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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
Bulletin 75
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN THE COLLEC-
%***
TION OF THE UNITED STATES
NATIONAL MUSEUM
BY
HUBERT LYMANjCLARK
Museum of Comparative Zoology '^Cambridge, Mass,
^T* **2s^
PER\
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1911
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
Bulletin 75
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN THE COLLEC-
TION OF THE UNITED STATES
NATIONAL MUSEUM
BY
HUBERT LYMAN jCLARK
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass.
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1911
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
ISSUED FEBRUARY .23, 1911.
fW-EO,
ADVERTISEMENT.
The scientific publications of the United States National Museum
consist of two series, the Proceedings and the Bulletins.
The Proceedings, the first volume of which was issued in 1878, are
intended primarily as a medium for the publication of original, and
usually brief, papers based on the collections of the National Museum,
presenting newly-acquired facts in zoology, geology, and anthro-
pology, including descriptions of new forms of animals, and revisions
of limited groups. One or two volumes are issued annually and dis-
tributed to libraries and scientific organizations. A limited number
of copies of each paper, in pamphlet form, is distributed to specialists
and others interested in the different subjects as soon as printed.
The date of publication is printed on each paper, and these dates are
also recorded in the table of contents of the volumes.
The Bulletins, the first of which was issued in 1875, consist of a
series of separate publications comprising chiefly monographs of large
zoological groups and other general systematic treatises (occasionally
in several volumes), faunal works, reports of expeditions, and cata-
logues of type-specimens, special collections, etc. The majority of
the volumes are octavos, but a quarto size has been adopted in a few
instances in which large plates were regarded as indispensable.
Since 1902 a series of octavo volumes containing papers relating to
the botanical collections of the Museum, and known as the Contribu-
tions from the National Herbarium, has been published as bulletins.
The present work forms No. 75 of the Bulletin series.
RICHARD RATHBUN,
Assistant Secretary, Smithsonian Institution,
In charge of the United States National Museum.
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 3, 1911.
in
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
List of illustrations xi
Introduction 1
The distribution of the North Pacific Ophiuroidea 7
Geographical distribution 7
Bath y metrical and temperature distribution 13
Associational distribution 17
Conclusions as to distribution of Ophiurans in North Pacific Ocean 22
Descriptions of species 23
Family Ophiodermatidae 23
Pectinura anchista 23
Ophiarachnella gorgonia 25
megalaspis 25
Ophioconis diastata 27
papillata 28
Family Ophiolepididse 30
Ophioplocus imbricatus 30
japonicus 30
Ophiozona elevata 31
longispina 33
platydisca 34
polyplax 35
projecta 36
Genus Ophiura 36
Ophiura kinbergi 37
sarsii 37
liitkeni 45
micracantha 47
maculata 49
leptoctenia 51
quadrispina 55
Ibathybia , 58
flagellata 60
imbecillis 62
irrorata 62
clasta 64
monostoBcha 65
calyptolepis 67
cryptolepis 69
nodosa 70
eculpta 73
stuwitzii 73
cediplax 74
v
VI TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Descriptions of species Continued.
Family Ophiolepididae Continued.
Genus Ophiura Continued. Page.
Ophiura sterea 75
sculptilis 77
ponderosa 77
megapoma 79
hadra 80
stiphra 82
penichra 84
atacta 85
brachyactis 87
pomphophora 89
glyptodisca 91
Genus Anthophiura 92
Anthophiura axiologa 93
Ophiotrochus longispmus 94
Ophiernus adspersus 95
Ophiocten pacificum 96
charischema 97
brevispinum 98
ooplax 99
Genus Ophiopenia 102
Ophiopenia disacantha 102
tetracantha 104
Ophiomusium cancellatum 106
laqueatum 106
liitkeni 107
lunare 107
lymani 107
simplex 109
trychnum 109
jolliensis : Ill
multispinum 113
Family Amphiuridae 114
Ophiambix aculeatus 114
Genus Ophiopholis 115
Ophiopholis mirabilis , 117
brachyactis 117
longispina 119
bakeri 121
aculeata var. japonica 123
aculeata _. 128
aculeata var. kennerlyi 132
Ophiochiton fastigatus 133
Ophiactis pteropoma 134
brachygenys 135
dyscrita 137
brachyaspis 138
gymnochora 139
Amphiura bellis 140
diomedeae 140
sunde valli 141
carchara 142
TABLE OF CONTENTS. VII
Descriptions of species Continued.
Family Amphiuridse Continued.
Genus Amphiura Continued. I'age.
Amphiura leptodoma 143
euopla 144
acrystata 145
ecnomiotata 148
trachydisca 149
micraspis. .^ . 150
pycnostoma 151
psilopora 153
Amphiodia urtica 154
occidentalis 155
craterodmeta 155
maeraspis 157
euryaspis 158
periercta 160
ancistrota 161
digitula 162
strongyloplax : 164
psilochora 165
Amphipholis pugetana 166
Amphioplus rhadinobrachius 167
acanthinus 168
hexacanthus , 170
rnegapomus 170
Amphilepis platytata 171
Amphilimna pentacantha 172
Ophionereis eurybrachiplax 174
Genus Ophiocrasis 175
Ophiocrasis dictydisca 175
Ophiodoris pericalles 177
Family Ophiohelidse 179
Ophiomitra cardiomorpha 179
discycla .' 181
habrotata 182
microphylax 184
bythiaspis 185
polyacantha '. 187
codonomorpha 188
acontophora 190
Ophiocamax lithosora 191
polyploca 193
Family Ophiacanthidse 195
Ophiacantha bidentata 195
pentagona 196
levispina 198
adiaphora 199
rhachophora 201
omoplata 202
acanthinotata 203
anchilabra 204
trachybactra 206
diploa 207
VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Descriptions of species Continued.
Family Ophiacanthidse Continued.
Genus Ophiacantha Continued. Page.
Ophiacantha inutilis 208
diplasia 209
enneactis 211
prionota , 213
granulosa 215
normani 215
cataleimmoida 217
oadidisca 219
leucorhabdota 221
eurypoma 223
lepidota 224
euphylactea 225
hylacantha 227
atopostoma 228
bairdi 230
lambda 231
lophobrachia 232
bathybia 233
leucosticta 235
macrarthra 236
megatreta 237
Ophiolebes asaphes 239
brachygnatha 240
pachybactra 242
tylota 243
diaphora 245
paucispina 246
brevispina 247
Genus Ophiophrura 249
Ophiophrura liodisca 249
Genus Ophiurases 250
Ophiurases obstrictus 250
Genus Ophiologimus -.. 252
Ophiologimus hexactis 252
Genus Ophiostyracium 253
Ophiostyracium trachyacanthum 253
Genus Ophioschiza 254
Ophioschiza monacantha 255
Family Ophiocomidse 256
Ophiomastix mixta 256
Ophiocoma brevipes 256
erinacea 257
Ophiopteris papillosa 7. 257
Family Ophiothricidae 257
Ophiothrix ciliaris 257
koreana 257
spiculata 262
longipeda 263
hylodes 263
panchyendyta 264
eusteira .' 265
macrobrachia. . 267
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
IX
Descriptions of species Continued. Page.
Family Ophiomyxidee 269
Ophiobyrsa acanthinobrachia 269
synaptacantha 270
Ophiomyxa australis 271
anisacantha 271
Genus Ophiophrixus 272
Ophiophrixus acanthinus 273
Genus Ophiocynodus - _ 27 ^
Ophiocynodus corynetes 274
Genus Ophiosyzygus 275
Ophiosyzygus disacanthus 276
Genus Ophiohymen 277
Ophiohymen gymnodiscus 277
Genus Ophioleptoplax 278
Ophioleptoplax megapora 279
Family Astrophytidae 280
Asteroporpa hadracantha 280
Astrochele Isevis 281
Ophiocreas cedipus 283
Astroceras pergamena 284
Asteronyx loveni 285
Trichaster palmiferus 287
Gorgonocephalus caryi 287
sagaminus 292
Astrophyton cornutum 293
pardalis. 293
Euryale anopla 294
[ndex . 297
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
FIG. 1. Pectinura anchista. X 3.5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 24
2. Ophiarachnella megalaspsis. X 4. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 26
3. Ophioconis diastata. X 6. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 28
4. Ophioconis papillata. X 6. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of an arm joint near disk 29
5. Ophioplocus japonicus. X 3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 31
6. Ophiozona elevata. X 6. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 32
7. Ophiozona platydisca. X 4. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 34
8. Ophiozona polyplax. X 3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two and a half arm joints near disk 35
9. Ophiura kinbergi. X 5. Showing disk scaling and arm comb 37
10. Ophiura micracantha. X 4. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk '48
11. Ophiura macula ta; adult, a-c X 5; young, d-f X 7. a and d, from
above; b and e, from below; c and/, side views of arm joints near
disk : 50
12. Ophiura leptoctenia. X 5. a from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 51
13. Ophiura quadrispina. X 5.5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 56
14. Ophiura bathybia. X 3.3. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 58
15. Ophiura flagellata, young. X 6. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 61
16. Ophiura clasta. X 3.5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side view
of two arm joints near disk 64
17. Ophiura monostcecha. X 5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 66
18. Ophiura calyptolepis. X 4. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 68
19. Ophiura cryptolepis. X 2.5. a, from above; 6, from below; r, side
view of two arm joints near disk. 69
20. Ophiura nodosa; variety from Icy Cape, Alaska. X 6. a, from above
6, from below; c, side view of base of arm 72
21. Ophiura oediplax. X 10. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 74
XI
XII LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
FIG. 22. Ophiura sterea. X 2.5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side view
of base of arm 76
23. Ophiura megapoma. X 3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 79
24. Ophiura hadra. X 1.75. a, from above; b, from below; c, side view
of base of arm 81
25. Ophiura stiphra. X 3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side view of
base of arm 83
26. Ophiura penichra. X 2. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side view
of three arm joints near disk 84
27. Ophiura atacta. X 8. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side view of
two arm joints near disk 86
28. Ophiura brachyactis. X 3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of base of arm 87
29. Ophiura pomphophora, adult. X 3.5. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 89
30. Ophiura pomphophora, young. X 10. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 90
31. Ophiura glyptodisca. X 8. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 91
32. Anthophiura axiologa. X 10. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 93
33. Ophiotrochus longispinus. X 8. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 94
34. Ophiernus adspersus. X 3.33 a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk : 96
35. Ophiocten charischema. X 5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 97
36. Ophiocten brevispinum. X 5.5. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 99
37. Ophiocten ooplax. X 5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side view
of three arm joints near disk 100
38. Ophiopenia disacantha. a, young, X 7; b-d, adult, X 5. a, from
above; 6, from above; c, from below; d, side view of three arm
joints near disk 103
39. Ophiopenia tetracantha. X 8. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 105
40. Ophiomusium trychnum. X 3. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 110
41. Ophiomusium jolliensis. X 2.5. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 112
42. Ophiomusium multispinum. X 1.25. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 113
43. Ophiopholis mirabilis. X 3.5. Base of one arm and adjoining por-
tion of disk ; from above 117
44. Ophiopholis brachyactis. X 4.5. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 118
45. Ophiopholis longispina. X 5. a, from above, 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 120
46. Ophiopholis bakeri. X 5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side view
of two arm joints near disk 122
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XIII
Page.
FIG. 47. Ophiopholis aculeata var japonica. a, extreme form with small sup-
plementary upper arm plates and numerous long disk spines, X 2.66;
b, more usual form with fewer disk spines, X 3.33; c, unusual form
with many disk scales resorbed, X 3.5; d, typical form without disk
spines, X 4 127
48. Ophiopholis aculeata. X 3. From above 131
49. Ophiopholis aculeata var. kennerlyi. X 2.66. From above 133
50. Ophiactis pteropoma. X 10. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 134
51. Ophiactis brachygenys. X 10. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 136
52. Ophiactis dyscrita. X 20. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 137
53. Ophiactis brachyaspis. X 16. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 138
54. Ophiactis gymnochora. X 10. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 139
55. Amphiura carchara. X 6. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 142
56. Amphiura leptodoma. X 15. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 143
57. Amphiura euopla. a-c, X 5; c?, young, X 10. a, from above; b, from
below; c, side view of three arm joints near disk; d, side view of two
arm joints from a young specimen 144
58. Amphiura aery stata. a-/, X 5; g-i, X 4; a-c, type, a, from above;
6, from below; c, side view of two arm joints near disk; d, another
specimen from above; e, from below; /, side view of two arm joints
near disk; </, another specimen, from above; h, from below; i, side
view of three arm joints near disk 146
59. Amphiura ecnomiotata. X 8. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 148
60. Amphiura trachydisca. X 4. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 149
61. Amphiura micraspis. X 12. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk; a 7 , side view of an arm joint near
middle of arm 151
62. Amphiura pycnostoma. X 12. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 152
63. Amphiura psilopora. X 12. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 153
64. Amphiodia urtica. X 6. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side view
of three arm joints near disk 154
65. Amphiodia craterodmeta. X 6. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of three arm joints near disk 155
66. Amphiodia macraspis. X 5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 157
67. Amphiodia euryaspis. X 4. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 159
68. Amphiodia periercta. X 3.5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk; a 7 , a much younger specimen,
from above, X 9 160
69. Amphiodia ancistrota. X 5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk; d, next to the lowest arm spine,
X 10 161
XIV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
FIG. 70. Amphiodia digitula. X 8. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk; d, outgrowths on upper end of
genital scales, greatly enlarged 163
71. Amphiodia strongyloplax. X9. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of three joints near disk 164
72. Amphiodia psilochora. X6. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 165
73. Amphipholis pugetana. X12. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 167
74. Amphioplus rhadinobrachius. X8. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 168
75. Amphioplus acanthinus. X4. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk; d, regenerated disk and three
regenerated arms 169
76. Amphilepis platytata. X6. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 171
77. Amphilimna pentacantha. X5. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 172
78. Ophionereis eurybrachiplax. a-c, from Japan, X 3; a 7 -/, from Cali-
fornia, X 2. a and d, from above; b and e, from below; c and/, side
view of three arm joints near disk 174
79. Ophiocrasis dictydisca. a-c, X7; d-g, Xll. a, from above; 6, froni
below; c, side view of two arm joints near disk; d, a younger speci-
men, from above; e, the same, from below;/, side view of three
) arm joints near disk; g, another young specimen from above, show-
ing the inequality of the two trios of arms 176
80. Ophiodoris pericalles. X4. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 178
81. Ophiomitra cardiomorpha. X4. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 180
82. Ophiomitra discycla. X9. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 181
83. Ophiomitra habrotata. X15. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk * 183
84. Ophiomitra microphylax. X6. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 184
85. Ophiomitra bythiaspis. X5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 186
86. Ophiomitra polyacantha. X8. a, from above; 6, from below, c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 187
87. Ophiomitra codonomorpha. X4. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 189
88. Ophiomitra acontophora. X16. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of three arm joints near disk 190
89. Ophiocamax lithosora. X3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 192
90. Ophiocamax polyploca. X3. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 193
91. Ophiacantha adiaphora. X7. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view ot three arm joints near disk ." 199
92. Ophiacantha rhachophora. X8. a, from above; 6, from below,
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 201
93. Ophiacantha omoplata. X8. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 202
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. XV
Pajre.
FIG. 94. Ophiacantha acanthinotata. X6. a, from above; b, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 203
95. Ophiacantha anchilabra. X6. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk .- 205
96. Ophiacantha trachybactra. X4. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 206
97. Ophiacantha diplasia. X2.25. a, from above; &, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 210
98. Ophiacantha enneactis. X10. a, from above, showing one arm
nearly complete; b, from below; c, side view of three arm joints ~
near disk 212
99. Ophiacantha prionota. X5.5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 214
100. Ophiacantha cataleimmoida. X3. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 218
101. Ophiacantha oedidisca. X5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 220
102. Ophiacantha leucorhabdota. X3. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 222
103. Ophiacantha eurypoma. X3.5. a, from above; 6, from below;
c. side view of two arm joints near disk 223
104. Ophiacantha lepidota. X10. , from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 224
105. Ophiacantha euphylactea. X7. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 226
106. Ophiacantha hylacantha. X4.5. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 227
107. Ophiacantha atopostoma. X5. a, from above; b, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 229
108. Ophiacantha lambda. X5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 231
109. Ophiacantha lophobrachia. X12. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of three arm joints near disk 232
110. Ophiacantha bathybia. X4. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 234
111. Ophiacantha leucosticta. X3. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
three arm joints near middle of arm, seen from below; d, side view
of two arm joints near disk 235
112. Ophiacantha macrarthra. X25. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 237
113. Ophiacantha megatreta. X2.25. a, from below; 6, side view of two
arm joints near disk; c, upper view of three arm joints near middle
of arm 238
114. Ophiolebes asaphes. X6. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk. ..-. 239
115. Ophiolebes brachygnatha. X5. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of three arm joints near disk 241
116. Ophiolebes pachybactra. X4.5 a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 242
117. Ophiolebes ty lota. X5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side view
of two arm joints near disk 244
118. Ophiolebes diaphora. X4.5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 245
XVI LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
FIG. 119. Ophiolebes paucispina. X7. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 246
120. Ophiolebes brevispina. a, young specimen, from above, X8. b,
adult, from above, X6. c, from below, X6. d, side view of
three arm joints of adult, near disk, X6 248
121. Ophiophrura liodisca. X6. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 249
122. Ophiurases obstrictus. X10. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 251
123. Ophiologimus hexactis. X10. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 252
124. Ophiostyracium trachyacanthum . X9. a, from above; 6, from
below; c, side view of three arm joints near disk 254
125. Ophioschiza monacantha. X9. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 255
126. Ophiomastix mixta. X3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 256
127. Ophiothrix koreana. X3. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 260
128. Ophiothrix koreana. a, part of specimen from station 5055, from
above, X6; 6, part of specimen from station 4878, from above, X8. . . 261
129. Ophiothrix spiculata. X4.5. a, from above; b, from below; c. side
view of two arm joints near disk 262
130. Ophiothrix hylodes. X5. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 263
131. Ophiothrix panchyendyta. a, from above, X5; b, from below, X5;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk, X5; d, an upper arm plate,
X15; e, an under arm plate, X 15 ;/, a tentacle, X15 264
132. Ophiothrix eusteira. X8. a, from above; 6, from below; c, side
view of two arm joints near disk 266
133. Ophiothrix macrobrachia. X4.5. a, from above; b, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 267
134. Ophiobyrsa acanthinobrachia. X2.5. a, from above; 6, from below;
c, side view of two arm joints near disk 269
135. Ophiobyrsa synaptacantha. X4. a, from above; b, from below; c,
side view of three arm joints near disk 270
136. Ophiomyxa anisacantha. X2.5. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 272
137. Ophiophrixus acanthinus. X4. a, from above; 6, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 273
138. Ophiocynodus corynetes. X2. a, from above; b, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 275
139. Ophiosyzygus disacanthus. X3. a, from above; b, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 276
140. Ophiohymen gymnodiscus. X6. a, from above; b, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 278
141. Ophioleptoplax megapora. X8. a, from above; &, from below; c,
side view of two arm joints near disk 279
142. Asteroporpa hadracantha. X7. a, from above; b, from below; c,
side view of three arm joints near disk 281
143. Astrochele laevis. X2.5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side
view of three arm joints near disk 282
144. Euryale anopla. X1.5. a, from above; b, from below; c, side view
of three arm joints near disk 295
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN THE COLLECTION
OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
By HUBERT LYMAN CLARK,
Of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge. Mass.
INTRODUCTION.
The collection of Echinoderms made in Japanese waters by the U. S.
Bureau of Fisheries steamer Albatross in 1900 was placed in my hands
soon after its return to this country, and a preliminary examination
showed that the Ophiuroidea formed the largest and perhaps the
most interesting section of it. Various circumstances interfered with
the completion of a report at that time, so that the collection was
still in my hands when, in 1907, I was asked to undertake the study
of the much more important and extensive series of ophiurans col-
lected by the Albatross in 1906. After that work was well under way,
Doctor Rathbun, of the National Museum, requested me to take
over the entire series of North Pacific ophiurans in that museum and
make my report inclusive of all three collections. It was agreed to
make lat. 35 N. the southern limit on the American coast, of
the oceanic area to be covered by the report, and lat. 30 N. the
southern limit on the Asiatic coast. As a result of this arrangement
there has been confided to my care an extraordinary amount of
material, consisting of over 40,000 ophiurans, representing about
190 species. The great bulk of these were collected by the Fisheries
steamer Albatross during her various voyages to and from Alaska,
Bering Sea, and Japan, but there is also much material from Alaska
collected by a number of different naturalists, some of it more than
forty years ago. There are also some very valuable specimens col-
lected by the United States exploring expedition in Japan half a
century ago.
In view of the fact that very little work has ever been done on the
ophiurans of the North Pacific, it is not strange that a very large per-
centage of the species in this collection proves to be undescribed.
Since the publication of Lyman's monograph, based on the Challenger
ophiurans, the number of known species has increased from 450 to
over 1,100. Aside from a number of less important papers, Lyman's
34916 Bull. 7511 1
2 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
report on the Blake ophiurans (1883), Brock's work on East Indian
species (1888), Liitken and Mortensen's report on the Albatross
Panamic ophiurans (1899), and, more recently, the great works of
Koehler on the ophiurans of the Travailleur and Talisman, of the
Investigator and of the Siboga, have added enormously to the list of
known species. Unfortunately, however, no one has attempted to
coordinate this mass of material with that contained in the Challenger
report, and as a result it is exceedingly difficult at the present day to
determine exactly what species are really valid, or to decide whether
a given specimen belongs to a known species or not. There car\ be
little doubt that when our present knowledge is finally systematized,
some, if not many, of the species here described as new will prove to
belong to known forms, though an honest endeavor has been made
to avoid the needless production of new names. Every one who has
done any work on ophiurans knows how difficult it is to grasp a mere
description without figures, even though it be very full and accurate.
I am therefore very grateful that the authorities of the National
Museum have approved of the extensive illustrating of this report.
And I take pleasure in acknowledging, also, with sincerest gratitude,
the patience and skill with which Miss Violet Dandridge has made
the figures.
The classification of the Ophiuroidea as it stands to-day is little short
of absurd. Not for over thirty years has any attempt been made to
put it on a rational basis. Lyman never pretended to offer any clas-
sification of the group, though the material for a thoroughly scientific
one was put into the generic descriptions and the plates of the Chal-
lenger report. His knowledge of ophiuran morphology was extraor-
dinary and had not illness and death cut short his career, he might
have given us a natural and satisfactory arrangement of the class.
Since his day no zoologist has devoted himself to the subject with
sufficient concentration to warrant the attempt to set forth a rational
classification, and consequently I find myself obliged to follow, in this
report, a classification based on a compilation of the work of Lyman
and some of his successors. The families which are adopted are of
very unequal value and their limits are generally hazy. In fact it is
difficult to discover any reason why certain genera are placed where
they are rather than in another family. For example the genus
Ophioconis is placed in the Ophiodermatidae, although it is practically
indistinguishable from Ophiacantha. Any limitation of the Ophia-
canthidse which excludes Ophioconis must exclude also a number of
species of Ophiacantha and even of Ophiomitra. The last genus, by
the way, can not be separated from Ophiacantha by any natural lines,
so long as the two are used in the present broad sense, and yet in the
current classification they are placed in different families. Lack of
time as well as lack of knowledge compelled me to abandon any at-
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 3
tempt in this report to present an improved classification of the
Ophiuroidea, but it is at least permissible for me to make this protest
against the one which I am obliged to use.
One of the principal reasons why the ophiurans are such a difficult
group to classify is found in our ignorance of their growth changes.
It has been recognized for some time that the number of arm spines
and oral papillae often increases with age, and Lyman called attention
in the Challenger report to other changes which he had noted, partic-
ularly in OpJiiactis and Ophiacantha. What is needed is a detailed
study of the growth changes in some one species of each family, bring-
ing out just what characters are evidences of immaturity. Ludwig,
in his Jugendf ormen von Ophiuren ' has made an excellent beginning
for a number of the viviparous species, but such work needs to be car-
ried much further.
The study of this collection has satisfied me that Jackson's 6 law of
"localized stages" is a very real help in determining the possible rela-
tionship between small and large individuals of the same genus. For
the ophiuran arm reveals at and near the tip the characters of youth
and one can thus compare the base of the arm of a small specimen
with the middle or tip of the arm of a large individual with most sug-
gestive results. The extent to which the youthful characters are
localized varies with different species, but as a rule they are suffi-
ciently clear to make comparisons conclusive.
Another interesting matter is variation in the extent of calcification
or of resorption of calcareous matter, which many species of ophiu-
rans, especially in the family Amphiuridse, reveal. As a rule, calcifi-
cation progresses more or less steadily from youth on, so that old in-
dividuals are much heavier and more solid, relatively, than young
ones. This is especially true in the Ophiolepididae, where the increase
may be shown not only by the heavier plates but by lumps and swell-
ings upon the plates, wanting or only faintly indicated in young individ-
uals. In the Amphiuridae and a few species of OpJiiura, however, it is
often true that resorption exceeds the deposit of lime, and as a result the
old individuals may have most of the disk scales and even the margins
of the basal arm plates extensively, if not completely, resorbed. In
such species, while a small specimen will have the disk well covered
with scales, both above and below, larger individuals have the inter-
brachial spaces below entirely bare, and old ones may have no disk
scales at all except just around the radial shields. Other factors than
that of age appear to enter into the matter, however, for individuals
of the same size may reveal great differences in the amount of calcifi-
cation. It seems quite possible that external factors, such as food,
composition of the sea water, character of the bottom, etc., may be the
a Sitzungsb. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, vol. 14, 1899, pp. 210-235.
&R. T. Jackson, Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 5, 1899, p. 4.
4 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
essential ones in determining the relative rates of calcification and
resorption.
The total number of species included in the present report is 189, of
which 129 are here described for the first time. The number of
genera represented is 51, of which 12 seem to be entirely new, and one
other has been formed for a previously known species. At the same
time, the large amount of material available has enabled me to satisfy
myself that a number of species, hitherto accepted as valid, are really
identical with others either of earlier date or from which, owing to
insufficient material, they were supposed to be distinct. In this way no
less than fourteen names are relegated to the ranks of synonyms. As
many of the supposedly new North Pacific species are represented by
only a few specimens, often by only a single one and that in poor
condition, I have hesitated much over giving them names, but have
concluded that as a matter of convenience to later writers it is better
to designate them definitely, even though ultimately some of the names
have to be abandoned.
In a few cases the question has arisen whether subspecies should
be recognized or not, but it has been invariably answered in the
negative, as our knowledge of ophiurans, their variation and their
distribution, is as yet too imperfect to permit any wise use of sub-
specific names. The situation is somewhat different as regards
varietal names, and I have made use of two such in connection with
the widely spread Ophiopholis aculeata which appears in the northern
Pacific in an extraordinary array of dissimilar forms. As no one of
the forms appears to be characteristic of a particular region it would
be inaccurate to regard any of them as subspecies, but as two of them
are very common and easily recognized they are treated as varieties
of the typical form.
A few details in regard to the collection may be of interest, even if
not of great scientific importance, and I venture to add them here.
Although there are altogether 189 species (and the two varieties of
Ophiopholis aculeata referred to in the preceding paragraph), yet
more than three-fourths of the specimens are furnished by the fol-
lowing five species :
Species.
Speci-
mens.
No. of
different
stations
where
taken.
OphiuTO sdTsii .
20, 932
164
Ophiopholis aculeata (including the two varieties)
4,192
166
Ophiacantha nonnani
4,056
44
Ophiura leptoctenia .
2,037
47
OphiuTa nodosa
1,067
46
Total .
32, 284
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 5
Four other very common species are represented by more than 300
specimens each:
Species.
Speci-
mens.
No. of
different
stations
where
taken.
Ophiura lutkeni
658
24
Asteronyx loveni
498
32
Ophiothrix koreana '. *
411
56
Gorgonocephalus caryi
304
105
There are 559 different stations represented in the collection, but
at 218 of these only a single species of ophiuran was taken and at
141 other stations only two species occurred. There are 14 stations
at which ten or more species were collected. The average number of
species to the station is 2.6, but if there is left out of the account
those at which only one or two species were taken the average num-
ber rises to 4.8. The largest number of species taken at any one
station was at station 4893, which is southwest of the Goto Islands
in the Eastern Sea. Here, at a depth of about 100 fathoms, with a
bottom temperature of 55.9, the following seventeen species were
found :
Ophiarachnella megalaspis. Ophiacantha pentagona.
Ophiozona elevata. Ophiacantha rhachophora.
Ophiozona projecta. Ophiacantha normani.
