca-
briuscula.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original |} Number A When “ Nature of
Number. | Number.| of Spec. Locality. Collected. Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy
243 =| 1056 i || teem: ~ || oe cin os | Dr. Kennerly. | Alcoholic.
Smithsonian Institution.
1056 o.0 5 | Puget Sound. I Gio ato Dr. Kennerly. Alcoholic.
1041 ee 6 Puget; Sound 779 ie 5 Dr. Kennerly. ce
|
17
130 AMPHIURA OCCIDENTALIS.
Amphiura occidentalis Lyman. (Figs. 12, 13.)
Amphiura occidentalis LyMAN. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VII. p. 194. 1860.
Special Marks. — Mouth-papille of nearly equal size. Arm-spines
very blunt, and pretty stout. Arms long, flat, broad.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 5.8""; outer edge
of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 2.2"; greatest
width of arm without spmes, 1.5™™. As the arms were somewhat
broken, their length could not well be measured ; but, from their pro-
portions, they must have been at least eight times the diameter of the
disk. Distance from outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of
mouth-papillz, to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 1.2: 1.
Mouth-papille rounded ; innermost one stoutest, and pointing to centre
Fig. 12. of mouth. Teeth five; four upper ones flat, square,
the second from the top largest ; lowest one of all
smallest, very short, thick, and rounded, somewhat
like a tooth-papilla. Mouth-shields small, oval dia-
mond-shaped, the angles being so rounded as to
ae give almost a true oval; outer angle making a very
Amphiura occidentalis. slight peak; length to breadth, .4:.5. Side mouth-
ca oe shields not meeting within. Under arm-plates square
oblong ; angles somewhat rounded ; outer side with a shghtly re-entering
curve ; second plate differs from the rest, being five-sided, with its fifth
angle directed inward ; it is separated from the rudimentary first plate
by narrow prolongations of the side arm-plates. The next three or
four plates are in like manner separated, while those farther out on the
arm are close together, which is an inversion of the
usual order. Length of plates to breadth, .4:.4.
Upper arm-plates oblong, with rounded corners ;
outer side with a slightly re-entering curve ; length
to breadth, .5:1. Scales of disk fine, smooth, and
f even, above and below ; about 60 to a square mm. ;
enpatnraleedidentals primary plates distinguished by greater size. Ra-
a dial shields shaped like an elongated, blunt pear-
seed ; separated by a narrow, single line of scales; length to breadth,
1.1:.4. Arm-spines three, not tapering, rather stout, rounded at the
end, flattened, about as long as the joints. Two small, rounded
tentacle-scales. Color, in alcohol: disk, above, faint greenish-gray ;
arms and under surface straw-color.
Variations. —The mouth-shields may be quite oval; the second
under arm-plate, instead of being five-sided, may resemble the rest.
OPHIOPHRAGMUS. 131
This species is distinguished from A. geminata by the shape of the
mouth-shields and of the upper and lower arm-plates, and in having the
mouth-papillz of the same size; from A. chilensis, by having two
tentacle-scales instead of one.
No. 1065 is from Puget Sound, and may be another species. The
spines are blunter, the under scales of the disk larger and less crowded,
and the under arm-plates rather more rounded. More specimens will
settle the question.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number P Whe 4 Nat f
Number. | Number. of Spec. Locality. Collected. Whence obtained. guecinen!
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
379 ree eee (PCalifornianaes ee ew | us ce cnrovers elo wnsseere eae et Alcoholic.
229 5a | - Le E| Wienlooing, Cab - I S6osece Alex. Agassiz. “
230 | 1054 i || Wong, Cab — || Seooae Mr. Sayla. 6“
354 is il || Cro’ oF Coors «|| Gacaos Alex. Agassiz. “
Smithsonian Institution.
1063 a 1 lie Somvb- If séssac Dr. Kennerly. Alcoholic.
1054 o8 8 | Mention Cal I! choca Mr. Sayla. “
OPHIOPHRAGMUS* Lyman.
Disk small and delicate, furnished with uncovered radial shields, and
covered with naked scales; the scales along the edge of the disk are
turned up, so as to make a little fence. Teeth. No tooth-papille. Six
mouth-papilla to each angle of the mouth. Arms slender, even, more
or less flattened. Arm-spines short and regular, arranged along the
sides of the side arm-plates.
* Odis, snake ; ppaypos, hedge.
OPHIOPiIRAGMUS WURDEMANII.
=
(Se)
bo
Ophiophragmus Wurdemanii Lyman.
Amphiura Wurdemanii Lyman. Proceed. Boston Soe. Nat. Hist., VI. p. 196.
Special Marks. — Disk-scales smooth, and not regularly arranged.
Mouth-shields long and narrow.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 9.5" ; from outer
edge of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 3.5"™; width
of arm without spines, 2.2°". Arms remarkably flat, wide, and little
tapering ; as they were broken, the length could not be known, but it
seemed not less than ten times the diameter of the disk. Distance from
outer edge of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papillx, to that
between outer corners of mouth-slits, 1.6: 1.5. Mouth-papille, three on
each side, rounded and bead-like ; innermost one placed below the teeth,
and running somewhat upward. Teeth broad and flat, with free edge a
little curved. Mouth-shields shaped something like the sole of a shoe,
very long and narrow, small, with their outer end rounded, and their
inner one a rounded point, wider within than without; length to
breadth, .8:.5. Side mouth-shields almost as large as mouth-shields
proper, meeting within, somewhat curved. Under arm-plates squarish,
rather broader than long, overlapping each other a little; outer side
bounded by a slightly re-entering curve, corners rounded ; length to
breadth (thirteenth plate), .:.7. Upper arm-plates very short and
broad, overlapping, bounded without by a re-entermg curve ; outer cor-
ners strongly rounded; length to breadth, .4: 1.7; they are occasionally
broken in two. Scales of disk fine, of pretty even size, rather thicker
than are usually found in the genus, about 16 to a square mm.; those
below somewhat finer. Radial shields broad, blunt, pear-seed shaped,
sometimes separated by a wedge of three or four scales, sometimes
joined by their sides; length to breadth, 2:1. Arm-spines three, short,
stout, broad, rounded at the end, somewhat flattened, a little longer
than joints, nearly alike in shape and size. Tentacte-scales two, short,
broad, and thin, with curved edges. Color, in alcohol: above, disk
nearly white; arms straw-color, with irregular bands of dark brown ;
below, arms straw-color, interbrachial spaces white, mouth-shields
brown.
This species belongs with those Amphiure that have the upper row
of the lower scales of the disk strongly developed and standing upright,
thus making a sort of fence. It differs from O. septa* in the shape of
the mouth-shields, and in wanting spines on the upper surface of the
* Amphiura septa Ltk. and A. marginata Ltk. plainly belong in this genus.
OPHIOCNIDA. Mays}
disk ; from O. marginata, in the irregular arrangement of the disk-scales,
the different proportions of the arm-plates, &e.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number als When 7 a Nature of
Number. |Number.} of Spec, Locality. | Collected, | Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
251 ia 1 Charlotte’s Harbor,
Biloridas mgr peaMa nC e Eset. ee G. Wurdeman. Alcoholic.
OPHIOCNIDA* Lymay.
Disk small and delicate, furnished with uncovered radial shields ; its
coat of naked, overlapping scales, is beset with small thorns. Teeth.
No tooth-papille. Six mouth-papille to each angle of the mouth.
Arms slender, even, more or less flattened. Arm-spines short and
regular, arranged along the sides of the side arm-plates. Two genital
slits to each interbrachial space.
SPECIES HEREIN DESCRIBED.
O. hispida. O. scabriuscula. O. neapolitana.
Ophiocnida hispida Lyman.
Ophiolepis hispida LEContxE. Proceed. Phil. Acad., V. p. 318. 1851.
Amphiura (Ophiolepis) hispida LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 119.
Special Marks. — Disk gray (in alcohol); arms straw-color, figured
with black. Arms to disk as about ten to one. Under arm-plates
squarish, but little broader than long.
* "Odus, snake ; xvidn, nettle.
134 OPHIOCNIDA HISPIDA.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 9"™; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 3.3™™ ;
width of arm without spines, 1.6™; length of arm, 95™"; distance
from outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papille, to
that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 1.5: 1.5. Mouth-papille,
three on each side; two outer ones like short, stout, conical, rounded
tubercles ; innermost one much the largest; rounded, flattened, swollen;
situated higher than the other two, and running upwards to the teeth ;
resembling a tooth-papilla. Teeth four, lowest one smallest, variable in
size, usually broader than long, very thick and rounded, sometimes split
in two; second one longer than broad, very stout, nearly cylindrical ;
third tooth similar, but rather more flattened ; uppermost one longest,
stout, thick, flattened. Mouth-shields small, short, diamond-shaped, with
rounded angles, and sides sometimes straight and sometimes a little
curved ; length to breadth, .8:.7. Side mouth-shields small, triangular,
somewhat variable, not meeting within. Under arm-plates very regu-
lar, squarish, broader than long, with lateral sides nearly straight, outer
and inner sides a little curved, and corners rounded ; first five or six
plates gradually increasing in size, but all of them smaller and propor-
tionately narrower than those beyond; first plate larger than is usual
in allied species, corners quite rounded off; length to breadth, .2 :.4 ;
third plate a trifle wider without than within, lateral sides a little re-
enteringly curved, inner side nearly straight ; length to breadth, .4:.5 ;
twentieth plate typical; length to breadth, .5:.7. Side arm-plates
encroaching a little above, but not at all below, even at tip of arm.
Upper arm-plates much broader than long; outer side nearly straight,
with a slight notch in the middle, lateral and inner sides curved, outer
corners cleanly rounded; length to breadth (twentieth plate), .6: 1.3.
Disk-scales rather thick for their size, largest near radial shields on the
centre of the upper surface, about 70 to a square mm.; below, somewhat
smaller and more even. The scales are considerably obscured by a
pretty thick growth of short, slender, sharp thorns, about .2™™ long ;
they are everywhere, except on the radial shields, and a bare stripe
below, running along each genital slit; the thorns are stouter near the
radial shields. Radial shields small, narrow, tapermg inward, separated
by a strip of thorny scales; length to breadth, 1.8:.5. Arm-spines
three, short, blunt, cylindrical, a little tapering, of nearly equal lengths ;
lengths to that of under arm-plate (twelfth joint), .6, .6,.6:.5. Tentacle-
scales two, wide, short, thin, with a curved free edge, standing at right
angles to each other, the mside one running along the lateral side of
the under arm-plate. Color, im alcohol: above, disk dull bluish-gray
(clay color); arms straw, with irregular bands and patches of black ;
below, interbrachial spaces same as upper surface ; mouth-parts nearly
white ; under arm-plates brownish, fading to straw-color farther out on
OPHIOCNIDA SCABRIUSCULA. 135
arm. According to Dr. LeConte, the color of the living animal would
seem to be the same.
Variations. — Dr. LeConte’s original specimen has the outer side of
the upper arm-plates rather more curved, and almost without any
notch.
O. hispida differs from O. scabriuscula in having narrower under
arm-plates, rather longer arms, and longer and sharper spines on the
disk ; the markings, also, are black, instead of light green.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number an When F Nature of
Number, al of Spec. Locality. | Collected. | Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
251 | 1052 | 1 Panama. [Becees cra: Rey. T. Powell. Alcoholic.
381 23 Panama. ae of etc ore Dr. Sternberg. 6
Smithsonian Institution.
1052 | las 2 Ranamage see) meaner ene Rev. T. Powell. Alcoholic.
1197 | 1 Panama hate styl (lisebktones % | Dr. John LeConte. | Dried.
|
Ophiocnida scabriuscula Lyman.
Amphiura scabriuscula LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 118. 1859.
Special Marks. — Arms six to eight times the diameter of the disk.
Small and very short spies on the disk. Arm-spines flattened.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 8.5"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 3.2"; width
of arm without spines, 1.5"; length of arm, 52"; distance from outer
side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papillx, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, 1.7: 1.5. Mouth-papillee, six to each angle
of the mouth, small, rounded, separated, slightly flattened, nearly equal,
the innermost pair standing a little higher up than the others, and run-
ning upwards to the teeth. Teeth four; upper one much the largest,
long, flat, moderately thick, with a slightly curved cutting edge ; two
next smaller, narrower, stouter, more rounded, with the edge thickened
at its middle point; lowest one shaped like a broad, rounded, swelled
tubercle. Mouth-shields longer than broad, rounded within, prolonged
without, in a tail-like projection, inner end terminating in a rounded
136 OPHIOCNIDA SCABRIUSCULA.
point; length to breadth, .9:.7. Side mouth-shields small, slender, not
meeting withm. Under arm-plates squarish, separated by a narrow
line, broader without than within, inner side slightly curved, outer side
nearly straight, lateral sides re-enteringly curved, outer corners project-
ing ; length to breadth (tenth plate), .4:.6. Upper arm-plates covering
whole upper surface of arm, much broader than long, a little overlap-
ping; outer side with a slight re-entering curve in the middle, lateral
sides cleanly rounded; length to breadth (twelfth plate), .4: 1.5. Spines
of the disk minute, somewhat larger and more plenty near the edge of
the disk, and smaller and fewer towards the centre and in the inter-
brachial spaces below ; the largest are only about .1™" in length ; disk-
scales in the centre, and in the interbrachial spaces below, hidden by
epidermis ; towards the margin they appear rather stout. Radial
shields elongated oval, blunt at both ends, touching each other at their
outer tips, and then suddenly diverging, the space between them being
filled by a group of small scales; length to breadth, 1.6:.6. Arm-spines
three, blunt, rather stout, flattened, hardly tapering, of nearly equal
size ; lengths to that of under arm-plate (eleventh joint), .6:.4. Tenta-
cle-scales two, small, but rather thick, standing at right angles to each
other, the one lying along the lateral side of the under arm-plate shorter
than its neighbor. Color, in alcohol: above, disk, near edges, pale
greenish, with a central patch and five radiating lines of yellowish
brown (yellow ochre); arms also yellowish-brown, but browner than
the tint on the disk; below, coloration the same, without any pale
green. Litken gives the color as pale yellow, with some green bars
on the arms.
This species is distinguished from O. hispida by shorter arms, and
shorter spines on the disk.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
| |
| Catalogue | Original Number f When F Nature of
| Number. | Number.| of Spec. Locality. | Collected. | iWwhencefobtained: Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
250 58 WARM bNCTE ——] o o University Museum,
Copenhagen. Alcoholie.
HEMIPHOLIS. 1133 7/
Ophiocnida neapolitana Lyman.
Amphiura neapolitana Sars. Nyt Magazin for Naturvidenskaberne, X. p. 35. 1857.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number . When > Nature of
Number, | Number.} of Spec. Locality: Collected. | Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
416 | ae | Alger. | nL Seeee | Jardin des Plantes. steele
HEMIPHOLIS Acass. MS.
Disk, above, covered with rounded, rather thick scales, and with large
radial shields ; below, naked. At the base of each arm, disk slightly
indented. Teeth. No tooth-papille. Two mouth-papille to each angle
of the mouth. Side mouth-shields touching each other, so as to form a
continuous ring round the mouth. Three short, tapering arm-spines.
’ Two genital slits, begimning outside the mouth-shields.
Hemipholis cordifera Lyman. (Pl. I. Figs. 1-3.)
Asterias cordifera Bosc. Hist. Nat. des Vers, I. p. 113 (1802), II. p. 138 (1830).