Ophiura sculpta. Ophiurases obstrictus.
Ophiocten charischema. Ophiothrix koreana.
Ophiomusium simplex. Ophiothrix macrobrachia.
Ophiodoris pericalles. Ophiomyxa anisacantha.
Ophiomitra habrotata. Astroceras pergamena.
Ophiocamax polyploca.
This is a much larger number of species than was taken at any one
of the Challenger stations, but it does not equal the famous haul
made by the Hassler off Barbados in 100 fathoms, when twenty
species of ophiurans were taken, and it is far behind the record estab-
lished by the Blake at her station 269, off St. Vincent, British West
Indies, in 124 fathoms, where twenty- three species of fifteen genera,
were collected." It is interesting to note that warm water is not
essential, however, to a large and diversified ophiuran fauna, for the
next largest number of species taken at one spot was at station 4781,
which is near Agattu Island, Aleutians, in 482 fathoms with a bottom
temperature of 38.6. Here sixteen species were taken, representing
& This record was equaled by the Siboga near the Ki Islands, at station 251,
where in 114 fathoms, twenty-three species were taken, representing sixteen genera.
But while the Blake took a twenty-fourth species at its next station (270), the Siboga
found no other ophiurans in the immediate vicinity of its best haul.
6 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
nine genera; none of the species is identical with any taken at station
4893, but six of the genera are.
The collections made at the stations in a given district indicate
that remarkably diversified ophiuran faunas exist in the North Pacific
Ocean under widely different conditions. The most diversified fauna,
as we might naturally expect, is that found in the subtropical Eastern
Sea, off Kagoshima Gulf, where, on August 16, thirty species were
taken at stations 4933-4939. These thirty species represented
twenty-one genera and every family except the Ophiocomidse, which,
however, doubtless occurs in the region; eighteen of the species and
one of the genera were previously unknown. Quite a different fauna
exists about the western end of the Aleutian chain of islands, where,
at stations 4781-4784, twenty-one species were found. Here, how-
ever, there are only ten genera represented and the families Ophio-
dermatidse, Ophiocomidse, Ophiothricidse, and Ophiomyxidse are
wholly wanting. Thirteen of the species were previously unknown.
Sagami Bay demonstrated anew the extraordinary richness of its
marine fauna by revealing twenty-nine species of ophiurans at sta-
tions 5085-5095, while eleven other species were taken just outside
at stations 5083 and 5084. But these forty species represent only
sixteen genera and nineteen of the forty were previously known.
The fauna of Sagami Bay is not therefore quite so diversified as that
off Kagoshima Gulf.
In the descriptions of the new species I have thought it better to
give an estimate as to the length of the arms, even though they may
be all broken in the type-specimen, than to leave that important
point in doubt. Where the measurement is given without qualifica-
tion it may be understood to represent the actual measurement of
an unbroken, normal arm, but when the word "about" precedes the
figures given, it indicates that the measurement is based on a careful
calculation from data furnished by other specimens. The addition
of the word "probably" shows that satisfactory data for calculation
were lacking and the measurement is therefore quite open to ques-
tion. The number of arms is five in all cases, unless there is direct
assertion of some other number being present.
The type-specimens of all the new species described are in the
collection of the U. S. National Museum, Washington, but cotypes
of more than two-thirds of them are in the Museum of Comparative
Zoology, Cambridge.
For the pleasure and profit of studying this great collection I
desire to extend my sincere thanks to the Hon. George M. Bowers
and Dr. H. M. Smith of the Bureau of Fisheries, and to Dr. Richard
Rathbun of the U. S. National Museum. For the collaboration of
an excellent artist, Miss Violet Dandridge, and for many other
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 7
courtesies in the preparation and publication of this report I am
indebted to the National Museum, and for many helpful suggestions
to Doctor Rathbun and Miss Mary J. Rathbun.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE NORTH PACIFIC OPHIUROIDEA.
Doubtless the most interesting result of the study of the mass of
material which has just passed through my hands is found in the
light which it throws on the distribution of the species of ophiurans
with reference to the shore lines, to the depth and temperature of the
water, and to each other.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.
The great bulk of the collection is made up of species from southern
Japan, no less than 112 of the 189 species (60 per cent) being nearly
or quite confined to that region, at least so far as the present collection
reveals their distribution. As a good example of this group may be
cited Ophiura sterea, which was taken at fourteen stations on both
the eastern and western coasts of Japan as far north as 38. On the
eastern coast few of these 112 southern species extend beyond lat.
38 N. and most of them seem to find their northern limit in or near
Sagami Bay. On the western coast, however (i. e., in the Sea of
Japan), they apparently extend somewhat farther north, as far as
Tsugaru Strait (nearly 42) and occasionally farther, even beyond
the forty-third parallel. Yet nearly one-third of the 112 southern
species were not taken on either coast north of the thirty-third par-
allel and do not appear to enter the Sea of Japan nor to extend up
the east coast of Honshu Island. A large group of species which do
not extend into the Sea of Japan do follow the southeastern coast of
the islands as far as Suruga Gulf. On the other hand, there are very
few species which occur in the Sea of Japan which do not also occur
in Suruga Gulf or Sagami Bay, so that the ophiuran fauna of the Sea
of Japan is apparently far less varied than that of the Pacific shores
of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kiusiu islands. There can be no question
that this very rich ophiuran fauna of southern Japan is closely allied
to the still richer East Indian fauna, although it is far from identical
with it, for scarcely a dozen of the 112 species comprising the Japa-
nese fauna have yet been taken in the East Indian region. While
there is little reason to doubt that further collecting will show a
much larger number of species common to the two regions, it seems
both proper and desirable to recognize the assemblage of species
around southern Japan as a distinct group, which we may conven-
iently call the HONSHU fauna.
Aside from this Honshu fauna, the largest assemblage of species
from a given district is shown at the opposite extreme of the area
8 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
explored by the Albatross, namely, the vicinity of the Aleutian
Islands and northward. As this group is particularly characteris-
tic of Bering Sea, it may well be called the BERING fauna. It is
made up of some twenty-four species, of which Ophiura maculata
may be cited as a typical example ; this species is represented in the
collection from eighteen different stations, of which the farthest north
is about lat. 71 N., the farthest south at 52, the farthest east is
about long. 166 W., and the farthest west near long. 159 E. It
will be noted that these limits are practically those of Bering Sea
itself, except to the northward, where several of the twenty-four
species extend into the Arctic Ocean. Two of the twenty-four were
taken as far east as long. 136 W., but only in water exceeding 1,500
fathoms in depth; none of the others were found east of 148 and only
one east of Kadiak. To the south westward, however, we find three
species extending their range along the Kurile Islands into the
Okhotsk Sea.
Connecting the Honshu and Bering faunas are a group of sixteen
species, which either range from Bering Sea southwestward into the
sea of Japan or southeastward below lat. 52 N., or else have been
taken as yet only in the vicinity of Sakhalin or the Hokkaido. As a
rule, however, it is easy to see with which fauna these species are
naturally allied, and the following list is an attempt to assign each to
its proper place :
Ophiura brachyactis. Bering fauna; indicated by its occurrence only in extremely
cold water in the Okhotsk Sea.
Ophiura flag ellata. Probably neither Bering nor Honshu, but more properly regarded
as Oceanic. (See below.)
Ophiura irrorata. Like 0. flagellata.
Ophiura penichra. Honshu fauna; indicated by relationship to sterea and the locality
where taken, south of the Hokkaido.
Ophiura quadrispina. Bering fauna, but extending southwestward into the northern
part of the Sea of Japan.
Ophiopenia disacantha. Bering fauna, rarely extending into the Sea of Japan.
Ophiopholis mirabilis. Honshu fauna; indicated by its temperature range.
Amphiodia crater odmeta. Bering fauna, rarely extending into the Sea of Japan.
Ophiacantha adiaphora. Bering fauna; indicated by temperature range; rarely extend-
ing southward to Sea of Japan and Sagami Bay.
Ophiacantha bathybia. Bering fauna; indicated by temperature range; extending
southward to 51.
Ophiacantha bidentata. Bering fauna; indicated by temperature range; extending
southward into the Sea of Japan.
Ophiacantha cataleimmoida. Bering fauna, extending southward on the east coast of
Japan.
Ophiacantha rhachophora. Completely connects the two faunas and can not be assigned
certainly to either one.
Ophiolebes asaphes. Bering fauna; indicated by temperature range and by distribu-
tion of its related species.
Ophiolebes brachygnatha. Bering fauna.
Ophiolebes tylota. Bering fauna, rarely extending into the Sea of Japan.
NOBTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 9
Leaving Ophiura flagellata and 0. irrorata to be considered later, we
find that with the single exception of Ophiacantfia rhachophora it is
possible to assign each of the above species to its proper fauna, and
by so doing it appears that of the total 189 species 114, or more
than 60 per cent, belong to the Honshu fauna and 35, or 18.5 percent,
belong to the Bering fauna. The two faunas therefore include about
four-fifths of the species collected.
The next most important group of species is made up of those
which occur throughout the entire North Pacific or which have been
taken at such widely separated stations, it seems most probable that
such is their distribution. There are fourteen species in this group,
as follows:
Ophiura sarsii. From 55 59' N. to 32 27' N. in the Eastern Sea and to Monterey on
the California coast; 5 to 695 fathoms.
Ophiura leptoctenia. From 55 35' N. to 33 35' 20" on the eastern coast of Japan and
to 47 22' on the American coast; 67 to 1,771 fathoms.
Ophiura cryptolepis. From 58 17' N. to 34 10' 30" on the Japanese coast and to 47
29' 30" on the American; 230 to 636 fathoms.
Ophiura ponderosa. From 58 17' N. to 48 43 X 30" on the Asiatic coast and to 36 49'
20" on the American; 75 to 456 fathoms.
Ophiocien padficum. From 51 23' N. to 34 4' 20" on the Japanese coast and to 45
30' on the American; 501 to 876 fathoms.
Ophiomusium lymani. From 52 29' to 30 59' on the Japanese coast and to 47 22' on
the American; 70 to 1,588 fathoms.
Ophiomusium jolliensis. ' From 45 9' 35" N. to 33 35' 20" on the Japanese coast and
to 36 49' 20" on the American; 167 to 505 fathoms.
Ophiopholis aculeata and varieties. From 58 N. to middle Japan and California;
shore to 1,030 fathoms.
Amphiura carchara. From 56 55' N. to 35 9' 40" on the Japanese coast and to 47 25'
30" on the American; 60 to 1,973 fathoms.
Amphiodia euryaspis. From 54 36' 30" N. to 36 6' 5" on the Japanese coast and to
36 44' 45" on the American; 68 to 318 fathoms.
Ophiacantha normani. From 58 17' N. to 32 32' on the Japanese coast and to 45 9'
35" on the American; 40 to 987 fathoms.
Ophicantha bairdi. From 54 32' N. to 33 53' N. on the Japanese coast and to 47 29'
30" on the American; 344 to 943 fathoms.
Asteronyx loveni. From 57 N. to 34 on the Japanese coast and to 36 41' 50" on the
American; 83 to 918 fathoms.
Gorgonocephalus caryi. From 59 22' N . to 30 57' 20" on the Japanese coast and to 37
21' on the American; 8 to 578 fathoms.
An examination of this list reveals some very interesting facts.
Of the fourteen species nine were previously known, and six of these
from outside the North Pacific region, as here restricted; five are
known from the Atlantic Ocean. All of the fourteen show a consid-
erable bathymetrical range; ten occur in less than 100 fathoms, while
all are found at depths exceeding 300 fathoms; three have a
bathymetrical range of over 1,500 fathoms. With only one excep-
tion these species extend farther south on the Asiatic than on the
American coast. As would naturally be expected, nearly all have
10 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
a considerable temperature range; all occur in water colder than
40 F., and seven were found in water below 32, yet six live in
water warmer than 50. These facts all go to show that we have here
a group of hardy, adaptable species, able to live and apparently to
prosper under very diverse conditions. Such a group may appro-
priately be spoken of as the OCEANIC fauna. To this fauna may well
be assigned four other species, whose range is more discontinuous
than that of the species just discussed, but which probably belong,
nevertheless, to the same group. Two of the four have already been
referred to in connection with the list of species joining the Honshu
and Bering faunas. In placing them in the Oceanic fauna I am, of
course, influenced by their known distribution outside of the North
Pacific area.
Ophiura flagellata. From 54 33' 30" N. to 9 3' 24" N. on the coast of India; 53 to
876 fathoms.
Ophiura irrorata. From 55 23' N. to New South Wales, 600 to 2,200 fathoms.
The other two species to be added to the Oceanic fauna are
Ophiernus adspersus. From 33 25' 20" N. to Cape Comorin, India, to 10 2V S. be-
tween Sumba and Timor, and to the Galapagos Islands; 244 to 1,997 fathoms.
Amphiura diomedese. From 36 46' N . to 9 3' 24" S., between Sumba and Flores and
to Galera Point, Ecuador; 39 to 1,573 fathoms.
To the Oceanic fauna then, eighteen species are here assigned.
There are four species (Amphiura acrystata, Amphiodia macraspis,
Amphioplus TiexacantJius , Ophionereis eurybrachiplax) , which are
reported from off the coast of California or Washington, although
most of the specimens were taken in Japanese waters. In the
present condition of our knowledge it is impossible to give the exact
f aunal position of these species, but I am inclined to consider them as
members of the Honshu fauna, whose range as far as American waters
is open to some doubt.
An interesting group of eight species occurs on the coasts of Wash-
ington, Oregon, and California, and has not been found north of the
fifty-second parallel. One of these (Ophiopteris papillosa) is a
southern species which barely enters the region included in this
report. Of the others, four previously unknown species were taken
at only a single station each and may perhaps also be southern species.
They are
Ophiomusium multispinum. Amphilimna pentacantha.
Amphiodia strongyloplax. Ophiocynodus corynetes.
The three remaining species, which were taken at a number of
stations and seem to be characteristic of the region, are
Ophiopholis longispina. Ophiacantha diplasia.
Ophiopholis bakeri.
a Although Ophiothrix spiculata is recorded in this report from Alaska it, too, is un-
questionably a southern species. The Alaskan record is almost certainly a mistake.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 11
It is probable that this trio is not an example of a special fauna,
but belongs properly with the following group of species, which range
from Alaska southward along the American coast and do not occur
in the western Pacific:
Ophiura lutkeni. Amphiodia occidentalis.
Ophiura hadra. Amphiodia periercta.
Amphiodia urtica . Amphipholis pugetana .
One variety (kennerlyi) of Ophiopholis aculeata is also restricted to
this region. Since some of these species occur as far south as Southern
California, the group is characteristic of the continental coast and
may very appropriately be called the AMERICAN fauna.
We find, then, as a result of our study of the geographical distribu-
tion of the 189 species of Ophiurans in the collection that we can
recognize four quite distinct faunas in the North Pacific, as follows :
BERING FAUNA. Extends from the Arctic Ocean southward to Kadiak on the American
coast and on the Asiatic side to Tsugaru Strait and even into the Sea of Japan: 35
species.
HONSHU FAUNA. Surrounds Honshu Island, Japan, but especially characterizes
the southeastern and southern coasts and extends an unknown distance south-
ward: 114 species.
AMERICAN FAUNA. Extends from the Alaskan peninsula southward to California: 9
species.
OCEANIC FAUNA. Found distributed more or less regularly throughout the North
Pacific: 18 species.
(Of the remaining thirteen species, a few are southern species or
seem to connect two of these faunal regions, but the distribution of
the majority is too imperfectly known to enable us to place them
properly.)
Before leaving the matter of geographical distribution there are
S, few points to which it may be well to call attention the existence
of a circumpolar fauna, the occurrence of West Indian species in the
North Pacific, and the position of the line between the Bering and
Honshu faunas.
The existence of a truly circumpolar fauna has been questioned by
some zoologists, but I see no reason to doubt that certain species of
ophiurans are completely circumpolar in their distribution. At any
rate they are known from north of Europe, Asia, and America, and
while there are many regions, often of wide extent, where they have
not been taken, such negative evidence is of little value, since such
areas have, as a rule, never been zoologically explored. Furthermore,
there are, of course, many places where local conditions forbid the exist-
ence of ophiurans; their absence from such places can not therefore
be rightly construed as denying their existence in the region. The
following North Pacific species are also known from the North
12 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Atlantic and from the seas north of Europe and of western Asia and
seem to me to be entitled to the name of a CIRCUMPOLAR fauna:
Ophiura sarsii. Ophiopholis aculeata.
Ophiura nodosa. Amphiura sundevalli.
Ophiura stuwitzii. Ophiacantha bidentata.
As regards the occurrence of a West Indian element in the North
Pacific fauna, the following species have all been taken in the Gulf
of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, or subtropical Atlantic:
Ophiura sculptilis. Ophiacantha bairdi.
Ophiernus adspersus. Aster onyx loveni.
Ophiomusium lymani.
But it must be noted that all of them are known from the East
Indian region and perhaps represent an intertropical fauna. At any
rate, with the possible exception of Ophiacantha bairdi, they can not
fairly be considered as distinctively West Indian. The extent of an
intertropical fauna is one of the points in the geographical distribution
of marine animals upon which much light is needed. That such a
fauna exists seems almost certain.
The ophiuran fauna of the Okhotsk Sea is not extensive, the
Albatross collecting only thirteen species there (stations 5014-5030).
Of these five are certainly representative of the Bering fauna,
while the other eight belong to the widespread Oceanic group.
To the north and east around the southern end of Kamchatka and
off the Kurile Islands (stations 4794-4805), six additional species
were taken, all belonging to the Bering fauna. Passing south and
west through La Perouse Strait into the Gulf of Tartary, and thence
southward along the western coast of the Hokkaido to Tsugaru
Strait (stations 4982-5013), no essential change in the fauna is found;
the few ophiurans taken are all of either the Bering or the Oceanic
fauna. On the other hand, passing through Yezo Strait along the
eastern and southern coasts of the Hokkaido (stations 5031-5045),
we meet with one species (Ophiura penichra) which, although riot
taken farther south, is at least suggestive of the Honshu fauna.
Passing southward from Tsugaru Strait, in the Sea of Japan (stations
4807-4841) we meet at once with Ophiura stiphra, a characteristic
Honshu species, while Ophiothrix Icoreana, an even more characteristic
species, was taken in Hakodate Bay and in Tsugaru Strait. Although
Ophiura opdiplax was taken above Sado Island, no other representa-
tives of the Honshu fauna were taken north of the Noto peninsula,
while the Oceanic fauna is still represented by at least three species
and the Bering fauna by two or three. As the vicinity of Tsuruga is
reached, although Ophiura sarsii is still common, the other Oceanic
and the Bering species disappear and are replaced by five Honshu
species. Crossing the thirty-sixth parallel and passing into the east-
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
13
ern channel of the Straits of Korea five other Honshu species appear,
while even Ophiura sarsii is now no longer to be found. Keturning
to the east coast of Honshu Island, we find that the Albatross did
very little collecting north of Sagami Bay, and that little was
done in the vicinity of Kinkaasan Light, just above the thirty-
eighth parallel. In that region the Oceanic and Bering faunas
are each represented by two species and the Honshu fauna by one.
In Sagami Bay, the abundant ophiuran fauna is almost exclusively
Honshu. It appears, therefore, quite clear that the thirty-sixth
parallel approximately indicates the line of separation between the
Bering and Honshu faunas both in the Sea of Japan and on the
Pacific coast. So far as the latter is concerned the reason seems
obvious, for it is in this region that Honshu Island bends abruptly
northward and the great, warm Kuroshiwo current from the south, on
its Pacific side, meets and deflects the cold current from Bering Sea.
It is less easy to see why in the Sea of Japan the two faunas should
meet along the same parallel, but it is probable that the fauna of that
sea has been formed by the entrance of northern species through La
Perouse Strait and of southern species through the Straits of Korea.
The local conditions appear to be more favorable to the northern
species in that greater part of the sea which lies above the thirty-sixth
parallel.
BATHYMETRICAL AND TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION.
No less interesting than the geographical distribution is the dis-
tribution with reference to depth and temperature. Seven species
were taken only in water exceeding 1 ,000 fathoms. They are :
Species.
Depth.
Tempera-
ture.
Ophiura bathybia (taken at four stations) .
Fathoms.
1,569-1,973
Deg. F.
35.1-34.9
1,008
36.8
Anthophiura axiologa (taken at one station)
1,217
35.2
1,008
36.8
AmpMlcpis platytdtd (taken at two stations)
1,569-1,973
35-34.9
Ophiacantha prionota (taken at one station)
1,008
36.8
1,569
34.9
While all are probably abyssal species, so few stations (six) are
represented we have almost no light on their real bathymetrieal dis-
tribution. In view of the bathy metrical range of 965 fathoms
(1,008-1,973), the extraordinarily limited temperature range of less
than two degrees (36.8-34.9) is the most interesting point about
this group of species, but it would have more significance were more
stations involved.
14
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
At depths exceeding 500 fathoms, sixteen additional species were
taken, which were not found at a less depth. They are:
Species.
Depth.
Tempera-
ture.
/
OphiuTa iTTOTata . .
Fathoms.
C24-1 800
Deg F.
38 1 35 1
Ophiura clasta
507-918
39-36 8
Ophiura hadra
859-877
36 6-36 5
Ophiura atacta
G25
37 3
Ophiocten pacificum .
501-876
38. 1-36. 5
Ophiotrochus longispinus
918
36 8
Ophiomusiufn fnuUispinum. .
877
36 6
Ophiomitra bythiaspis
943
36.4
Ophiomitra codonomorpha
943
36 4
Ophiacantha anchilabra .... . . . .
649-918
38. 1-36. 8
Ophiacantha bathybia
876-1,973
36. 5-34. 9
Ophiacantha hylacantha
918
36.8
Ophiacantha lepidota
625
37.3
Ophiacantha fnegatreta
587-943
38 9-36 4
Ophiacantha Icucosticta
507
39
Ophiacantha macrarthra
584
37.2
With the possible exception of Ophiotrochus, none of the genera in
this list are characteristically deep-water forms; all of the others occur
in less than 100 fathoms. While twelve species pass the 800-fathom
line, only two occur in water exceeding 1,000 fathoms; those two, it
will be noted, have a very remarkable bathymetrical range, one of
1,097, the other of 1,176 fathoms. In view of the considerable num-
ber of stations involved, the temperature range is very small, only
4.1 (39-34.9).
Eighteen additional species occur only in water exceeding 300
fathoms in depth; eight of these extend into water exceeding 500
fathoms, but only two pass the 800-fathom line and they do not
reach 1,000 fathoms. The temperature range for these eighteen
species is 7.6 (42.9-35.3).
At depths from 100 to 300 fathoms, forty-one species were taken,
of which sixteen were found below 300 fathoms, eleven below 500
but only two below 800. The temperature range in this group is
very great, over 30 (60.6-30.4), but for any one species the ex-
treme range is only about 12 (44.1-31.8), and for about two-thirds
of the species it is less than 5.
There are fifty species which were taken between 50 and 100
fathoms; of these, forty- three extend their range beyond the 100-
fathom line, twenty-five beyond 300 fathoms, fifteen beyond 500,
six beyond 800, and four beyond 1,000. Naturally the temperature
range is extensive, 45 (75.4-30.4), though the extreme for any one
species is 25.3; one other species has a range exceeding 20 and
for seventeen others it exceeds 10.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
15
There are two species the depth of whose habitat is not known, but
the remainder of the collection, fifty-five species in all, were taken in
water less than 50 fathoms deep, and may fairly be considered littoral
forms. Of these no less than thirty-four are known to extend their
range beyond 50 fathoms, twenty-eight beyond 100, twelve beyond
300, seven beyond 500, four beyond 800, and two even pass the
1,000-fathom line. The temperature range can not be given because
there are no temperature records for most of the shallow-water sta-
tions, but as Ophiopholis aculeata was taken at the extraordinarily
low temperature of 29.8, it is more than likely that the temperature
range for the group exceeds 50. The extreme range for any one
species is 33.8.
It will be noted that of the 187 species whose bathymetrical range
is known, 146, or nearly 80 per cent, are distinctly shallow-water
forms, having been taken at less than 300 fathoms. Of these 146
species, 55, or 38 per cent, extend their range beyond 300 fathoms,
while 35, or 24 per cent, are not recorded from below 100 fathoms.
Of the forty-one species not taken in less than 300 fathoms, thirty-
one occur below 500 fathoms. Of these really deep-water species,
twelve belong to the genus Ophiacaniha, six to Ophiura, and three
to Ophiomitra. The remainder represent ten different genera, of
which the following four may fairly be considered characteristic of
the abyssal region:
Anthophiura.
Ophiotrochus.
Ophiambix.
Amphilepis.
The following eight species have a bathymetrical range of more
than 1,000 fathoms:
Species.
Fathoms.
Range.
OpMuTa leptoctenia.
67-1, 771
1,704
Ophiura irrorata . .
600-2,200
1,600
Ophiernus adspersus . .
244-1,997
1,753
Ophiomusium lymani
70-1,588
1,518
Ophiopholis aculeata (var. japonica)
8-1,030
1,022
60-1,973
1,913
AmpMura diomedese .' . .
39-1,573
1,534
Ophiacantha bathybia
876-1,973
1,097
With this group belong the following trio, whose range, however,
is not quite so extensive:
Species.
Fathoms.
Range.
65-1,008
943
Ophiomitra acontophora .
229-1,217
988
40- 987
947
16 BULLETIN .75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
It is worthy of note that eight of these eleven species belong to the
Oceanic fauna, two to the Bering, and only one to the Honshu area,
which certainly supports the view that species with a great bathymet-
rical range tend to become widely distributed.
Three other species (Ophiura flagellata, Ophiacantha pentagona,
Asteronyx loveni) have a bathymetrical range of over 800 fathoms.
Two of these belong to the Oceanic fauna and the third is very widely
distributed in the East Indian region. There are fourteen addi-
tional species which have a bathymetrical range of over 500 fathoms,
and five of these belong to the Oceanic fauna. We see therefore that
of the eighteen species belonging to that fauna fourteen have a
bathymetrical range of over 500 fathoms, which lends support to the
proposition that species occurring on both sides of the North Pacific
have a great bathymetrical range.
Of the 158 species of whose temperature range we have some
record, one (Ophiura brachyactis, two stations) was taken only in water
colder than 32 and the following seven were taken only below 36:
Ophiura cediplax, two stations. Ophiacantha eurypoma, one station.
Ophiura bathybia, four stations. Ophiacantha omoplata, one station.
Anthophiura axiologa, one station. Ophiolebes brachygnatha, two stations.
Amphilepis platytata, two stations.
While there can be no doubt that all of these eight species are
characteristic of very cold water, the importance of the list is vitiated
by the fact that three of the species were taken at only a single sta-
tion each, arid only one is recorded from more than two stations.
There are forty-two other species which were not taken in water
warmer than 40 and twenty-three more which were not found above
45. It is therefore fair to say that not less than 38 per cent of the
189 species in the collection are distinctly cold-water species, and this
is rather remarkable when we consider that less than 30 per cent of
the 189 belong to the Bering and Oceanic faunas combined ; that only
16 per cent are really deep-water species, and that nearly 80 per cent
were taken in less than 100 fathoms.
On the other hand, there are forty-one species which were not
taken in water colder than 50, and there is every reason to believe
that at least two-thirds of those species for which no temperature is
recorded (such as the two species of Opliiocoma, the two species of
OphioplocuSj four species of Ophiothriz, etc.) belong in the same class.
Moreover, there are nineteen additional species which were taken in
water warmer than 60, and two of these occurred at a temperature
higher than 70. It is not unreasonable, therefore, to say that the
number of distinctly warm-water species nearly or quite equals that
of the cold-water forms.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 17
The rest of the collection, about one-fourth of the species, is made
up of forms with remarkable temperature ranges. The following
species have ranges of 20 or more:
Ophiura sarsii, from 50.1 to 30.1, a range of 20.
Ophiomusium lymani, from 56.3 to 35.3, a range of 21.
Ophiopholis aculeata (var. japonica), from 57.8 to 30.4, a range of 27.4.
Amphiura diomedex, from 68.7 to 34.9, a range of 33.8.
Amphiodia euryaspis, from 58 to 32.7, a range of 25.3.
Ophiacantha pentagona, from 62.1 to 36.4, a range of 25.7.
Ophiacantha normani, from 55.9 to 30.9, a range (if 25.
Ophiothrix koreana, from 68.7 to 42.5, a range of 26.2.
Gorgonocephalus caryi, from 60.6 to 30.7, a range of 29.9.