Ophiura elongata Say. Journ. Phil. Acad., V. p. 146. 1825.
Ophiolepis elongata Stimpson. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., IV. p. 225.
Ophiolepis uncinata Ayres. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., IV. p. 250.
Hemipholis elongata AGAss. MS.
Amphiura elongata LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 115.
Amphiura cordifera LYMAN. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VII. p. 258.
Special Marks. — Arms eight or nine times as long as diameter of
disk. One tentacle-scale. Three or four papillz at base of arms; and
a row of fleshy papille along genital slits.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 8.3"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 83" ; width
18
138 HEMIPHOLIS CORDIFERA.
of arm without spines, 1.7""; length of arm, 81"; distance from outer
side of mouth-shields to mner points of teeth, to that between outer
corners of mouth-slits, 1.6: 1.8. Mouth-papille small, flattened, rounded,
situated at the very base of the jaw-frames. Teeth nine, blunt, squarish,
much thickened at the middle point of their cutting edge ; uppermost
one sharp, and much longer than the rest; lowest one projecting less
inward than the others. Mouth-shields irregular oval, more strongly
curved without; length to breadth, .6:.9. Side mouth-shields long,
narrow, meeting within. Under arm-plates regular, broader than lone,
with rounded corners, so as to be nearly oval; length to breadth
(twenty-fourth plate), .6:1. As the side mouth-shields meet on the
middle line of the arm, the first under arm-plate is reduced to a little
papilla at the outer corner of the mouth-slit. Side arm-plates small,
with but a small ridge; encroaching slightly on upper arm-plates.
Upper arm-plates much broader than long, outer side nearly straight,
and broader than the inner ; lateral corners ending in a rounded point ;
length to breadth (twelfth plate), .6: 1.5; the first two or three plates
are enclosed by the notch in the disk, and are rudimentary. Scales of
disk small, rather thick, more or less rounded; among them may be
distinguished the primary plates; on the middle line of each interbra-
chial space is a raised, radiating row of scales, each overlapped by its
predecessor, but with its other edges free ; on either side of this row
the scales are smaller, and overlap each other like those of a fish.
Radial shields pear-seed shaped, with the poimt mward; large ; length
to breadth, 1.9: 1.2; set back a little from the margin of the disk, sepa-
rated by a wedge of three scales, whereof the outer is long and narrow,
the inner nearly round, and the middle one intermediate ; on each side
of the notches in the disk, three or four little, slender papilla, like
small arm-spines. The scaly coat extends over the disk margin, and
there ceases abruptly. Under surface covered with a naked, somewhat
wrinkled skin; along edges of genital slits a row of small, tapering,
fleshy papille. Arm-spines equal, rounded, tapering, sharp ; lengths to
that of under arm-plate, .7, .7,.7:.6. Tentacle-scale one, small, flat, a
little longer than broad, rounded, standing well clear of lower arm-plate.
Color, in alcohol: above, ground color greenish gray (sap-green and
neutral tint), radial shields and some of the disk-scales much lighter ;
arms rather darker than disk, growing lighter towards their tips, but
banded with dark rings, each including one or two joints ; below, inter-
brachial spaces brownish flesh-color; under arm-plates same color as
upper surface, but much paler; arm-spines nearly white.
Variations. — According to Professor Agassiz’s colored drawings, the
tints vary very much; the ground color of the disk may be dull indigo-
blue, various shades of greenish, yellowish brown, yellow, gray, or
HEMIPHOLIS CORDIFERA. 139
brownish flesh-color ; the radial shields are usually different from the
disk, and may be bright or dull green, dark brown, lake-red, bluish, dull
brown, or gray; the arms also commonly differ from the disk, and are
commonly banded; one specimen had them sap-green, another lake-red,
and a third brownish flesh-color, banded with black. The disk seems
never to be uniform, but always speckled or mottled with two or more
colors. The tentacles are red. In other respects this species seems to
be singularly uniform. The young, when very small, differ extremely
g;
from the adult; they are found clinging to the arms and disk of the
parent. A specimen with a disk of .5™", had arms 1.5" in length, and
with eight joints; the whole upper surface of the disk was occupied by
six primary plates, of which the middle one was regularly pentagonal,
the other five surrounding it regularly hexagonal; the upper arm-plates
were reduced to a small oval plate at the outer end of each joint, while
most of the upper surface was occupied by the side arm-plates, which
met along the middle line; they met also below, but the under arm-
plates were longer than the upper, and had the form of a long, sharp
wedge, with the outer side a little curved; the arm ended in a three-
lobed papilla, evidently the beginning of a new joint; the arm-spines
were only two in number, and the lower one had two or three hooks
along its edge; the mouth occupied more of the under surface than in
the adult ; on each side of the mouth-shields appeared a squarish papilla
(side mouth-shields) ; the jaw, with its three teeth, was prominent, and
outside of it were the two mouth-papille, already well formed. Another
young one, with a disk of 1™, showed already great advancement ; the
arms were 7.3" long, and had twenty-two joints; the upper arm-plates
were large and heart-shaped, with the point inward, resembling much
the adult shape of Amphiura tenera; the under arm-plates were long,
with straight outer and lateral sides, and an angle within; the side
arm-plates had become much more restricted ; there were three arm-
spines, rather blunter than those of the adult; only at the tip of the
arm did the lowest spine have hooks; the mouth-parts were nearly as
in the grown animal, but with wider mouth-shields ; the whole centre
of the upper disk surface was still occupied by six primary plates, but,
in addition, there was a radiating row of three primary plates in each
interbrachial space, and in each brachial space a single additional plate,
between which and the base of the arms were the beginnings of two
radial shields; all these plates were connected, and made an elegant
mosaic ; in the grown animal they may be recognized by their greater
size, but they are then quite separated by numerous smaller scales. A
specimen with a disk of 2.3"™ had the primary plates a good deal
rounded ; the radial shields were fully formed, and a few of the smaller
scales had begun to appear.
This species “is gregarious, living in companies of twenty or thirty.
140 OPHIONEREIS.
The existence of these groups is indicated at low water, by spaces of
about a foot mm diameter, covered with small holes, looking very much
as if a charge of shot had been fired into them. If these spots are
watched as the tide rises, from each hole an arm of one of the star-
fishes will be seen to protrude, and wave about in the water. Gener-
ally each individual sends up one of its rays in this manner” (Stimpson).
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number - When A Nature of
Number. | Number.| of Spec. Locality. Collected. Ruhencelobtained: Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
199 12+ | Charleston, S.C. | ...... Prof. Agassiz. Alcoholic.
200 12 Charleston, S. C. 1852. Prof. Agassiz. ce
201 12 Charleston, S. C. 1852. Prof. Agassiz. te
202 12+- | Charleston, 8. C. 1852. Prof. Agassiz. “
Smithsonian Institution.
1009 12+ | South Carolina. | ...... Mr. Cassidy. Alcoholic.
1201 12+ | South Carolina. .....«. | Wm. Stimpson. cc
OPHIONEREIS Lirken.
Tyre or THE GeENuts, O. reticulata Liitken.
Disk covered with flat scales, varying little in size, overlapping,
rounded. ‘Teeth. Mouth-papille. No tooth-papille. Smooth spines
(commonly three) along the sides of the side arm-plates. One large
tentacle-scale. Each upper arm-plate furnished with a supplementary
piece on either side. Two genital slits beginning outside the mouth-
shields.
SPECIES HEREIN DESCRIBED.
O. reticulata.
O. annulata.
O. Xantusit.
O. porrecta.
O. dubia.
OPIIONEREIS RETICULATA. 141
Ophionereis reticulata Lirxern.
Ophiura reticulata Say. Journ. Phil. Acad., V. p. 148. 1825.
Ophiolepis nereis LUTKEN. Vidensk. Meddelelser. March, 1856.
Ophionereis reticulata LUtKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 110.
Special Marks. — Disk yellowish brown, with a network of five |
brown lines. Middle arm-spine about twice as long as the under arm-
plate.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 11.5"; outer edge
of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 4.4"; greatest
width of arm without spines, 2.2"; length of arm, 90™; distance
from outer edge of mouth-shield to inner points of tooth-papill, to that
between outer corners of mouth-slits, as 2: 2.2. Ten mouth-papille to
each angle of mouth ; outermost one small and sharp; the rest short,
flat, and stout ; the two innermost ones point to centre of mouth, and
are shortest and most rounded. Teeth five, flat, square, and thin, the
lowest one smallest. Mouth-shields long heart-shaped, point imward,
varying somewhat in size; length to breadth, 1.4:1.2; madreporic
shield broader. Side mouth-shields very long triangular, varying some-
what, connecting first under arm-plate with mouth-shield; length to
breadth, .8:.4. Under arm-plates have general form of squares with
rounded corners ; first plate very small, narrowest at inner end ; length
to breadth, .4:.4; second plate, mner side nearly straight, outer side
curved, lateral sides nearly straight ; length to breadth, .6:.8; twelfth
plate, outer side a little re-entermgly curved, mner side slightly curved,
lateral sides a little re-entermgly curved, outer corners well rounded,
inner corners slightly peaked; length to breadth, .8:1; this is the
typical form; about two thirds out on arm, length to breadth, .8:.8 ;
at tip of arm, plates long heart-shaped, point inward, longer than broad.
Side arm-plates small, bemg reduced to a ridge, bearing arm-spines ;
this is very low, so that bases of arm-spines stand almost directly on
arm proper. Upper arm-plates have at base of arm the shape of a
pointed, distorted oval; first three plates very small, like scales (some-
what as in Ophiocoma crassispina), each larger than its successor ;
fourth plate, inner side slightly curved, outer side short, lateral sides
long and sloping ; length of plate, .6 ; outer corners much rounded, so
that outer side and lateral sides may be said to form one curve ; this is
the typical shape; twelfth plate larger; length to breadth, .8: 1.6;
about two thirds out on arm, outer side and laterals not forming one
curve, but quite distinct ; length to breadth, .6: 1.2. Here the supple-
mentary plates become much smaller, and finally disappear close to the
tip of the arm; and, on the other hand, the true upper plates begin to
142 OPHIONEREIS RETICULATA.
approach the hexagonal form ; the inner side and inner laterals become
distinct from each other, as do the outer side and outer laterals. Close
to tip, length to breadth, .4:.8; at tip of arm, plates heart-shaped, the
point inward. Supplementary upper plates fill the space between true
upper arm-plates and upper arm-spine ; they are nearly triangular, with
two angles directed sideways, and one inward ; side next upper arm-
plate, nearly straight; other two a little curved; length of sides at
‘tenth joint, outer side 1, other two .8. Disk: radial shields small and
narrow, blunt at outer end, sharp at inner end, placed just opposite out-
side line of each arm; length about 1"; breadth, .4™™; starting from
each radial shield, and running along edge of disk, is a row of about
seven scales, much larger than the rest, largest having a length of .4™™;
scales just round and between radial shields somewhat larger than those
toward centre of disk, which are very minute, about 250 to a square mm.;
on under surface of disk, similar scales; starting at mouth-shield, and
running along edge of genital slit for about half its length, is a narrow
ridge, bearing a single row of smali papilla. Arm-spines: second joint,
two; length to that of under arm-plate, .6, .6:.6; third joint, three
spines; fourth joint, three spines, .6, .8, .8:.6; seventh joint, three
spines, .8, 1.2, .8:.6; all other joints, to very near tip of arm, three
spines ; twenty-second joint, 1.2, 1.6, 1.4:.8; about two thirds out on
arm, .8, 1, .8:.8; it is only at extreme tip of arm that there are only
two spines. Tentacle-scales near base of arm having a length of .4™™,
in form short oval. Color, in alcohol: general tint of upper parts very
light grayish-brown (vandyke-brown and a little neutral tint); upper
surface of disk irregularly reticulated with lines of light brown ; upper
surface of arms barred with greenish black ; bars usually the width of
a joint, seldom more; their dark color not uniform, but concentrated
round edges of upper arm-plates; general tint of under surface like that
of upper, but lighter; mouth-shields, tentacle-scales, larger arm-spines,
and some of under arm-plates, faintly marked with light brown ; towards
end of arm some faint bars on its under surface ; just outside mouth-
shield, the interbrachial space is dark umber-brown.
Variations. — A young one, with a disk of 5", differed from the
adult principally as follows: the disk had the primary plates still
large and distinct, although they were smaller, and the other scales
more numerous than in the young O. annulata of the same size ; the
under arm-plates were longer ; the mouth-shields were pointed at their
imner end, and the side mouth-shields were so large as nearly, or quite,
to meet within. The proportions of the disk to the arms range as fol-
lows: 5.1:23, 8:47, 10:60, 11.5:90. The colors vary but little.
This species is distinguished fiom O. annulata by having the middle
arm-spine shorter; from O. porrecta, by longer arm-spines ; and from
O. Xantusii, by sharper arm-spines and longer arms.
OPHIONEREIS ANNULATA.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
6 | Driginal 1 | /
NanneES ‘Nuh as Locality. | Collected, Whence obtained. | SPecimens
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
12 12+ Cape Florida. Apr. 1858. | G. Wurdeman. Alcoholic.
13 Dearie 8 Weaker ater ss Prof. Agassiz. us:
14 | 4 | Tortugas, Fla. Mh.15,17,’58.| J. E. Mills. a
15 4 Key West, Fla. Mar. 6, 1858.| J. E. Mills. “
16 1 | Tortugas, Fla. Feb. 1856. | T. Lyman. a
17 1 Tortugas, Fla. Ap. 13, 1858.) J. E. Mills. “
18 | 3 Key Biscayne, Fla. Feb. 1856. | 'T. Lyman. «
19 1 | Near Cape Florida. Feb. 1856. | T. Lyman. “
20 Re NPS EN Sts Anema Nios! I 5 ano ec A. H. Riise. “
21 SO) || Sisk 9 - i eoedgue Univ.Mus.Cop’hagen. ©
22 56% AS ENVestelndies-a ke Wai enmeie ene | Univ.Mus.Cop’hagen. a
23 12+) Cape Florida 8 | ...... G. Wurdeman. c
24 || tioineas Nh 9 | sade Capt.D.P. Woodbury. “
25 | 2 | Bay of Cumana, South
| AT ORIC As oe ele lip stuck. 1a aways Capt. Couthouy. c
Smithsonian Institution.
1010 @ | Caositombs. - il ecosdcs G. Wurdeman. Alcoholic.
993 i |) Wormers ME = I a olan Capt. Woodbury.
992 Pe WE lonidaneermer ceva) Wile age We cet) ili batee tae eters oe se
1003 iL | Si A Uorery Woda J) ic5 a6 o University Museum,
Copenhagen. G
1194 le eH ovic at memmccmney wee al frney toa! = Dr. Cooper. a
1079 Qe leStawbhomassavWiewle eral) so ceieia ene A. H. Riise. “
1114 3 Gis norma, WGI. de a oo SG A. H. Riise. “
1158 8 | Cie noma AWoels + || eecte es A. H. Riise. “
Ophionereis annulata Lyman.
Ophiolepis annulata LECoNTE.
Proceed. Phil. Acad., V. p. 317.
Ophiolepis triloba LUTKEN. Vidensk. Meddelelser.
Ophiolepis triloha LUTKEN.
Ophionereis annulata LYMAN.
1851.
March, 1856.
Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 112.
Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VII. p. 203.
Special Marks. — Disk ash-gray, white, or purplish brown, spotted
with light ; arms banded.
long as the under arm-plate.