It is interesting to note that seven of these nine species belong to
the Oceanic fauna, as might have been expected, while the other
two are typical examples of the Honshu fauna. Of the remaining
eleven species of the Oceanic fauna, six have a temperature range of
more than 10, while in four it is 3 or less; in Amphiura carchara,
which has the enormous bathymetrical range of over 1,900 fathoms,
the temperature range is only 7.8, from 42.8 to 35. Probably in
this species the bathymetrical range is determined by the temperature
rather than by any other factor.
It is clear that the Oceanic fauna contains two quite distinct ele-
ments : One, which we may call group A, and which is much the larger
(thirteen species), is made up of forms to which temperature is a sec-
ondary factor, and a second, which we will call B, whose wide dis-
tribution seems to be due to the uniformly low temperature of deep
water. We have already seen (p. 14) that all the strictly deep-water
species (i. e., those not occurring in less than 300 fathoms) have a
very restricted temperature range, and of course the more abyssal the
habitat the more restricted is the temperature range. Although in
the present state of our knowledge, group B is only a small part (five-
eighteenths) of the Oceanic fauna, it is very probable that all the
strictly deep-water species really belong to that fauna, and should not,
simply because of their geographical habitat, be placed in the Honshu,
or Bering or American faunas. If such a redistribution of the species
were made, group A would certainly prove to be the less important
half of the Oceanic fauna.
ASSOCIATIONAL DISTRIBUTION.
One of the most interesting phases of the study of a large collection
of any group of animals from a limited region is the determination of
what species occur together at any given station or in any restricted
area. Particularly interesting is it to note whether closely related
species occur together or in adjoining areas or are widely separated
from each other. We may approach the matter in two ways; first,
34916 Bull. 7511 2
18 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
by an examination of localities, and, second, by a study of the com-
moner species.
On Bowers Bank, Bering Sea, stations 4767-4775, at a depth of
237-771 fathoms, with a bottom temperature- of 38.5-36.5, the
Albatross collected fourteen species, of which five are Ophiuras and
six are Ophiacanthas. OphiopJiolis, Ophiolebes, and Astrochele are
each represented by a single species. The Ophiuras (sarsii, leptoctenia,
quadrispina, maculata, flagellata) all belong to the typical section of
the genus and are very nearly related to each other; leptoctenia and
quadrispina are nearer to each other than to any other species, and
both are very close to sarsii. The Ophiacanthas (rhachophora, adia-
phora, atopostoma, normani, bairdi, macrarthra) are less nearly related
to each other, but rhachophora and adiaphora are very closely allied.
On August 9, southwest of the Goto Islands, Eastern Sea, stations
4893-4895, in 95 to 106 fathoms of water, with a bottom temperature
of 55.9, a remarkable assemblage of ophiurans was found, twenty- two
species in all, representing sixteen genera. Of Ophiozona, two species
were taken, but they are not particularly nearly allied, and the same
is true of the two species of Ophiothrix. OpJiiomyxa, however, is rep-
resented by two very closely related but quite distinct species (anisa-
caniha and australis). Ophiacantha furnishes four species, of which
rhachopliom and pentagona are very closely related indeed.
A week later, at the entrance of Kagoshima Gulf, stations 4933-
4937, in 58 to 152 fathoms, with a bottom temperature of 64.8-56,
a larger number of ophiurans were found than that at any other
place, no less than twenty-nine species being taken there. The list is
sufficiently interesting to warrant giving it here :
Ophiura micracantha. Ophiacantha granulosa.
Ophiura stiphra. Ophiacantha lophobrachia.
Ophiocten charischema. Ophiacantha leucorhabdota.
Ophiomusium laqueatum. Opkiurases obstrictus.
Ophiomusium lutkeni. Ophiothrix Icoreana.
Ophiomusium lunare. Ophiothrix macrobrachia.
Ophiomusium lymani. Ophiomyxa australis.
Ophiomusium simplex. Ophiobyrsa synaptacantha.
Ophiopholis brachyactis. Ophiosyzygus disacanthus.
Ophiactis dyscrita. Asteroporpa hadracantha.
Amphiura diomedess. Astroceras pergamena.
Ophiodoris pericalles. Astrophyton pardalis.
Ophiomitra polyacantha. Gorgonocephalus caryi.
Ophiomitra microphylax. Euryale anopla.
Ophiocamax polyploca.
The most remarkable points about this assemblage are the absence
of Ophiodermatidse and Ophiocomidse, the very small number of
Amphiuridge, and the presence of five species of Ophiomusium, all
rather nearly related to each other. The two species of Ophiura are
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 19
very different from each other, and the same is true of the two species
of Ophiomitra, the two of OpJiioihrix, and the three of Ophiacantha.
Sagami Bay has long been known as a rich collecting ground, and
the Albatross found numerous ophiurans there. At the entrance to
the Gulf of Tokio stations 5091-5095, in water 58 to 302 fathoms deep,
with a bottom temperature of 57.8-43.9, twenty-four species were
collected, of which three are species of Ophiacantha, three belong to
OpJiiopholis, four to Ophiomusium, and six to Ophiura. The most
notable cases of closely allied species in this group are those of Ophiura
micracantha, sarsii, and flagellata, and of Ophiopholis mirabilis and
aculeata.
But the best way in which to decide whether closely allied species
occur together is to take certain well-defined species whose nearest
allies are also North Pacific forms and see whether the two species
often or ever occur at the same place. It is not always possible to
say what other species is the nearest ally of any given species ; such a
point is necessarily largely a matter of personal opinion. But for
any fair discussion of associational distribution it is sufficient if the
two species are closely enough allied so that one might naturally have
arisen from the other.
The species of the genus Ophiura form a large proportion of the
ophiuran fauna of the North Pacific, and of these species sarsii is by
far the commonest and most widely distributed. A very closely
related species, liiikeni, is also common in the eastern Pacific and
there is little doubt that sarsii is the nearest relative of lutkeni.
There is no possible question, however, of their specific distinctness,
for the difference between them is obvious and remarkably constant.
Yet these two species were taken at the same station seven times
(stations 2858, 2862, 2882, 3047, 3053, 3059, and Sitka) and twice
they were taken at adjoining stations where conditions were essen-
tially identical (stations 2867 and 2868, and 2883 and 2884). It is
clear, therefore, that they are not geographically or bathymetrically
isolated from each other.
Another equally interesting illustration of the same facts in the same
genus is shown by the species leptoctenia and quadrispina; the latter
certainly seems to find in the former its nearest ally, yet the difference
between the two is sharp enough to prevent any difficulty of identi-
fication. The two species were taken together at stations 3331, 3332,
3337, 4770, 4781, 4791, and 5026. Another species (micracantha) is
also very closely allied to sarsii and leptoctenia; it was taken at station
5091, while sarsii occurred close by under identical conditions at
station 5092, and leptoctenia not very far away at station 5083.
The two species of the new genus Opliiopenia were taken twice at
the same station (at Captains Harbor, Unalaska, and at station 2854),
and there can be no possible doubt that they are much more nearly
allied to each other than to any other known ophiurans.
20 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
The genus OpJiiomusium throws considerable light on the subject.
The species cancellatum and jolliensis are very closely allied, and
there is little doubt that the latter is more nearly related to the former
than to any other species. Yet they were taken together at stations
3738, 4965, 5079, and 5091. At station 4933, 0. lufkeni was taken,
while at the neighboring station, 4934, under the same conditions,
0. lunare, a very closely related species, was taken. The three species,
lymani, simplex, and trychnum, are very nearly allied and the two
latter probably find their nearest relative in the former. At station
4933, simplex and lymani were taken together, while trychnum and
lymani were found at stations 3704 and 5092. Furthermore, lymani
was found at station 4956 and at station 4959, only 5 miles away,
under nearly identical conditions, trychnum occurred.
In the genus Amphiura the species bellis and diomedese are very
nearly related ; they were taken together at- station 3697, and while
diomedex occurred at station 5082, bellis was found under identical
conditions close by at station 5083. Two species of AmpJiiodia
(macraspis and euryaspis) were taken together at stations 4862 and
4997, but the value of this occurrence is vitiated by the fact that these
two so-called species may be identical. At station 3713 AmpJiiodia
ancistrota and A. digitula were found together.
In the genus Ophiacanfha many of the species are none too well
defined, and this is particularly true of the pentagona group, including
among others rhachophora and levispina. Nevertheless it is of some
interest to record that pentagona and levispina occurred together at
station 4916, while rhachophora and pentagona were found associated
at stations 3698, 3713, 4893, 4902, 4903/4965, and 4967. Although
Ophiacanfha cataleimmoida may be most nearly allied to 0. r dicta, it is
very near normani, and its occurrence with the latter at stations 2853,
3332, 3338, 3340, and 4980 is worthy of note.
Of the genus Ophiolebes, four species (tylota, paucispina, diapliora,
and brevispina) are so nearly allied that it is hard to determine just
what their interrelationships are. At station 3480, brevispina and
paucispina were found together; at station 3599, tylota and diaphora
occurred; at station 4781, tylota, paucispina, and diaphora were all
three taken; and at station 4784 tylota and diaphora were again found.
The two species of Ophiomyxa, australis, and anisacaniha are so
closely allied there is no doubt that the former is the nearest relative
of the latter; australis was found at stations 4894 and 4895, while
anisacantha was taken at stations 4892 and 4893; yet external con-
ditions at the four stations were not essentially different.
The Japanese basket-fish, Gorgonocephalus sagaminus, certainly
finds its nearest ally in G. caryi, yet the two are perfectly distinct.
They were taken together, however, at three stations (3707, 4986,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 21
4987) and caryi was taken at station 4892 while sagaminus was found
close by at station 4894.
It seems clear from this unusual array of facts regarding their dis-
tribution that ophiurans do not as a group well illustrate " Jordan's
Law/' which has been stated as follows:
Given any species (or kind) in any region, the nearest related species (or kind) is
not to be found in the same region nor in a remote region, but in a neighboring district
separated from the first by a barrier of some sort or at least by a belt of country, the
breadth of which gives the effect of a barrier. a
Jordan adds (pp. 73, 74) :
This law holds good as a general rule among animals. The only exceptions yet
indicated are found among plants * * *, among Protozoa * * * and in a
few cases which seem to be explainable on the ground of reinVasion.
So far as we have any evidence there is neither " barrier" nor "belt
of country" separating the ophiurans mentioned above from their
nearest allies. Further evidence in support of this conclusion may
be gleaned from Lyman's reports on the ophiurans collected by the
Challenger and the Blake. b One illustration from each will suffice.
The genus Ophioplinthus contains only two known species (grisea and
medusa) ; they were taken by the Challenger at the same station (156),
in very deep water (1,975 fathoms) in the Antarctic Ocean and have
never been taken elsewhere. The Blake collected near Martinique
(station 203) in 96 fathoms of water, and near Santa Cruz (station
132) in 115 fathoms, a remarkably well characterized species (tuber-
culosa) of Hemieuryale, a genus which was previously monotypic.
The known species (pustulata) was, however, common at both the
stations where tuber culosa occurred. It may be worth mentioning
that Sigsbeia murrhina, whose nearest ally is probably Hemieuryale,
was also common at both stations. These cases from the Challenger
and BlaJce collections agree in that the two species concerned in each
instance are not merely congeneric and the only known species of the
genus, but they are very closely allied, although differing by very
definite characters.
One other illustration may be given in this matter, not simply to
add weight to the preceding evidence, but because it affords an expla-
D. S. Jordan, Isolation as a Factor in Organic Evolution: in Fifty Years of Dar-
winism, 1909, p. 73.
& Kcehler's great work on the Siboga ophiurans furnishes numerous similar cases,
but it is not necessary to detail them here. Suffice it to say that at Banda, the Siboga
collected eleven species of Ophiothrix, at its station 50, ten species and at station 99,
nine species. It also took six species of Ophiacantha (in a restricted sense) and five
of Ophiura at station 45, and six species of Ophiacantha were also taken at station 85.
c Verrill (1899, Oph. Bahama Exp., in Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. Univ. Iowa, vol. 5, p.
70) makes Hemieuryale tuberculosa the type of a new genus, but whether such a genus
is accepted or not the fact remains that the nearest ally of tuberculosa is undoubtedly
H. pustulata.
22 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
nation why geographical isolation is not necessarily an important
factor among marine animals. Throughout the West Indian region
one of the commonest genera of brittle-stars is OpJiiocoma, of which
three well-marked species are found there. Two of these ecTiinata
and nisei, are very nearly related and there can be no doubt that the
latter finds in the former its nearest ally. The differences between
the two species, while neither conspicuous nor of morphological
importance, are very constant and perfectly obvious. Yet the two
species occur not only on the same reefs and shores, but under the
same stones, where they mingle with each other, often in considerable
numbers. So far as the records, supplemented by the examination
of large series of specimens, living and preserved, show, hybridization
between the two species is unknown, yet both are wholly oviparous
with external fertilization. The explanation of this curious situation
was discovered by Grave in 1897, a when he found that ecJiinata breeds
in late July and in August while riisei probably breeds in April and
May, as it had entirely finished its breeding season before the end of
June. We have here then a most striking case of " physiological
isolation/' and geographical isolation is no longer a factor with the
two species concerned.
To sum up the evidence here presented, it seems fair to say that,
in view of the large number of cases cited above where Jordan's law
does not seem to apply to ophiurans, geographical isolation has been a
less important factor in the specific differentiation of brittle-stars
than some form of physiological isolation.
CONCLUSIONS AS TO DISTRIBUTION OF OPHIURANS IN NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN.
1. Four distinct faunas combine to make up the North Pacific
group of species and these are designated as the Honshu, Bering,
Oceanic, and American. Of these the Honshu is the largest and
most diversified, while the Oceanic is the most widely distributed.
2. Six species, well known from the North Atlantic and the seas
north of Europe, confirm the belief in a circumpolar fauna.
3. The line of division, on the Asiatic coast, between the Bering
and Honshu faunas, is not at either La Perouse or Tsugaru Strait,
but much farther south, at about the thirty-sixth parallel of latitude.
On the Pacific coast of Japan the line is apparently determined by
the meeting of the warm Kuroshino current with the cold current
from Bering Sea. The Sea of Japan appears to have been colonized
by the gradual influx of Bering species through the northern straits
and of Honshu species through the straits of Korea, the two groups
meeting in the southern half of the sea.
4. About four-fifths of the species are shallow-water forms, only
forty-one being confined to water exceeding 300 fathoms in depth.
a See Johns Hopkins.Umv. Circ., no. 137, 1898, p. 8.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 23
There are only four genera represented which can be considered as
characteristic of deep water.
5. The distribution of the deep-water species confirms the view
that species with a great bathymetrical range tend to become widely
distributed.
6. The bathymetrical range of the species in the Oceanic fauna
confirms the view that species occurring on both sides of the North
Pacific have a great bathymetrical range.
7. Although only one-sixth of the species are deep-water forms
and less than one-third belong to the Bering and Oceanic faunas com-
bined, nearly two-fifths of the species are distinctly cold-water
forms, occurring only in water under 45 F.
8. Two groups of species combine to form the Oceanic fauna:
A, composed of hardy species, with great temperature ranges,
to whom the temperature of the water seems to be relatively
unimportant, and
B, composed of species to whom a uniformly low temperature
appears to be essential.
9. There seems to be abundant evidence that very closely related
species of Ophiurans, often the most closely related, inhabit the same
area and that " Jordan's law" does not apply to this class of Echino-
derms.
10. There is evidence that " physiological isolation" in some form
has been a more important factor than geographical or bathymetrical
isolation in the specific differentiation of Ophiurans.
DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES.
Family OPHIODERMATID^.
PECTINURAo ANCHISTA, new species. &
Disk 14 mm. in diameter; arms 70 mm. long. Disk rather pentago-
nal, closely and completely covered by a fine granulation (about 80
grains to a square millimeter) , which even conceals the radial shields.
Upper arm plates tetragonal and broadly in contact on basal half of
arm, but on terminal half becoming triangular and finally well sepa-
rated from each other; at first they are much wider than long, even
twice as wide, but they ultimately are longer than wide; lateral mar-
gins, at first nearly parallel, gradually diverge distally, proximal mar-
gin becoming shorter and shorter, until at last it is obliterated. In-
terbrachial spaces below covered, like disk, by a fine granulation.
Genital slits moderate, about as long as three arm joints. Oral
a For a revision of Pectinura and allied genera see Clark, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool.,
vol. 52, 1909, pp. 111-132.
& "Arxtarof, signifying next or nearest, in reference to its close relationship to P.
cylindrica (Hutton).
24
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
shields about as long as wide, or sometimes longer, rather triangular,
with convex sides. No supplementary oral shields. Adoral plates
rather small, mostly free from granulation. Oral plates completely
concealed by a coarse granulation. Oral papillae seven or eight on a
side, outer ones truncate, inner pointed, penultimate decidedly largest.
No pores between basal under arm plates. First under arm plate
large, somewhat pentagonal, much wider than long; succeeding plates
rather hexagonal, with distal margin convex, at first wider than long,
but soon becoming longer than wide and near tip of arm more than
twice as long as wide; distinctly in contact until near tip of arm.
Side arm plates moderate, not meeting either above or below, until
near tip of arm; each plate
carries five to seven flat,
pointed spines, of which
lowest is longest, but does
not quite equal joint. Ten-
tacle-scales two, inner,
larger, outer overlapping
base of lowest arm spine.
Color (dried from alcohol),
very variable; the type is
uniformly whitish; another
is variegated with dusky
whitish and dull pink or
reddish, the arms being dis-
tinctly banded ; a third has
arms distinctly banded and
lighter parts spotted with
purplish-red, but disk is
uniformly whitish. Small
specimens are very light,
FIG. 1. PECTINURA ANCHISTA. X3.5. c, FROM ABOVE; 6, but banding of arms IS
FROM BELOW; C, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK. 11 i , ,
Localities. Albatross station 3746, off Suno Saki, Japan, 49 fathoms,
gray sand, pebbles, 2 specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat.
32 33' N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken
shells, pebbles, 2 specimens; station 4895, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33'
10" N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells,
pebbles, 1 specimen; station 4900, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 28' 50" N.;
long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 52.9, 1 specimen; station 4939, Kagoshima Gulf, lat.
31 18' 30" N.; long. 130 42' E., 85 fathoms, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 49 to 139 fathoms. Seven specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25645, U.S.N.M., from station 4900.
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 25
This species is so near P. cylindrica (Hutton) that it is not without
much hesitation I have kept them separate. On comparing speci-
mens of the two species with each other there are, however, certain
differences which seem to be constant and which give the two species
quite unlike facies. The color of cylindrica, although variable, is
chiefly shades of gray and brown, with no tendency to pink or purplish-
red, the dominant shades in anchista. The arm spines of cylindrica
are also less flattened and are truncate, particularly the lowest, rather
than pointed. The arms themselves, moreover, are as a rule more
flattened in cylindrica than in anchista and more arm spines are visible
when looking down on the animal from above. Finally, cylindrica is
a smaller species, 7 to 9 mm. across the disk, with shorter arms, only
three or four times diameter of disk. Since cylindrica has not yet
been taken outside of the New Zealand region, it seems best to me to
regard these trivial differences as specific, at least for the present.
OPHIARACHNELLA GORGONIA.
Ophiarachna gorgonia MULLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. 105.
Ophiarachnella gorgonia CLARK, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 52, 1909, p. 123.
Locality. Japan, one specimen.
As I have elsewhere a discussed in some detail the relationships of
this genus and the synonymy of this species, I do not need to go over
the ground here. Suffice it to say that this specimen from Japan is
a fine example of Pectinura stearnsiilves, agreeing in all particulars
with the figures and description of that species, which was based on
a single large specimen from Japan. Ives' type was 30 mm. across the
disk, while the one before me is even larger, measuring a full 33 mm.
The examination of this specimen has confirmed my opinion that
stearnsii can not be distinguished from marmorata Lyman, of which
it is doubtless the fully grown adult. Nor can I find, from the mate-
rial I have examined, or from the descriptions and figures which have
been published, any satisfactory characters by which marmorata is to
be distinguished from gorgonia.
OPHIARACHNELLA MEGALASPIS, new species.&
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms 50 to 55 mm. long. Disk pentag-
onal, covered with a close, fine granulation (100 to 175 granules to the
square millimeter); radial shields and one or more (usually three)
small rounded plates distal to them, just at the base of the arm, bare.
Radial shields very large (about 2.5 mm. long by 1.5 mm. wide),
smooth and bare; distance between the two shields of a pair is less
than the width of a shield and much less than the mterradial dis-
aBull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 52, 1909, pp. 121-123.
bMtfae (pe-faX-), signifying big, and daxle, signifying shield, in reference to the large
radial shields.
26
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
tance between two pairs. Arms rather stout, somewhat flattened.
Upper arm plates at first rounded hexagonal and somewhat wider
than long, but soon becoming tetragonal with distal side longer than
lateral and much longer than proximal, and finally triangular; in
contact with each other except at tip of arm. Interbrachial areas
covered with a fine granulation like that of disk. Oral shields longer
than broad, somewhat rounded pentagonal. Supplementary oral
shields often present, roundish; they may be partly or wholly con-
cealed by the granulation and they are often wanting in two or more
of the interradii ; one specimen has none ; the type has three large ones
(see fig. 2&), one small one, and one minute one. Adoral plates small,
at sides of oral shield, mostly
free from granulation. Oral
plates completely covered by
a somewhat coarser granula-
tion than that of disk. Oral
papilla? numerous, eight to
ten on a side; distal ones trun-
cate, inner ones pointed, pe-
nultimate distinctly largest.
Genital slits rather large, as
long as three arm joints. No
pores between basal under
arm plates. First under arm
plate rather large, diamond-
shaped or somewhat pentag-
onal, much wider than long;
succeeding plates pentagonal,
hexagonal, or heptagonal,
with more or less rounded
corners, at first wider than
FIG . 2.-OPHUKACHNELLA MEOALASP.S. X4. , FROM ^S nd brOadty ill COntaCt
ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM with each other, but SOOn be-
coming longer than wide, and
ultimately very long, narrow, and distinctly separated. Side arm
plates rather large, but not meeting either below or above, except at
very tip of arm ; each one carries nine or ten short, little flattened,
bluntly-pointed arm spines, of which the lowest is a little the longest,
though it does not equal joint. Tentacle scales two, inner larger, outer
overlapping base of lowest arm spine. Color (dried from alcohol), light
brown or gray, variegated with lighter and darker shades and with
arms more or less distinctly banded with darker; oral surf ace, whitish.
Localities. Albatross station 3764, off Suno Saki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 44 to 50 fathoms, fine gravel, broken shells, 2 specimens;
station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N. ; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to
106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 27
55.9, 2 specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N.; long.
128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, 1
specimen; station 4895, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128
32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, 2 speci-
mens. Bathymetrical range, 44 to 106 fathoms. Seven specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25600, U.S.N.M., from station 3764.
Although this species is obviously related to 0. infernalis, it differs
so markedly in two important particulars that I have no doubt it is
entirely distinct, and there is no other species with which it can be
confused. In the first place, the granulation of the disk is nearly
twice as fine in infernalis as in 'megalaspis, there being 400 to 500
granules to the square millimeter in the former. This difference in
the size and number of the granules results in a noticeable differ-
ence in the apparent smoothness of the disk in dry specimens. The
second, and much more noticeable, character in which the two species
differ is found in the radial shields; in infernalis they are small, often
no larger than one of the other bare disk plates, and never larger than
an upper arm plate, while the distance between the two of a pair
greatly exceeds the width of the plate. The contrast between these
proportions and those shown by megalaspis is thus very striking.
OPHIOCONIS DIASTATA, new species."
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 45 mm. long. Disk covered
with a close fine coat of granules, about 130 to the square millimeter
at center of disk. Radial shields entirely covered. Upper arm plates
triangular, much wider than long, even the basal ones scarcely in con-
tact. Interbrachial spaces below finely granulated like the disk above.
Oral shields wider than long, with rounded sides and a blunt proxi-
mal angle. Adoral plates rather small, narrowest proximally, with
outer end more or less concealed by an extension of granulation
of interbrachial space, and with tip of inner end often concealed by a
coarser granulation which completely conceals the oral plates. Oral
papillae four or five on each side, the outermost much the widest; an
infradental papilla sometimes present but often wanting; teeth, three
or four, moderately wide, rather blunt. First under arm plate, not
half as large as second, narrower distally; succeeding plates much
wider than long, more or less pentagonal, with a wide proximal angle.
Side arm plates large, meeting above and still more broadly below;
each carries four or five flat, smooth, hollow, not very acute arm
spines; next to uppermost longest, somewhat exceeding joint. Ten-
tacle scale single, large, longer than wide, rounded or sometimes
bluntly pointed. Color (dried from alcohol), nearly white.
a J^raror, signifying separated in reference to the widely separated under arm
plates.
28
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Localities. Albatross station 4967, off Shio Misaki Light, Japan,
lat. 33 25' 10" N.; long. 135 37' 20" E., 244 to 253 fathoms, brown
mud, sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 45.9, 1 specimen; sta-
tion 4968, off Shio Misaki Light, Japan, lat. 33 24' 50" N. ; long. 135
38' 40" E., 253 fathoms, dark gray sand, brown mud, broken shells,
bottom temperature 45.7, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 244 to
253 fathoms. Temperature range, 45.9 to 45.7. Three specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25531, U.S.N.M., from station 4967.
Although there is no doubt that this species is a true Ophioconis, as
comparison with both miliaria Lyman and antarctica Lyman has
satisfied me, it has raised serious doubt in my mind as to the relation-
ships of the genus.
Both Liitken and Ly-
man regarded Ophio-
conis as allied to Pec-
tinura and the other
Ophiodermatidae, but
I am unable to find
even one constant
character to distin-
guish the genus from
Ophiacantha in the
old, broad sense. Un-
fortunately neither
of the Mediterranean
species of Ophioconis
is at all common, and
I have never seen
specimens of either,
so that I am unable
to reach any definite
conclusions, but I
shall not be surprised if some of the species now placed in Ophioconis,
really belong in the Ophiacanthidae, while others are perhaps properly
placed in the Ophiodermatidse. The present species, like miliaria and
antarctica, has hollow arm spines, certainly a very remarkable char-
acter for one of the Ophiodermatidse. From all other species of
Ophioconis, diastata is distinguished by its few arm spines, widely
separated under arm plates, single tentacle scale, and very fine disk
granulation, a combination of characters shown by none of the others.
OPHIOCONIS PAPILLATA, new species.a
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 43 mm. long. Disk closely
covered with rather coarse papilla-like granules about fifty to the
b
FIG. 3. OPHIOCONIS DIASTATA. X6. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FKOM BE-
LOW; C, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ABM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
a Papillatus, signifying shaped like a bud, in reference to the papilla-like granules
on the disk.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
29
square millimeter; those at center of disk are longer and more like
spinelets than those near margin. Radial shields entirely concealed.
Upper arm plates triangular with proximal angle more or less trun-
cated, according to amount of contact between them. Interbrachial
spaces below covered with papilla-like granules, which become spine-
lets near and around oral shields and on oral plates; these spinelets
are very little larger than those at center of disk above. Oral shields
ellipsoidal, wider than long. Adoral plates rather small, much
longer than wide, widest distally, their outlines more or less obscured
by spinelets. Oral papillae four or five on each side with often an infra-
dental one in addition;
outermost very much
the widest. Teeth four
or five, not peculiar.
First under arm plate
much smaller than sec-
ond, distinctly wider
than long; second and
succeeding plates more
or less pentagonal with
a wide proximal angle;
seventh and succeeding
plates usually wider
than long and widely
separated from each
other; those preceding
the seventh are often
longer than wide and
only slightly or scarcely
separated from each
other. Side arm plates
rather large, meeting
slightly above and more FIG. 4. OPHIOCONIS PAPILLATA. X6. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FKOM
or less broadly below;
each plate carries six or seven long smooth, rather blunt, hollow
spines, the uppermost or next to it, the longest, and, at base of
arm, equalling or exceeding two joints. Tentacle scale single,
very large, about as wide as long. Color (dried from alcohol),
very pale fawn or yellowish-brown; beneath and arm spines, nearly
white.
Localities. Albatross station 2842, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 54
15' N. ; long. 166 3' W., 72 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 41,
ten specimens; station 3315, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 40" N.; long.
166 42' W., 277 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature
38.5, 1 specimen; station 3331, Bering Sea, lat. 54 1' 40" N.; long.
30 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
166 48' 50" W., 350 fathoms, mud, 11 specimens; station 3480,
Bering Sea, lat. 52 6' N. ; long. 171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand,
coral, rocky, 1 specimen; station (?), 1 specimen. Bathymetrical
range, 72 to 350 fathoms. Temperature range, 41 to 38.5. Twenty-
four specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25643, U.S.N.M., from station 2842.