The middle arm-spine about three times as
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 11.5"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 5° ; width
of arm without spmes, 2.2™" ;
length of arms, 84"; distance from
outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papilla, to that
between outer corners of mouth-slits, 2: 2.5. Mouth-papilla nine or
ten, small, rounded, blunt, except outer one, which is minute and sharp-
144 OPHIONEREIS ANNULATA.
pointed ; the one next to the outer is the largest of all. Teeth five,
squarish, a little swelled at the cutting edge ; lowest one much shorter
than the rest, and somewhat thickened. Mouth-shields nearly rounded,
with a slight peak outwards ; length to breadth, 14:14. Side mouth-
shields rather larger than usual in this genus; triangular, rounded with-
out, pointed within. Under arm-plates squarish, outer side with a notch,
inner side curved, lateral sides re-enteringly curved, outer corners cleanly
rounded ; length to breadth (twenty-second plate), .7: 1.1. Upper arm-
plates wider within than without; outer side either forming a single
curve, or broken into three sides, an outer and two lateral; inner side
broken into three parts, an inner and two inner laterals, all of them
lying almost in the same line ; length to breadth (twenty-ninth plate),
.7: 1.7. Supplementary pieces as long as the joints, triangular, with
the outer side somewhat rounded. Disk-scales very fine above and
below ; coarser along edge of disk; where they are finest, about 170
to a square mm. Radial shields small, narrow, sharp at both ends;
length, 8°". Arm-spines rounded, tapering, a little flattened, regular ;
middle one longest ; lengths to that of under arm-plate (twenty-fourth
joint), 1.2, 2.2, 1.6:.7. Tentacle-scale large, rounded oval; length to
that of under arm-plate, .5:.7. Color, in alcohol: above, disk dull ash-
gray (burnt umber and neutral tint), ground color of arms pale yellow-
ish-gray, with broad bands of dark ash-gray; even the lighter rings
have usually markings of darker ; three joints of light usually alternate
with three of dark ; below, interbrachial spaces veined with fine brown
lines ; a patch of nearly black just outside the mouth-shields ; rest of
under surface nearly white, with a few under arm-plates brown.
Variations.— The commonest pattern of color seems to be a purplish-
brown disk, with numerous light spots, and light-greenish arms, with
rings of purplish brown ; sometimes the disk is white. A young one,
with a disk of 5", had arms 15.5" in length. The upper surface of
the disk was chiefly occupied by the large primary plates, of which
there was a rosette of six in the centre, and these did not overlap each
ther; other primary plates were arranged about them, and between
these were a few small, overlapping scales. The radial shields were
separated by three scales, and were larger proportionately than in the
adult. The upper arm-plates were nearly circular, the supplementary
pieces comparatively small. Below, the parts were pretty much as
in the adult, except that the under arm-plates were proportionately
longer, and the side mouth-shields and interbrachial spaces larger.
This species has longer arms and sharper spines than O. Xantusii ;
and the middle arm-spine is longer than in O. reticulata, or in O. por-
recta. The following table will show their proportions : —
OPHIONEREIS XANTUSII. 145
Disk. Arms, Lower Arm-plate. Middle Arm-spine.
ONreHCulgas vojere wane « - OY De rent omen (AUS BRO oO oie SLs. alsin) sys 1.6
OM SGI “OO EO Coc elanemteln i ike MO) 6 pg OLB LINGO S Rate wee 12
OMpornectanewene tele or QO. sod ae DlOiepere et eke MEO eae es ev
O) Ci onto ermoed ¢ MES. eens tH Dy Pulau luc Sars rea aoe 2.2
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
|
Catalogue | Original | Number one When : re Nature of
Number. ae | of Spec. Locality: Collected. Whence obtained. Specimen!
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
28 ae iene, ee Alex. Agassiz. Alcoholic.
29 57 1 West Coast of Central] ...... University Museum,
America. Copenhagen. s
30 ave 8 lees 9 9 Wate Ravaliows Dr. J. LeConte. Dried.
Smithsonian Institution.
1038 1 anamiase 6 lieceme cca | Rev. T. Powell. Alcoholic.
1096 1 Pananiasenee ee eee ler heer ales! mace aiemch cen ee “
1097 > | Tere NNR 5 OI) oo ae oo Go OD 3:
1200 5 [an amaseee Smeee ||| ac sears Dr. J. LeConte. Dried.
1191 1 Cape St. Lucas, Cal. | ...... J. Xantus. Alcoholic.
|
Ophionereis Xantusii Lyman.
Ophionereis Xantusii LyMAN. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VII. p. 258. 1860.
Special Marks. — Brownish straw-color, arms banded with dark
purple. Arms about five times as long as the diameter of the disk.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 7.7°"; from outer
side of mouth-shield -to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 35°™ ; width
of arm without spines, 1.2"; length of arm, 40™" ; distance from outer
side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papillz, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, 1.2: 1.5. _Mouth-papille, ten or eleven to
each angle of mouth, small, rounded, somewhat flattened. Teeth four,
thin, flat, squarish ; lowest one thicker, and with a rounded cutting
edge. Mouth-shields much rounded heart-shaped, with narrow end
inward ; length to breadth, 1:.9. Side mouth-shields short triangular,
widely separated within. Under arm-plates squarish, a little longer
than broad ; outer side slightly curved; lateral sides a little re-enter-
ingly curved ; inner laterals and inner side of about the same length,
and lying nearly in the same line; length to breadth (seventeenth
19
146 OPHIONEREIS XANTUSII.
plate), .5:.4. Upper arm-plates triangular, with a rounded angle
‘directed outward, and a sharp angle directed towards each side ;
length to breadth (eleventh plate), .5:.9. Supplementary pieces as
long as the joints, triangular, with outer side curved ; near the end of
the arm they become proportionately smaller, and the upper arm-plates
gradually take on a more hexagonal shape. Disk-scales very close and
fine, about 200 to a square mm. Radial shields very small and narrow,
about .7"™ long. The usual comb of papillae along the edges of the
genital slits is not much developed. Arm-spines rather short, flattened,
and cut off square at the end; middle one longest ; lengths to that of
under arm-plate (seventeenth joint), .7, 1.2, .9:.5. Tentacle-scale large,
round, thin; length to that of under arm-plate, .5:.5. Color, in alcohol :
above, disk faint greenish-gray, finely lined with brownish ; above the
base of each arm a dark-purple fork, of two converging lines ; some-
times a few other veins of dark purple; arms brownish straw-color,
with a faint, broken line of whitish running lengthwise ; at intervals
of from five to twelve joints, a dark purple jomt, making a cross
band ; below, interbrachial spaces same as upper surface ; other parts
light straw-color.
Variations. — The color seems pretty uniform; the dark markings
at the base of the arms may differ somewhat in shape and size, and the
arm bands may either go entirely round, or be confined to the upper
surface. A small specimen, with a disk of 4.2", had arms of 22"™.
The number of disk-scales to a square mm. was about the same as in
larger ones. The lower arm-plates were longer, and more concave on
their lateral sides; the teeth had all round cutting edges; the spines
were more rounded and tapering than in the adult ; length of the long-
est to that of under arm-plate, .5:.5; the radial shields could hardly
be distinguished. The mouth-shields vary a little in being more or less
rounded.
O. Xantusii differs from O. annulata in having shorter and blunter
arm-spines, and shorter arms; the color is also different ;— from O.
reticulata, in blunter arm-spines, shorter arms, and a different pattern
of color.
OPHIONEREIS PORRECTA. 147
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
a" = -
Catalogue | Original | Number ae | When “ha Prey Nature of
Number. aa of Spec. Locality. | Collected. Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
31 |/1164 | 1 || Cape St. Lucas, Cal. | ...... | J. Xantus. | Alcoholic.
Smithsonian Institution.
1164 | mts | 5 | Cape St. Lucas, Cal. | ...... | J. Xantus. | Alcoholic.
Ophionereis porrecta Lyman. (Figs. 14, 15.)
Ophionereis porrecta LYMAN. Proceed. Boston Soe. Nat. Hist., VI. p. 260. 1860.
Special Marks. — Dull reddish-brown. Arms, in adult specimens,
nine times as long as the diameter of the disk. Arm-spines short.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 12"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 4.5™™ ;
width of arm without spines, 2.5"; length of arm, 113™™; distance
from outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of mouth-papille, to
that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 2:2.2. Mouth-papille ten,
short, stout, the outermost but one broadest. Teeth four or five, stout,
squarish, rather long, a little tapering, lowest one shortest. Mouth-
shields oval; length to breadth, 1.6:1. Side mouth-shields very small,
triangular, sometimes almost obliterated. Under arm-
plates squarish, broader without than within ; outer side
curved, inner side nearly straight, lateral sides re-enter-
inely curved; length to breadth (twentieth plate), 1: 1.2;
(fortieth plate), 1: 1.4. The first plate is wedge-shaped,
with a curved outer side. Upper arm-plates varying in
proportionate breadth according to the width of the arm,
usually broader than long; inner side much longer than
outer one ; outer and lateral sides sometimes distinguished,
and sometimes confounded in a common curve ; length
to breadth (sixth plate), .8:1.5; (thirty-fifth plate), 1:1.6. Scales of
disk rather stouter than usual in the genus; about 80 to a square mm.
Radial shields 1.2™" long. Scales on edge of disk larger than the rest.
Papille along edges of genital slits stout and prominent. Arm-spines
short, rounded, tapering ; lengths to that of under arm-plate (twenty-
Ophionereis porrecta.
(Upper side.)
Pp, arm-spines
148 OPHIONEREIS PORRECTA.
third jomt), 1, 1.7, 13:1. Tentacle-scale oval, large ; length to that of
under arm-plate, .6: 1. Color, in aleohol: above, disk minutely mottled
and lined with reddish brown (vandyke brown and red chalk) and dirty
white ; arms the same, but darker, with occasionally a light-colored
joint; arm-spines pale brown, with one
or two darker rings; underneath inter-
brachial spaces tawny brown; darker
along the genital slits; mouth-parts and
under arm-plates white; the arm-plates
and mouth-shields with a few specks of
various tints of brown.
Variations. — A young one, with a
disk 8™" in diameter, had arms 18™™
long. The disk-scales were large, about
Ophionereis porrecta. (Lower side.)
d, mouth-papillz ; ¢, inner point of mouth angle ; 40 to a square mm., and among them
q, tentacle-scale.
could plainly be recognized the primary
plates; the radial shields were conspicuous, though small, and were
separated by a wedge of two or three scales; the upper arm-plates
were very nearly circular, and overlapped each other; the lower arm-
plates were shield-shaped, with an angle within, and a wide, straight
outer side, and were entirely separated by the encroachment of the
side arm-plates. The other parts were as in the adult, except that the
side mouth-shields were proportionately larger. In a specimen with a
disk of 5°", the upper arm-plates were shaped nearly as in the adult ;
the under arm-plates were tawny red. Among the young the radial
shields were commonly bordered with dark brown, with a white centre.
The other colors varied chiefly in intensity.
The locality of these specimens has unfortunately been lost; but
they are believed to be from the Atlantic coast of America, and are
therefore included here. The species is distinguished from others by
the great length of the arms, the shortness of the arm-spines, and the
general robustness of the structure.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
=
Nature of
Number. Number. of Spec. Collected. Specimen.
Catalogue | Original | Number ocality? When Whence obtained.
| |
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
11 | ane | 7 Pat | Pere | Se Cet G | Aleotolhe.
OPHIOPSILA. 149
Ophionereis dubia Lyman.
Ophiolepis dubia Muu. & Troscn. Syst. Asteriden, p. 94.
Savieny. Descer. de /Egypte (Audouin). 1809. Pl. 1, Figs. 3! 31.
The plate of Savigny is most excellent, and gives all the details of
the genus and species. The specimen doubtless came from the Red
Sea, as the species is not found in the Mediterranean.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number When * Nature of
Number. |Number.| of Spec. Locality. Collected, | Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
434 | Pa | 2 RedtSeas Gaen 8 | sats cay. Jardin des Plantes. | Alcoholic.
|
OPHIOPSILA Forsss.
Type or THE GENUs, O. aranea.
Disk covered with very minute, overlapping, smooth scales. Radial
shields small, or else quite covered. Teeth. Tooth-papillea. Copenhagen. co
417 .. | .. | St. Va-est-la-Hougue,
| Hrance’se 0 16 A Gill Sree ne Jardin des Plantes. Gs
392 Sine || aun ol@ettesmtrancenwes | 7) Smear ces T. Lyman. 6
418 oo || o6 | Oram, Neem 9 Poaic co core Jardin des Plantes. as
Ophiothrix Orstedii Lirxen.
Ophiothrix Orstedii LitKeN. Vidensk. Meddelelser. Jan., 1856.
Ophiothrix Orstedii LU1KEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 149.
Special Marks. — Bluish or greenish, with cross lines of white on
arms, above. Spimes on disk slender and rather long.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 8"; outer edge of
mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 3.6"; width of
arm without spines, 2.7"; leneth of arm about 58"; distance from
outer edge of mouth-shield to the points of the tooth-papille, to
that between the corners of the mouth-slits as 1.6: 1.6. Tooth-
papille arranged in six horizontal rows, three in each row, except the
lowest one, which has usually only two; they have the appearance of
a bundle of small spines, soldered compactly side by side ; the papillz
on the sides of each row project towards the centre of the mouth more
than the middle one does. Teeth five, the highest small and somewhat
pointed ; lowest evidently made of soldered tooth-papilla. The mouth-
shields are closely soldered with the surrounding parts, so that it is
OPHIOTHRIX ORSTEDII. as
hard to distinguish their true outlines; they are nearly oval, with a
slight peak towards the mouth; length to breadth as .6:1 or .8: 1.
Madreporic mouth-shield longer, larger, and more swelled than the
others ; length to breadth as 1:1. Side mouth-shields soldered closely
with surrounding parts, slender and wedge-shaped, their broadest end
being toward the arm; they run along the inner sides of the mouth-
shield, and nearly meet at its immer points; leneth to breadth, .6 :.4, or
.8:.4; as the madreporic mouth-shield extends inwards, the side mouth-
shields are here reduced to small triangular pieces on each side. Gen-
eral form of under arm-plates square, but broader than long ; the first,
second, third, and fourth somewhat compressed sideways, and varying a
little in their proportions ; the rest of the plates, even near the tip of
the arm, nearly uniform in shape, each separated a little from its neigh-
bors, the outer side a slightly re-entering curve, the lateral sides curved
a little, the inner side not well defined, but nearly straight ; leneth to
breadth (ninth), .7: 1; about two thirds the length of arm, .6: .6.
Upper arm-plates covered, like those on the sides, with skin ; their out-
lines can only be seen in dried specimens; there are four sides, of
which the outer is curved, the two lateral straight, and the inner
straight, but so short that the plate looks like a short wedge, with the
point towards the disk ; the first three or four plates vary in size, but
are all small, the imnermost often so small that the side arm-plates
nearly or quite meet above; the plates beyond larger; length to
breadth as follows: second plate, .6:.8, or .4:.6; seventh, .8:.8; inner
side of seventh plate, .4™" ; the outer edge of each is slightly higher
than the next plate, but does not overlap it. Disk, above, the large
radial shields are nearly or quite naked ; the rest of the back takes the
form of a ten-rayed star, with a small centre; the brachial rays are
narrow, and separate each radial shield from its mate ; the interbrachial
rays are wider, and separate the pairs of radial shields ; both are beset
with spines; the measures are as follows: diameter of centre of star,
2.4™; length of brachial ray, 3"™; breadth of same, .4™™ ; breadth of
interbrachial ray close to centre, 1", or 1.2"; width of radial shield
at outer edge, 1.4™™ to 1.8™"; length of the same, 2™ to 2.2™; the
brachial rays are of even width till near the base of the arm, where
they contract; each bears a single row of about five long, tapering
spines ; the interbrachial rays are of even width till near the edge of
the disk, where they grow wider, and pass over the edge to the under
surface of the disk ; the spines long and tapering, irregularly placed in
three longitudinal rows, each of seven or eight; radial shields quite
smooth, sometimes with a single spine. The spines of the brachial rays
have a length of 1.2" to 1.6™™ ; those of the interbrachial rays, 1”™ to
12°". The second jomt bears only two small, nearly equal, slender
spines, having a length to that of the under arm-plate as .8:.8. Third
156 OPHIOTHRIX ORSTEDII.
joint, four small, slender spines, whose length to that of the lower arm-
plate is as .8:.8; fourth joint, five spines, 1, 1, 1, 1, .8:.8; fifth joint,
five spines, the upper ones much the longest ; sixth joint, nine spines,
four upper ones, 2.8, 2.6, 2.2, 1:.8. Arm-spines of the seventh jomt
have a length, compared with that of the under arm-plate, as follows :
(beginning above), 2.8, 2.8, 2.8, 2.8, 2.2, 1.6, 1, .8, .6:.8; there may also
be a short supplementary spine on one side above the upper long one.
Seventh joint may also have only eight spines; eighth, eight spines,
four long, four short; ninth, seven spines, two long, two middling, three
short; tenth, eight spines, viz., 2, 2.8, 2.8, 1.6, 1.2, .8, .6, .4:.8; eleventh,
seven spines, three long, four short; fifteenth joint, 2.4, 3.8, 3.8, 1.6, 1.2,
8, .5:.8. In the neighborhood of the twenty-fifth joint, the spines are
only six, and have a length to that of the lower arm-plate as follows:
3.6, 3.6, 1.2, 1, .6,.4:.8. The longer spines, near the base of the arm,
have on either edge from four to nine sharp thorns. The spines on the
disk are rather less flattened and more slender, and have one or two
thorns on each edge. The spinous rays of the back of the disk m an
alcoholic specimen are dark cobalt blue, with a greenish hue ; radial
shields the same, but lighter; tooth-papille white ; mouth-shields, side
mouth-shields, under arm-plates, and side arm-plates, very light cobalt
blue, with a greenish tinge, irregularly edged and speckled with white.
Upper arm-plates bluish green mottled with white ; between the joints
a triple line, consisting of a dark line, with an irregular white one on
-each side. Arm-spines transparent greenish-blue, with purplish ends.
Interbrachial spaces underneath similar to upper surface.
Variations. — The color in alcohol is about the same as that of the
living animal; it is either bluish or greenish. The young show the
oblong scales of the disk very distinctly.
The white cross lines on the arms easily distinguish this species
from O. magnifica, which, moreover, is larger, and has much stouter
spines. It is the most abundant species of Florida and the West
Indies.
OPHIOTHRIX SUENSONII. ls i7¢
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
|
ed i a | Wnence obtaaea, | at of
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
116 if 5 | Tortugas, Fla. Feb. 1856. | T. Lyman. Alcoholic.
117 06 7 | Key Biscayne, Cape
Florida. Feb. 1856. | T. Lyman. Bs
118 WA WMeCes I oa oan Prof. Agassiz. ee
119 12=F-|(CapenBloridas 9) jl) je ees a G. Wurdeman and
J. E. Mills. Us
120 on 12+} Key West, Fla. Feb. 1856. | T. Lyman. %
121 bie 9 | Key West, Fla. Jan. 28,1858.) J. E. Mills. “
122] .. 5 | Tortugas, Fla. Mh. 10, 1858.) J. EK. Mills. Gs
123 oe 12+! Tortugas, Fla. Feb. 1856. | T. Lyman. a5
TP We ane 12+| Key West, Fla. Mh. 6, 1858. | J. E. Mills. &
125 te 12+] Tortugas, Fla. Apr. 24,58. | J. E. Mills. us
126 5. Pea MoS | hacia pie | G. Wurdeman. oe
127 ete NYE isin none, Wel | cGogcas A. H. Riise. “
128 Bee 3 | Bay of Cumana. - | ...... Capt. Couthouy. re
17)? | coe 12+] Cape Florida. Apr. 1858. | G. Wurdeman and
J. E. Mills. &
130 65%» @ | Weslo, Hol oa pe University Museum,
Copenhagen. ie
131 whe De a|Elorida asc eu tie Sias Prof. Agassiz. Dried.
Smithsonian Institution.
1014 12=-| Tortugas, Bla, |) ww. . Capt. Woodbury and
Dr. Whitehurst. | Alcoholic.
1005 12" | GardenuMeysortucass |Nto i omer -ud |p tier lanl mire) ome! (ol te &
1006 12+) Cape Florida. May, 1858. | G. Wurdeman.
1012 IDA} ork, 9 aie orate ocarste ll) aeososie ovo ope oe
1160 Ho Wiis Wich Weibel) Sac oo A. H. Riise. fe
1090 i | Ste Wino Welk 9 6 bo Siols A. H. Riise. Dried.
Ophiothrix Suensonii Lirxen.
Ophiothriz Suensonii LUTKEN. Vidensk. Meddelelser. Jan., 1856.
Ophiothrix Suensonii LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 148.
Special Marks. — Arm-plates as long as broad. Only about five arm-
spines ; upper one very long and slender. Color reddish, with a stripe
of dark purple along arms.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 7.5"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 3.5™™ ;
width of arm without spines, 1.5"; length of arm, 68"; distance
from outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of tooth-papille, to
that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 1.7: 1.7. Tooth-papille,
eighteen, arranged in an oval figure, those outside longest, those in
middle shorter ; each outside row has six. Teeth four, upper one long-
158 OPHIOTHRIX SUENSONII.
est; rather thick, with rounded cutting edge. Mouth-shields very wide,
short heart-shaped, with outer side straight, and a little peak within ;
length to breadth, .5:1. Side mouth-shields short triangular, with cor-
ners rounded, meeting within. Under arm-plates as long as broad,
outer side longer than inner, corners rounded, a re-entering curve on
lateral sides, where tentacle-scale comes; length to breadth (eighth
plate), .7:.7. Side arm-plates strongly developed, and bearing stout
projections to carry the arm-spines. Upper arm-plates about as lone
as broad; outer side strongly curved; inner side straight, and much
shorter than outer; laterals straight and sloping; length to breadth
(seventh plate), .7:.7. Disk with naked radial shields ; brachial rays
very narrow; on them and on the interbrachial rays and centre are
scattered spines, long, thin, flattened, usually ending in a rather sharp
point, about 2.2" in length, with about eight thorns on each edge.
Radial shields presenting without an acute angle, terminating in a
rounded peak ; length to breadth, 2.5:1.4. Interbrachial spaces below
with a few spines of same character as those above, but much shorter.
Arm-spines five, sometimes six, upper one commonly much the longest ;
slender, sharp, somewhat flattened, with about nine thorns on each
edge ; ninth joint, five spines; lengths to that of under arm-plate, 4.5,
3.5, 2.8, 1.5, .2:.7; the minute lowest spine becomes a hook very near
base of arm. The spines near the end of the arm are extremely long
and slender. Tentacle-scales flat, rounded at point, of about same size
as lowest arm-spine. Color, in alcohol: above, disk pale purplish, with
outer ends of radial shields yellowish ; along outer side of radial shields
a narrow, raised edge of white ; a broad band of very dark purple run-
ning along each arm, continued along brachial rays, and ending at
centre of disk; side arm-plates mixed yellowish and purple ; below,
interbrachial spaces purplish, with fine cross lines of white; a broad
band of light purple, bordered on either side by light, running whole
length of arm; arm-spines white.
Variations. — In a specimen with a disk of 4°”, the spies on the
disk were fewer, and were mostly confined to the centre ; those on the
interbrachial spaces below were merely minute points; the lower arm-
plates were longer, and their corners less rounded. In better preserved
specimens the ground color was a dull lake-red (yellow ochre and red).
This species is very distinct from others of America in having the
arm-plates as long as broad, and only four or five very long, slender
arm-spines.
OPHIOTHRIX MAGNIFICA. 159
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
— =
Catalogue | Original | Number Be ae When The. rigees Nature of
Number, | Number. of Spec. Locality. Collected. Whence ‘obtained: Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
144 ae 3 shin Aone, MYoIG 9 Il oan oo A. H. Riise. Alcoholic.
145 64 || Wes lbealesh = 6 6 o bun University Museum,
Copenhagen. “
146 991 1 | Carthagena, New Gre-
| Dadar evan’ Ly WER 5 shh A. Schott. “
Smithsonian Institution.
991 ia 4 | Carthagena, New Gre-
nada, Pee ere | POer Chott Alcoholic.
1112 os 2 Stn Mores, MWolG | 66 aac A. H. Riise. “
Ophiothrix magnifica Lymay.
Ophiothrix magnifica LyMAN. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VIL. p. 254. 1860.
Special Marks. — A large species ; back of disk closely spined ; arm-
spines stout, round, somewhat tapering ; color bluish.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 12.5" ; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 5.6"; width
of arm without spines, 2.7°™; length of arm, 70™; distance from outer
side of mouth-shield to inner points of tooth-papille, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, 2.4: 2.4. Tooth-papille about thirty-six,
arranged in two rows of about ten each, which diverge from above
downward, and are filled in between by smaller papillz ; the papille
grow shorter and smaller from above downward. Teeth six, squarish,
moderately stout, with rounded cutting edge ; uppermost one thin, and
so tapering as almost to be sharp. Mouth-shields small, almost circular ;
length to breadth, 1: 1.2. Side mouth-shields meeting within. Under
arm-plates covered with thick skin, and closely joined, so that their
outline is indistinct ; im form irregular oval; outer side longer than
inner, and slightly re-entering; lateral sides well rounded; length to
breadth, .7: 1.3. Upper arm-plates small, with a strong median ridge ;
diamond-shaped, with outer angle much rounded, lateral angles sharp,
and inner angle very slightly truncated ; length to breadth (thirteenth
plate), .7: 1.2. Brachial and interbrachial rays of disk closely beset
with round, stout, tapering spines, of very even length; they are coy-
ered with minute thorns, and terminate in a rather blunt crown of
them; these spines have usually a length of about 1.37". Radial
160 OPHIOTHRIX MAGNIFICA.
shields much obscured by surrounding spines, but bearing only a few
small spines themselves; length to breadth, 3.5: 1.7. Arm-spines stout,
rather blunt, rounded, slightly and regularly taperimg, deeply corru-
gated lengthwise, bearing many small, blunt thorns; upper spines
scarcely flattened at all; second and third spines usually longest and
stoutest ; eleventh joint, eight spies; lengths to that of under arm-
plate, 2.4, 2.6, 3.1, 2.1, 2.1, 1.5, .9, .5:.7. Tentacle-scales distinct, flat,
rounded at their outer end. Color, in alcohol: above, disk dull indigo-
blue (cobalt and indigo-blue) ; arms the same, but banded with lighter ;
usually two or three joints to each band ; arm-spines faint blue ; below,
interbrachial spaces a little hghter than upper surface ; under arm-plates
variegated with cross lines and specks of white, and of darker and
lighter blue, giving the arm a banded appearance.
Variations. — The general color may incline more to greenish-blue,
or, on the other hand, to purplish-blue ; and the marking of the under
arm-plates may form more or less distinct bands. The largest specimen
had the disk 14™™ in diameter, and some of the spines on the disk as
long as 2.1". Many of the arm-spines were tipped with white.
This very beautiful Ophiothriz belongs to the group which has only
long spines on the back of the disk; it differs from O. Orstedii in
greater stoutness and shortness of the disk-spimes, and in more cylin-
drical arm-spines; it has more and shorter spines than O. Suensonii,
and is larger than either of these species.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number 3 When . Nature of
Number. | Number.| of Spec. Locality. | Collected. | Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zoélogy.
150 | 1043 | 1. | Peru. Meteote eicosc | Mr. Raymond. | Alcoholic.
Smithsonian Institution.
1043 Bie | | {<1 1 a metres eee | Mr. Raymond. | Alcoholic.
OPHIOTHRIX VIRGATA, 161
Ophiothrix virgata Lymay.
Ophiothrix virgata LyMAN. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. THist., VIL. p. 82. 1861.
Special Marks. — Disk beset with slender spines. Arms twelve times
as long as the diameter of the disk; alone their upper side, a clear
white line, bordered by a narrow blue one on each side.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 6"; width of arm
without spines, 1"; length of arm, 75"™. Tooth-papill thirteen, in
horizontal rows of two or three ; lowest ones the smallest. Teeth four,
very thick and stout, standmg close together. Mouth-shields heart-
shaped, with a pretty distinct pot inward, broader than long ; length
to breadth, .8:1. Side mouth-shields meeting nearly, or quite, within.
Under arm-plates four-sided, with cleanly rounded corners ; length to
breadth (twelfth plate), .6:.7. Upper arm-plates wider without than
within, outer side cleanly curved, lateral sides a little re-enteringly
curved, and sloping towards the centre of the arm; length to breadth
(eighth plate), .7:1. Disk above and below pretty closely covered
with short, tapering, thorny spines, the longest 1™ in length, which
nearly obscure the scaling of the disk, which may be distinguished
through the skin. Radial shields nearly naked, separated by a single
line of spmy scales ; length to breadth, 1.8: 1.2. Arm-spines six, slen-
der, not swelled at the point, upper one commonly longest ; lengths to
that of under arm-plate, 1.7, 1.7, 1.4, .9, .6,.5:.6. Tentacle-scales very
distinct, round. Color, in alcohol: above, pale blue on the disk, the
radial shields with a speck of white at their outer ends; arms obscurely
banded with paler and darker blue; along the middle of the arm, a
clear line of white, bounded by a narrow blue line on each side ; below,
interbrachial spaces pale blue, the rest nearly white.
Ophiothrix spongicola must be quite near this species, but its arms
are much shorter, and the pattern of color different.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original Number A When a Nature of
Number. | Number. of Spec. Locality. | Collected. | Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodloyy.
337 | one | 1 | Kingsmills Islands. | rages | A. Garrett. | Alcoholic.
21
162 OPHIOTHRIX ANGULATA.
Ophiothrix angulata Ayres. (PI. Il. Figs. 1-3.)
Ophiura angulata Say. Journ. Phil. Acad., V. p. 145. 1825.
Ophiothrix angulata AYRES. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., IV. p. 249.
Ophiothrix hispida AyRES. Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., IV. p. 249.