This species is even more Op7iiacantha-lik& than the preceding and
I believe its natural relationships are with that genus. But it is so
obviously congeneric with Ophioconis miliaria and antarctica that
I am obliged to place it in Ophioconis, at least for the present. The
resemblance to antarctica is particularly marked in a specimen which
has apparently at some time lost its disk; the regenerated disk, which
is still incompletely developed is covered by coarse granules, almost
exactly like those of the disk of antarctica. But papillata may always
be distinguished from antarctica, aside from the disk covering, by its
more triangular upper arm plates, the more spiniform granules of
the mouth angles, and the fewer arm spines.
Family OPHIOLEPIDID^E.
OPHIOPLOCUS IMBRICATUS.
Ophiolepis imbricata MULLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. 93.
Ophioplocus imbricatus LYMAN, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., 1865, p. 69.
There is a single, well-preserved specimen from Okinawa, the
principal one of the Riu Kiu Islands. This appears to be about the
northern limit of this Indo-Pacific species, which is replaced to the
northward by the following closely related but quite distinct form.
OPHIOPLOCUS JAPONICUS, new species.o
Disk 18 mm. in diameter; arms 66 mm. long. Disk closely cov-
ered with small scales, largest in the vicinity of the radial shields;
primary plates scarcely distinguishable, but on each interradial mar-
gin are seven plates larger than the others, the middle one being the
largest of the seven. Radial shields bare, but very small and widely
separated. Upper arm plates broken up into a considerable number
of plates, of which one at each side and five along the proximal border
of each arm joint are the largest. Interbrachial spaces below covered
with a close scaling, which is finest along the genital slits and close to
the oral shield. Genital slits long, extending from the oral shield
more than halfway to disk margin. Oral shields more or less pentag-
onal, about as long as wide, with all angles, except most proximal,
rounded. Adoral plates, meeting within, somewhat wider at outer
than at inner end; oral plates well marked, but smaller than adoral.
Oral papilla about five on each side, the penultimate much the widest;
o Japonicus signifying belonging to Japan, in reference to the apparently limited
geographical distribution.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 31
an infradental papilla commonly present. Teeth about five, very
broad, flat, and rounded. First under arm plate more or less trian-
gular, much smaller than second ; second and succeeding plates quad-
rilateral, wider than long, broadly in contact. Side arm plates small,
low, each with three short, thick, blunt arm spines, of which the
middle one about equals the arm joint; the uppermost is decidedly
shorter, the lowest decidedly longer. Tentacle scales, two -on prox-
imal side of pore, and two, or often only one, smaller, on distal side.
Color (dried from alcohol), deep olive-gray; arms irregularly banded
with light and dark olive-gray.
Localities. Japan, five specimens; Misaki, Japan, nine specimens;
Enoshima, Japan, one specimen; Ayukawa, Japan, six specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25621, U.S.N.M., from Misaki, Japan.
FIG. 5. OPHIOPLOCUS JAPONICUS. X3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW, c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Although this species is superficially much like imbricatus, it can
be at once distinguished from that species by the genital slits which
in imbricatus are very short, and never start at the oral shield. In
this particular japonicus resembles the species from Southern Cali-
fornia (esmarki), but it is at once distinguished from that species by
the arm spines, which in esmarlci are short and nearly equal. Lyman
long ago a pointed out the peculiar genital slits of Japanese speci-
mens of OpTiioplocus.
OPHIOZONA ELEVATA, new species.^
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 27 mm. long. Disk elevated,
2 mm. thick, covered with about 100 to 150 flat plates or scales,
among which the most conspicuous are the centrodorsal, two radial
in each radius, one of which lies between the ends of a pair of large
a Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 3, 1874, p. 228.
bElevatus, signifying raised up, in reference to the elevated disk.
32
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
radial shields, and three or four interradial in each interradius, one
of which is a very large marginal plate. Radial shields widely sep-
arated, oval, slightly wider at outer end. First two or three upper
arm plates quadrilateral, much wider than long; succeeding plates
in contact with each other, but with proximal side becoming shorter
and shorter until each plate is triangular and separated from its fel-
lows. Interbrachial spaces below covered with about fifteen plates,
of which a marginal one is decidedly the largest. Oral shields with
a proximal angle, but rounded distally, about as long as wide. Adoral
plates wider at outer end, meeting within; oral plates small and
indefinite. Oral papillae, four or five on each side, the penultimate
FIG. 6. OPHIO'ZONA ELEVATA. X6. o, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELO<V; c , SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
much the largest. Teeth about five; lowest much the smallest.
First under arm plate very much wider than long, about one-fourth as
large as second, which is somewhat pentagonal, with a rounded distal
angle, about as long as wide or longer ; third to eighth plates about
as wide as long or wider, imperfectly pentagonal, gradually becoming
triangular, more or less in contact with each other; succeeding plates
triangular, rather longer than wide, separated from each other. Side
arm plates large, slightly swollen, meeting above and below beyond
eighth to tenth joints; each plate carries two arm spines, the upper
decidedly the longer and nearly as long as a joint. Tentacle scales,
two, or occasionally three, quite small. Color (dried from alcohol),
dull purplish-brown, irregularly and indistinctly marked with darker
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 33
and lighter ; arms with three or four narrow, irregular, cream-colored
cross-bands ; lower surface of disk and arms, yellowish-white.
Locality. Albatross station 4893, off Goto Islands, Japan, lat.
32 32' N. ; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken
shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 3 specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25532, U.S.N.M., from station 4893.
Although this species is very near bispinosa Koshler, it appears to
be well distinguished from that species by the shape of the upper-
arm plates and the much shorter arm spines. Koehler's figure also
indicates that the disk plates of bispinosa are more or less convex or
swollen, while in elevata they are perfectly flat, although the disk
itself is decidedly elevated, sloping from the central area to the in-
terradial margins.
OPHIOZONA LONGISPINA.
Ophiozona longispina H. L. CLARK, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 51, 1908, p. 290.
Localities. Albatross station 3706, off Port Heda, Japan, 337
fathoms, green volcanic mud, 50 specimens; station 3707, off Ose
Zaki, Japan, 63 to 75 fathoms, volcanic sand, ashes, gravel, 10 speci-
mens; station 3708, off Ose Zaki, Japan, 60 to 70 fathoms, green mud,
volcanic sand, ashes, 191 specimens; station 3713, off Ose Zaki, Japan,
45 to 48 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 4 specimens; station
3739, off Ose Zaki, Japan, 55 to 65 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells,
rocks, 6 specimens; station 3740, off Ose Zaki, Japan, 65 fathoms,
volcanic sand, shells, pebbles, 5 specimens; station 4965, off eastern
Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark
green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature, 49.4, 2 specimens;
station 5055, in Suruga Gulf, Japan, lat. 34 53' N. ; long. 138 44' 15"
E., 124 fathoms, green mud, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bot-
tom temperature 56.6, 1 specimen; station 5095, in Uraga Strait,
lat. 35 5' 34" W. ; long. 139 38' 36" E., 58 fathoms, fine black sand,
broken shells, bottom temperature 57.8, 3 specimens. Bathymet-
rical range, 45 to 337 fathoms. Temperature range, 57.8 to 49.4.
Two hundred and seventy-two specimens.
The largest of these specimens has the disk 14 mm. in diameter
and the arms over 40 mm. long. The disk is covered by about three
hundred plates, but two-thirds of these are mere scales intercalated
between the regular plates. The first fifteen upper arm plates are
in contact and several of the basal ones are pentagonal or tetragonal,
and wider than long. Interbrachial spaces below are covered by
forty to fifty plates. Under arm plates in contact out to about the
fifteenth joint. Oral papilla, oral shields, arm spines, tentacle scales
and color as in the 'original specimens. The specimen from station
5055 is peculiar in having much narrower arms than specimens of
its own size from station 3708.
34916 Bull. 7611 3
34 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
OPHIOZONA PLATYDISCA, new species.o
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms about 40 mm. long. Disk very
flat and thin, covered by about two hundred scales among which the
centro-dorsal, the five primary radial, and the radial shields are
conspicuous, while other large plates occur between the proximal
ends of the radial shields and in the interradii; but there is no con-
spicuous marginal plate in each interradius. The upper arm plates,
the covering of the jaws, the oral shields, the oral papillae, the under
arm plates, the side arm plates and arm spines, and the tentacle
scales are like those of elevata, Interbrachial spaces below covered
with about thirty plates, no one of which is conspicuously larger than
the others. Color (dried from alcohol) , dull, light purple, variegated
FIG. 7. OPHIOZONA PLATYDISCA. X4.
a, FROM ABOVE; 6, PKOM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK-
with whitish; arms with four narrow, irregular, whitish cross-bands;
lower surface of disk and arms, whitish.
Locality. Albatross station 4965, off Hiro Misaki Light, Japan,
lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark green-
gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 3 specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25717, U.S.N.M., from station 4965.
It seems quite possible that this is the adult form of elevata, but
the differences in the form and scaling of the disk have induced me
to keep them separate for the present. The absence of a large
marginal plate in each interradius, above and below, distinguishes
platydisca, but this may be the result of its considerably larger size.
From bispinosa this species is at once distinguished by its upper
arm plates and shorter arm spines.
signifying flat, and 8 canoe signifying disk, in reference to the flat, thin,
disk.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 35
OPHIOZONA POLYPLAX, new species."
Disk, 17 mm. in diameter; arms 53 mm. long. Disk flattened,
covered with a close coat of three hundred (or more) scales, among
which the centro-dorsal and five radial can be easily distinguished,
though they are not conspicuous. Radial shields rather large and
widely separated. Upper arm plates more or less triangular, those
at base of arm becoming tetragonal by truncation of proximal angle;
first two or three much wider than long; only the basal four or five
in contact. Interbrachial spaces below covered with about thirty
plates. Oral shields pentagonal with sharp proximal angle and
rounded distal angles. Adoral plates large, wider without than
within, where they meet; oral plates small. Oral papillae about five
on each side, the penultimate largest. First under arm plate very
small, triangular or diamond shaped, much wider than long; second,
C
FIG. 8. OPHIOZONA POLYPLAX. x 3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO AND A
HALF ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
third, and fourth plates tetragonal, becoming hexagonal, longer than
wide; succeeding plates hexagonal with rounded distal angles, be-
coming pentagonal, wider than long, until outer part of arm is reached
where they are widely separated and are longer than wide> Side
arm plates large but little swollen, meeting above beyond the third
or fourth joint and below beyond the seventh or eighth; each plate
carries two thick, blunt spines of which the upper is the longer,
but is distinctly shorter than a joint. Tentacle scale single, moder-
ately large. Color (dried from alcohol) , nearly uniformly white, the
disk strongly tinged with gray above.
Localities. Albatross station 4957, off southeastern Japan, 437
fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 39.8, 1 specimen; station 4969, off Shio Misaki Light>
Japan, lat. 33 23' 40" N. ; long. 135 33' E., 587 fathoms, brown mud,
signifying many and nXa. signifying anything fiat and broad, a plate, in
reference to the numerous disk plates.
36 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
sand, stones; bottom temperature 38. 9, 1 specimen; station 4972,
off Shio Misaki Light, Japan, lat. 33 25' 45" N.; long. 135 33' E.,
440 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera, bottom temperature
38.1, 24 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 437 to 587 fathoms.
Temperature range, 39.8 to 38.1. Twenty-six specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25624, U.S.N.M., from station 4969.
This species is obviously near both alba Liitken and Mortensen and
longispina H. L. Clark. It is easily distinguished from alba by the
scaling of the disk and the much larger (relatively) radial shields;
there are also slight differences in the side arm plates, the oral shields,
and the arm spines, so that the two species look unlike. From
longispina, the upper arm plates, side arm plates, and arm spines are
quite sufficient to distinguish it, the general facies of the two species
being quite different.
OPHIOZONA PROJECTA.
Ophiozona projecta KCEHLER, Siboga Litt. Oph., 1905, pt. 2, p. 19.
Locality. Albatross station 4893, off Goto Islands, Japan, lat. 32
32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken
shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 1 specimen.
Although this specimen is much larger than Koehler's type
(diameter of disk, 7 mm. as against 4) and has much longer arms
(35 mm. as against 20), I find no valid characters by which it can be
separated from the East Indian species. The basal arm-joints have
three spines instead of two, but this might be expected in view of the
larger size of the specimen. Krehler does not mention the color of
his specimens, but this Japanese one is dull reddish-purple, indis-
tinctly variegated above with darker and lighter, and uniformly
lighter below.
Genus OPHIURA.
While it is to be regretted that a name which has been so widely
used as Ophioglyplia must be abandoned, there seems to be no
escape from Bell's a reasoning, which shows clearly that Ophioglyplia
Lyman is a pure synonym of Ophiura as limited by Agassiz and then
by Forbes. Consequently the name Ophiura is used in this report
for the group of ophiurans widely known as Ophioglyplia. With the
possible exception of Ophioihrix, no genus in the whole class is so
greatly in need of revision as is this one. Indeed Ophiothrix is a far
more homogeneous group than Ophiura, for there are several very
different generic types now included in this genus, of which over one
hundred species are known. I regret to be obliged to add so con-
siderably to this already unwieldy number, but I hope that the
figures and descriptions here given will make the ultimate revision
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), vol. 8, 1891, p. 339.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIUBANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 37
of the genus less, rather than more, difficult. In the arrangement ,
of the species I have followed the "Key" in Lyman's Challenger
report, interpolating the new species, so far as possible, among their
natural allies.
OPHIURA KINBERGI.
Ophioglypha Icinbergi LJUNGMAN, Ofv. Kong. Akad., 1866, p. 166.
Ophioglypha sinensis LYMAN, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 6, 1871, p. 12.
Ophiura Jcinbergi MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Localities. Albatross station 3725, off Noma Saki, Japan, 13 fath-
oms, sand, shells, gravel, 3 specimens; station 3726, off Japan, 26
fathoms, gray volcanic sand, 6 specimens; station 4815, sea of Japan,
lat. 38 16' N. ; long. 138 52' E., 70 fathoms, dark green sand, bottom
temperature 51, 2 specimens; station 4885, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 31'
30" N.; long. 129 30' 15" E., 53 fathoms, dark gray sand, broken
shells, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 13 to 70 fathoms. Thir-
teen specimens.
I can but agree with Kcehler a in regarding
sinensis as a synonym of Jcinbergi. The Albatross
specimens have been compared with Lyman's
type of sinensis and are unquestionably identical ;
other specimens from Australia (including what
seems to be a cotype of Icinbergi}, Japan, Hong-
kong, the Philippines, and Calcutta have also
been available for comparison. Australian speci-
mens have the oral shields relatively larger than FlG . 9 ._ O pHiuRA KINBERGI.
specimens from Japan, but the specimens from x 5. SHOWING DISK SCAL-
the Philippines are intermediate and I do not
think the character warrants keeping sinensis and Icinbergi separate.
As the arm comb of this species has never been figured, it has
seemed desirable to figure it herewith (fig. 9) , as it is this character
which specially distinguishes Icinbergi from the two following species.
OPHIURA SARSII.
Ophiura sarsii LUTKEN, Vid. Medd. for 1854, 1855, p. 101.
Localities. Albatross station 2841, off Alaska, lat. 54 18' N.;
long. 165 55' W., 56 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 41,
192 specimens; station 2842, off Alaska, lat. 54 15' N.; long. 166 3'
W., 72 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 41, 37 specimens;
station 2843, off Alaska, lat. 53 56' N.; long. 165 56' W., 45
fathoms, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 43.5, 3 speci-
mens; station 2844, off Alaska, lat. 53 56' N.; long. 165 40' W.,
54 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 42, 63 specimens;
station 2845, off Alaska, lat. 54 5' N.; long. 164 9' W., 42
aSiboga Litt. Oph., 1905, p. 22.
38 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 42, 22 speci-
mens; station 2847, off Alaska, lat. 55 1' N.; long. 160 12' W.,
48 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 42, 3 specimens;
station 2848, off Alaska, lat. 55 10' N.; long. 160 18' W., 110
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 41, 7 specimens; station
2851, off Alaska, lat. 54 55' N.; long. 159 52' W., 35 fathoms, gray
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 44.8, 167 specimens; sta-
tion 2856, off Alaska, lat. 58 7' N.; long. 151 36' W., 68 fathoms,
gray sand with black specks, bottom temperature 44, 25 specimens;
station 2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N.; long. 148 36' W., 230
fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom temperature 39.8, 104 specimens;
station 2862, off British Columbia, lat. 50 49' N.; long. 127 36' 30"
W., 238 fathoms, gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 44.7,
40 specimens; station 2863, off Washington, lat. 48 58' N.; long.
123 10' W., 67 fathoms, fine sand, broken shells, bottom temperature
48.5, 1,765 specimens; station 2866, off Washington, lat. 48 9' N.;
long. 125 3' W., 171 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 43.2,
488 specimens; station 2867, off Washington, lat. 48 7' N.; long.
124 55' W., 37 fathoms, fine gray sand, 6 specimens; station 2876,
off Washington, lat. 48 33' N.; long. 124 53' W., 59 fathoms, black
sand, mud, bottom temperature 45.5, 33 specimens; station 2877,
off Washington, lat. 48 33' N.; long. 124 53' W., 59 fathoms, black
sand, mud, bottom temperature 45.5, 18 specimens; station 2882,
off Oregon, lat. 46 9' N.; long. 124 22' 30" W., 68 fathoms, gray
sand, bottom temperature 45. 8 ? , 71 specimens; station 2883, off
Oregon, lat. 45 56' N.; long. 124 1' 30" W., 29 fathoms, fine gray
sand, bottom temperature 50.1, 3 specimens; station 2890, off
Oregon, lat. 43 46' N.; long. 124 57' W., 277 fathoms, gray
sand, bottom temperature 42.2, 209 specimens; station 3047, off
Oregon, lat. 46 47' N.; long. 124 30' 15" W., 50 fathoms, fine
gray sand, bottom temperature 45.9, 3 specimens; station 3053,
off Oregon, lat. 44 4' 30" N.; long. 124 50' W., 64 fathoms, coral,
broken shells, rocky, bottom temperature 47.3, 4 specimens; station
3059, off Oregon, lat. 44 56' N.; long. 124 12' 30" W., 77 fathoms,
mud, bottom temperature 45.1, 5 specimens; station 3077, off Alaska,
lat. 55 46' N.; long. 132 24' W., 322 fathoms, green mud, gravel,
bottom temperature 42.4, 29 specimens; station 3112, off California,
lat. 37 8' N.; long. 122 47' W., 296 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom
temperature 41.8, 1 specimen; station 3218, off Alaska, lat. 54
15' 40" N."; long. 164 21' W., 41 fathoms, black sand, bottom tem-
perature 37.7, 35 specimens; station 3219, off Alaska, lat. 54 14' N.;
long. 164 35' W., 59 fathoms, black sand, gravel, bottom temperature
38, 8 specimens; station 3222, Bering Sea, lat. 54 20' N.; long.
165 30' W., 50 fathoms, black sand, pebbles, shells, bottom tem-
perature 39.7, 104 specimens; station 3223, Bering Sea, lat. 54
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 39
26' 15" N.; long. 165 32' W., 56 fathoms, black pebbles, bottom
temperature 39, 50 specimens; station 3224, Bering Sea, lat. 54
42' 50" N.; long. 165 37' W., 121 fathoms, black sand, gravel,
bottom temperature 38.7, 50 specimens; station 3252, Bering Sea,
lat. 57' 22' 20" N.; long. 164 24' 40" W., 29 fathoms, black mud,
bottom temperature 44.8, 165 specimens; station 3253, Bering Sea,
lat. 57 5' 50" N.; long. 164 27' 15" W., 36 fathoms, mud, sand,
bottom temperature 35, 122 specimens; station 3254, Bering Sea,
lat. 56 50' N.; long. 164 27' 50" W., 46 fathoms, green mud, sand,
bottom temperature 36.2, 445 specimens; station 3255, Bering Sea,
lat. 56 33' 30" N.; long. 164 31' 40" W., 43 fathoms, green mud,
sand, bottom temperature 37, 5,743 specimens; station 3256, Bering
Sea, lat. 56 18' N.; long. 164 34' 10" W., 49 fathoms, green mud,
black specks, bottom temperature 35, 253 specimens; station 3257,
Bering Sea, lat. 54 49' N.; long. 165 32' W., 81 fathoms, gray sand,
gravel, bottom temperature 39, 79 specimens; station 3258, Bering
Sea, lat. 54 48' N.; long. 165 13' 30" W., 70 fathoms, black sand,
gravel, bottom temperature 39, 56 specimens; station 3260, Bering
Sea, lat. 54 36' 15" N.; long. 164 52' W., 13 fathoms, fine black
sand, bottom temperature 42, 8 specimens; station 3279, Bering
Sea, lat. 56 25' 40" N.; long. 162 39' 15" W., 41 fathoms, fine gray
sand, bottom temperature 37, 177 specimens; station 3280, Bering
Sea ? lat. 56 27' N.; long. 162 8' W., 36 fathoms, fine gray sand,
bottom temperature 41, 96 specimens; station 3309, Bering Sea, lat.
56 56' N. ; long. 172 55' W., 71 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 37.9, 750 specimens; station 3311, Bering Sea, lat. 53 59' 36"
N.; long. 166 29' 43" W., 85 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 41, 7 specimens; station 33 12, Bering Sea, lat. 53 59' ll"N.;long.
166 25' 9" W., 45 fathoms, fine sand, mud, bottom temperature 43,
1 specimen; station 3313, Bering Sea, lat. 54 1' 51" N.; long. 166
27' 38" W., 68 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom temperature 42.7,
52 specimens; station 3314, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 24" N.; long. 166
32' 47" W., 74 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature 42.5, 16
specimens; station 3315, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 40" N.; long. 166
42' W., 277 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 38.5,
1 specimen; station .3318, Bering Sea, lat. 53 47' 40" N.; long .167
14' W., 61 fathoms, black sand, gravel, shells, bottom temperature
42, 21 specimens; station 3322, Bering Sea, lat. 53 28' 45" N.;
long. 167 23' 50" W., 35 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature
42.4, 4 specimens; station 3339, off Alaska, lat. 54 46' N.; long.
157 43' 30" W., 138 fathoms, mud, gravel, bottom temperature
37.4, 3 specimens; station 3340, off Alaska, lat. 55 26' N. ; long. 155
26' W., 695 fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 36.8, 3 specimens;
station 3439, Bering Sea, lat. 57 6' N. ; long. 170 35' W., 41 fathoms,
fine black sand, bottom temperature 44, 418 specimens; station
40 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
3440, Bering Sea, lat. 57 5' N.; long. 170 41' W., 48 fathoms, black
mud, shells, bottom temperature ?, 901 specimens; station 3441,
Bering Sea, lat. 57 4' 20" N.; long. 170 52' 30" W., 51 fathoms,
black mud, shells, bottom temperature 39, 319 specimens; sta-
tion 3442, Bering Sea, lat. 57 10' N.; long. 170 47' 15" W., 47
fathoms, blue mud, shells, bottom temperature 40, 59 specimens;
station 3443, off Washington, lat. 48 13' 30" N.; long. 123 11' 20"
W., 97 fathoms, green mud, pebbles, bottom temperature 46, 1 speci-
men; station 3449, off Washington, lat. 48 29' 40" K; long. 124 40'
10" W., 135 fathoms, gray sand, gravel, 121 specimens; station 3450, off
Washington, lat. 48 26' 50" N.; long. 124 39' 35" W., 151 fathoms,
gravel, bottom temperature 44, 21 specimens; station 3452, off
Washington, lat. 48 24' 40" N.; long. 124 29' 10" W., 125 fathoms,
rocky, black gravel, bottom temperature 44.5, 7 specimens; station
3453, off Washington, lat. 48 20' N.; long. 124 13' 40" W., 120
fathoms, gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature 44.4, 102
specimens; station 3454, off Washington, lat. 48 27' 50" N.; long.
124 42' 40" W., 152 fathoms, gray sand, rocky, bottom temperature
44.2, 3 specimens; station 3456, off Washington, lat. 48 31' 15" N.;
long. 124 43' 15" W., 136 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature
44.2, 21 specimens; station 3457, off Washington, lat. 48 28' 20" N.;
long. 124 52' 5" W., 142 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 44.2,
90 specimens; station 3459, off Washington, lat. 48 24' 20" N.; long.
124 24' 40" W., 123 fathoms, gray sand, pebbles, bottom tempera-
ture 44.5, 21 specimens; station 3482, Bering Sea, lat. 57 18' N.;
long. 170 42' W., 42 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom tem-
perature 38.9, 491 specimens; station 3483, Bering Sea, lat. 57 18'
N.; long. 171 18' W., 56 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
36.8, 5 specimens; station 3485, Bering Sea, lat. 57 18' N.; long.
172 34' W., 62 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 37.1, 18
specimens; station 3486, Bering Sea, lat. 57 19' N.; long. 173 53'
W., 150 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38, 6
specimens; station 3487, Bering Sea, lat. 57 10' N.; long. 173 45'
W., 81 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 37.6,
30 specimens; station 3490, Bering Sea, lat. 56 47' N.; long. 173
14' W., 78 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38,
8 specimens; station 3491, Bering Sea, lat. 56 32' N.; long. 172 28'
W., 103 fathoms, green mud, fine gray sand, bottom temperature?,
14 specimens; station 3492, Bering Sea, lat. 56 32' N.; long. 171
50' W., 70 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 37.8,
5 specimens; station 3495, Bering Sea, lat. 56 37' N.; long. 170 1'
W.,-56 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38.5,
5 specimens; station 3504, Bering Sea, lat. 56 57' N.; long. 169 27'
W., 34 fathoms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature
37.8, 95 specimens; station 3505, Bering Sea, lat. 57 9' N.; long.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 41
168 17' W., 44 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 38.1,
234 specimens; station 3511, Bering Sea, lat. 57 32' N.; long. 169
38' W., 39 fathoms, fine sand, dark mud, bottom temperature 37.2, 2
specimens; station 3513, Bering Sea, lat. 58 27' N.; long. 169 1' W. ;
35 fathoms, fine sand, green mud, bottom temperature ?, 32 specimens;
station 3520, Bering Sea, lat. 59 28' N.; long. 170 57' W., 38 fath-
oms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 32.2, 1 specimen;
station 3521, Bering Sea, lat. 59 9' N.; long. 170 48' W., 40 fathoms,
green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 31.9, 310 specimens; sta-
tion 3522, Bering Sea, lat. 57 58' N.; long. 170 9' W., 41 fathoms,
coarse gray sand, gravel, bottom temperature 35.7, 21 specimens;
station 3523, Bering Sea, lat. 57 39' N.; long. 170 2' W., 39 fathoms,
green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38, 30 specimens; station
3527, Bering Sea, lat. 57 48' N.; long. 171 21' W., 52 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 38, 18 specimens; station 3528, Bering
Sea, lat. 58 19' 30" N.; long. 172 2' W., 55 fathoms, dark green
mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 35.9, 90 specimens; station
3529, Bering Sea, lat. 58 36' N.; long. 172 24' W., 56 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 36.1, 237 specimens; station 3530, Bering
Sea, lat. 59 39' N.; long. 173 53' W., 59 fathoms, dark green mud,
fine sand, bottom temperature 34.9, 127 specimens; station 3531,
Bering Sea, lat. 59 55' N.; long. 174 17' W., 59 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 35.1, 70 specimens; station 3535, Bering Sea,
lat. 57 2' N.; long. 170 46' W., 52 fathoms, green mud, fine sand,
bottom temperature 39, 6 specimens; station 3536, Bering Sea, lat.
57 5' N. ; long. 170 35' W., 40 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom
temperature 42.4, 110 specimens; station 3540, Bering Sea, lat. 56
27' N. ; long. 166 8' W., 51 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom
temperature 36, 46 specimens; station 3541, Bering Sea, lat. 56 14'
N.; long. 164 8' W., 49 fathoms, black mud, fine sand, bottom tem-
perature 36.1, 55 specimens; station 3542, Bering Sea, lat. 56 10'
N.; long. 163 26' W., 49 fathoms, dark mud, fine sand, bottom
temperature 39.2, 50 specimens; station 3543, Bering- Sea, lat. 54
41' N.; long. 169 39' W., 43 fathoms, black sand, shells, bottom tem-
perature 42.7, 3 specimens; station 3546, Bering Sea, lat. 54 12'
N.; long. 165 42' W., 36 fathoms, gravel, black sand, bottom tem-
perature 45.6, 78 specimens;' station 3547, Bering Sea, lat. 54 16'
N. ; long. 165 45' W v 51 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom tempera-
ture 45, 29 specimens; station 3553, Bering Sea, lat. 56 28' N.; long.