Special Marks. — Pale bluish, with a white line along arms, and
bands across them. Disk about 6.5"™. Arm-spines numerous; often
ten or eleven near base of arm. About eighteen tooth-papille.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 6.4"™ ; outer side of
mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 2.8°™ ; width of arm
without spines, 1.5"; length of arm, 38.4"; distance from outer side
of mouth-shield to inner point of tooth-papille, to that between outer
corners of mouth-slits as 1.6: 1.4. Tooth-papille like a bunch of short,
stout, blunt spines, soldered by their sides ; arranged in five horizontal
rows, of which the three highest have each four spines, the lowest one
or two, and the other three; papillz often irregularly placed, not in
rows ; the papillae on the sides of the rows project more towards centre
than do the middle ones. Teeth four, highest smallest, all thickened so
as to touch, or nearly touch, each other. Mouth-shields closely soldered
with side mouth-shields and with surrounding parts; in shape nearly
oval, with a slight peak towards mouth; length to breadth, .6:1;
madreporic shield larger. Side mouth-shields closely soldered with sur-
rounding parts, in shape elongated triangular. Under arm-plates some-
what square; outer side a little re-enteringly curved ; laterals rather
strongly curved; inner side nearly straight; plates pretty closely sol-
dered with each other and with surrounding parts; innermost. plate
small, nearly heart-shaped, with its joint imward ; second plate contracted
at its inner end; general form of other plates square, till near tip of
arm, where they gradually get more elongated, their lateral sides
straighter, and their outer sides more strongly re-entering ; length to
breadth (seventh plate), .5:.6 ; about two thirds the length of the arm,
4:.2; close to tip of arm, same proportion, but plates smaller, the
breadths as above given ; show also the lengths of the outer sides ; the
breadth of the inner side of the seventh plate is .4™. Side arm-plates
covered with skin, so that their outlines are obscured, ridge bearmg
arm-spines, hieh, narrow, and of even width. Upper arm-plates pretty
clearly marked, at base of arm; each has four sides, an outer, much
curved, an inner, very short, and two lateral, nearly straight ; inner side
very short, so that plates seem like wedges, with their pomts turned
inward ; first two or three plates shorter than those that follow ; plates
near point of arm much elongated ; length to breadth as follows : first
plate, .6 :.6 ; sixth plate, .6:.8; about two thirds the length of the arm,
OPHIOTURIX ANGULATA. 168
.6:.4; close to tip of arm, plates longer in proportion. Along the mid-
dle of each plate runs a ridge, and there is therefore a continuous ridge
from the base to the point of the arm. Disk, above, with a raised star
of ten rays and a small centre ; interbrachial rays high and broad, with
a width of 1.2" near centre of disk, and of 1.6™™ at its edge ; closely
beset with very small, short spines, ending in a triple fork ; about 34
spies to a square mm.; interbrachial rays, meeting in middle of disk,
make a centre to the star, having a diameter of 2™ ; brachial rays very
low and narrow, and tapering to a point before reaching edge of disk ;
greatest width, .2"™ ; each bears a single row of forked spines. Radial
shields, length 1.6", greatest width 1™™; each has about twelve scat-
tered, forked spines. Besides short, forked spines, there are on the
back of the disk a few longer, thorny spines, having a length of .8"", or
1™™, Jnterbrachial spaces below have a triangular patch of close-set
spines, which is a continuation of the interbrachial ray from above,
this patch is bounded by a stripe of bare skin, .8"", which runs along
the edge of the genital slits to the mouth-shields. _Arm-spines, number
of spimes and lengths compared with those of the under arm-plates:
second joint, two spines, .4, .4:.6; third joint, four spines, .4, .4, .6,.6:.6;
fourth joint, six spines, .4, .6, .6, .8, .8, .8:.6; fifth joint, eleven spines,
1.6, 1.6, 1.6, 1.2, 1.2, .8, .8, .8, .6, 4, .2:.6; sixth joint, ten spines, longest
one 2™ ; seventeenth joint, six spines, 1.4, 2.8, 1.4, .6, .4,.2:.6; three
fourths out on arm, five spines, 1.4, 2, .8, .4,.4:.4; the lowest spine has
here the form of a heavy knife, bearing two or three hooks on its edge ;
these hooks continue inwards to about the fiftieth joint from the tip,
where they gradually take on the form of true spines; at the tip of
arm, four spines, the lowest a hook. The longer and stouter spines,
near base of arm, have usually a thorny, rather blunt end, and twelve
or fifteen thorns on each edge. Tentacle-scales, from base of arm quite
to the tip there is a small, stunted spine, with two or three thorns at its
end, which answers to the tentacle-scale. Color, in alcohol: general
tint, a faded, grayish cobalt blue; under arm-plates and mouth appa-
ratus yellowish-white ; arms banded with darker blue; interbrachial
spaces on back of disk darker than brachial spaces; a light lne run-
ning along upper side of arm.
Variations. — The differences in color of this species, when living,
are very great. According to colored drawings of about twenty varie-
ties, belonging to Professor Agassiz, the disk may be various shades of
vermilion, pink, purple, blue, dull green, brown, and yellow ; the radial
shields seem always to differ from the rest of the disk; the ground
color of the arms, also, is usually different from that of the disk, and
varies quite as much; the arms are always banded. In alcohol the
color has always a faded look, the specimens being either whitish, or
164 OPHIOTHRIX VIOLACEA.
else dull green or blue. The young, with a disk of 3™™, have arms
16™- in length ; the disk is already closely covered with small spines,
each bearing a crown of three long, sharp thorns; the arm-plates are
proportionately longer than in the adult, and the arm-spines have rather
longer thorns. Very often the adult has only spines of the smaller sort
on the disk. Some specimens have the disk as large as 7"™.
O. angulata bears some resemblance to O. violacea ; the latter, how-
ever, has not banded arms, and has no such variety of coloration when
living; moreover, O. angulata is smaller, has under arm-plates pro-
portionately longer, arm-spines commonly more numerous, and about
eighteen tooth-papille, while O. violacea has as many as thirty. It
differs from O. spiculata and O. dumosa in fewer tooth-papillz, shorter
arm-spines, and in being a smaller species.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
|
Catalogue | Original | Number F When F Nature of
Number. Number. | of Spec. Locality. Collected. Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
32 12+ | Charleston, S. C. 1851. Prof. Agassiz. Alcoholic.
133 IPH || Chemaeson Ss Co? | cougoo | so9 odo oc 06 us
134 12+ | Charleston, S. C. 1852. Prof. Agassiz. 6“
135 ano 1 Waccamaw, S. C. 1853. Prof. Agassiz. of
390 2% 5 Noun (Chw@lings — || gaedio || googedgo0000 “
Smithsonian Institution.
O82hanl wm 12+ | South Carolina. liveeee aero Mr. Kurtz. Alcoholic.
Ophiothrix violacea Mit. & Troscu.
Stella marina minor echinata purpurea? SLOANE. Voy. to Jamaica, p. 272, pl. 244, f. 8,9. 14725.
STELLA SCOLOPENDROIDES ; Jamaicensis purpurea? Linck. De Stel. Mar., p. 51. 1733.
Ophiothrix violacea Mii. & Troscu. Syst. Asterid., p. 115. 1842.
Ophiothrix caribaea LUTKEN. Vidensk. Meddelelser. Jan., 1856.
Ophiothria Kréyeri LUvKeN. Vidensk. Meddelelser. Jan., 1856.
Ophiothrix violacea LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 150 1859.
Special Marks. — Dark-purplish blue, with a white line along the
arm. Small, forked spines on the disk, with a few long ones.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 10"; from outer
a ? )
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 4"; width
of arm without spines, 2.3"; length of arm, 62"; distance from outer
side of mouth-shield to inner points of tooth-papille, to that between
—
outer corners of mouth-slits, 2: 1.7. Tooth-papillae arranged in an oval
OPHIOTHRIX VIOLACEA. 165
figure, about thirty in number; those on sides larger and longer than
central ones; lowest ones smaller, and more rounded and spine-like ;
upper ones larger and more flattened. Teeth three, thin, delicate, flat-
tened, squarish. Mouth-shields diamond oval, with an angle inward
and a curve without; length to breadth, 7: 1.2; madreporice shield
larger than others, and rounded. The two plates that joim the outer
side of the mouth-shield, making thus a bridge between the inner ends
of the genital slits, are quite conspicuous. Side mouth-shields triangu-
lar, elongated, nearly meeting within mouth-shield proper; they are
closely soldered with surrounding parts, and are hard to see except in a
dry specimen. Under arm-plates broader than long, with a strongly
re-entering curve on outer side; inner side nearly straight; lateral
sides curved, or shghtly angular; plates near base of arm have their
outer side raised a little above succeeding plate ; plates within margin
of disk narrower, and more closely soldered to each other than those
beyond ; length to breadth (fourteenth plate), .7: 1; about two thirds
out on arm, plates nearly square, a little longer, however, than broad,
with a re-entering curve in outer side, though less strong than in the
plates near base of arm. Side arm-plates encroaching so much above
as nearly to meet each other, even near base of arm. Upper arm-plates
short diamond-shaped, with a slight median ridge; outer and inner
angles more or less rounded ; length to breadth (seventh plate), .7 : 1.2;
about two thirds out on arm, plates have same general form, but are
about as long as broad. Disk, above, closely beset with short spines
without lateral thorns, each, however, crowned with three or four thorns ;
less numerous on radial shields ; about 56 to a square mm., where they
stand thickest. Towards centre of disk a few longer spines, like those
of arms, but more slender and shorter. Below, interbrachial spaces
covered with spines somewhat longer than the short ones above. Ra-
dial shields beset with scattered spies; length to breadth, 2.4:1;
their interbrachial side is strongly curved; their brachial side nearly
straight, or a little re-enteringly curved ; where they meet, just at their
outer end, they have a slight protuberance ; for the rest of their length
they are separated by a tapering brachial stripe. Arm-spines about
eight, long and slender; largest ones with fifteen to twenty thorns on
each edge; lengths to that of under arm-plate as follows: (seventh
joint,) 2.5, 3, 2.7, 2.3, 1.6, 1.6, .5:.7. Sometimes there are as many as
eleven spines, but the additional ones are very short, and are the low-
est. About half-way out on arm six spines, lowest one broad and flat,
with hooks on its edge ; four upper ones long. Tentacle-scale minute,
sharp, conical, usually simple, sometimes with a crown of two or three
microscopic thorns. Color, in alcohol: above, bluish purple; along
median line of arm, a narrow stripe of clear white, bounded each side
by a dark stripe ; two fine white spots on lateral corners ; arm-spines
166 OPHIOTHRIX VIOLACEA.
with a purplish tint ; below, chewing apparatus yellowish, mouth-shields
white, speckled with purplish blue ; under arm-plates the same, but, in
addition, bordered with pale purplish-blue ; interbrachial spaces finely
mottled with white and purplish blue.
Variations. — The color differs chiefly in being darker or paler; in
the former case, the white spots on the upper arm-plates may be oblit-
erated, and even the longitudinal white line become quite faint. Often
the under arm-plates are white through the centre, while the lateral
sides are dark blue. The proportions of disk to arms present such
differences as the following: 9:55, 10:44, 7.5:42,5:23. Dr. Liitken
gives a measurement as high as 10:80. The average of seven meas-
urements of the length of under arm-plates compared to that of longest
arm-spines, near base of arm, was .7: 3.1; the extremes were .6:3 and
.8: 3.2. The spines on the upper surface of the disk vary somewhat m
number and also in the length of their thorns; those below vary very
much in number, being sometimes closely set, sometimes almost want-
ing, sometimes thorny, sometimes smooth. The side mouth-shields
sometimes quite meet within.
This species is apparently much more common at St. Thomas and the
neighboring islands than in Florida. Certainly in Key West it is com-
paratively very rare. It is distinguished from other species as follows:
from O. Orstedii, by short, forked spines of disk, and different pattern
of color in alcohol; from O. Swensonii, by short, forked spies of disk,
and a white median line along arm, instead of a dark one ; from O.
lineata, by more slender and numerous arm-spines, and by short, forked
spines of disk ; from O. angulata, by greater size (7™" diameter of disk,
corresponds in O. angulata to about 10" in O. violacea), by fewer
long spines on disk, and by a much darker pattern of color, when in
alcohol.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
| y
Catalogue | Original | Number : When f . Nature of
Number™ NGIaber: of Spec: Locality. | Collected. Whence/obtained: Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
137 4 || Jeremie, Hayitin yg 4) ve ore Dr. D. F. Weinland. | Alcoholic.
138 ae 7 StaBhomas:iWeele ilieeees chee A. H. Riise. G
139 66" Y WIR dames, ~ I a a 6 done Univ. Mus.Cop’hagen. Ge
140 66° AW A\Wesmaiiess | cedacs Univ.Mus.Cop’hagen. as
(?) 141 12+) Charlotte’s Harbor, Fla.) ...... G. Wurdeman. ce
Smithsonian Institution.
1017 iW AWeSbinohas, ~~ = |) aod Univ.Mus.Cop’hagen.| Alcoholic.
1016 ts 1 RO damit, | | soen0n Univ. Mus. Cop’hagen. ce
1159 oe Bye Cie Wienges Wied 9 |! G5 dv oho A. H. Riise.
1088 OF Sis WN, WWeolb 9 IW 6 a 65% 0 A. H. Riise. | Dried.
1111 2 Sis Wome MoI || So a aes A. H. Riise. | Alecholic.
OPHIOTHRIX SPICULATA. 167
Ophiothrix spiculata LeConre.
Ophiothrix spiculata J. L. LreConte. Proceed. Phil. Acad., V. p. 318. 1851.
Ophiothrix spiculata LUrKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 151. 1859.
Special Marks. — Pale cobalt-blue in alcohol ; longest arm-spines to
under arm-plates as 3.1:.6. Disk sometimes as large as 11.5" ; speci-
mens variable.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 9"; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 4" ; width
of arm without spines, 2"; length of arm, 51"; distance from outer
side of mouth-shield to inner points of tooth-papillx, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, 2:2. Tooth-papille, lowermost ones
rounded, small, stout, making a cluster of about twelve ; between this
cluster and the teeth there are six very large, stout papille arranged
in pairs. Teeth five, flattened, squarish, with rounded edge unusually
stout and thick; uppermost one smaller and more tapering. Mouth-
shields broader than long, with a slight peak inward ; without, rounded ;
length to breadth, .8: 1.4. Side mouth-shields meeting within. Under
arm-plates broader than long, inner side shorter than outer, outer side
a little re-enteringly curved, inner side nearly straight, lateral sides
irrecularly curved, outer corners strongly rounded ; length to breadth
(eleventh plate), .6:1; first four or five plates smaller and more square.
Upper arm-plates with a median ridge, diamond-shape, with lateral cor-
ners acute, outer corners rounded, and inner corner truncated ; length
to breadth (third plate), .6:1. Brachial and interbrachial rays of disk
closely beset with small and large spines, the small being usually about
4™™- Jong, surmounted by a crown of from three to six thorns, and some-
times with one or two thorns on their sides ; the large ones are some-
times as long as 1.7™™, similar in shape to arm-spines, but more slender,
and bearing from five to eight fine thorns on each edge, and three or four
at the tip. In interbrachial spaces below, only a few short, scattered
spines; none at all close to mouth-shields. Radial shields large ; length
to breadth, 2.5:2; though obscured by the surrounding spines, they
are themselves nearly naked, bearing only a few short spines, which
are chiefly on the inner angle ; they touch each other with their outer
end, which is a little swelled, and has a short, narrow, raised edge.
Arm-spines near base of arm, usually seven, rather slender, slightly
tapering ; longest ones with from fourteen to twenty-four fine thorns
on each edge, and a cluster of still finer ones at the end; upper spine
most tapering; second one longest, and cut off pretty square at the
end, as are also the third and fourth spines; second spine often has a
168 OPHIOTHRIX SPICULATA.
length as great as 3.5"™, and sometimes even 3.8""; eighth joint, seven
spines ; lengths to that of under arm-plate, 3, 3.2, 2.3, 1.5, 1.6, .4:.6.
Tentacle-scale, instead of being spiniform, is flat and square, ending in
four or five microscopic points. Color, in alcohol : above, faded cobalt-
blue, with a brownish tinge towards centre of disk; along centre of
arm a faint line of lighter; below, interbrachial spaces pale cobalt-blue ;
other parts the same, but lighter. In the living animal “the body is
dark fuscous above, and pale beneath ; every fifth ventral plate on the
arms is sometimes red or brown,” and the apex of the arm-spines is fre-
quently black (LeConte); or the main color may be greenish, the upper
arm-plates violet, and every fourth joint red (Dr. Orsted).
Variations. — Either this species is very variable, or else there are
two or more species at present confounded under it. The specimen
above described may be considered as the type ; from which, however,
there are considerable deviations, both in the armature of the disk and
the length of the arm-spines. Mitt. & Troscu.
Tyre OF THE GENUS, O. pentagona Miill. & Trosch.
Disk and arms wholly covered with a thick, naked skin. No tooth-
papille. Mouth-papille and teeth im the form of flattened lobes, with
saw-like cutting edges. Arm-spines stout, bulging at the base, thorny
at the point, covered round the base with thick skin ; near the tip of
the arm, the lower arm-spine has hooks along its edge. Arms rounded ;
arm-plates imperfectly developed. No tentacle-scales. Two genital
slits, beginning outside the mouth-shield.
SPECIES HEREIN DESCRIBED.
Ophiomyra flaccida.
Ophiomyxa pentagona.
23
178 OPHIOMYXA FLACCIDA.
Ophiomyxa flaccida Lirxen. (Pl. Il. Fig. 6; Figs. 18, 19.)
Ophiura flaccida Say. Journ. Phil. Acad., V. p. 151. 1825.
Ophiomyxa caribewa LUTKEN. Vidensk. Meddelelser. March, 1856.
Ophiomyxa flaccida Lu1Ken. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 138.
Special Marks. — Color, alive, lake-red or orange ; in alcohol, olive
green or bright green, sometimes mottled with lighter. Four to six
arm-spines. Arms four or five times as long as diameter of disk.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 22™>; from outer
side of mouth-shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 10" ; width
of arm without spies, 4.5"™; leneth of arm, 102"; distance from
outer side of mouth-shield to inner points of teeth, to that between
outer corners of mouth-slits, 4.2: 4.6. Mouth-papille, four to each side
of the angle of the jaw; the outer one is,
however, rudimentary, and has no saw-like
edge ; the others are of about equal size, but
the two inner ones have their saw-like edge
more coarsely divided than the second one.
Teeth eight, closely resembling mouth-papil-
le; the upper ones with the cutting edge
more rounded and nearly smooth. Mouth-
shields and side mouth-shields without dis-
tinct outline, except in dried specimens ; the
former are rounded diamond-shape ; length
to breadth about 2: 1.7. Side mouth-shields
long triangular, nearly meeting within. Under
arm-plates, in dried specimens, are faintly indicated by an oval outline,
with a notch in the outer side ; length to breadth about 1: 1.5. Upper
arm-plates, in dried specimens, appear as transverse, elongated, oval
ridges, with sharp lateral corners. Skin of the disk somewhat wrinkled.
Arm-spines four, short, flattened, conical, covered nearly to the tip with
skin; their thorns numerous; second joint,
one spine; third joint, two spines; fifth joint,
three spines; ninth joint, four spines; lengths
3 to that of the joint (twelfth jomt), 1.5, 1.1,
Pea er anaes 1.1, 11:2. The under arm-spine, near the
tip of the arm, has four or five little hooks
along its edge. Genital slits short, reaching only one half or two thirds
the distance to the margin of the disk, furnished with a small lobe near
the mouth-shields. Color, in alcohol: above, dirty olive-green, with a
few irregular rings of yellowish towards ends of arms; centre of disk
Fig. 18.
Ophiomyxa flaccida. (Upper side.)
Fig. 19.
OPHIOMYXA FLACCIDA. 179
inclining to yellowish green; below, interbrachial spaces like upper
surface ; the other parts pale sap-green.
Variations. —The number of arm-spines varies from four to six, or
even seven; and this does not seem entirely to depend on size. The
color, in alcohol, is usually some shade of green, either plain sap or
olive green, or bright green mottled and banded with yellowish. Occa-
sionally the color of the upper parts is deep brownish-green. Liitken’s
ficure, which is not correctly drawn, gives the color as red (burnt-lake).
A colored drawing of the living animal, belonging to Professor Agassiz,
is yellowish orange (yellow ochre and orange chrome), with a few
lighter bands near the ends of the arms. Probably the color varies
through several tints of red and of orange.
This species has been taken, in from three to five fathoms of water,
at Santa Cruz and St. Thomas (Orsted, Riise). At the latter place Mr.
Riise has found it in the holes made in corals by boring mollusks. It is
not uncommon on the coast of Florida, near low-water-mark.
Say’s description was evidently from a dried specimen, as he mentions
the row of overlapping scales along the upper margin of the disk.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
|
Sse || Ses clita, | wnence tatnet, |. Bart
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
404 lblagin. =~ 5 ae PE elec o.6 Dr. Weinland. Alcoholic.
155 1 | Key West, Fla. Mh. 6, 1858. | J. E. Mills. os
156 Sine eEplOvidasyg | ce) |e ctu taeae scene Prof. Agassiz. a
157 1 Tortugas, Fla. Apr. 24,58. | J. E. Mills. 6
158 1 | Key West, Fla. Jan. 28,1858.) J. E. Mills. — 6
159 2 | Cape Florida. Apr. 1858. G. Wurdeman and
J. E. Mills. &“
160 @ |Sie Wome, Welb ~~ || sé6 050 A. H. Riise. oe
161 Se IE) Wihomels dW SG a G. Wurdeman. “
162 ae SielNVestelndiesss Selman i ccen- tone University Museum,
| Copenhagen. xc
163 oar leeel@Aloridas: listers une esis G. Wurdeman. Dried.
AG Aetna h Duala ace lees Fell echoes al eee “
353 | ee citeee || JamiaiCas, eee meee en iP meet vis on Amherst College. Ww
Snuthsonian Institution.
1044 A Cre ion i! gacena G. Wurdeman. Alcoholic.
988 1 Cape Florida. BRIS 7 Tl = bs Gots lao Soro WS
1042 1 TRO | li Be Sct If eo aligtat stand iollbto Ws
983 ee | ortuoass Ei atee ween wn|eeas uence Dr. Whitehurst.
1076 2D \ Sits Bonny Nivel i) 6 4%5-6 oc A. H. Riise. i
1087 1 Sto IU WotG Nl &sis.o oo A. H. Riise. tf
1103 2» || Shin INromesh, Vive 1b = 68d dal alts A. H. Riise. e
1155 Ata tStsebhomasWolsy © 0 |) sec eas = A. H. Riise. Dried.
|
‘
180 ASTROPHYTON.
Ophiomyxa pentagona Mir. & Troscn.
Ophiura pentagona LAMK. An.s. Vert., I. p. 546.
Ophiomyxa pentagona Miu. & Troscn. Syst. Asterid., p. 108.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
|
Catalogue | Original Number A When ° Nature of
Number. | Number. of Spec. Locality. | Collected. | Whence/obtained: Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
429 | wee | Bus | Alger. | Pen GOS jagargis des Plantes. as
ASTROPHYTON Linck.
Type or tHE Genus, A. arborescens.*
Disk and arms covered with thick skin, without scales. Radial
shields extending nearly or quite to the centre of the disk, and form-
ing more or less elevated radial ribs. Two short genital slits in each
interbrachial space, lyimg close to the margin of the disk. Teeth,
tooth-papilla, and mouth-papille all similar and spiniform. Arms
forked many times. No arm-spines, except at the tips-of the branches,
where they have the form of microscopic hooks. Tentacle-scales. Un-
der and side arm-plates very small, and buried beneath the skin of the
under side of the arm.
SPECIES HEREIN DESCRIBED.
Disk entirely granulate above ; grains flat; ribs low, A. arborescens.
Disk entirely granulate above ; ribs distinct, A. Lamarchii.
Only ribs closely granulate, { 2 eee
A, Caryi.
Ribs with a few short, irregular spines, A. Agassizit.
Disk above closely beset with thorny stumps, A. Linckii.
Disk closely beset above with little thorny spines, A. clavatum.
Iligh ribs bearing a few clavate stumps, A. costosum.
* As the specific identification of Linck’s plates cannot now be made, I have taken the oldest
described species, Stella Arborescens Rond., as the generic type.
ASTROPHYTON EUCNEMIS. 181
Astrophyton arborescens Mir. & Troscn.
Stella arborescens RONDELET. De Pisce. Mar., p. 121. 1554.
Euryadle costosum LamxK. Hist. Anim. s. Vert., If. p. 538. 1816.
Astrophyton costosum AGAss. Mém. de la Soc. Sciences Nat. Neuchatel, p. 11. 1839.
Astrophyton arborescens Muu. & Troscu. Syst. Asterid., p. 124. 1842.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalog Original | Number P When . Nature of
NuniReES Nariber| of Spec. Locality. Collected. Whence obtained. specie’
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
472 as i, || Wiesner -- ll o 6 oS “Wewtorease 6-656 4 Dried.
437 ia il |Weetieumrcm | se e6o6 Jardin des Plantes. | Alcoholic.
Astrophyton Lamarckii Mutt. & Troscu.
Asterias caput-meduse ? Linn. Fauna Suecica. 1761. No. 2115.
Astrophyton Lamarckii Mtxiu. & Troscu. Syst. Asterid., p. 123. 1842.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number - Whe 3 Nature of
Nae Nasben chSpes: Locality. callestaa | Whence obtained. Susciinen®
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
463 #4 | 1 North Europe. | Sedona sets : | Prof. Sars. Alcoholic.
|
Astrophyton eucnemis Mitt. & Troscu.
Zottenkopf KNorr. Delicia Nat. Select., II. p. 34, Pl. G, figs. 1 and 2. 1787.
Asterias caput-meduse Fapricius (non Linn.). Fauna Grenlandica, No. 367.
Asterias caput-meduse DewuurRst. Nat. Hist. Ord. Cetacea.
Astrophyton eucnemis Mt. & Troscu. Syst. Asterid., p. 123. 1842.
Astrophyton eucnemis LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 70.
Special Marks. — Disk granulated. Radial ribs more or less closely
granulated ; the grains, in the adult, being about the size of those on
the upper surface of the arms, but larger in younger specimens. Be-
low, interbrachial spaces either apparently naked, or with very few
scattered grains.
182 ASTROPHYTON EUCNEMIS.
a
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 87"; from outer
side of madreporic shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 23™™ ;
breadth of arm inside the first fork, 20". Distances from each fork to
the next beyond : —
First fork to RECON 5 5.96 6 5 JIG
Second Ge (lve Rsa eG ken aihel?
Third oy fourth) sei) seuss ues Ons
Fourth Ge fifth, .2.o.5, how cba aaa oe
Fifth ao Sotho 6 5 oo oe ee
Sixth Gh Red Go 6 ap o ail)
Seventh ie GE, oo 6 5 o Be
Eighth Bo minty eee eee seem eace
Ninth cece Gerth; ca eycigswetom )
ASTROPHYTON CARYI. 185
smaller; most of them are clustered near the point of the mouth-angle.
Arms covered above and on the sides with fine grains, which are
erouped near the base of the arm in irregular vertical ridges ; these
ridges become more regular and distinct towards the end of the arm,
and on the smaller branches take the form of a double vertical row of
grains ; along the middle le of the arm runs a very obscure narrow
furrow, in which the grains are rather more scattered. Under side of
the arms covered with a smooth skin, beset with fine, scattered, smooth
grains ; the joints are indicated by very faint cross limes. Interbrachial
spaces above, and brachial spaces between the radial ribs, sprinkled
with a few fine grains, like those of the arms, but coarser. The upper
and lower surfaces are separated by a raised edge, which is slightly
granulated. Radial ribs extending quite to the centre, closely beset
with coarse, rounded grains; length to breadth, 17:5. Interbrachial
spaces below covered with a very smooth skin, which is sprinkled with
fine rounded grains. Genital slits bordered on the side next the inter-
brachial space by rows of fine grains. The granulation of the interbra-
chial space extends to the base of the mouth-angle. Arm-spines all
hooked, microscopic, the lowest one largest, arranged in two vertical
rows; they are abundant on the end twigs, but are not found on the
main trunks within the seventh fork from the disk. Tentacle-scales
three, sometimes four, and within the disk commonly two; spiniform,
like the teeth, but blunter; they extend within the inner end of the
interbrachial space. Color, in alcohol: above, light vandyke-brown ;
interbrachial spaces darker ; below, under surface of arm nearly white ;
interbrachial spaces same as above.
A single specimen has been sent from San Francisco by Mr. T. G.
Cary, to the Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
Astrophyton Caryi is distinguished from A. ewcnemis, which it re-
sembles, by more regular granulation of the disk, by having blunter
tentacle-scales, and by close rows of grains along the edge of the
genital slits.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number - When a Nature of
Number. | Number.) of Spec. Locality. | Collected. Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
445 | | 1 | San Francisco, Cal. | Reis. tients T. G. Cary. Alcoholic. |
186 ASTROPHYTON AGASSIZII.
Astrophyton Agassizii Srueson.
“The Basket Fish.” Philosophical Transactions, IV. p. 1152. 1670. (J. Winthrop.)
ASTROPHYTON SCUTATUM; scuto rotato? Linck. De Stel. Mar., p. 65, Pl. XXIX. & XXX. 1733.
Euryale scutatum GouLd (non De Blainville). Invertebrata of Mass., p. 345.
Astrophyton Agassizii Stimpson. Inverteb. Grand Manan, Smithson. Contrib., VI. p. 12. 1854.
Special Marks. — Radial ribs yellowish ; interbrachial spaces brown-
ish. Numerous short, conical spines irregularly disposed on the radial
ribs. Interbrachial spaces above naked, or with very few blunt, short
spines.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 75"; outer side of
madreporic shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 24" ; width
of arm at base, 24"; length of arm, measured along the branches to
the tip of the longest branch, 260". The distances from one fork to
the one beyond it along the longest branch, were as follows (two
branches from different arms are compared) : —
From first fork to eeeoth 5 oo OE 5 4 6. Jase
* second iy G Wel co 8g ol Gg
«third! ccc OUI, 5 6 oo SLB |G ow 4S
“ fourth i iis 6 6 o o ee & a7
Oe fitth: GS & Sb var le vor DP gang con OD
SPsixth DO Pins 5 6 Oe 34 +
* seventh mes Gel Gg 5 6 US 5 5 oo is ©
“eighth Go MiTithis, yy ceo eo lt Ome erie LO ce
“ninth G tenth, thet pres aed 1 Migr pelts arc
“tenth Gg Geren a oo SO 5 4 6 Jn)
“eleventh Go & twelfth; ("ce i SRR eons
“twelfth GG end, 42) ae Be 19 AO Pe aie
244m. 260™™
Distance from outer side of madreporic shield to inner points of mouth-
papilla, to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 15:8. Mouth-
papillz, tooth-papille, and teeth, about twenty-four in all, cylindrical,
tapering, thorn-like ; mouth-papille forming a row of about ten, of
which those near corners of mouth-slits are smallest ; length of tooth-
papilla about 1.8™™. Madreporic shield broad heart-shape, with the
point outward; irregular, indistinct; length to breadth, 4.2: 6.2.