169 46' W., 51 fathoms, fine gray sand, mud, bottom temperature
39.5, 25 specimens; station 3554, Bering Sea, lat. 56 34' N.; long.
170 19' W., 62 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 39.5, 12
specimens; station 3556, Bering Sea, lat. 56 57' 30" N.; long. 170
33' W., 49 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 41,
5 specimens; station 3560, Bering Sea, lat. 56 40' N.; long. 169 20'
42 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
W., 43 fathoms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature
40.7, 36 specimens; station 3561, Bering Sea, lat. 56 31' N.; long.
169 17' W., 48 fathoms, gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature
40.7, 28 specimens; station 3594, off Washington, lat. 48 12' N.;
long. 122 50' W., 36 fathoms, sand, pebbles, bottom temperature
46, 7 specimens; station 3602, Bering Sea, lat. 56 32' N.; long. 172
40' W., 81 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.1, 50
specimens; station 3609, Bering Sea, lat. 55 35' N.; long. 168 20'
W., 74 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.9, 165
specimens; station 3610, Bering Sea, lat. 55 58' N.; long. 167 16'
W., 75 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.8, 381 speci-
mens; station 3611, Bering Sea, lat. 56 45' N.; long. 167 25' W.,
50 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 34.6, 408 speci-
mens; station 3658, Hakodate Bay, Japan, 22 fathoms, fine gray
sand, 3 specimens; station 3659, Hakodate Bay, Japan, 15.5 fathoms,
fine gray sand, 1 specimen; station 3673, off Washington, lat. 48
21' 45" N.; long. 124 50' 30" W., 77 fathoms, green mud, sand, 10
specimens; station 3675, locality unknown (the station is missing
from the record), 10 specimens; station 3769, off Nagane Saki, Japan,
40-42 fathoms, green mud, sand, 12 specimens; station 3775, off
Kinkwasan Light, Honshu Island, Japan, 57 fathoms, green mud,
sand, 1 specimen; station 3789, off Washington, lat. 48 21' 45" N.;
long. 124 52' 30" W., 115 fathoms, coarse gray sand, gravel, 123
specimens; station 4770, Bering Sea, lat. 54 31' N.; long. 179 15'
E., 247 fathoms, 14 specimens; station 4784, off Aleutian Islands,
lat. 52 55' 40" N.; long. 173 26' E., 135 fathoms, coarse pebbles,
1 specimen; station 4786, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 54 51' 30" N. ;
long. 167 14' E., 54 fathoms, green sand, 7 specimens; station 4788,
near Copper Island, lat. 54 50' 24" N.; long. 167 13' E., 56-57
fathoms, green sand, 13 specimens; station 4789, near Copper Island,
lat. 54 49' 45" N.; long. 167 12' 30" E., 56 fathoms, green sand, 44
specimens; station 4790, off Bering Island, lat. 54 38' 45" N.; long.
167 11' 45" E., 64 fathoms, pebbles, 4 specimens; station 4791, off
Bering Island, lat. 54 36' 15" N.; long. 166 58' 15" E., 72-76
fathoms, rocky, 30 specimens; station 4792, off Bering Island, lat.
54 36' 15" N.; long. 166 57' 15" E., 72 fathoms, pebbles, 147
specimens; station 4807, off Cape Tsiuka, Japan, lat. 41 36' 12"
N.; long. 140 36' E., 44-47 fathoms, shells, coarse gravel, 5 speci-
mens; station 4822, off No Saki. Japan, lat. 37 8' 10" N.; long. 137
8' E., 130 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 39.4, 4 speci-
mens; station 4826, off Sudzu, Misaki Light, Japan, lat. 37 25' N.;
long. 137 32' E., 114 fathoms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom
temperature, 42.5, 10 specimens; station 4828, off Hondo, Japan, lat.
37 23' N.; long. 137 36' E., 163 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 34.9, 1 specimen; station 4832, off Ando Zaki, Japan, lat.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 43
36 14' 30" N.; long. 135 56' 30" E., 76-79 fathoms, dark gray sand,
bottom temperature 53.2, 5 specimens; station 4833, off Ando Zaki,
Japan, lat.36 13' 40" N.; long. 135 56' 30" E.,79 fathoms, dark gray
sand, rocks, 1 specimen; station 4835, off O Shima, Japan, lat. 36 3'
30" N.; long. 135 52' 30" E., 134 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 34.9, 27 specimens; station 4840, Sea of Japan, lat. 36 2'
N. ; long. 135 30' E., 154 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
33.9, 6 specimens; station 4842, off Dogo Island, lat. 36 13' N.;
long. 133 27' E., 82 fathoms, fine gray sand, shells, bottom tem-
perature 54.6, 13 specimens; station 4854, off Korea, lat. 35 54' N.;
long. 129 46' E., 335 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
32.4, 22 specimens; station 4861, off Korea, lat. 36 19' N.; long. 129
47' E., 163 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 33.4, 15 speci-
mens; station 4862, off Korea, lat. 36 20' N.; long. 129 50' E., 184
fathoms, green mud. bottom temperature 32.9, 1 specimen; station
4891, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 27' N.; long. 128 34' E. 181 fathoms
gray sand, broken shells, rocks, bottom temperature 50.2, 5 speci-
mens; station 4981, off Benkei Misaki Light, Japan, lat. 42 58' 15"
N.; long. 140 9' 10" E., 390-406 fathoms; green mud, bottom tem-
perature 32.7, 11 specimens; station 4982, Sea of Japan, lat. 43
N.; long. 140 10' 30" E., 390-428 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 37.7, 1 specimen; station 4986, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 1' 40"
N.; long. 140 22' 40" E., 172 fathoms, fine black sand, black mud,
bottom temperature 33.9, 4 specimens; station 4987, Sea of Japan,
lat. 43 19' 20" N.; long. 140 17' E., 59 fathoms, rocky, bottom
temperature 44.8, 2 specimens; station 4988, Sea of Japan, lat. 43
23' 10" N.; long. 140 21' 10" E., 68 fathoms, sand, bottom tempera-
ture 45, 17 specimens; station 4989, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 23' 10"
N.; long. 140 37' E., 92 fathoms, sand, bottom temperature 39.7,
14 specimens; station 4991, Sea of Japan, lat. 45 23' 20" N.; long.
140 48' E., 325 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 33, 1 speci-
men; station 4994, Sea of Japan, lat. 45 27' 50" N.; long. 140 54'
E., 190 fathoms, brown mud, fine black sand, bottom temperature 34,
9 specimens; station 4997, Gulf of Tartary, lat. 47 38' 40" N.; long.
141 24' 30" E., 318 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 32.8,
15 specimens; station 5022, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 35' 30" N.; long.
145 20' E., 109 fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, bottom tem-
perature 30.1, 1 specimen; station 5023, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 43'
30" N.; long. 145 3' E., 75 fathoms, sand, pebbles, bottom tempera-
ture 30.9, 2 specimens; station 5037, off Urakawa Light, Japan, lat.
42 2' 40" N.; long. 142 33' 20" E., 175-349 fathoms, bottom tem-
perature 37.9, 1 specimen; station 5038, off Urakawa Light, Japan,
lat. 42 2' 40" N. ; long. 142 36' E., 175 fathoms, bottom tempera-
ture 37.1, 3 specimens; station 5092, in Uraga Strait, Jat. 35 4' 20"
N.; long. 139 38' 18" E., 70 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom tern-
44 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
perature 56.3, 3 specimens; Coal Station, Unga, 1 specimen:
Arctic Cruise of the Corwin, 183 specimens; Arctic Ocean, 1,139
specimens; St. Pauls Island, 1 specimen; Bering Straits, 12 fathoms,
gravel, 34 specimens; Bering Straits, 1 specimen; 10 miles west of
Point Franklin, Alaska, 13i fathoms, sand, 41 specimens; Popoft'
Strait, 6 fathoms, 6 specimens; Alaska, 143 specimens; Cape Sa-
bine, Alaska, 13 fathoms, 4 specimens; 15 miles west of Cape Krusen-
stern, 5 fathoms, mud, 5 specimens; 66 45' N. by 166 35' W., 13
specimens; Iliuliuk, 78 specimens; Nazan Bay, Atka, 21 speci-
mens; Captains Harbor, Unalaska, 21 specimens; Port Levasheff,
Unalaska, 3 specimens; Kadiak, 23 specimens; Sitka, Alaska, 15
fathoms, 9 specimens; Monterey, California, 1 specimen; unknown
stations, 1,812 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 5 to 695 fathoms.
Temperature range, 56.3 to 30.1. Twenty thousand nine hundred
and thirty-two specimens.
This extraordinary array of specimens exhibits considerable diver-
sity in several details. The smallest specimens have the disk about
3 mm. in diameter, while in the largest specimens it exceeds 32.
Most of the specimens are uniformly gray in color, but there is great
variety of shade, some being very dark, others .very light, others
decidedly yellowish, and others more or less brown. Some specimens,
generally young ones, have the arms banded with yellowish or whitish,
and in a few cases there are whitish spots or markings on the disk.
Several specimens are distinctly spotted with black. There is equal
diversity in the length of the arm spines ; in some specimens even the
uppermost spine is scarcely as long as a joint, while at the other
extreme we find specimens in which it equals two joints. The scales
of the disk exhibit more or less diversity, for they are commonly per-
fectly flat, but they may be more or less swollen, so that the disk is
sometimes very rough. The arm comb, too, displays considerable
variety, for while the papillae are never as broad, truncate, and
crowded as in luikeni nor as slender and delicate as in kinbergi, yet
they range from those which are wider than long and bluntly rounded
to those which are several times as long as they are thick and are
nearly cylindrical in form. In any case they are almost always well
spaced. In large specimens they are sometimes greatly reduced.
The chief interest in this huge collection of sarsii is the light which it
throws on the distribution of the species in the North Pacific Ocean.
Previously known from the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans and
from Bering Sea down to depths of about 1,700 fathoms, this col-
lection shows it to be by far the most abundant ophiuran in the North
Pacific, occurring at least as far south on both coasts as lat. 38 N.,
and down to depths of about 700 fathoms. It is interesting to note
that some of the diversities of form and color referred to above are
associated with certain geographical areas. Thus the black-spotted
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 45
specimens are all from the coasts of Japan, and the same is true of
the specimens which have long comb papillae. Moreover, many of
the Japanese specimens are brown rather than gray. It is remark-
able that in these particulars these Japanese specimens of sarsii are
almost exactly like many specimens from off the New England coast.
The large series of specimens in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
collection from Europe, Greenland, and the eastern coast of North
America, when compared with this huge series from the North Pacific,
seems to indicate that the northern specimens are as a rule larger,
duller, and with shorter comb papillae than those from near the
southern limit of distribution. The latter tend to have elongated
slender comb papillae and a brown or variegated coloration. There is
no hard and fast rule, however, for typical sarsii are often taken at
the extreme southern part of the range and occasionally at the same
station with the more divergent form. The specimens from stations
3658, 3659, 3775, 4807 4833, 4987, and 4988, and one specimen from
4826 and one from 4989, have elongated comb papillae. In this
respect they approach Jcinbergi, but the papillae are not as slender
as in that species, and in several other characters the specimens are
different.
OPHIURA LUTKENI.
Ophioglypha liitkeni LYMAN, Proc. Bos. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 7, 1860, p. 197.
Ophiura luikeni MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Localities. Albatross station 2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N.; long.
148 36' W., 230 fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom temperature
39.8, 1 specimen; station 2862, off British Columbia, lat. 50 49' N.;
long. 127 36' 30" W., 238 fathoms, gray sand and pebbles, bottom
temperature 44.7, 112 specimens; station 2868, off Washington, lat.
47 52' N.; long. 124 44' W., 31 fathoms, gray sand, bottom tem-
perature 46.9, 7 specimens; station 2869, off Washington, lat. 47
38' N.; long. 124 39' W., 32 fathoms, black sand, bottom tempera-
ture, 48.4, 8 specimens; station 2870, off Washington, lat. 46 44'
N.; long. 124 32' W., 58 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 46.5,
11 specimens; station 2872, off Washington, lat. 48 17' N.; long.
124 52' W., 38 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 45.5, 3
specimens; station 2882, off Oregon, lat. 46 9' N.; long. 124 22' 30"
W., 68 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 45.8, 15 specimens;
station 2884, off Oregon, lat. 45 55' N. ; long. 124 2' W., 29 fathoms,
fine gray sand, bottom temperature 50.2, 2 specimens; station 3046,
off Washington, lat. 46 48' 30" N.; long. 124 28' W., 48 fathoms,
fine gray sand, bottom temperature 46.1, 18 specimens; station
3047, off Washington, lat. 46 47' N.; long. 124 30' 15" W., 50 fath-
oms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 45.9, 9 specimens; station
3049, off Washington, lat. 46 31' N.; long. 124 22' W., 43 fathoms,
fine black sand, bottom temperature 46.7, 12 specimens; station
46 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
3053, off Oregon, lat. 44 4' 30" N.; long. 124 50' W, 64 fathoms,
coral, broken shells, rocky, bottom temperature 47.3, 3 specimens;
station 3059, off Oregon, lat. 44 56' N.; long. 124 12' 30" W., 77
fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 45.1, 9 specimens; station 3064,
off Oregon, lat. 46 3' 15" N.; long. 124 9' W., 46 fathoms, fine gray
sand, gravel, bottom temperature 45.6, 9 specimens; station 3078,
off Oregon, lat. 43 59' 15" N.; long. 124 46' W., 68 fathoms, gray
mud, bottom temperature 45.7, 1 specimen; station 3114, off Cali-
fornia, lat. 37 6' N.; long. 122 32' W., 62 fathoms, mud, bottom
temperature ?, 185 specimens; station 3147, off California, lat. 37 N.;
long. 122 20' W., 56 fathoms, brown mud, bottom temperature 49.2,
45 specimens; station 3148, off California, lat. 37 8' N.; long. 122
28' 10" W., 47 fathoms, brown mud, bottom temperature 51.3, 56
specimens; station 3173, off California, lat. 38 19' 25" N.; long. 123
14' 30" W., 62 fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 48.2, 12 speci-
mens; station 3350, off California, lat. 38 58' 10" N.; long. 123 57'
5" W., 75 fathoms, fine sand, mud, bottom temperature 48.4, 34
specimens; station 3671, off California, lat. 37 N.; long. 122 20' W.,
56 fathoms, green mud, sand, 20 specimens; Sitka, 15 fathoms, 10 speci-
mens; Bellkoffsky Bay, 15 to 25 fathoms, shells, 4 specimens; un-
known stations, 72 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 15 to 238 fath*-
cms. Temperature range, 51.3 to 39.8. Six hundred and fifty-
eight specimens.
Among these 658 specimens, the diameter of the disk ranges from
7 to 27 mm., and there is some diversity of color, but the appearance
of the arm comb and the length of the arm spines show surprisingly
little variety. One of the specimens from station 2858 is perfectly
tetramerous. The characteristic color of this species is bright gray,
with whitish and blackish markings on the disk and particularly on
the distal half of the oral interbrachial spaces. These light and dark
spots are occasionally present also on the arms. The lower surface
of the entire animal is nearly white. In many specimens the light
spots of the disk are very conspicuous, but it is quite as common to
find specimens on which there are no markings of any kind. The
general structure of lutlceni, is, as a rule, lighter and handsomer than
that of sarsii, and the disk is commonly distinctly pentangular rather
than circular. Some specimens, however, at first sight, are hard to
distinguish from sarsii, but in every such case the arm comb offers
an unmistakable character, the wide, truncate, closely-crowded papil-
lae of lutlceni being entirely unlike those of any specimen of sarsii
which I have ever seen. There can be no doubt that luikeni on the
western American coast and Jcinbergi on the eastern Asiatic coast are
southern forms of sarsii, for which species the center of abundance
in the eastern hemisphere is undoubtedly in the vicinity of the Aleu-
tian Islands and in Bering Sea.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 47
v The range of kinbergi extends from the Gulf of Tokyo to the Red
Sea and New South Wales, while liiikeni ranges from Alaska to San
Diego, California. The two are thus very evidently warm-water
species, found only in comparatively shallow water. They are there-
fore widely separated from each other, but the range of sarsii broadly
overlaps that of each of them, so that sarsii and Jcinbergi may both
be found on the coast of Honshu Island, Japan, while sarsii and lut-
Iceni are both common off the coast of Oregon and Washington. The
three species are easily distinguished as follows:
KEY TO SPECIES.
Arm comb made up of short, broad, truncate papillae, which are closely crowded side
by side, so that there is no resemblance to a comb lutkeni.
Arm comb made up of well-spaced, blunt or pointed papillae, so that there is more
or less resemblance to a comb.
Disk scales variable; more or less irregular, and angular, often somewhat swollen;
primary plates rarely noticeable; comb-papillae short and bead-like or more
or less elongated, the length not often exceeding three times the greatest thick-
ness; middle arm spine becoming the longest at tip of arm sarsii.
Disk scales flat, the primary plates conspicuous and usually surrounded by belts
of smaller ones much as in Ophiolepis; comb-papillae very slender, their length
at least five times their thickness; middle arm spine becoming the shortest at
tip of arm Iciribergi.
OPHIURA MICRACANTHA, new species.o
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms about 50 mm. long. Disk covered
by several hundred overlapping scales, of varying size, among which
the centro-dorsal and several radial and interradial plates can be dis-
tinguished by their larger size. Radial shields about as wide as long,
separated, or barely in contact at middle, outer ends rounded, inner
somewhat pointed. Basal upper arm plates much wider than long,
tetragonal, distal side longest and distinctly convex; gradually the
plates become longer and narrower, until at middle of arm they are
longer than wide and are very narrow proximally; they remain in
contact nearly to tip of arm ; in small specimens (disk diameter about
8 mm.) only first two or three plates are wider than long. Inter-
brachial spaces below covered by numerous scales, of which those
nearest margin are largest. Oral shields pentagonal, wider than long,
with a slight notch in lateral margins at end of genital slits. Adoral
plates long and slender, three or four times as long as wide ; oral plates
shorter and stouter. Oral papillae three on each side, wide, two outer
ones with a thin sharp edge which is often distinctly notched. Teeth
about four, lowermost smallest. Genital slits long but not conspicu-
ous. Genital scales hidden by scaling of interbrachial spaces, but
McKpbe, signifying small, and aKavOa, signifying spine, in reference to the very
small, middle arm spine.
48
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
wide and conspicuous at their upper, outer ends; marginal row of
papillae well developed; seen from above, arm comb consists of six
to eight slender well-spaced papillae, succeeded by much broader ones
in contact with each other. First under arm plate wider than long,
somewhat pointed distally; second plate much larger, nearly as long
as wide, somewhat hexagonal; succeeding plates much wider than
long, somewhat triangular, rapidly becoming very small; only first
two or three in contact. Side arm plates large, meeting below but
not above; each plate carries three arm spines, of which lowest is
longest and stoutest and exceeds one-half joint; middle arm spine
very short and peg-like, not half as long as lowest. Oral tentacle pores
not opening clearly into mouth
slit, with about four scales on
each side. First two or three
pairs of pores of arm rather
large, with two to five (usually
three or four) scales on each
side ; succeeding pores small or
wanting, with only a single ten-
tacle scale, but that seems to
persist to end of arm. Color
(dried from alcohol), dull pur-
plish - gray above, creamy-
whitish below; in some speci-
mens the arms show indications
of being banded with darker.
Localities., Albatross station
4900, off Goto Islands, Japan,
lat. 32 28' 50" N.; long. 128
34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray
sand, broken shells, bottom
FIG.IO.-OPHIURAMICKACANTHA. X 4. a, FROM ABOVE; temperature 52. 9, 2 specimens;
b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS station 4933, off
NEAR DISK. /-^..If T 1 _ J. orvO
Kagoshima
Gulf, Japan, lat. 30 59' N.;
long. 130 29' 50" E., 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 56,
1 specimen; station 5091, in Uraga Gulf, Japan, lat. 35 4' 10" N.;
long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand,
pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical
range, 139 to 197 fathoms. Temperature range, 56-47.6. Five
specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25535, U.S.N.M., from station 5091.
Although this species is nearly related to sarsii and kinbergi, it is
easily distinguished from either by the very peculiar, short, peg-like
middle arm spine. The size and proportions of the arm spines show
some diversity in the different specimens, but in every case the middle
NOBTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 49
spine is disproportionately small. In one specimen the lowest spine
is as long as the joint, at the base of the arm, and is conspicuously
bigger than the uppermost. There are neither pits nor depressions
between the basal under arm plates, but the surface of those plates
is usually rough, as though wrinkled.
OPHIURA MACULATA.
Ophioglypha maculata LUDWIG, Zool. Jahrb. Syst., vol. 1, 1886, p. 283.
Localities. Albatross station 2842, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 54
15' N.; long. 166 3' W., 72 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature
41, 9 specimens; station 4769, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' 40" N.;
long. 179 14' E., 237 to 244 fathoms, gray sand, green mud, bottom
temperature 38.5, 1 specimen; station 4778, Bering Sea, lat. 52
12' N. ; long. 179 52' E., 33 to 43 fathoms, fine black gravel, 2 speci-
mens; station 4779, on Petrel Bank, lat. 52 11" N.; long. 179 57'
W., 54 to 56 fathoms, broken shells, pebbles, sand, 1 specimen; sta-
tion 4782, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 52 55' N.; long. 173 27' E., 57
to 59 fathoms, rocks and gravel, 2 specimens; station 4784, off
Aleutian Islands, lat. 52 55' 40" N.; long. 173 26' E., 135 fathoms,
coarse pebbles, 9 specimens. Plover Bay, Siberia, 10 to 25 fath-
oms, hard, 2 specimens; 10 miles west of Point Franklin, Alaska,
13 J fathoms, sand, 154 specimens; Awatska Bay (Kamtchatka) ,
1 specimen; Constantine Harbor, 6 to 10 fathoms, 8 specimens; Bering
Straits, 1 specimen; Indian Point, Bering Straits, 17 fathoms, 15
specimens; Kyska Harbor, Aleutian Islands, 16 specimens; Bay of
Islands, Aleutian Islands, 10 specimens; Nazan Bay, Atka, Aleutian
Islands, 1 specimen; Port Levasheff, Unalaska, Aleutian Islands, 1
specimen; Alaska, 8 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 6 to 244
fathoms. Two hundred and forty specimens.
The specimens from Plover Bay answer so well to Ludwig's de-
scription of his specimens from the same place that there can be no
question as to their identity, but the other specimens show such a
wide range of diversity that there are several which, taken by them-
selves, would never be regarded as maculata. What Ludwig con-
sidered a distinguishing character of the species, the absence of an
arm comb, proves to be a very inconstant feature, for while some
specimens appear to have none, it is usually more or less evident and is
often well developed. The color of those specimens which are not
bleached by alcohol is rather variable, the shade of olive-green
showing great diversity, as does the amount of cream color, with
which the disk and arms are marked. Some specimens have a
large blotch of cream color at the center of the disk, but usually
there is only a small spot and often there are no markings at all.
One feature of the coloration is quite constant, and that is the
34916 Bull. 7511 4
50
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
division of each radial shield into a light outer and a dark inner half.
This seems to be a helpful diagnostic mark for the species. One of
the most constant specific characters is the number (four) and rela-
tive size of the arm spines, and the absence of tentacle pores and
FIG. 11. OPHIURA MACULATA; ADULT, a-c, X5; YOUNG, d-f, X7. a AND d, FROM ABOVE; 6 AND e, FROM
BELOW; c AND /, SIDE VIEWS OF ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
tentacle scales on the arms. The number of disk scales and the
form of the oral shields are unusually variable, while the radial shields
which are in contact in young specimens and in some adults are
often very widely separated from each other. The figures given
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLAEK.
51
herewith reveal some of these notable variations; figs, lld-f are
from a specimen having the disk 7 mm. in diameter, while figs.
lla-c are from a much larger specimen, with a disk 11 mm. across.
A number of the specimens are labeled " OphioglypJia robusta (Ayres),"
but this is clearly an error. I have not yet seen a specimen of
robusta from Bering Sea or the North Pacific. It is rather remark-
able that neither Grieg a nor Meissner 6 mention this species, although
both writers in their bibliographies refer to Lud wig's paper.
OPHIURA LEPTOCTENIA, new species.c
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 30 mm. long. Disk flat and
more or less circular, covered by a close coat of two or three hun-
dred scales, among which
the centrfldorsal is easily
distinguishable, though it
is seldom so large as in fig.
12a; one radial plate just
proximal to or between
radial shields is commonly
larger than the other disk
scales. Radial shields large,
longer than wide, some-
times wholly separated, but
usually in contact distally,
inner sides nearly or quite
straight, but more or less
strongly diverging. Basal
upper arm plates tetrago-
nal, with edges more or less
curved, much wider than
long; near middle of arm
they are about as long as FiG.12. OPHIURA LEPTOCTENIA. X5. O,FKOM ABOVE; 6, FROM
wide, and at tip they are BELOW; c> SIDE VIEW OF THKEE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK '
very much longer than wide and are nearly triangular; in contact
with each other whole length of arm. Interbrachial spaces below
closely covered with numerous small scales. Oral shields much
longer than wide, with a broad proximal angle and a curved distal
margin. Adoral plates and oral plates well marked and about of
a size. Oral papillae numerous, six or more on a side, narrow
and sharp. Teeth narrow and pointed. Genital slits conspicuous,
reaching from oral shield to margin of disk. Genital scales large,
Fauna Arctica, vol. 1, pt. 2, 1900, pp. 259-286.
& Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
c Aemfa, signify ing fine, slender, and Krevlov, signifying a small comb, in reference to
the slender comb papillae .
b
52 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
with broad upper ends; each scale carries, orally, a crowded
series of minute papillae, which elongate as we pass upward and
form a conspicuous arm comb; as seen from above this comb consists
of ten or a dozen long, very slender spinelets, middle ones longest.
More or less of a secondary comb is often developed on arm plates
beneath true comb. First under arm plate about three times as wide
as long; succeeding plates wider than long, more or less triangular,
diamond shaped or elliptical; all widely separated from each other.
Side arm plates large but low, meeting broadly on under side of arm,
but widely separated above except at tip of arm, where they nearly
meet; each plate carries three slender, sharp arm spines, uppermost
distinctly longest and equaling or exceeding joint. Tentacle pores
large, oral one opening into mouth angle and protected by five or six
scales on each side, those of inner side somewhat larger; at first
arm pore three or four slender, spine-like scales stand on side arm
plate and two or three on under arm plate; on succeeding pores, scales
of side arm plate soon become reduced to two and at middle of arm to
one; those of under arm plate disappear altogether after the first
three or four pores. Color (dried from alcohol), white, yellowish, or
very pale gray.
Localities. Albatross station 2859, off Alaska, lat. 55 20' N. ; long.
136 20' W.j 1,569 fathoms, gray ooze, bottom temperature 34.9, 3
specimens; station 2860, off British Columbia, lat. 51 23 ' N. ; long.
130 34' W., 876 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5, 57
specimens; station 2863, off Washington, lat. 48 58' N.; long. 123
10' W., 67 fathoms, fine sand, black specks, bottom temperature
48.5, 123 specimens; station 2871, off Washington, lat. 46 55' N.;
long. 125 11' W., 559 fathoms, brown ooze, bottom temperature
38.4, 9 specimens; station 3069, off Washington, lat. 47 25' 30" N.;
long. 125 42' W., 760 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
37.6, 74 specimens; station 3070, off Washington, lat. 47 29' 30"
N.; long. 125 43' W., 636 fathoms/green mud, bottom temperature
37.6, 14 specimens; station 3071, off Washington, lat. 47 29' N.;
long. 125 33' 30" W., 685 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
38, 11 specimens; station 3075, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N. ; long.
125 41' W., 859 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.6, 19
specimens; station 3227, Bering Sea, lat. 54 36' 30" N.; long. 166
54' W., 225 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 38.6, 155
specimens, station 3324, Bering Sea, lat. 53 33' 50" N.; long. 167
46' 50" W., 109 fathoms, coarse black sand, gravel, rocks, 1 specimen;
station 3329, Bering Sea, lat. 53 56' 50" N.; long. 167 8' 15" W.,
399 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom temperature 37.7, 35 speci-
mens; station 3331, Bering Sea, lat. 54 1' 40" N.; long. 166 48' 50"
W., 350 fathoms, mud, bottom temperature, 22 specimens; station
3332, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 50" N.; long. 166 45' W., 406 fathoms,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 53
rocky, sand, 1 specimen; station 3337, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 53
55' 30" N.; long. 163 26' W., 280 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 39.3, 2 specimens; station 3340, off Aleutian Islands, lat.