Under surface of arms smooth and polished, with faint cross lines
between the joints. Top and sides of arms nearly naked as far as the
second fork of the arm, but beyond that granulated. Grains smooth,
rounded ; above, crowded; on the sides more scattered; as they ap-
proach the end of the arm they become more confined to vertical
ridges, and more regular in arrangement; and at the tip of the arm
ASTROPHYTON AGASSIZIL. 187
each joint has its double vertical row of large, close-set grains ; along
the upper surface runs a sunken line or furrow. Disk with interbra-
chial spaces below nearly naked, though bearing a few points not easy
to see; above smooth, with a few scattered conical points; on the
margin a raised edge, separating the upper and lower surfaces. Radial
ribs large, prominent (particularly without), running nearly to the centre,
and bearing a number of irregular grains, and low, conical points ; length
to breadth, 50:8; height (above upper surface of arm), 8"™. Genital
slits with two to four large flat grains along the edge next the inter-
brachial space, and ending without in a blunt, conical point. Arm-
spines microscopic, hooked; most numerous at the tips of the branches ;
found in numbers as far as the fifth fork from the disk, within which
point they speedily disappear; at tips of branches arranged in two
vertical rows, each spine standing on a rounded grain as a base. Ten-
tacle-scales spiniform, resembling mouth-papille, standing in a close
row; commonly three, sometimes four, near the mouth only two or
one; they extend, though fewer and smaller, as far as the inner end of
the interbrachial spaces. Color, in alcohol: arms and radial ribs light
yellowish-brown (near raw sienna); disk and interbrachial spaces below
dark purplish-brown. The living animal has the radial ribs yellow, and
the interbrachial spaces brown (Stimpson).
Variations. — A smaller specimen, with a disk of 31", had arms
with nine forks, of the following proportions : —
From first fork to COG =~ 5 6 o 6 apis
“ second Gee iwirl 6 9 o ao ext) we
“third ca MOUIN 5 5 56 o o wey
“ fourth G & tidy wee to. melee
“fifth Gy Sediin a5 6 a oo dle
« sixth eas Fevent, Aa o 56 6 IG ®
“ seventh fog Geilo o 6 5 o eo
“eighth eg & mim ¢ 6 o o oa LO %
“ ninth ost Gh ‘5s 6 so pio JMO)
133™™-
The radial ribs were more regularly covered with short, conical spines,
than in the adult. In the interbrachial spaces above there were scarcely
any grains, but below and on the edge of the disk there were numerous
fine grams. The granulation of the arms was not so close as in the
adult, and was more confined to vertical ridges. A very young speci-
men, with a disk of 2™™, had arms 4.3" long; there was but one fork
in the arm, and this was at a distance of 2.2™" from the disk. Except
for this fork, the specimen might have almost been mistaken for the
young of Ophiopholis bellis. The hack of the disk was covered with
about a dozen angular plates, which were separated by single rows of
188 ASTROPHYTON AGASSIZII.
large, rounded grains. The armature of the mouth consisted only of a
single vertical row of conical teeth, whereof the lowest seemed some-
times to be split in two. The joints of the arms were constricted at
the base, just as in a simple armed Ophiuran, and bore but a single row
of small, hooked spies; the upper surface was clothed with large,
round grains ; the lower with a small, diamond-shaped under arm-plate,
and side arm-plates, which met on the middle line. Two specimens,
with disks of 3" and 4™", had arms with two forks, and the disk
pretty closely covered with grains, so that the plates were no longer
distinct.
Astrophyton Agassiz has been obtained from the Gulf of Saint
Lawrence (Captain Atwood), from Grand Manan Island (Stimpson),
and from Cape Cod (Captain ate It is distinguished re eadily
from A. ewcnemis and A. Caryi by the short, blunt, conical spies
on the radial ribs.
The following letters of Governor John Winthrop deserve notice,
as showing that this smgular animal early attracted the attention of
our forefathers. The descriptions themselves are quite worthy of a
regularly educated naturalist : —
PurtosornicaLt Transactions, Vol. IV. Page 1152. 1670.
An Extract of a Letter written by Joun WinturRor, EsQ., Governor of Connecticut in
New England, to the Publisher, concerning some Natural Curiosities of those Parts,
especially a very strange and very curiously contrived Fish, sent for the Repository of
the Royal Society.
“ There is, besides, in a large round Box, a strange kind of Fish, which was taken by a
Fisherman when he was fishing for Codfish in that Sea which is without Massachuset Bay
in N. England. It was living when it was taken, which was done, I think, by an hook.
The name of it I know not, nor can I write more particularly of it, because I could not yet
speak with the Fisherman who brought it from Sea. I have not seen the like. The
Mouth is in the middle; and they say that all the arms you see round about were in
motion when it was first taken.
“We omit the other particulars here, that we may reflect a little upon this elaborate
piece of Nature. ‘The Fish, which, since it is yet nameless, we may call Piscis Echino-
Stellaris Visciformis ; its Body (as was noted by M. Hook) resembling an Echinus or
Egeg-fish, the main Branches a Star, and the dividing of the branches the Plant Missel-toe.
This Fish spreads itself from a Pentagonal Root, which incompasseth the Mouth (being in
the middle) into 5 main Limbs or branches, each of which, just at issuing out from the
Body, subdivides itself into two, and each of those 10° branches do again divide into two
parts, making 20 lesser branches ; Each of which again,divide into 2 smaller branches,
making in all 40. These again into 80, and those into 160 3, and they into, 32 20 ; they into
640; into 1280; into 2 560; ; into 5120; ; into 102f0 ; ; Into 20480; into 40960 ; into 81920;
beyond which the further expanding of the Fish could not be certainly trac’d, though
possibly each of those 81920 small sprouts or threds, in which the branches of this Fish
seem’d to terminate, might, if it could have been examined when living, have been found
to subdivide yet farther. The Branches between the Joynts were not equally of a length,
though, for the most part, pretty near ; but those Branches which were on that side of the
, 1 |
ASTROPHYTON AGASSIZII. 189
Joynt on which the preceding Joynt was placed were always about a 4th or 5th part
longer than those on the other side. Every of these Branchings seemed to have, from the
very mouth to the smallest twigegs or threds in which it ended, a double chain or rank of
pores. The Body of the Fish was on the other side, and seems to have been protuberant,
much like an Kchinus (Egg-Fish or Button-Fish), and, like that, divided into 4 ribbs or
ridges, and each of these seemed to be kept out by two small bony ribbs.”
Vol. VI. Page 2221. 1671.
A further Accompt of the Stellar Fish formerly described in Numb. 57, p. 1153.
This Accompt was communicated by the same Gentleman that imparted the former, in a
letter written from Boston, New England, Oct. 26, 1670, as followeth : —
“Since my former I found out the Fisherman who brought that Stellar fish from Sea.
T asked all the questions I could think needful concerning it. I understood from him that
he never saw nor heard of any but those few that were taken by himself, which were not
above six or seven in all, and those at several times, not far fromthe Shoals of Nantucket
(which is an Island upon the Coast of New England) when he was fishing for Cod and
such like Marchantable fish. This Stellar Fish, when it was alive, and first pull’d out of
the water, was like a basket, and had gathered itself round like a Wicker-basket, having
taken fast hold upon that bait on the hook which he had sunk down to the bottom to catch
other Fish, and having held that within the surrounding brachia, would not let it go, though
drawn up into the Vessel; until, by lying a while on the Deck, it felt the want of its
natural Element; and then voluntarily it extended itself into the flat, round form in which
it appear’d when present’d to your view.
“ What motion these fishes had in the water could not be known to him, for the water
was deep, and they could not be seen in any other form than so gather’d up together to
hold fast the bait. The only use that could be discerned of ull that curious composure
wherewith Nature had adorned it, seems to be to make it as a pursenet to catch some
other fish, or any other thing fit for its food, and as a basket of store to keep some of it for
future supply, or as a receptacle to preserve and defend the young ones of the same kind
from fish of prey; if not to feed on them also (which appears probable the one or the
other), for that sometimes there were found pieces of Mackerel within that concave. And
he told me that once he caught one, which had within the hollow of its embracements a
very small fish of the same kind, together with some piece or pieces of another fish, which
was judged to be of a Mackerel. And that small one (‘tis like) was kept either for its
preservation, or for food to the greater; but, being alive, it seems most likely it was there
lodged for safety, except it were accidentally drawn within the net, together with that piece
of fish, upon which it might be then feeding.
“Té told me further, that every one of those smallest parts had motion when it was
alive, anda tenacious strength ; but after it was dead, and extended to a flat round, it was
so brittle that it could not be handled without breaking some parts of it; but by carefully
laying of it to dry, it was thereby somewhat hardened.
“ Te added, that he had taken one of this kind of fish the latter end of this Summer, but
had left it with a friend at another port where he had been. Meantime he promised to
procure it for me when he should sail thither again, if it were not broken or defaced.
I hope I shall engage him for the future to take better notice of what may be remarkable
about it. Upon occasion I have inquired of divers other Fishermen and Mariners, but can
meet with none other that ever have taken any of these fishes. This Fisherman could not
tell me of any name it hath, and ’tis in all likelihood yet nameless, being not commonly
known as other Fish are. But, until a fitter Hnglish name be found for it, why may it not
be called (in regard of what hath been before mentioned of it) a Bushket-Fish, or a Net-Fish,
or a Purs-net-Lish ?”
190 ASTROPHYTON LINCKII.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
=
Ceategue |vtet| Numer] ay. | omy | wens ois. | Nat
Museum of Comparative Zoélogy.
446 2) | EuryalepBank-y 9) | iinet Prof. Agassiz. Alcoholic.
447 3 Eastport, Me. July, 1851. | Prof. Agassiz. a
448 1 WeElastpor tse Cosme aiennnnl | Nereeciuennr U.S. Treat. a
449 7 | Gulf of St. Lawrence. | ...... Capt. Atwood. w
450 7 Provincetown, Mass. | ...... Capt. Atwood. “
451 4 EBuryale:Bankey > |) ae Rone lp Nee ee ee io
452 4 | Provincetown, Mass. 1852. Capt. Atwood. ce
453 Qe WaperCotln= We ull seecetuascaee ||| tence ee ae a
454 US a bctaicy co scree oo Cy omcaiie sll een oecrdwoede lls doe yo: ono ee oe ou8 oe
455 2 hCapesGodsh wag “MOLL ser Sikes ted ces aan eee Dried
456 ee Mccann, oo) Seo. one) Woeoy dar tose ill Go. Bode oan Gc oc YY
457 6 Capen Codie 7 8 alli nas rsrtovrs icine! al seeguesras mortar ante fe
458 1 Capel Codes fereieu-ient ie Prof. Agassiz. a
459 ci ES BG es Sno mo I ogoog eo || oo toto 6.0 on sd
438 * .. | Swampscott, Mass. | ...... Essex Institute. Alcoholic.
439 ae go | Cae Cod 8 = || banoce Aquirial Gardens. oe
440 a0 ovo | BESO WG | Goaccn Mr. Beale. Kc
Astrophyton Linckii Mii. & Trosca.
Asterias caput-meduse ? Linn. Fauna Suecica. 1761. No. 2115.
Astrophyton Linckii MULL. & Troscu. Syst. Asterid., p, 122.
The citations of Martens, Linck, and Knorr, as synonymes of this
species, are all mistakes on the part of Muller and Troschel. It is
impossible to say whether the Asterias caput-meduse of Linnzeus is
this species or A. Lamarckii.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number P When 4 : Nature of
Number. | Number.) of Spec. Locality. | Collected. | Whence obtained. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zoology.
473 1 North Europes) amen |e nemcn-msirens Prof. Sars, 1852. Dried.
474. 1 WON Wu — || ao ocad G. A. Cheney. Alcoholic.
ASTROPHYTON CLAVATUM. 191
Astrophyton clavatum Lyrmay.
Proceed. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., VIII. p. 85. 1861.
Special Marks. — Radial ribs closely beset with minute, thorny
stumps or spines.
Description of a Specimen. — Diameter of disk, 30" ; width of arm
at first fork, 12"; length of arm, 231"™.
First joint (within the disk) to second, . . . . . 8™™
Second Us CCM hinders sty sh tet oy) aboiae®
Third ts G our oo 5 © 0 o ©
Fourth i As TTR go Gs tel ou cor enh
Filth 03 CORP Cixi wey ts, bream pe dase
Sixth 5 ; GB wyenilt o oo o o dil &
Seventh & S @elen o «7 0 0 9 wo
Eighth “ “ ninth, ED te PU nome, LOS
Ninth ce G& famtys 6 0 0 0 o Ie
Tenth (S “ eleventh, OME
Eleventh w “ twelfth, il &
Twelfth as “ thirteenth, al
Thirteenth ce “ fourteenth, ial &
Fourteenth o “fifteenth, Y &
Fifteenth Ke “ sixteenth, G) &
Sixteenth ae “ seventeenth, @) &
Seventeenth ff “ eighteenth,. ... 9
Eighteenth ss “ nineteenth, co}
Nineteenth, ce “ twentieth, . fa},
Twentieth 0 “ twenty-first, 8
Twenty-first cs “ twenty-second,. . . G.&
Twenty-second “ “ twenty-third, g)
Twenty-third “ twenty-fourth, 5
Twenty-fourth “ “twenty-fifth, 8a
Twenty-fifth « “ twenty-sixth, by
Twenty-sixth “ “ twenty-seventh, ay
Twenty-seventh * “ twenty-eighth, . 6) &
Twenty-eighth “ & onl, Olmes
ANE ene, 6 6 6 6 oo Zee
Tooth-papille and teeth about thirteen, regular, cylindrical, tapering,
sharp, the upper ones largest, the longest 1.5". Mouth-papille about
four on each side, very small, somewhat irregular. Madreporic shield
lying at the corner of the interbrachial space, broader than long, plainly
made up of irregular, short, thickened tubes, soldered side by side.
The space occupied by the tentacle-pores and the covered under arm-
plates is sunken, forming a shallow trench, the joints being indicated
by obscure cross lines. Beyond the disk the joints are marked by
depressions between them, their outer and inner ends are thickened on
the sides, making a series of very distinct double ridges along the sides
of the arm. The under side of the arm, within and near the disk, is
192 ASTROPHYTON COSTOSUM.
covered by a close pavement of flattened grains; it is very distinct
from the sides and upper surface, which are beset with fine rounded
grains, and are separated from the lower surface by a sunken line.
Along the upper surface of the arm runs a distinct median furrow.
Radial ribs running quite to the centre of the disk, prominent, their
outer ends cut abruptly off, making a concave scar; length to breadth,
17:4; they are closely beset with microscopic, thorny stumps or grains,
some of which end in three or four distinct thorns. The same thorny
grains are found, but smaller and more scattered, on the interbrachial
spaces below, and a few also on the depressed parts of the upper sur-
face of the disk. At the tips of the arms and on the smaller twigs
there are, as usual, double vertical rows of grains, bearing hooks.
Tentacle-scales one or two, small, and difficult to see, extending inward
as far only as the fourth fork of the arm. Color, in alcohol: above,
dark purplish-brown, varied with black ; below, interbrachial spaces the
same ; under surface of arms much lighter.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number a When ne Nature of
Number. |Number.| of Spee. Locality. Collected. | Mittence[obEined. Specimen.