55 26' N.; long. 155 26' W., 695 fathoms, mud, bottom tempera-
ture 36.8, 14 specimens; station 3343, off Washington, lat. 47 40'
40" N.; long. 125 20' W., 516 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 38.2, 6 specimens; station 3344, off Washington, lat. 47 20'
N.; long. 125 7' 30" W., 831 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 36.8, 39 specimens; station 3346, off Oregon, lat. 45 30' N.;
long. 124 52' W., 786 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
37.3, 21 specimens; station 3603, Bering Sea, lat. 55 23' N.; long.
170 31' W., 1,771 fathoms, blue ooze, bottom temperature 35.1, 1
specimen; station 3607, Bering Sea, lat. 54 11' 30" N.; long. 167
25' W., 987 fathoms, green mud, black lava sand, bottom tempera-
ture 35.9, 4 specimens; station 3608, Bering Sea, lat. 55 19' N.;
long. 168 11' W., 276 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 37.8,
209 specimens; station 3609, Bering Sea, lat. 55 35' N. ; long. 168 20'
W., 74 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.9, 423
specimens; station 4765, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 53 12' N.; long.
171 37' W., 1,217 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom temperature
35.2, 6 specimens; station 4766, Bering Sea, lat. 52 38' N.; long.
174 49' W., 1,766 fathoms, 14 specimens; station 4769, Bering Sea,
lat. 54 30' 40" N.; long. 179 14' E., 237-244 fathoms, green mud,
gray sand, bottom temperature 38.9, 2 specimens; station 4770,
Bering Sea, lat. 54 31' N.; long. 179 15' E., 247 fathoms, 1 speci-
men; station 4774, Bering Sea, lat. 54 33' N.; long. 178 45' E.,
557-584 fathoms, green mud, black specks, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 37.2, 311 specimens; station 4775, Bering Sea, lat.
54 33' 30" N.; long. 178 44' E., 584 fathoms, green mud, black
specks, foraminifera, 94 specimens; station 4781, Bering Sea, lat.
52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand,
pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6, 1 specimen; station 4814, Sea of
Japan, lat. 38 32' N. ; long. 138 43' E., 429 fathoms, brown mud,
bottom temperature 32.9, 2 specimens; station 4818, Sea of Japan,
lat. 38 8' 55" N.; long. 138 31' 30" E., 225-245 fathoms, fine
brown mud, bottom temperature 33.7, 2 specimens; station 4819,
Sea of Japan, lat. 38 9' N. ; long. 138 32' 12" E., 245 fathoms, fine
brown mud, bottom temperature 33.1, 5 specimens; station 4854,
off coast of Korea, lat. 35 54' N.; long. 129 46' E., 335 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 32.4, 121 specimens; station 4863,
Sea of Japan, lat. 36 21' N. ; long. 129 53' E., 250 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 32.7, 1 specimen; station 4965, off
eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N. ; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms,
green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 3 specimens;
station 4980, off eastern Japan, lat. 34 9' N.; long. 137 55' E.,
54 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera, bottom tempera-
ture 39, 4 specimens; station 4981, Sea of Japan, lat. 42 58' 15"
N.; long. 140 9' 10" E., 390-406 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 32.7, 49 specimens; station 4986, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 1'
40" N.; long. 140 22' 40" E., 172 fathoms, fine black sand, black
mud, bottom temperature 33.9, 1 specimen; station 4989, Sea of
Japan, lat. 43 23' 10" N.; long. 140 37' E., 92 fathoms, sand,
bottom temperature 39. 7, 1 specimen; station 4991, Sea of Japan,
lat. 45 23' 20" N.; long. 140 48' E., 325 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 33, 1 specimen; station 4997, Gulf of Tartary,
lat. 47 38'40"N.; long. 141 24' 30" E., 318 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 32.8, 4 specimens; station 5020, Okhotsk Sea,
lat. 48 32' 45" N.; long. 145 7' 30" E., 73 fathoms, green mud,
sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 30.9, 4 specimens; station 5021,
Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 32' 30" N.; long. 145 8' 45" E., 73 fathoms,
green mud, sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 30.9, 3 specimens;
station 5026, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 36' 10" N.; long. 145 17' 30" E.,
119 fathoms, green mud, black sand, gravel, bottom temperature
30.4, 1 specimen; station 5037, off the Hokkaido, Japan, lat. 42 2'
40" N.; long. 142 33' 20" E., 175-349 fathoms, bottom tempera-
ture, 37.9, 2 specimens; station 5082, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat.
34 5' N.; long. 137 59" E., 662 fathoms, green mud, fine sand,
globigerina, bottom temperature 37.7, 18 specimens; station 5083,
off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 4' 20" N. ; long. 137 57' 30" E., 624
fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1,
85 specimens; Bering Sea, 60 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 67-
1,771 fathoms. Temperature range, 49.4 to 30.9. Two thousand
and thirty-seven specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25732, U.S.N.M., from station 3069.
Although these two thousand specimens come from such widely
separated localities and such greatly different depths, they exhibit
surprisingly little diversity. There are slight differences in the num-
ber of disk scales and particularly in the conspicuousness of the centro-
dorsal and other primary plates, in the form of the oral shields, and
in the length and thickness of the arm spines ; but these peculiarities
are very insignificant and do not seem to be associated at all with
either locality or depth. In a few individuals from considerable
depths there are widely scattered, minute spines on the disk scales,
but other individuals from the same stations have none and the
peculiarity appears to be of no systematic importance. The geo-
graphical range of this species is extended but peculiar; on the
American coast it ranges from northern Oregon (lat. 45 30' N. ; long.
124 52' W.) to the western end of the Aleutian Islands (long. 174
13' E.) and northward into Bering Sea (lat. 55 35' N.); on the
Asiatic coast it was taken off eastern Japan, as far south as 33 35' 20",
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 55
and at various stations in the Sea of Japan, from lat. 35 54' N. ;
and long. 129 46' E., northward to Saghalin Island (lat. 48 32'
45" N.; long. 145 7' 30" E.). Between Saghalin and the western
end of the Aleutians no specimens of this ophiuran were taken,
though it is hard to explain their absence in that region; perhaps we
may assume that depth, temperature, and bottom were not suitably
combined at any of the thirty-two stations of the Albatross. Off the
American coast the bathymetrical range of this species is extraordi-
nary, extending, as stated above, from 67 fathoms to 1,771, while the
bottom temperature varied from 48.5 down to 34.9. In the Sea of
Japan, however, the bathymetrical range is only from 172 to 429
fathoms, with a very low bottom temperature, 33.9-32.4; off the
east coast of Saghalin specimens were taken in only 73 fathoms, but
the bottom temperature was extraordinarily low, 30.9, while off
eastern Japan they were taken in water as warm as 49.4 and again
in water as deep as 507 fathoms.
It is remarkable that, among previously known species, one of the
nearest allies of leptoctenia appears to be a species taken by the
Challenger off the coast of Brazil and called by Lyman Ophioglypha
ljungmani. Judging only by the figures of the upper side, it is almost
impossible to distinguish the two species; orally, however, there are
some obvious and important differences in the shape of the oral
shields and the first under arm plate, as well as in the oral papillae
and tentacle scales. When the specimens themselves are compared,
the much longer arms and thicker disk of ljungmani distinguish the
two species at a glance. It is interesting to note (what Lyman does
not mention) that in some specimens of ljungmani the disk scales
carry scattered minute spinelets exactly like those which occur in
leptoctenia. From Jcinbergi, which it resembles somewhat in its
slender comb papillae, leptoctenia is distinguished by the difference in
the disk scaling, the absence of pits between the basal under arm
plates, and the absence of a rounded tentacle scale on the arm pores.
From young individuals of sarsii or luikeni, with which it is most
likely to be confused, the sharp, slender comb papillae will invariably
distinguish it.
OPHIURA QUADRISPINA, new species."
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 30 mm. long. Disk rather
flat, nearly circular, covered by two or three hundred scales, among
which the six primary plates are more or less distinguishable though
they, are very rarely conspicuous. Kadial shields of moderate size,
rather longer than broad, separated or touching distally. Upper
arm plates more or less tetragonal, at first wider than long and
aQuattuor (quadri-), signify ing four, smdspinus, signifying spine, in reference to the
four arm spines.
56
BULLETIN 15, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
broadly in contact, but soon becoming longer than wide; outer
margin decidedly convex; at tip of arm the plates are triangular
and separated from each other. Interbrachial space below closely
scaled. Oral shield somewhat pentagonal, with a wide proximal
angle, much longer than wide. Adoral and oral plates moderate
and subequal. Oral papillae five or six on a side subequal. Teeth
long, narrow, and pointed. Genital slits conspicuous, but genital
scales very narrow and almost completely hidden. Each scale
carries a marginal series of minute, sharp papillae, which become
larger as they approach the upper side of the arm, to form the arm
comb; as seen from above this comb is continuous across the base
of the arm, and some of the papillae may be borne by either the
radial shields or the
marginal disk scale be-
tween them; the pa-
pillae are always short,
but may be either sharp
or blunt. A slight sec-
ondary comb may be
developed on the basal
upper arm plates but
it is almost wholly hid-
den by the true comb.
First under arm plate
wider than long, nearly
quadrangular : succeed-
ing plates small, wider
than long, at first pen-
tagonal, but soon be-
coming triangular and
then half-moon shaped,
FIG. 13. OPHIURA QUADRISPINA. X5.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM with the proximal side
BELOW; c. SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK. i . -i , , T j. i
straight and the distal
strongly convex; all the plates are widely separated from each
other, except second and third, which are sometimes in contact.
Side arm plates rather large and low, meeting beneath even within
disk but not above until near tip of arm; each one carries four long,
slender, acute spines, of which uppermost is decidedly longest, equal-
ing one-and-a-half to two joints. Tentacle pores large; oral pair
opening into mouth slit and guarded by four to six long, flat, con-
spicuous scales on each side; these scales are noticeable for their
length, which is much greater than that of the oral papillae. Basal
arm pores guarded by several long, sharp scales, of which there are
three or four on each side; farther out there are three, two, and
finally only one, borne on proximal side; they are all slender and
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 57
acute. Color (dried from alcohol), very light gray, yellowish, or
white.
Localities. Albatross station 2842, off Alaskan peninsula, lat. 54
15' N. ; long. 166 3' W., 72 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature
41, 1 specimen; station 2853, off Alaskan peninsula, lat. 56 N.;
long. 15.4 20' W., 159 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature
41, 44 specimens; station 2854, off Alaskan peninsula, lat. 56
55' N. ; long. 153 4' W., 60 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature
42.8, 4 specimens; station 2858, off Alaskan peninsula, lat. 58
17' N.; long. 148 36' W., 230 fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom
temperature 39.8, 6 specimens; station 3331, Bering Sea, lat. 54
1' 40" N.; long. 168 48' 50" W., 350 fathoms, mud, 6 specimens;
station 3332, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 50" N.; long. 166 45' W., 406
fathoms, rocky sand, 1 specimen; station 3337, Bering Sea, lat. 53
55' 30" N. ; long. 163 26' W., 280 fathoms, green mud, rocks, bottom
temperature 39.3, 2 specimens; station 3338, Bering Sea, lat. 54
19' N.; long. 159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom
temperature 37.3, 1 specimen; station 3785, 150 miles north of
Aleutian Islands, 270 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 1 specimen;
station 4770, Bering Sea, lat. 54 31' N.; long. 179 15' W., 247
fathoms, 2 specimens; station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30" N.;
long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom
temperature 38.6, 17 specimens; station 4784, Bering Sea, lat.
52 55' 40" N. ; long. 173 26' E., 135 fathoms, coarse pebbles, 1 speci-
men; station 4788, near Copper Island, Bering Sea, lat. 54 50' 24"
N., long. 167 13' E., 56 to 57 fathoms, green sand, 1 specimen;
station 4789, near Copper Island, Bering Sea, lat. 54 49' 45" N.;
long. 167 12' 30" E., 56 fathoms, green sand, 4 specimens; station
4790, near Bering Island, Bering Sea, lat. 54 48' 35" N.; long. 167
11' 45" E., 64 fathoms, pebbles, 1 specimen; station 4791, near Bering
Island, Bering Sea, lat. 54 36' 15" N.; long. 166 58' 15" E., 72 to 76
fathoms, rocky, 1 specimen; station 4792, near Bering Island, Bering
Sea, lat. 54 36' 15" N.; long. 166 57' 15" E., 72 fathoms, pebbles,
3 specimens; station 4982, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 N.; long. 140 10' 30"
E., 390 to 428 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 37.7, 1
specimen; station 4991, Sea of Japan, lat. 45 23' 20" N.; long. 140
48' E., 325 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 33, 2 specimens;
station 5022, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 35' 30" N.; long. 145 20' E., 109
fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 30.1, 5
specimens; station 5026, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 36' 10" N.; long. 145
17' 30" E., 119 fathoms, green mud, black sand, gravel, bottom tem-
perature 30.4, 1 specimen; station 5027, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 27'
30" N. ; long. 145 23' 30" E., 188 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles ( ?),
bottom temperature 32, 1 specimen; station 5033, Yezo Strait, lat.
44 4' 20" N.; long. 145 28' E., 533 fathoms, green mud, fine black
58
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
sand, bottom temperature 35.9, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range,
56 to 625 fathoms. Temperature range, 42.8 to 30.1. One hun-
dred and seven specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25629, U.S.N.M., from station 3331.
Although this species is superficially so near leptoctenia that it
might easily be mistaken for that species, the four arm spines and the
peculiar arm comb easily distinguish quadrispina from that, and from
every other near ally. The 107 specimens show very little diversity
of structure, though a few have minute disk spines as in leptoctenia.
It is a more northern form than that species, as it has not been
collected south of 53 55' 30" N. on the American coast nor south of
43 on the Asiatic. Its bathymetrical range is also less, 56 to 625
fathoms.
OPHIURA BATHYBIA, new species.a
Disk 15 mm. in diameter; arms about 65 mm. long. Disk covered
with a close coat of numerous small, overlapping scales, many of
FIG. 14. OPHIURA BATHYBIA. X3.3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
which carry very slender spinelets nearly 'a millimeter long; these
spinelets are easily rubbed off, but the places of attachment remain
more or less clearly indicated as minute pits. Radial shields some-
what crescentic, about three times as long as wide, widest at outer
end, where they are most nearly in contact, though even there dis-
tinctly separate. Upper arm plates tetragonal, at first wider than
long, but soon becoming longer than wide, with distal margin more or
less convex; in contact the whole length of arm. Interbrachial spaces
below closely covered with scales, upon which minute spines are
a BaObc, signifying deep, an
at which it lives.
, signifying life, in reference to the unusual depth
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 59
even more numerous than on disk. Oral shield large, about as wide
as long, somewhat pentagonal, with a broad, proximal angle and a
straight distal margin. Adoral plates variable, sometimes appar-
ently confined to inner end of oral shield, but usually reaching the
first side arm plates; oral plates large, usually much larger than
adoral. Oral papillae five on each side, well spaced, outermost wid-
est and truncate, inner ones narrow and sharp; an infradental papilla
is often present. Teeth about six, moderately wide, pointed. Gen-
ital slits long, proximal end nearer center of mouth than is distal
end of a mouth slit. Genital scales large, upper, outer end very
broad; each scale has a marginal fringe of very minute papillae which
become rapidly elongated distally into very slender spines, forming a
well-marked arm comb, when viewed from above. Beneath this comb
on the basal arm plates is a smaller secondary comb, which extends
inward between ends of radial shields and is often very conspicuous.
Under arm plates much wider than long; first two decidedly largest
and more or less clearly in contact; succeeding plates widely sepa-
rated, becoming rapidly smaller, oblong-hexagonal, pentagonal, or
tetragonal. Side arm plates rather large, but low and meeting only
on lower side of arm; each plate carries three arm spines, of which
uppermost is longest, but does not equal joint; other two much
smaller, close together near lower edge of plate. Tentacle pores at
base of arm large but quickly becoming much smaller; oral and basal
arm pores guarded by about three scales on each side; further out
on arm there are three and then two scales on proximal side of
pore, and finally only a single scale is present. , On oral pores, ten-
tacle scales long and flat, but on basal arm pores they are spine-like
and out on arm they are very slender spinelets. Color (dried from
alcohol), yellow, yellowish, or white.
Localities. Albatross station 2859, off Alaska, lat. 55 20' N. ; long.
136 20' W., 1,569 fathoms, gray ooze, bottom temperature 34.9,
1 specimen; station 3603, Bering Sea, lat. 55 23' N.; long. 170 31'
W., 1,771 fathoms, blue ooze, bottom temperature 35.1, 22 speci-
mens; station 4761, off Alaska, lat. 53 57' 30" N.; long. 159 31' W.,
1,973 fathoms, blue clay, bottom temperature 35, 258 specimens;
station 4766, Bering Sea, lat. 52 38' N.; long. 174 49' W., 1,766
fathoms, bottom ?, bottom temperature ?, 18 specimens. Bathy-
metrical range, 1,569 to 1,973 fathoms. Temperature range, 35.1
to 34.9. Two hundred and ninety-nine specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25611, U.S.N.M., from station 4766.
This seems to be a remarkably well-characterized species, confined
to very deep water in the vicinity of the Alaskan peninsula and islands.
Its nearest relative is probably leptoctenia, but the form of the radial
shields, the much smaller and more numerous disk scales, the numer-
ous disk spinelets and the larger and better spaced oral papillae serve
60 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
to distinguish baihybia easily. The numerous disk spinelets and
pits (where spines have been rubbed off) are very remarkable, but
similar spinelets sometimes occur, as has already been pointed out,
in leptoctenia, ljungmani, and quadrispina.
OPHIURA FLAGELLATA.
Ophioglypha flagellata LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 69.
Ophiuraflagellata MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Localities. Albatross station 2860, off southern Alaska, lat. 51
23' N.; long. 130 34' W., 876 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 36.5, 1 specimen; station 3338, Aleutian Islands, lat. 54 19'
N.; long. 159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom tem-
perature 37.3, 1 specimen; station 3704, off Honshu Island, Japan,
94 to 150 fathoms, fine volcanic sand, 5 specimens; station 3784,
off Aleutian Islands, lat. 54 32' N.; long. 178 31' E., 85 fathoms,
green mud, fine gray sand, 11 specimens; station 4767, Bering Sea,
lat. 54 12' N.; long. 179 7' 30" E., 771 fathoms, green mud, bot-
tom temperature 36.5, 2 specimens; station 4768, Bering Sea, lat.
54 20' 30" N.; long. 179 9' 30" E., 764 fathoms, green-brown mud,
fine black sand, bottom temperature 37, 78 specimens; station 4774,
Bering Sea, lat. 54 33' N.: long. 178 45' E., 557 to 584 fathoms,
green mud, black specks foraminifera, 48 specimens; station 4775,
Bering Sea, lat. 54 33' 30" N.; long. 178 44' E., 584 fathoms,
green mud, black specks, foraminifera, bottom temperature 37.2, 1
specimen; station 4916, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 25' N.; long. 129 6'
40" E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina broken shells, bottom
temperature 42.7, 3 specimens; station 5049, off eastern Japan,
lat. 38 12' N., long. 142 2' E., 182 fathoms, dark gray sand, broken
shells, foraminifera, bottom temperature 37.8, 4 specimens; station
5079, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E., 475 to
505 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 39.1, 1 specimen; sta-
tion 5086, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 8' 15" N.; long. 139 20' E., 292
fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 43.7,
3 specimens; station 5088, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 11' 25" N.; long.
139 28' 20" E., 369 to 405 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 41.8, 1 specimen; station 5091, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 10"
N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green mud, coarse black
sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 2 specimens; station 5092,
Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 50" N.; long. 139 38' 18" E., 70 fathoms,
coarse black sand, bottom temperature 56.3, 2 specimens; station
5093, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 3' 15" N.; long. 139 37' 42" E., 302
fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 43.9, 2 specimens;
station 5094, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 42" N.; long. 139 38' 20"
E., 88 fathoms, black sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 54.8,
NOBTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
61
11 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 70 to 876 fathoms. Tempera-
ture range, 56.3 to 36.5. One hundred and seventy-six specimens.
These specimens show a most remarkable difference in the calcifi-
cation of the disk, for while several of them have the disk covering
thick, with the scales hardly distinguishable, as in Lyman's type,
others have it much thinner with the scales evident, while still
others have a greater or less part of the disk covered by a flaked
skin, the calcification being confined to the vicinity of the radial
shields and to the interradial margins. The gradation between the
two extremes is so complete that there can be no doubt that the
amount of calcification is an individual and not a specific or even a
local matter. Thus the specimen from station 5094 has the disk
fully calcified, while of two
specimens from station
5093, one has the center
of the disk bare with ten
bare lines running out into
the radii and interradii,
and the other has the disk
completely lacking calcifi-
cation save about the mar-
gin and the radial shields.
That it is not a matter of
age would seem to be in-
dicated by the fact that
the largest (disk diameter,
26 mm.) and one of the
smallest (disk diameter,
9 mm.) specimens have
less calcification than any
others. Considerable di-
Versity is shown also in the FIG- 15. OPHIURA FLAGELLATA, YOUNG. X6. a, FROM ABOVK;
length Of the arm spines, 6 > FROMBEI <: c, sn> E VIEW OFTWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
in the form of the radial 'shields and in the number of tentacle scales,
but these differences do not seem to be correlated in any definite way
with the amount of calcification. The form of the radial shields,
arm plates, and arm spines, the number of the latter (three) and the
arm comb appear to be very constant features in mature specimens.
In young individuals (see fig. 15) both the upper and under arm
plates are much longer and narrower than in adults, and some-
times the side arm plates do not quite meet below, though the under
arm plates are widely separated nevertheless. The comb papillae
are much longer and more slender than Lyman's figure a indicates.
a Challenger Oph., 1881, pi. 4, fig. 17.
62 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
The range of this species is remarkable, extending as it does geo-
graphically from lat. 9 3' 24" N. and from long. 79 37' E. (according
to Ko3hler) to lat. 54 33' 30" N. and to long. 130 34' W., and
bathymetrically from 53 fathoms to 876. But Koehler a has made a
serious blunder in saying that the species was taken by the Challenger
"entre les lies Philippines et les lies Carolines," for the only recorded
Challenger station is 232, not far from Yokohama, Japan.
OPHIURA IMBECILLIS.
Ophioglypha imbecillis LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 73.
Ophiura imbecillis MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Localities. Albatross station 4918, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 22' N.;
long. 129 8' 30" E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina; broken
shells, bottom temperature 42.7, 1 specimen; station 4957, off
Eastern Japan, lat. 32 36' N.; long. 132 23' E., 437 fathoms, green-
brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 39.8,
1 specimen; station 4968, off Japan, lat. 33 24' 50" N.; long. 135
38' 40" E., 253 fathoms, dark gray sand, brown mud, broken shells,
bottom temperature 45.7, 1 specimen; station 5088, Sagami Bay,
lat. 35 11' 25" N.; long. 139 28' 20" E., 369 to 405 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 41.8, 7 specimens; station 5093, Uraga
Strait, lat. 35 3' 15" N.; long. 139 37' 42" E., 302 fathoms, coarse
black sand, bottom temperature 43.9, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical
range, 253 to 437 fathoms. Temperature range, 45.7 to 39.8.
Fourteen specimens.
These specimens, which vary in disk diameter from 3J to 7 mm., are
pale gray in color and show remarkably little diversity of structure.
OPHIURA IRRORATA.
Ophioglypha irrorata LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 73.
Ophioglypha orbiculata LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 74.
Ophioglypha grandis VERRILL, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 17, 1894, p. 293.
Ophioglypha tumulosa LUTKEN and MORTENSEN, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol.23,
1897, p. 120.
Ophioglypha involuta KCEHLER, Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool. (8), vol. 4, 1897, p. 295.
Ophiura irrorata MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Localities. Albatross station 3603, Bering Sea, lat. 55 23' N. ;
long. 170 31' W., 1,771 fathoms, brown ooze, bottom temperature
35.1, 2 specimens; station 3783, 40 miles off Copper Island, 1,567
fathoms, gray volcanic sand, green mud, 1 specimen; station 4956,
Inland Sea, Japan, lat. 32 32' N.; long. 132 25' E., 720 fathoms,
green-brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature
37.5, 1 specimen; station 4971, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30" N. ;
long. 135 34' E., 649 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 38.1, 2 specimens; station 4979, off Japan,
a Investigator, Deep Sea Oph., 1899, p. 19.
NOBTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 63
lat. 33 53' N.; long. 137 42' E., 943 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 36.4, 4 specimens; station 5030,
Okhotsk Sea, lat. 46 29' 30" N.; long. 145 46' E., 1,800 fathoms,
brown mud, bottom temperature?, 2 specimens; station 5083, off
Omai Saki light, lat. 34 4' 20" N. ; long. 137 57' 30" E., 624 fathoms,
fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1, 2 specimens;
station 5084, off Omai Saki light, lat. 34 N.; long. 137 49' 40"_E.,
918 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina, bottom temperature
36.8, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 624 to 1,800 fathoms.
Temperature range, 38.1 to 35.1. Sixteen specimens.
This excellent series of specimens, ranging in size from a disk diame-
ter of 7 mm. to one of 33 mm., has been carefully compared with the
Blake specimens of irrorata from the Caribbean Sea and the Challenger
specimens of irrorata from off the coast of Australia and the coast of
Portugal, with a cotype of orbiculata from Japan, with a cotype of
grandis from Albatross station 2573, and with specimens of tumulosa
from the Albatross collection in the Panamic deep-water region, and
I am fully satisfied that these four nominal species are in reality one
and the same. Moreover, I see no character by which involuta can
be distinguished, and I have accordingly included that name as a
synonym. It seems, therefore, that in irrorata we have a cosmopolitan
deep-water species, like Ophiornusium lymani, and it is of some interest
to note here the various stations at which it has been taken: Off
New England, off Portugal, in the West Indies, southeast of the Cape
of Good Hope, in the Bay of Bengal, off New South Wales, off Japan, in
Bering Sea, in the Gulf of California, in the Gulf of Panama, and
among the Galapagos Islands. Except the very young specimens
taken by the Challenger off New South Wales, and regarding the
identification of which some doubt might reasonably be raised, speci-
mens have not been taken in less than 600 fathoms, and the species
ranges from that depth to over 2,200 fathoms. In spite of its exten-
sive geographical and bathymetrical range, the species is not remark-
ably variable, the differences with which the various names have been
associated being mainly due to size or age. In the young, the arm
spines even at the base of the arm are about equally spaced, but in
larger specimens the upper one becomes widely separated from the
other two. If, however, we follow the arm of an adult from base
to tip, we find the spines gradually approaching each other, so that
at the tip of the arm in a big specimen the arm spines correspond to
those at the base of the arm in a young specimen, an interesting illus-
tration of a "localized stage." In all adult specimens, however, the
middle arm spine at the tip of the arm terminates, as Lyman pointed
out, in a hook. The size of the arm spines differs greatly in different
individuals, but these differences do not seem to be correlated with
size, or locality, or depth. The shape of the oral shields and of the
64
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
basal under arm plates is very variable, within certain limits; the
oral shield is usually more or less pentagonal and longer than wide,
but it may be rounded triangular or even oval, and it is often wider
than long; the second under arm plate is usually squarish but it
may be much longer than wide or often wider than long ; the number
of basal under arm plates which are in contact with each other varies
greatly with age. The arm comb, the upper arm plates, and the
radial shields do not show very much diversity, but the disk scales
are variable and the distinctness of the primary plates differs greatly
in different individuals.
OPHIURA CLASTA, new species."
Disk 15 mm. in diameter; arms about 40 mm. long. Disk cov-
ered with a thick skin, in or upon which are numerous more or less
circular plates of variable size ;
these plates do not overlap,
and in most cases are scarcely
in contact with each other;
one at the margin of each in-
terradius is very much larger
than the rest and nearly or
quite fills the space between
two adjoining pairs of radial
shields. Latter, rounded,
about as wide as long, more
or less lightly in contact, at
least distally. First, and
sometimes second, upper arm
plate more or less tetragonal ;
remainder small, triangular,
and widely separated from
each other; all are more or
FIG. lf,-OPmuRA CLASTA. X3.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6 , } 6S S Completely broken U P
'FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR into irregular fragments, SO
that in many cases the orig-
inal form of the plate can scarcely be distinguished. Interbrachial
spaces below covered by the huge oral shield, an accessory shield, the
two genital plates, and about five marginal plates. Oral shields rounded
triangular or pentagonal, about as wide as long. Adoral plates vari-
able in shape according to the position of the oral tentacle pore; when
this is far back the adoral plate appears to be short and wide (as in
the figure) , but when the pore is a little nearer the mouth the adoral
plate is long and narrow; oral plates well developed and quite dis-
tinct. Oral papillae squarish, crowded, five or six on each side,
a Khjuj-cof, signifying broken in pieces, in reference to the condition of the upper
arm plates.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 65
outermost widest; an unpaired infradental papilla is often present.
Genital slits rather short. Genital scales large, broad distally, but
completely overshadowed by radial shields, so that they are not visible
from above; each scale carries a few irregular marginal papillae but
these are so imperfectly developed that there is no arm comb in any
of the specimens; some small, irregular scales just distal to the radial
shields give the superficial appearance of a comb in some cases, but
these have no connection with the genital scales. First under arm
plate rounded triangular; succeeding plates pentagonal, soon becom-
ing triangular; all are much wider than long, and are distinctly sepa-
rated from each other. Side arm plates large, meeting broadly both
above and below; each plate carries four minute arm spines, one of
which is high up on the plate, well separated from the other three,
which are very low down and close together ; the middle one of these
three is usually the longest spine but scarcely equals half the joint;
the lowest one might easily be mistaken for a tentacle scale. Tentacle
pores on arm minute and confined to the three or four basal joints;
each one is protected by several minute scales. Oral pore not open-
ing into mouth slit, protected by three or four rounded scales on each
side. Color (dried from alcohol) ; scales and plates above clay color
or brown, the skin between them decidedly darker; beneath, uniform
dirty whitish, or brown.
Localities. Albatross station 4980, off eastern Japan, lat. 34 9' N.;
long. 137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 39, 4 specimens; station 5083, off Omai Saki
light, lat. 34 4' 20" N.; long. 137 57' 30" E., 624 fathoms, fine
gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1, 16 specimens;
station 5084, off Omai Saki light, lat. 34 N.; long. 137 49' 40" E.,
918 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina, bottom temperature
36.8, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 507 to 918 fathoms.
Temperature range, 39 to 36 8'. Twenty-two specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25547, U.S.N.M., from station 5084.
Although this species bears some resemblance dorsally to Ophio-
glypha divisa Ltitken and Mortensen, the oral side is so different there
can be no confusion between the two. I do not think there is any
other species more nearly related to this Japanese novelty, unless it
be 0. confragosa Lyman, from off La Plata, but the upper arm plates
of the latter are alone sufficient to distinguish the two.
OPHIURA MONOST<ECHA, new species.a
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk covered
with a smooth coat of scales, among which the six primary plates,
another plate in each radius, and two in each interradius, one of
a Mdvoe, signifying one, single, and arot%oe , signifying a row, line, in reference to the
peculiar arm comb.
34916 Bull. 7511 5
66
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
which is marginal, can be distinguished with more or less ease.
Radial shields about as wide as long, more or less united distally; in
the type-specimen, several rounded knobs or papilla are borne on
the inner distal corners of the plates (some times also on the distal
margin) and in fig. 17 a these appear like three small plates separat-
ing the radial shields distally. Basal upper arm plates tetragonal,
but rapidly becoming triangular as they pass outward ; in the type,
the first seven to nine are in contact but in others (smaller speci-
mens) only the first two or three. Interbrachial spaces below covered
by twelve to twenty plates of which the marginal are largest. Oral
shields pentagonal, with rounded corners, about as wide as long.
Adoral plates long and nar-
row; oral plates considerably
broader than adoral but not
so long. 'Oral papillae about
five or six on a side ; those at
apex of jaw are pointed, but
outer ones are truncate and
may be wide and squarish.
Genital slits long and genital
scales wide; each scale has
a marginal series of small,
close-set, truncate papillae,
which are more elongated on
upper side of arm, where the
two series (of opposite sides
of arm) meet and form a
single unbroken series across
base of arm. First under
arm plate rounded diamond
FIG. 17. OPHIURA MONOSTCECHA. X5. a, FROM ABOVE; 11 i i
b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS Shaped; Second plate
NEAR DISK.
squarish; succeeding plates
pentagonal, becoming triangular ; all these plates are wider than long,
and except first two are nearly or quite separate from each other.
Side arm plates large, meeting above and below, except at base of
arm; each plate carries three subequal, well-spaced, peg-like arm
spines, less than half as long as joint. Oral tentacle pores may or
may not open into mouth slit; in the type they do; they are pro-
tected by five or six scales on each side. There seem to be no
tentacle pores on arm distal to first three or four joints, and these
are guarded by three and two scales or by two and one; but through-
out whole length of arm, the lowest arm spine is accompanied by
a minute peg-like tentacle scale crowded close against it. Color
(dried from alcohol), pale gray or whitish.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 67
Localities. Albatross station 3698, off Honshu Island, Japan, 153
fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 2 specimens; station 4957,
Inland Sea, lat. 32 36' N,; long. 132 23' E., 437 fathoms, green-
brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 39.8,
4 specimens; station 4959, Inland Sea, lat. 32 36' 30" N.; long,
132 23' 20" E., 405 to 578 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray
sand, foraminifera, 1 specimen; station 5057, Suruga Gulf, lat: 34
58' 40" N.; long. 138 34' E., 270 fathoms, gray mud, bottom tem-
perature 44.8, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 153 to 578 fath-
oms. Temperature range, 44.8 to 39.8. Eight specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25545, U.S.N.M., from station 3698.
This species is easily distinguished by its unique arm comb. While
OpJiioglypJia clemens Koehler and 0. jejuna Lyman also have a con-
tinuous arm comb, the disk covering of the former species and the
arm joints, arm spines, and upper arm plates of the latter are so
different from what is found in monostcecha that the three species
can not possibly be confused. In the type and the specimen from
station 5057 the side arm plates are minutely tuberculated, while in
the other specimens they are perfectly smooth; it is these latter speci-
mens also which have the oral tentacle pores separated from the
mouth slits, and the oral papillae very short, wide, and truncate.
These differences can hardly be magnified, however, into distinctions
of any systematic importance.
OPHIURA CALYPTOLEPIS, new species.o
Disk 13 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 to 40 mm. long. Disk
covered by rather coarse thick scales, which are more or less con-
cealed by a delicate, very finely granular skin; a large interradial
marginal scale is prominent, and in the youngest specimen the pri-
mary plates can easily be made out. Radial shields somewhat
swollen, a little longer than wide, distinctly separated from each other.
Basal upper arm plates oblong, much wider than long, followed by
pentagonal or tetragonal plates, which rapidly become triangular
with a sharp, proximal angle; the first five to nine in contact with
each other. Interbrachial spaces below covered by partly concealed
plates, like those of the disk. Oral shields wider than long or longer
than wide, somewhat pentangular, the lateral margins more or less
concave. Adoral plates long and narrow; oral plates shorter and
wider. Oral papillae, five or six on each side, wide and truncate dis-
tally, but becoming longer and pointed at apex of jaw. Genital slits
not conspicuous. Genital scales hidden by scaling of interbrachial
areas, their marginal papillae few and small, so that no arm comb or
at most only a small and inconspicuous one is visible from above.
a KalimT6e, signifying covered, and fatfe, signifying scale, in reference to the more or
less concealed scaling of the disk.
68 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
First under arm plate hexagonal, large, much wider than long; next
two about as long as wide, somewhat pentagonal; succeeding ones
rounded pentagonal or oblong, very much wider than long; all but
first three or four well separated from each other. Side arm plates
somewhat swollen, nearly or quite in contact both above and below
from base to tip of arm; each plate carries six, or often seven, short,
peg-like arm spines, middle ones usually longest, though not notice-
ably longer than lowest; none is half as long as a joint. Oral tentacle
pores rather large, opening into mouth slit, with four or five scales
on each side. Tentacle pores of arm confined to first four or five
joints, but a single, minute tentacle scale extends far out on arm,
lying close against lowest arm spine. There are several tentacle
scales on each of the basal pores, but they can be distinguished only
with difficulty from the little arm spines. Color (dried from alcohol),
nearly white, though with more or less of a yellow tinge.
FIG. 18. OPHIURA CALYPTOLKPIS. X4. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Localities. Albatross station 3698, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu,
Japan, 153 fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 2 specimens;
station 5088, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 11' 25" N.; long. 139 28' 20" E.,
369 to 405 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 41.8, 1 speci-
men; station 5091, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38'
12" E., 197 fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom
temperature, 47.8, 21 specimens; station 5092, Uraga Strait, lat.
35 4' 50" N.; long. 139 38' 18" E., 70 fathoms, coarse black sand,
bottom temperature 56.3, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 70 to
405 fathoms. Temperature range, 56.3 to 41.8. Twenty-five
specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25635, U.S.N.M., from station 3698.
There can be no doubt that this species is closely allied to 0. albata
Lyman, which was collected by the Challenger near Japan. I have
not seen that species, but the description and figures of the upper
arm plates are entirely different from what calyptolepis shows, and
moreover no reference is made to any concealment of the disk scales
by a granular skin in albata. It has therefore seemed best to me to
keep the two species separate, at least for the present.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK 69
OPHIURA CRYPTOLEPIS, new species.a
Disk 20 mm. in diameter; arms about 55 mm. long. Disk com-
pletely covered by a thick granular skin, through which, in adults,
not even radial shields can be seen ; in many smaller specimens out-
lines of radial shields and even of disk scales can be more or less easily
distinguished. Upper arm plates small, tetragonal, all but first one
or two much longer than wide, with a narrow, proximal, and a strongly
convex, distal margin; on basal third or half of arm they are in con-
tact with each other, but distally they become triangular and separate.
Interbrachial spaces below like disk above. Oral shields and all
mouth parts, under arm plates, tentacle pores, and tentacle scales,
essentially as in calyptolepis, the differences being trivial and of no
systematic importance; tentacle pores extend out six joints on arm,
and first under arm plate is relatively smaller. Arm comb well
developed, forming a conspicuous marginal fringe just distal to radial
FIG. 19. OPHIURA CRYPTOLEPIS. X2.5. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
shields; the two parts do not unite into a single comb. Side arm
plates large, meeting below but not above at base of arm ; each plate
carries seven to nine arm spines, lowest very distinctly largest and
may equal or exceed half a joint; in some cases, especially small
specimens, it appears to be next to lowest spine, which is longest, but
in fact, what looks like lowest spine is tentacle scale. Color (dried
from alcohol) , yellow, yellowish, cream color or nearly white ; some of
the young specimens are dull purplish gray.
Localities. Albatross station 2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N.;
long. 148 36' W., 230 fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom tempera-
ture 39.8, 1 specimen; station 3070, off Washington, lat. 47 29' 30"
N.; long. 125 43' W., 636 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
37.9, 2 specimens; station 3332, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 50" N.; long.
166 45' W., 406 fathoms, rocky, sand, bottom temperature 37.8?,
1 specimen; station 3337, off Alaskan peninsula, lat. 53 55' 30" N.;
long. 163 26' W., 280 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
e, signifying hidden, and Xmk , signifying scale, in reference to the com-
pletely concealed disk scales.
70 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
39. 3, 11 specimens; station 3338, off Alaskan peninsula, lat. 54 19'
N.; long. 159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom tem-
perature 37.3, 4 specimens; station 3343, off Washington, lat. 47
40' 40" N.; long. 125 20' W., 516 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 38.2, 3 specimens; station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30"
N.; long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom
temperature 38.6, 3 specimens; station 5079, off Omai Saki Light,
Japan, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms, pebbles, bot-
tom temperature 39.1, 3 specimens; station 5080, off Omai Saki
Light, Japan, lat. 34 10' 30" N.; long. 138 40' E., 505 fathoms, fine
gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature, 38.7, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 230 to 636 fathoms. Temperature range, 39.8 to
37.3. Twenty-nine specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25710, U.S.N.M., from station 3337.
This species is very near the preceding but seems to be constantly
distinct. The concealment of the disk scales is more a difference of
degree than of kind, but the conspicuous arm comb and the large
lowest arm spine in cryptolepis provide very convenient and reliable
means of distinguishing this species from calyptolepis. The speci-
mens before me range, in diameter of disk, from 4 to 20 mm.
OPHIURA NODOSA.
Ophiura nodosa LUTKEN, Vid. Medd. for 1854, 1855, p. 100.
Localities. Albatross station 3250, Bering Sea, lat. 58 11' 30" N.;
long. 163 2' 45" W., 17 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature
46.2, 3 specimens; station 3251, Bering Sea, lat. 57 35' 50" N. ; long.
164 5' W., 25J fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 37.5,
12 specimens; station 3252, Bering Sea, lat. 57 22' 20" N.; long.
164 24' 40" W., 29J fathoms, black mud, bottom temperature 44.8,
1 specimen; station 3269, Bering Sea, lat. 55 19' N. ; long. 163 4' 30"
W., 16 fathoms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature
42.3, 1 specimen; station 3297, Bering Sea, lat. 57 38' N.; long.
159 7' 30" W., 26 fathoms, gray sand',' bottom temperature 41.5, 1
specimen; station 3298, Bering Sea, lat. 57 38' 30" N.; long. 158
22' 30" W., 20 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 43.8,
18 specimens; station 3304, Bering Sea, lat. 58 2' 30" N.; long. 161
13' 45" W., 28 fathoms, fine gray sand, 1 specimen; station 3305,
Bering Sea, lat. 57 51' 30" N.; long. 161 40' W., 23 fathoms, fine
gray sand, bottom temperature 41.8, 23 specimens; station 3504,
Bering Sea, lat. 56 57' N.; long. 169 27' W., 34 fathoms, fine gray
sand, black specks, bottom temperature 37.8, 1 specimen; station
3507, Bering Sea, lat. 57 43' N.; long. 164 42' W., 31 fathoms, fine
gray sand, bottom temperature 37.5, 35 specimens; station 3675, loc. ?,
no record available, 6 specimens; station 5005, off Saghalin, lat. 46
4' 40" N. ; long. 142 27' 30" E., 42 fathoms, green mud, fine gray sand,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 71
bottom temperature 30.7 ?, 78 specimens; station 5006, off Saghalin,
lat. 46 4' N. ; long. 142 29' E., 42 to 43 fathoms, green mud, fine gray
sand, bottom temperature 36.1, 7 specimens; station 5007, off
Saghalin, lat. 46 3' N. ; long. 142 31' E., 42 fathoms, green mud, fine
gray sand, bottom temperature 34.8, 9 specimens; station 5008, off
Saghalin, lat. 46 7' 50" N.; long. 142 37' 20" E., 40 fathoms, green
mud, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 33.9, 9 specimens; station
5011, off Saghalin, lat. 46 18' 30" N.;long. 143 5' 40" E., 42 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 33.9, 1 specimen; station 5020, off
Saghalin, lat. 48 32' 45" N.; long. 145 7' 30" E., 73 fathoms,
green mud, sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 30.9, 4 specimens;
station 5021, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 32' 30" N.;long. 145 8' 45" E.,
73 fathoms, green mud, sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 30. 9, 1
specimen; station 5022, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 35' 30" N.; long. 145
20' E., 109 fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, bottom tempera-
ture 30.1, 2 specimens; station 5023, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 43' 30"
N. ; long. 145 03' E., 75 fathoms, sand, pebbles, bottom tempera-
ture 30.9, 3 specimens; station 5024, off Saghalin, lat. 48 43' 30"
N.; long. 144 56' 45" E., 52 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature
31.7, 2 specimens; lat. 60 22' N.; long. 168 45' W., 9 speci-
mens; lat. 62 15' N.; long. 167 40' W., 20 fathoms, 2 specimens;
lat. 62 54' N.; long. 166 38' W., 22 fathoms, 105 specimens; lat.
63 37' N.; long. 165 19' W., 12 fathoms, 69 specimens; lat. 64
12' N.; long. 162 52' W., 17 fathoms, 1 specimen; lat. 66 45' N.;
long. 166 35' W., 10 specimens; Arctic cruise of the Corwin, 35 speci-
mens; Dall's Alaska collection, 26 specimens; Arctic Ocean, 210 speci-
mens; off Cape Sabine, Alaska, 62 specimens; off Icy Cape, Alaska,
36 specimens; near coal station, Unga, Aleutians, 45 specimens; off
Point Barrow, Alaska, 15 fathoms, mud, 1 specimen; 10 miles west
of Point Franklin, Alaska, 13 J fathoms, 29 specimens; Sitka Harbor,
Alaska, 10 to 25 fathoms, 2 very small specimens; Point Belcher,
Alaska, 9 fathoms, sand, 74 specimens; mouth of Yukon River,
Alaska, 9 specimens; Port Clarence, Alaska, 4 specimens; Point
Hope, Alaska, 25 fathoms, 4 specimens; 12 miles east of King's
Island, Bering Strait, 9 specimens; Plover Bay, Siberia, 8 to 20
fathoms, mud, 90 specimens; Indian Point, Bering Strait, 17 fathoms,
5 specimens; East Cape, Siberia, 3 specimens; Cape Etolin, Nuniak
Island, Alaska, 2 specimens; Port Levasheff, Alaska, 6 specimens;
locality ?, 1 specimen. Bathy metrical range, 8 to 109 fathoms. Tem-
perature range 46.2 to 30.1. One thousand and sixty-seven
specimens.
This large series of specimens is of interest not merely because it
extends the bathymetric range of the species to over 100 fathoms and
the geographic range on the Asiatic coast south to the lower end of
Saghalin, but because it shows the growth changes and the great
72 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
range of variability of the species. The smallest specimen has the
diameter of the disk rather less than 2 mm. with the primary plates
covering nearly all of the upper side; the radial shields and the large
interradial marginal plates are very small in comparison. The upper
arm plates are nearly circular and much swollen, and the under arm
plates are longer than wide, but little swollen. The side arm plates
are decidedly swollen, and carry two short, sharp, well-spaced arm
spines. The oral shields occupy most of the inter brachial spaces
below and the tentacle pores have only one or two tentacle scales each.
The largest specimen has the disk 17 mm. in diameter and covered
by about 150 scales among which the primary plates are not conspicu-
PIG. 20. OPHIUEA NODOSA; VARIETY FKOM ICY CAPE, ALASKA. X6. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW;
C, SIDE VIEW OF BASE OF ARM.
ous. The upper arm plates are less swollen, hexagonal or pentagonal,
the basal ones much wider than long; the basal under arm plates are
also wider than long, the first one nearly triangular. The side arm
plates are very high and little swollen ; they carry from three to six arm
spines, of which two are usually larger than the others and of some-
what different shape. The tentacle scales have become very numer-
ous and there may be as many as eleven (seven proximal and four
distal) on a pore. Even far out on the arm there are three or four
scales borne on each side arm plate, at the proximal edge of the pore.
The chief variations shown by the different specimens are found in the
number and arrangement of the disk scales, the amount of swelling
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 73
of the arm plates, the shape of the oral shields, and particularly the
number and arrangement of the arm spines. Usually two arm spines,
larger than the others and of somewhat different shape, can be quite
easily distinguished, one next to the tentacle scales, the other high up
on the arm, but either one or both of these may be wanting or at best
no larger than the adjoining spinelets. In some specimens the con-
trast between these two spines and those which accompany them,
is very marked, the latter being flat, thin and scale-like, while in other
specimens all the arm spines are reduced to minute, rounded papillae.
It is very often difficult to distinguish sharply between the tentacle
scales and the lowest arm spines. The most extreme variation is
shown by some of the specimens from Icy Cape (see fig. 20) in
which the oral shields are extraordinarily elongated and there are
deep transverse grooves between the basal under arm plates. The
arms are also high and strongly compressed, so that they are virtually
keeled near the base. I at first considered this form a distinct species,
but the connecting series is too complete to warrant its recognition.
OPHIURA SCULPTA. *
Ophioglypha sculpta DUNCAN, Journ. Linn. Soc. London, vol. 14, 1879, p. 455.
Ophiura sculpta MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, ser. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Localities. Albatross station 3702, off Honshu Island, Japan,
31 to 41 fathoms, volcanic mud, sand, rocks, 2 specimens; station
4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long, 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106
fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9,
5 specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N.; long. 128
32 ' 10" E, 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 2 speci-
mens; station 4895, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10" N. ; long. 128 32' 10"
E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 5 specimens; sta-
tion 4900, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 28' 50" N. ; long. 128 34' 40" E., 139
fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9, 1 speci-
men; station 4903, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 31 ' 10" N. ; long. 128 33' 20"
E., 107 to 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 31 to 139 fathoms. Temperature range, 55.9 to 52.9.
Sixteen specimens.
These specimens answer very well to Duncan's description and
figures, and show very little diversity of structure among themselves.
The largest one is only a trifle larger than Duncan's type, having the
disk a little more than 8 mm. in diameter and the arms nearly 13 mm.
long.
OPHIURA STUWITZII.
Ophiura stuwitzii LUTKEN, Vid. Medd. for 1857, 1857, p. 51.
Localities. Albatross station 2845, off Alaska, lat. 54 5' N. ; long.
164 9' W., 42 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 42,
1 specimen; Alaska, 23 specimens; Alaska, Dall's collection, 1 speci-
men; Kyska Harbor, Alaska, 9 to 14 fathoms, 1 specimen.
74
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
These specimens vary in disk diameter from 3 to 8 mm. They
show considerable diversity in height and form of disk, and in the
shape and length of the arm-comb papilla, but even the smallest
specimens are at once distinguishable from young nodosa by the
arm spines.
OPHIURA (EDIPLAX, new species.o
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms about 12 mm. long. Disk covered
by twenty-one plates, a centro-dorsal, five radial, five interradial,
and five pairs of radial shields; all disk scales more or less tumid
though the radial shields are least so. Radial shields squarish,
joined for most of their length. Upper arm plates thick and swollen,
somewhat pentagonal (be-
coming tetragonal and finally
trigonal), but with more or
less rounded angles; all
but basal ones longer than
wide, first three, four, or five
n contact. Interbrachial
spaces below covered almost
wholly by the oral shields,
distal to which a large mar-
ginal plate and the two geni-
tal scales may be seen; a
couple of small angular plates
often lie between oral shields
and marginal plate. Oral
shields longer than wide,
rounded without, pointed
within. Adoral plates very
large, twice as long as wide;
C oral plates somewhat smaller
FIG. 21. OPHIURA (EDIPLAX. X10. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM but quite indistinct. Oral
BELOW; C, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK. '11 ' "U -C
papillae minute, about five
on a side. Genital scales very stout, with a marginal series of about
a dozen short, blunt papillae, which form the inconspicuous arm
comb when seen from above. Basal under arm plates somewhat
hexagonal or pentagonal, and though the plates rapidly diminish in
size, they undergo little change of form, except that they become
wider than long distally, while at first they are decidedly longer than
wide. Side arm plates somewhat swollen, at first higher than long,
but rapidly becoming longer than high, in contact except at base of
arm; each plate carries one small arm spine, high up on the distal
), signifying to swell, and x\a, signifying a plate, in reference to the swollen
disk and upper arm plates.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 75
margin. Oral tentacle pores do not open distinctly into mouth slit;
they are protected by two or three scales on each side. Tentacle
pores of arm with three or two scales, and at last only a single scale,
on proximal margin. Color (dried from alcohol), nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 4812, Sea of Japan, lat. 38 33' N.;
long. 138 40' E., 176 to 200 fathoms, fine brown mud (?), bottom
temperature 34.9, 6 specimens; station 4819, Sea of Japan, lat. 38_9'
N.; long. 138 32' 12" E., 245 fathoms, fine brown mud, bottom
temperature 33.1, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 176 to 245
fathoms. Temperature range, 34.9 to 33.1. Ten specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25618, U.S.N.M., from station 4812.
Although this interesting little brittle-star is nearly related to both
Ophiura bullata and 0. convexa, it is easily distinguished from either
(even young specimens) by the single short, blunt arm spine, the
wide oral shields, and the large tentacle scales. It is quite possible
that adiplax is the young of a larger species, but I know of none to
which it can be assigned, and it seems to me therefore desirable to
both name and figure it.
OPHIURA STEREA.
Ophioglypha sterea H. L. CLARK, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, vol. 51, 1908, p. 293.
Localities. Albatross station 3771, off Honshu Island, Japan, 6>1
fathoms, green mud, sand, 40 specimens; station 3774, off Honshu
Island, Japan, 81 fathoms, gray sand, 2 specimens; station 3775, off
Honshu Island, Japan, 57 fathoms, green mud, sand, 2 specimens;
station 4815, Sea of Japan, lat. ,38 16' N.; long. 138 52' W., 70
fathoms, dark green sand, bottom temperature 51, 1 specimen;
station 4826, off Honshu Island, Japan, lat. 37 25' N.; long. 137 32'
E., 114 fathoms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature
42.5, 2 specimens; station 4832, off Honshu Island, Japan, lat. 36
14' 30" N.; long. 135 56' 30" E., 76 to 79 fathoms, dark gray sand,
bottom temperature 53.2, 14 specimens; station 4833, off Honshu
Island, Japan, lat. 36 13' 40" N.; long. 135 56' 30" E., 79 fathoms,
dark gray sand, rocks, bottom temperature 53.2, 6 specimens; station
4842, off Korea, lat. 36 13' N.; long. 133 27' E., 82 fathoms, fine
green sand, shells, bottom temperature 54.6, 1 specimen; station
4965, off Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191
fathoms, dark green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4,
1 specimen; station 5046, off Honshu Island, Japan, lat. 38 15' 7"
N.; long. 141 44' 20" E., 82 fathoms, dark gray sand, pebbles, bot-
tom temperature 50.8, 20 specimens; station 5055, in Suruga Gulf,
Japan, lat. 34 53' N.; long. 138 44' 15", 124 fathoms, green mud,
gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 56.6, 6 speci-
mens; station 5092, Uraga Strait, Japan, lat. 35 4'50"N.; long.
139 38' 13" E., 70 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature
76
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
56.3, 3 specimens; station 5094, Uraga Strait, Japan, lat. 35 4' 42" N.;
long. 139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 54.8, 5 specimens; locality (?), 2 specimens. Bathy-
metrical range, 57 to 191 fathoms. Temperature range, 56.6 to 42.5.
One hundred and five specimens.
This fine series of specimens, the disk diameters of which range
from 6 to 20 mm., shows conclusively that the original specimens,
on which the species was based, were immature. It has therefore
seemed advisable to give figures of the adult. The only impor-
tant changes which take place as the individuals increase from a
disk diameter of 7 mm. to one of 20 are found in the arm comb and
the arm spines. The change in the arm comb is an increase in the
FIG. 22. OPHIURA STEREA. X2.5. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF BASE OF ARM.
number of papillae, of which there may be as many as twenty-five.
The change in the arm spines is far more important; the number of
what we may call true arm spines changes little, for there are usu-
ally four or five, and only rarely six, but there develops on the
distal margin of the side arm plates a secondary series of spines,
which may be quite conspicuous, and consist of as many as fifteen
spinelets. These spinelets are usually flatter, thinner, and more trun-
cate than the true spines, but while the differences may be marked,
it is often difficult to distinguish between the true and the secondary
spines. This is particularly so at the base of the arm, as may be
seen in fig. 22c. On the whole, sterea seems to be very well character-
ized and quite distinct from any of its nearest relatives.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 77
OPHIURA SCULPTILIS.
Ophioglypha sculptilis LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 84.
Ophioglypha variabilis LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 85.
Ophiura sculptilis MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Locality. Albatross station 4928, southeast of Yakushima Island,
Japan, lat. 29 51' N.; long. 131 2' 30" E., 1,008 fathoms, gray
sand, globigerina ooze, bottom temperature 36.8, 3 specimens.^
I have compared these specimens, which have the disk about 9
mm. in diameter, with a cotype of variabilis (Challenger station 195,
off Amboina), and with numerous specimens from the West Indies,
and I have no doubt of the correctness of the identification. I have
also examined, in connection with these specimens, a cotype of
0. sculptilis Lyman (Challenger station 237, off Japan), which is
of almost exactly the same size and proportions as the cotype of
variabilis, and I am forced to the conclusion that the two are conspe-
cific. Koehler a has expressed the view that while sculptilis and
variabilis are very closely allied they seem to be constantly different
in the oral papillae and the arrangement of scales just proximal to the
radial shields. I do not find that these trivial differences hold in the
series before me, and it seems to me necessary to unite the two nominal
forms under the name sculptilis, which has the priority of one page
over the very appropriate name variabilis. The number of arm
spines is given by Lyman as "six" in sculptilis and "four or five" in
variabilis; at the base of the arm, however, there are commonly six
or seven and not rarely eight. The Challenger specimen of variabilis
has six or seven, the Albatross specimen has seven, and on one joint
eight, and several of the Blake specimens have eight on one or more
of the arm joints. After the first half dozen joints the number is
commonly four or five.