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy.
M03 Woeo || wo | Zanzibar | yeleesnsie | G. A. Cheney. Alcoholic.
| |
Astrophyton costosum Scena.
Astrophyton costosum SeBa (non Linck). III. Pl. EX. Fig. 1, p. 16. 1758.
Euryale muricatum LAMK. An. s. Verteb., II. p. 538. 1816.
Astrophyton muricatum AGAss. Mém. de la Soe. des Sciences Nat. Neuchatel, p. 12. 1839.
Astrophyton muricatum Mtuu. & Troscu. Syst. Asteriden, p. 122.
Astrophyton muricatum LUTKEN. Addit. ad Hist. Oph., p. 156.
Special Marks. — Disk purplish brown. Radial ribs sharply and
much raised, bearing a few large fleshy spines, whose sides are often
fluted.
Description of a Specimen.— Diameter of disk, 58"; from outer
side of madreporic shield to outer corner of opposite mouth-slit, 28™™ ;
width of arm at base, 24°". Length of arm and distances of its forks
from cach other, —
ASTROPIYTON COSTOSUM. 193
First fork to second, fe} ae
Second Sires third, 11 “
Third ob fourth, 14 “&
Fourth Yb! Mh fifth, Tames
Fifth @ sixth, 14 «
Sixth is & seventh, 16 “
Seventh CS Pa eighth, (s &
Eighth Od ninth, . 16 “
Ninth 0b tenth, . TiGiacs
Tenth Gig eleventh, . 19 «
Eleventh et twelfth, 18 “
Twelfth (Bi fo thirteenth, 19
Thirteenth oe fourteenth, 20
Fourteenth Ge fifteenth, . ily ©
Fifteenth oO} sixteenth, Wp
Sixteenth G3 seventeenth, . Ife) ©
Seventeenth GG eighteenth, 21 %
Eighteenth Ce nineteenth, 18 *
Nineteenth a twentieth, ifs}
Twentieth CoS twenty-first, . Igy &
Twenty-first wn twenty-second, . ile
Twenty-second ae twenty-third, 15 “
Twenty-third og twenty-fourth, 1G)
Twenty-fourth “© twenty-fifth, . 1S)
Twenty-fifth oe twenty-sixth, 20) “
Twenty-sixth Go twenty-sevent'). ils}
Twenty-seventh “ twenty-eighth, 12
Twenty-eighth Wt twenty-ninth, 2)
Twenty-ninth ub thirtieth, 1]
Thirtieth Soares thirty-first, TONS
Thirty-first OG thirty-second, Sie
Thirty-second, 6 & end, We
Total length, 489mm.
Distance from outer side of madreporie shield to inner points of teeth,
to that between outer corners of mouth-slits, 19:9. Teeth, tooth-
papille, and mouth-papille sharp, conical, of different sizes; about
eight, which occupy the place of teeth, are the largest, and attain the
length of 2.8°"; those which represent the inner mouth-papille are
smallest ; the outer mouth-papille extend quite to the outer corner of
the mouth-slit. Madreporie shield irregular oval, broader than long,
rather indistinct ; placed at the inner angle of the interbrachial space.
Arms covered above, below, and on the sides by a close, fine, smooth
coat of microscopic grains. Below and on the sides the joints are
plainly indicated by cross lines. On the upper side runs a distinct,
longitudinal, sunken line ; here also are scattered round spots, which,
under the microscope, appear a little raised, and are made up of con-
centric rings of oblong grains. On the tip branches most of the grains
are brought together to form a double vertical row of grains, which
25
194 ASTROPHYTON COSTOSUM.
bear the arm-spines, in the form of single microscopic hooks. These
hooks seem only to be found on the fine twigs. Disk, above and below,
covered with the same granular coat as the arms; above, also, are
found the round spots in the interbrachial spaces. Radial ribs very
large and prominent, ending without im a smooth, concave cicatrix ;
on their upper surface are numerous irregular spines, about 1.5"” long,
with deeply striated or fluted sides. Interbrachial spaces below very
small, in consequence of the great breadth of the arms. Genital slits
small, without margin of grams; length, 4.5"". Tentacle-scales very
fine, slender, spiniform ; they are not found at all within the ninth fork
of the arm on its main trunk; beyond this point there are one, two,
three, and even four to each pore, the number being greatest on the
smaller side branches; on the fine twigs, however, the number de-
creases, and the finest have them replaced by a single hook. Color, in
alcohol: above, a fine purplish umber, with fine, indistinct spots of
lighter ; below, pale umber.
Variations. — Instead of being uniform, the upper surface is often
spotted with darker. The teeth in younger specimens are often com-
paratively shorter and blunter, and the spines on the radial ribs are
smooth, and not so numerous as in the adult. The young of this spe-
cies have, on the basal part of the arm, a few short spmes or large
grains. The radial ribs are low and faintly marked, and bear at their
outer end a large spine, like a horn; besides these there are only one
or two small spines on the disk ; the first fork of the arms is not at the
margin of the disk, but a little way from it; on the under side of the
arms the tentacle-scales, two in number, extend inward as far as the
first fork. A small specimen had a disk of 10", and twelve forks to
the arms, as follows : —
Disk to first fork, Ses a OR
First fork to second; “= a a a Aime
Second ob iinegl, @ 6 56 6 o o @O
Third eG owe 6 o o o o Gy) ©
Fourth i ule oe lo 6 a oo) Chay
Fifth 8 SERUM) 1 euromersy. co, ot AeA
Sixth i yam 5 6 so s -¢ GO &
Seventh oe © Gia 6 a o o o 2h) 4
Eighth coma’ Mg o Gio eo o Shy &
Ninth Ga tenths):, “ssury eae eso
Tenth G & GEyvGnij se co 6 o o 2h
Eleventh Gow Telit 50 6 o 6 dy
Twelfth a CCK inheen Doe al tek gama las
60.0™
Astrophyton costosum has been found in the West Indies (Orsted,
Riise, Suenson, Benzon), on the coast of Florida, at the Tortugas Isl-
ASTROPHYTON COSTOSUM. 195
ands, and at Charleston, 8. C. It is fond of twining round Gorgonia,
in which situation I have taken it on the mud flats of Key West, just
below low-water-mark. When taken out of the water, it rolls up its
many branches compactly. Its color, when alive, is similar to that of
the alcoholic specimen, but is more brilliant, and the color of the back
is more decidedly purplish.
It is very readily distinguished by the high radial ribs and their
coarse spines, the long, evenly branching arms, the absence of tentacle-
scales within the margin of the disk, the position of the madreporic
shield at the inner angle of the lower interbrachial space.
The original “Astrophyton costosum, costis conicis,” &e., of Linck, is
not to be recognized as any species now known. Lamarck identified it
with A. arborescens, the Mediterranean species, and was followed in the
mistake by Agassiz. J. Miiller considered it the same as his A. muri-
catum, and was equally wrong. Seba gives an excellent plate of the
present species, and calls it Astrophyton costosum, which name I have
kept, because it can be identified with certainty, and because it is
strictly bimomial.
In the Jardin des Plantes is the original of Huryale costosum of La-
marck (not Seba), brought by Maugé, in 1799, from the Antilles. There
is a second specimen brought from Guadeloupe, in 1837, by Beauper-
tuis. What is most extraordinary, is, first, that this is neither the true
A. costosum (Euryale muricatum Lamk.), nor A. cacilia, nor A. Krebsii,
the only species of the Antilles which the careful research of Dr. Liitken
has brought to light ; and, secondly, that this particular species bears so
close a resemblance to A. arborescens as readily to pass for it. If it
should really turn out to be a distinct species, it must receive a new
name, as that of costosum is already taken.
LIST OF SPECIMENS.
Catalogue | Original | Number é When = Nature of
Number. | Number.) of Spec. Locality. Collected. Wibencetobtained- Specimen.
Musewmn of Comparative Zodlogy.
464 1 Blorida.yy . een [Per Mercy. Prof. Agassiz. Alcoholic.
465 1 Tortugas, Fla. Apr. 2, 1857. | Capt. Woodbury. aH
466 1 Tortugas, Fla. Mar.23,1857.| J. E. Mills. a
467 2 Chemleswo, $5 Wo - |) Sscacn Prof. Agassiz. us
468 il Elliotts: Mey, Blas |) 5. 2 Lieut. T. A. Crane. | Dried.
469 4 EOriciat age gle Sree Mitre. aes Prof. Agassiz. ie
470 1 Ihde, ce ate. | obs a okongioamo~o Alcoholic.
471 2 ING” NVR IMS | on 6 eo T. Lyman & C.Curtis. te
442 [Balvandas aes seen Wee Paste ret Mr. Sargent. ts
443 ey WNWesp Ns = I Goo ao | Dr. Holder. ss
Smithsonian Institution.
1065 3 Garden Key, Tortugas.| ...... | Capt. H. G. Wright. | Alcoholic.
1066 2 | Garden Key, Tortugas.| ...... hea ihe Renee Po a
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES.
All the figures give a dorsal view, and are taken from the colored drawings in the
collection of Professor AGAssIz, made from living specimens by J. Burkuarpr and
A. GARRETT.
PLATE I.
Figs. 1, 2. _Hemipholis cordifera Lyman,
ad 3. Hemipholis cordifera Lyman,
5. Ophiopholis bellis Lyman,
« 6. Ophiopholis bellis Lyman,
7. Ophiura Holmesii Lyman,
Nk ba
tuk No eto
. . e
PACERS Tale
Figs. 1, 2. Ophiothrix angulata Ayres, about 7.
Ophiothrix angulata Ayres, 3.
Ophiolepis Garretti Lyman, ?.
Ophiolepis elegans Liitken, 3.
Ophiomyxa flaccida Liitken, 3.
Gp Sa b> $9
INDEX OF GENERA AND SPECIES.
Amphiura,
atra,
abyssicola,
Balti,
Chiajii,
chilensis,
cordifera,
elongata,
florifera,
filiformis,
« geminata,
gracillima,
Goodsiri,
‘ hispida,
Holbolli,
‘limbata,
marginata,
microdiscus,
neapolitana,
Orstedii,
* occidentalis,
\ pugetana,
perplexa,
punctata,
puntarene,
Riisei,
scabriuscula,
septa,
Stimpsonii,
squamata,
tenera,
x
tenuis,
urtica,
violacea,
~ Wurdemani,
Ander Sternfisch,
Asterias
aculeata,
brachiata,
caput-medusee,
cordifera,
Siliformis,
“fragilis,
nigra,
a)
[Synonymes are in Italics. ]
PAGE
115
1?, 115, 127
12
12
12, 115, 119
12
12, 137
137
12
12, 115, 116
12, 115, 120
12, 115, 116
12
133
12, 115, 118
12
12
12
TOA ABI
12
12, 115, 130
12, 15, 115, 125
12
12
12)
WP}
12, 135
12
12
12, 14, 115, 121
12, 115, 123
121
12, 115, 128
12
12, 132
14
96
12
181, 190
13, 137
12, 116, 119
154
11, 81
Asterias
oligactes,
selosa,
squamata,
Asterochema
oligactes,
Asteromyx
Loveni,
Asteroporpa
affinis,
annulata,
dasycladia,
Astrophyton,
Agassizii,
arborescens,
asperum,
Caryi,
chilense,
clavatum,
‘Cacilia,
costosum,
costosum,
costosum costis conicis,
eucnemis,
exiguum,
Krebsii,
Lamarckii,
Linckii,
muricatum,
scutatum scuto striato,
scutatum scuto rotato,
verrucosum,
Basket Fish,
Erste Sternfisch,
Euryale
asperum,
costosum,
exiguum,
muricatum,
palmiferum,
scutatum,
verrucosum,
Hemipholis,
cordifera,
PAGE
14
11, 95
12, 121
14
13
14
14
14
180
14, 15, 180, 186
14, 180, 181
14
14, 180, 184
14
14, 180
14
181
14, 180, 192
14, 195
14, 15, 180, 181
14
14
14, 180, 181
14, 180, 190
192
14
14, 186
14
186
14
14
181, 195
14
192
14.
181
14
137
13, 137, 196
198
Hemipholis (continued)
elongata,
Ophiacantha
gronlandica,
“ seabra,
setosa,
< spinulosa,
Ophiactis,
arenosa,
» asperula,
Ballii,
Kroyeri,
Krebsii,
Miilleri,
Orstedii,
Reinhardtii,
simplex,
virens,
virescens,
Ophianoplus
annulosus,
marmoreus,
Ophiarachna,
gorgonia,
incrassata,
‘ infernalis,
septemspinosa,
vestita,
Ophiarthrum,
elegans,
Ophioblenna
antillensis,
Ophioceramis,
Januarii,
Ophiocnemis,
marmorata,
Ophiocnida,
abyssicola,
Ball,
brachiata,
hispida,
neapolitana,
scabriuscula,
Ophiocoma,
zthiops,
Alexandri,
~ arctica,
Ballii,
bellis,
bidentata,
' brevipes,
crassispina,
dentata,
echinata,
echinulata,
erinaceus,
Goodsiri,
INDEX OF GENERA AND
137
93
11
11, 93, 95
11, 14, 93
105
12, 105, 107
12
12
12, 105, 108
12, 105, 111
12, 105, 109
12, 105, 107
12
12, 105
12
12, 105, 113
13
151
25, 39
11, 39
11
11
11
11
92
11, 92
oa a
CT ed
H
mH eo om
Ot)
wo we
(5
bo
12, 133
12, 133, 137
12, 133, 135
70
11, 71, 78
11, 71, 74
93
12
96
Ophiocoma (continued)
granulata,
insularia,
lineolata,
molaris,
neglecta,
nigra,
Nilssonii,
pica,
picta,
placentigera,
pumila,
punctata,
Riisei,
rosula,
sannio,
Scheenleinii,
scolopendrina
serpentaria,
squamata,
tartarea,
tumida,
variabilis,
Valenciz,
Wendatii,
Ophiocten,
abyssicola,
Kroyeri,
Ophioderma,
antillarum,
brevicauda,
cinereum,
Elaps,
guttata,
Januari,
longicauda,
olivaceum,
panamensis,
rubicunda,
serpens,
squamosissima,
variegata,
variegatum,
virescens,
Wahlbergii,
Ophioglypha,
aflinis,
albida,
carnea,
lacertosa,
Liitkenii,
«nodosa,
~robusta,
Sarsii,
Stuwitzii,
Ophiolepis,
annulata,
SPECIES.
81
11, 71, 89
90, 91
87
121
11, 71, 81
11, 70
11, 71, 90
11
71
iil, Fil
12
lily Til, 7
154
90, 91
11, 70
11, 70, 71, 87
81
11
85
11, 70
70
11, 71
11, 70
53
10
10, 53
16
27
10, 16
10, 27
10
10
10, 25
26
10, 23
10, 32
10, 30
18
10
10
21
34
10
40
10, 40, 52
10, 40, 49
10
10, 40
10, 40, 47
10, 14, 40, 49
10, 14, 40, 45
10, 14, 40
10, 40, 51
55, 62, 64
13, 143
INDEX OF GENERA AND SPECIES. 199
Ophiopholis (continued)
Ophiolepis (continued)
annulosa, 10, 55, 58 aculeata, 96
asperula, 12 bellis, 11, 14, 96, 196
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