OPHIURA PONDEROSA.
Ophioglypha ponderosa LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 93.
Ophiura ponderosa MEISSNER, Bronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, 1901, p. 925.
Localities. Albatross station 2853, off Alaska, lat. 56 N. ; long.
154 20' W., 159 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 41, 3
specimens; station 2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N. ; long. 148 36' W.,
230 fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom temperature 39.8, 2 speci-
mens; station 2861, off Alaska, lat. 51 14' N. ; long. 129 50' W., 204
fathoms, bottom?, bottom temperature 42.6, 1 specimen; station
3126, off California, lat. 36 49' 20" N.; long. 122 12' 30" W., 456
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature?, 6 4 specimens; station
3337, off Alaska, lat. 53 55' 30" N.; long. 163 26' W., 280 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 39.3, 43 specimens; station 3339,
a Investigator Deep Sea Oph., 1899, p. 20.
&The published temperature for this station is obviously erroneous, as shown by the
context,
78 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
off Alaska, lat. 54 46' N.; long. 157 43' 30" W., 138 fathoms, mud,
gravel, bottom temperature 37.4, 1 specimen; station 5023, Okhotsk
Sea, lat. 48 43' 30" N.; long. 145 3' E., 75 fathoms, sand, pebbles,
bottom temperature 30.9, 7 specimens; station 5029, Okhotsk Sea,
lat. 48 22' 30" N. ; long. 145 43' 30" E., 440 fathoms, black sand,
gravel, bottom temperature 35.3, 4 specimens; station 5079, off
Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E.,475 to 505 fathoms,
pebbles, bottom temperature 39.1, 8 specimens. Bathymetrical
range, 75 to 505 fathoms. Temperature range, 42.6 to 30.9.
Seventy-three specimens.
This splendid series of specimens is of great interest in showing
the growth changes of one of the largest, and probably the heaviest,
of the simple-armed ophiurans. The smallest specimen has the
disk 6 mm. in diameter and nearly 3 mm. thick. It is covered by
about sixty plates, of which the primary plates and five additional
plates (one proximal to each pair of radial shields) are more or less
swollen and correspondingly conspicuous. In the largest specimen
the disk is 47 mm. in diameter and is 14 mm. thick just proximal
to the radial shields; it is covered by about one hundred and fifty
plates. While the diameter has increased about eight times, the
thickness has only increased five times and the number of plates on
the disk only two and a half times. In another specimen, in which
the disk diameter is about 42 mm. there are only about seventy-
five disk plates. In all specimens regardless of size, the radial plate
just proximal to the radial shields, is the most swollen and usually
the most conspicuous. In the largest specimen the arm is extraor-
dinarily triangular (in cross section) at base; each of the three sides
is 10 mm. across. In small specimens the arm is not so sharply
keeled, but it is distinctly trigonal. The arm spines show considerable
diversity in different individuals, quite apart from size. There was
only a single specimen in the Challenger collection and it is probable
Lyman did not dry that one completely, so that he was misled in
regard to the number and arrangement of the arm spines. In reality
we can distinguish here, as in sterea, between true and secondary
spines. The true spines are usually two in number, short, thick,
and peg-like; often there are three, frequently only one, and some-
times they appear to be wholly wanting. The secondary spines are
very flat, thin, and blunt, and first appear on the angle of the arm
between the lowest true spine and the tentacle scales. They may be
wholly wanting, especially in young specimens. In adults, they may
be numerous (as many as twelve) and reach clear to the top of the
side arm plate. Usually they are distinctly more marginal than the
true spines, but sometimes all are in the same plane, and then the
true spines can only be distinguished, if at all, by their larger size
and different shape. In the Challenger specimen, the true spines
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 79
were either wanting or were indistinguishable. The color of most of
the individuals before me is some shade of brownish-yellow, but those
from station 3126 are nearly pure white. In these specimens also,
the oral shields are much narrower and more constricted than in any
of the others, but the differences are not sufficiently marked to raise
any question as to the specific identity of the form.
OPHIURA MEGAPOMA, new species.**
Disk 17 mm. in diameter; arms about 50 mm. long. Disk rather
high but flat, covered by about 100 to 150 stout, coarse plates, among
which the primary plates are not conspicuous. Radial shields of
moderate size, rather longer than broad, well separated both without
and within, but usually more or less in contact at the middle. Arms
rather high, more or less compressed near base. Upper arm plates
hexagonal and wider than long at base of arm, but more or less rapidly
FIG. 23. OPHIURA MEGAPOMA. X3. O.FROMABOVE; &,FROMBELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS
NEAR DISK.
becoming longer than wide, and pentagonal or even tetragonal near
tip ; in contact except at extremity of arm. Interbrachial areas below
covered by about twenty rather coarse plates. Oral shields longer
than wide, rounded distally but pointed at inner end. Adoral plates
large, about twice as long as wide; oral plates smaller, much wider
proximally than distally ; in the type-specimen there are a number of
rounded granules on the inner ends of these plates, but these are
wanting in the other specimens. Oral papillae only three on each side,
rather small and somewhat pointed; they are directly continuous with
the tentacle scales on the outer side of the oral tentacle pore. Genital
slits long and moderately conspicuous. Genital scales short and wide
distally, rather conspicuous from above; each scale carries about eight
wide, truncate, crowded papillae, which, with two additional ones on
the outer end of each radial shield, make up the conspicuous arm
a Me-fac, signifying big, and Tro^a, signifying lid, in reference to the large lid-like
tentacle scales.
80 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
comb. First under arm plate much longer than wide, with a median
keel-like swelling; second plate similar, but wider, and with the keel
flat and broad; succeeding plates more or less elongated hexagonal,
ultimately becoming tetragonal and then triangular, in contact on
basal two-thirds of arm. Side arm plates moderate, somewhat
swollen, separated both above and beneath, until near tip of arm;
each plate bears four or five minute papilla-like arm spines, which
grade so closely into the tentacle scales it is difficult to draw a line
between them. Oral tentacle pores opening into mouth slit, but
guarded on outer side by four very large scales, of which the most
distal is nearly or quite as large as the other three together ; these scales
are so appressed in all the specimens, that the pore is completely
concealed, and one can not even see whether there are any scales on
the inner margin of the pore or not; the first four or five tentacle
pores of the arm are protected in the same way by from four to seven
big scales; farther out there are only four, three, or even two, much
smaller scales, which merge into the series of spines on each side arm
plate. Color (dried from alcohol), brownish-drab.
Localities. Albatross station 4826, off Japan, lat. 37 25' N. ; long.
137 32' E., 114 fathoms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom tem-
perature 42.5, 5 specimens; station 4828, off Japan, lat. 37 23' N. ;
long. 137 36' E., 163 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 34.9,
4 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 114 to 163 fathoms. Tempera-
ture range, 42.5 to 34.9. Nine specimens.
Type.Csit. No. 25546, U.S.N.M., from station 4826.
This species is quite intermediate between the species of the sarsii
group of Ophiura, on the one hand, and the species of the sculptilis
group on the other, though it appears to be more nearly related to
the latter. It is easily distinguished from previously known species
by the coarse disk scales and wide, appressed comb papillae in com-
bination with the minute, blunt arm spines, and the big, flat tentacle
scales. The smallest of the specimens before me has the disk 9 mm.
in diameter; it has, for the most part three well-spaced arm spines,
and only two tentacle scales, often only one, beyond the three or
four basal pores.
OPHIURA HADRA, new species.a
Disk 32 mm. in diameter; arms probably about 100 mm. long.
Disk stout, flat or slightly arched, nearly 10 mm. thick, covered by
about seventy-five plates, among which only the radial shields are
conspicuously large; the plate just proximal to each pair of radial
shields is more or less swollen, much as in ponderosa. Radial shields
longer than wide, in contact except at inner end, where they diverge.
Arms stout, rounded and little compressed, about 7 mm. wide and 5
*Ap6f, signifying stout, thick, in reference to its very heavy, solid appearance.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
81
mm. high at base. Upper arm plates tetragonal with convex distal
margin and slightly flaring sides, becoming pentagonal near middle
of arm, broadly in contact throughout; basal plates much wider than
long, but the length rapidly increases until the plates are much longer
than wide. Interbrachial spaces below covered by oral shield and
nine or ten marginal and submarginal plates. Oral shields more or
less triangular, outer angles slightly rounded, lateral margins more or
less strongly notched at head of genital slits. Adoral plates narrow,
diverging; oral plates nearly as large, approximately parallel. Oral
papillae stout, more or less pointed, five or six on a side. Genital slits
short and inconspicuous. Genital scales short and only little visible
from below, but exceptionally
wide and conspicuous from
above. Each scale carries a
marginal series of fifteen to
twenty flat, truncate, ap-
pressed papillae (see fig. 24),
which at upper end of scale
are less crowded, and are
pointed or rounded at tip,
and at lower end pass grad-
ually into a series of small
papillae on margin of an in-
conspicuous, accessory, or
supplementary genital scale.
Basal under arm plate some-
what hexagonal, much wider
than long,distal margin longer
than proximal; five or six
succeeding plates tetragonal,
wider than long; remaining
plates somewhat hexagonal, FIG. 24. OPHIURA HADRA. X1.75. a, FROM ABOVE; 6,
with narrow proximal end, FEOM BELOW; c ' SIDE VIEW OF BASE op AEM -
longer than wide, gradually becoming tetragonal, or sometimes dia-
mond shaped, and wider than long; all under arm plates in contact
with each other until about eighteenth joint, after which they rapidly
become widely separated. Side arm plates high but narrow, not
meeting above or below on basal half of arm; each plate carries five
very small, thick, blunt, well-spaced arm spines; there is no develop-
ment of a secondary series as in ponderosa. Oral tentacle pores large,
nearly but not quite opening into mouth slit, protected by three to
six scales on the outer side and two to four on inner; outermost scale
in each series very broad; tentacle pores of arm very large, the basal
ones protected by eight to five scales on proximal side and five to two
34916 Bull. 7511 6
82 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
on distal; after about the seventh pore, there are no scales on distal
side, though there may still be six on the proximal; on terminal part of
arm there are three or two scales on the proximal side only. Color
(dried from alcohol), dirty- whitish or ivory white.
Localities. Albatross, station 2860, off Washington, lat. 51 23' N.;
long. 130 34' W., 876 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5,
11 specimens; station 3074, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N.; long.
125 48' 30" W., 877 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.6,
1 specimen; station 3075, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N.; long.
125 41' W., 859 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.6,
6 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 859 to 877 fathoms. Tempera-
ture range, 36.6 to 36.5. Eighteen specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25612, U.S.N.M., from station 3075.
This handsome species is a near relative of ponderosa but is at once
distinguished from that species by the rounded arms, with very
different arm spines. It is evidently an inhabitant of deeper, colder
water, and apparently has a much more restricted range. The speci-
mens from station 2860 are all small, with disk diameters ranging
from 3.5 to 9 mm.; the largest has two arms nearly unbroken, only
the tip is gone, and these are about 30 mm. long. These young
specimens resemble the adults in all essential particulars, except in
the number of arm spines; most of them have only a single spine, but
the larger ones have two well-spaced spines on most of the basal
joints. In the adults from stations 3074 and 3075, the arms are all
broken in their basal half, so it is not possible to determine the num-
ber of arm spines near their tips.
OPHIURA STIPHRA, new species, a
Disk 16 mm. in diameter; arms about 42 mm. long. Disk high,
about 7 mm. thick, covered by a smooth, firm coat, of about one
hundred and twenty-five scales, among which the primary plates can
be distinguished but the radial shields are the most prominent.
Radial shields about as wide as long, in contact near middle but sepa-
rated within and widely so distally, by a single large scale. Arms
high at base, distinctly compressed. Upper arm plates rather variable
in shape, but tending to be more or less distinctly hexagonal, though
basal ones have decidedly convex distal margins; basal ones also
much wider than long but beyond middle of arm, length generally
exceeds width. Interbrachial spaces below, each nearly one-half
covered by oral shield, distal to which is a series of about four long
plates, which occupy most of remaining space. Oral shield oval,
narrower proximally. Adoral plates nearly triangular, pointed dis-
tally, but with very indistinct outlines; oral plates narrow but con-
spicuously swollen at proximal end, so that there is a marked eleva-
signifying compact, solid, in reference to the hard, compact structure.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 83
tion on face of each jaw. Oral papillae about five on a side, those at
tip of jaw rather large and pointed. Genital slits inconspicuous but
genital scales large and very conspicuous from above; each scale
carries a closely crowded series of about thirty marginal papillae
which are flat and truncate orally but become very slender and some-
what pointed at upper end of scale. Basal under arm plates wider
than long and wider without than within, each with a conspicuous
swelling or keel occupying median part of plate; succeeding plates
squarish or hexagonal without a keel, gradually becoming longer
than wide. Side arm plates high but narrow, and not meeting above
or below until far out on terminal part of arm; each plate carries two
or three true arm spines and a marginal fringe of secondary spines;
secondary fringe resembles arm comb, consisting at lower end of
flat, truncate papillae and above of slender, more spine-like processes;
altogether there may be a dozen or more teeth in this fringe; lowest
true arm spine just above outermost tentacle scale, for which it might
FIG. 25. OPHIUKA STIPHRA. X3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF BASE OF ARM.
easily be mistaken as it exceeds it very little in size ; second arm spine
a little longer and usually quite pointed; it is nearly its own length
above lowest; third spine, when present, is at extreme upper corner
of side arm plate and is smallest of three. Oral tentacle pores large,
not opening into mouth slit, protected by about five large flat scales
on each side; basal tentacle pores of arm similar but with as many
as eight scales on proximal side and only three or four on distal;
beyond about eighth or ninth pore there are no scales on distal mar-
gin of pore but there are three or four on the proximal side far out on
arm; outermost tentacle scale quite similar in form to lowest true
arm spine. Color (dried from alcohol), fawn color, pale buff, pale
gray, or whitish.
Localities. Albatross station 3700, off Honshu Island, Japan, 63
fathoms, volcanic mud, sand, 1 specimen; station 3708, off Honshu
Island, Japan, 60 to 70 fathoms, green mud, volcanic sand, ashes,
3 specimens; station 3713, off Honshu Island, Japan, 45 to 48
84 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 6 specimens; station 3716, off
Ose Zaki, Japan, 65 to 125 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks,
5 specimens; station 4807, Sea of Japan, lat. 41 36' VI" N.; long.
140 36' W., 44 to 47 fathoms, shells, coarse gravel, 1 specimen;
station 4874, Korea Strait, lat. 34 38' N. ; long. 130 3' E., 66 fathoms,
green sand, broken shells, 1 specimen; station 4933, off Kagoshima
Gulf, lat. 30 59' N.; long. 130 29' 50" E., 52 fathoms, rocky,
bottom temperature 56, 1 specimen; station 4934, off Kagoshima
Gulf, lat. 30 58' 30" N. ; long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, rocky,
bottom temperature 56, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 44 to
152 fathoms. Twenty-two specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25728, U.S.N.M., from station 4807.
This species resembles stereo, so closely that viewed simply from
above it can not be distinguished with certainty, although the upper
arm plates are somewhat different. But a glance at the arm spines is
sufficient to enable one to separate the two species without fail.
The secondary arm spines of stiphra, are so fully differentiated into a
marginal fringe and are so sharply distinct from the true spines that
the general appearance is quite unlike that of stereo,.
OPHIURA PENICHRA, new species.a
Disk 24 mm. in diameter; arms about 70 mm. long. Disk high,
about 7 mm. thick, covered by a close, smooth coat, of rather less
FIG. 26. OPHIURA PENICHRA. X2. c, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
than one hundred scales, among which the primary plates are not
always distinguishable, but the radial shields are conspicuous.
Radial shields rather longer than wide, united for about two-thirds
of their length, inner ends diverging. Arms high, compressed, and
faintly keeled at base. Upper arm plates tetragonal, much wider
than long, gradually becoming hexagonal and ultimately, longer than
wide, in contact nearly to tip of arm. Interbrachial spaces below
mostly covered by oral shield and three elongated plates distal to it.
> signifying poor, needy, in reference to the depauperate arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 85
Oral shields moderately large, much longer than wide. Adoral
plates large, well defined, twice as long as wide; oral plates smaller,
more or less parallel, with a conspicuous unpaired plate at their
proximal ends. Oral papillae few and stout, about four on a side.
Genital slits small but genital scales large and conspicuous, especially
when seen from above; each scale carries a marginal series of about
eighteen short, thick, blunt papillae which change little in fdrnT as
they pass from lower to upper end of scale. Basal under arm plates
squarish, wider than long, becoming octagonal, heptagonal, hex-
agonal, pentagonal, and at last rhombic ; they are broadly in contact
on basal half of arm but become widely separated distally. Side arm
plates not very large, well separated from each other below and
above, except near tip of arm; each plate carries near its middle, on
distal margin, a single minute, papilla-like arm spine; there is no
trace of secondary arm spines. Oral tentacle pore opens into mouth
slit; it is protected by four or five flat, stout, scales on each side;
basal pores on arms similar, but with no scales on distal side of pore
after about the sixth joint; two tentacle scales continue to tip of
arm, on proximal side of pore. Color (dried from alcohol), buff,
grayish, or nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 5036, off Hokkaido, Japan, lat. 41
58' N.; long. 142 30' 30" E., 464 fathoms, brown mud, bottom
temperature 37.9, 5 specimens; station 5038, off Hokkaido, Japan,
lat. 42 2' 40" N.; long. 142 36' E., 175 fathoms, fine black sand,
broken shells, brown mud, bottom temperature 37.1, 5 specimens;
station 5043, off Hokkaido, Japan, lat. 42 10' 20" N.; long. 142
15' 20" E., 309 to 330 fathoms, brown mud, fine black sand, coral,
sand, bottom temperature 37.9, 11 specimens; station 5044, off
Hokkaido, Japan, lat. 42 10' 40" N.; long. 142 14' E., 309 to 359
fathoms, gray sand, coral, sand, bottom temperature 32.1, 6 speci-
mens. Bathymetrical range, 175 to 464 fathoms. Temperature
range, 37.9 to 32.1. Twenty-seven specimens.
Type.Csit. No. 25528, U.S.N.M., from station 5038.
This is another species, very similar to sterea at first sight, but
easily distinguished by a glance at the arm spines. The arm comb
is also very different from those of sterea and stipJira. The conspicu-
ous unpaired plate at apex of the jaw is not characteristic as a similar
plate can usually be seen in sterea, ponderosa, and the other related
forms.
OPHIURA ATACTA, new species."
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms about 15 mm. long, probably.
Disk somewhat arched, covered with 150 to 175 scales, which are of
very diverse sizes and show no definite arrangement. Radial shields
a /Va/a-of , signifying out of order, in reference to the disordered appearance of the
disk scales.
86 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
large, somewhat triangular, nearly twice as long as wide, well sepa-
rated within but touching distally. Upper arm plates tetragonal
(becoming triangular on distal half of arm), with distal margin con-
vex and much longer than proximal; lateral margins somewhat
concave, and distinctly longer than distal; only first six or eight,
in contact. Interbrachial spaces below covered by fifteen to twenty
irregular plates. Genital slits long and conspicuous, bounded by
very large genital scales; each scale carries near its distal end a few
blunt papillae, which are flat, squarish, and closely in contact with
each other, when seen, as an arm comb, from above. Oral shields
large, about as long as broad, or longer, somewhat pentagonal.
Adoral plates long and narrow, meeting within; oral plates rather
large, three times as long as wide. Oral papillae about five on a side,
subequal, squarish but pointed, crowded. First under arm plate
large, hexagonal, much wider than long; succeeding plates triangular
FIG. 27. OPHIURA ATACTA. X8. a, FKOM ABOVE; 6, FKOM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS
NEAR DISK.
or pentagonal, wider than long, only first two, or none, in contact.
Side arm plates large, broadly in contact below and above, except
at very base of arm; each plate carries three short, subequal, bluntly
pointed arm spines, about half as long as joint. Oral tentacle pores
open into mouth slit ; each pore with five or six scales on either side ;
next two or three pores with three or two scales on side arm plate,
proximally; remaining pores with a single small scale. Color (dried
from alcohol), nearly white.
Locality. Albatross station 3338, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 54
19' N., long. ; 159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom tem-
perature 37.3, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25533, U.S.N.M., from station 3338.
In several particulars this specimen resembles monostcecha, but it
can not be referred to that species, the radial shields and upper arm
plates are so different, aside from other minor points. The peculiarly
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
87
irregular arrangement of the disk scales may not be a species character^
for such a condition is occasionally found as an individual variation
in species which normally have the disk scales very regularly disposed.
OPHIURA BRACHYACTIS, new species, a
Disk 17 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk high,
6 mm. thick, covered by a smooth, firm coat of some seventy-five
scales; central primary plate very small (peculiarly elongated in the
type, but pentagonal in the other specimen), surrounded by the five
very large radials, which look as though they overlapped each other
clockwise (probably they do not really overlap at all). Radial shields
FIG. 28. OPHIURA BRACHYACTIS. X3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF BASE OF ARM
very large, closely joined, a trifle longer than wide; outer ends
slightly diverging and inner ends more or less separated by a single
scale. Arms high and compressed at base, but not really keeled.
Upper arm plates more or less hexagonal, becoming tetragonal; basal
ones much wider than long, distal ones somewhat longer than wide,
in contact throughout. Interbrachial spaces below covered by oral
shields and about a dozen scales. Oral shields very much longer
than wide, rounded distally, pointed at inner end. Adoral plates
small and narrow, about three times as long as wide; oral plates
wider but not so long; an unpaired plate at tip of jaw. Oral papillae
small, four or five on a side, besides a terminal infradental papilla.
Bpa%uc, signifying short, and OKT^, signifying ray, in reference to the short arms.
88 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Genital slits long, but not conspicuous; genital scales short, but very
wide distally with a well-marked supplementary scale at proximal
end ; each genital scale (with its supplementary scale) carries a mar-
ginal series of about twenty-two papillae, which are flat, truncate, and
crowded below, but become longer, more spine-like, and better spaced
above. First under arm plate somewhat triangular or tetragonal,
with distal margin much longer than proximal; succeeding four or
five plates squarish, wider than long; remaining plates tetragonal,
longer than wide, becoming ultimately very minute and triangular;
all under arm plates are in contact until near tip of arm. Side
arm plates not very large, well separated both above and below;
each plate carries two true arm spines; one near upper corner of
plate, not very flat, sharp, about one-third as long as arm joint;
the second, low down on plate, very flat, somewhat pointed, not
always to be easily distinguished from underlying secondary series;
this secondary series of arm spines is very well developed and
is made up of flat, truncate, crowded papillae which are much
longer near middle of plate than they are either above or below;
lower papillae largest, not always to be easily distinguished from
outermost tentacle scales. Oral tentacle pores do not quite open into
mouth slits; they are protected by about four scales on, each side.
Basal tentacle pores of arm with four to eight scales on proximal side,
but only three or two small ones on distal side; after about fourth
pore there are no scales on distal side, though there may still be five
or six on proximal side; near tip of arm there are simply two small
scales on proximal margin of each pore. Color (dried from alcohol),
yellowish-brown or fawn color.
Localities. Albatross station 5018, off Sakhalin, lat. 46 41 ' 30"
N.; long. 143 57' 40" E., 100 fathoms, brown mud, black sand, peb-
bles, bottom temperature 30.4, 1 specimen; station 5023, off Sagha-
lin, lat. 48 43' 30" N.; long. 145 3' E., 75 fathoms, sand, pebbles,
bottom temperature 30.9, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 75 to
100 fathoms. Temperature range, 30.9 to 30.4.
Type. Cat. No. 25548, U.S.N.M., from station 5023.
This is still another species of the stereo, group, easily distinguished
by the secondary arm spines. It is somewhat doubtful whether the
peculiar arrangement of the .disk scales shown by these two speci-
mens will really prove sufficiently constant to afford a specific char-
acter; if it should prove constant, it would be very useful as an easy
means of recognition, even apart from the secondary arm spines, for
I know of no other species in which the centrodorsal is so small in pro-
portion to the radial plates. The extremely low temperature of the
water is a marked feature of the habitat of this species.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM-
7L.ABK.
89
OPHIURA POMPHOPHORA, new species. &
Disk 15 mm. in diameter; arms about 45 mm. long. Disk convex,
but only moderately high at margin, covered by about forty plates,
each of which is more or less convex, the six primary plates most so.
Radial shields longer than wide, joined for about half their length,
but well separated proximally by a large diamond-shaped plate.
Arms rather wide at base, somewhat depressed, very flat orally, and
becoming flat dorsally near tip. Upper arm plates convex or some-
what swollen, only first six or seven in contact; first two plates
rounded tetragonal, very
much wider than long; next
three or four plates also tet-
ragonal, and wider than
long, but distal margin very
much longer than proximal ;
succeeding plates triangular,
slightly wider than long.
Interbrachial spaces below
narrow, covered by huge
oral shields, and single mar-
ginal plates, between which
are two or three small tri-
angular plates; all these
plates are notably thick and
heavy, even if not exactly
convex. Oral shields long
triangular, longer than wide,
rounded distally and pointed
within. Adoral plates and
oral plates distinct, moder-
ate, slightly convex. Oral
papillae three or four on a
side, outer ones very wide and truncate; an infradental papilla
present at apex of jaw. Genital slits long and conspicuous; each
genital scale with about twenty-five marginal papillae, which are
truncate and crowded orally, but become rounded at tip or bluntly
pointed at upper end of genital scales; arm comb thus formed,
directly continued by a series of four or five small papillae on
outer end of radial shields; the two series on opposite sides do not
quite meet, however, across base of arm. First under arm plate
octagonal, about as long as wide; second, larger, more tetragonal
FIG. 29. OPHIURA POMPHOPHORA, ADULT. X3.5 a, FROM
ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
& /7o ( <6f , signifying bubble, and <f>opa, signifying carrying, in reference to the convex
disk plates.
BtJLLETIN *7S, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
with outer margin convex; third, still larger, oblong, wider than long:
succeeding plates heptagonal, but quickly becoming pentagonal, in
contact up to eighth or ninth joint, after which they become small
and widely separated. Side arm plates large and somewhat swollen,
but not in contact either below or above on basal part of arm; each
plate carries three cylindrical spines, about one-third as long as plate
(or nearly one-half) , and situated well back from margin ; two lower
spines near together, while uppermost is near upper margin of plate.
Oral tentacle pores scarcely opening into mouth slit, protected by
five scales on each side ; tentacle pores of arm protected by scales as
follows, the number on
proximal side of pore
being given first: 4-5,
4-4, 4-3, 4-2, 3-2, and
2-1 ; of course the num-
ber on any particular
pore varies somewhat
on different arms, but
at least one distal scale
seems to continue even
to very tip of arm.
Color (dried from alco-
hol), ivory-white.
Localities. Albatross
station 3749, off Suno
Saki, Japan, 83 to 158
fathoms, black sand,
shells, 1 specimen: sta-
tion 4892, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 21' 30" N.;
long. 128 33' E., 181
fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, rocks,
Bathymetrical range,
FIG. 30. OPHIURA POMPHOPHORA, YOUNG. XlO. a, FROM ABOVE;
b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
bottom temperature 50.2, 1 young specimen
83 to 181 fathoms.
Type. Cat. No. 25604, U.S.N.M., from station 3749.
The specimen from station 4892 is only 4 mm. across the disk, and
both disk and arms are very flat. I at first supposed it to represent
a different species, but I am at last convinced it is simply the young
of pomphophora. The figures given herewith (figs. 29 and 30) bring out
better than words can the differences in the scaling of disk and arms,
both above and below. As would naturally be expected in so young
a specimen, the scales are less swollen; the arm spines and comb
papillae are more pointed and the tentacle scales are much less numer-
ous. The species appears to be very well characterized, for while it
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLAEK.
01
resembles 0. undata, Lyman in some particulars, a single glance at
the interbrachial areas and oral shields is sufficient to distinguish the
two species. From 0. solida Lyman, the arm plates alone are enough
to separate pomphopJiora.
OPHIURA GLYPTODISCA, new species.a
Disk nearly 6 mm. in diameter; arms 21 mm. long. Disk lliick,
flat, covered by six primary plates, radial shields and two plates in
each interradius, but each of these plates is surrounded by smaller
ones, and the small plates seem to be raised above the large ones, so
that the surface of the disk has a little the appearance of being sculp-
tured. Radial shields
large, longer than wide,
closely joined. Arms
nearly cylindrical near
base and tapering to a
very slender tip. Upper
arm plates swollen, only
first two in contact;
they are more or less
triangular with outer
corners rounded, dimin-
ish rapidly in size, and
are entirely wanting
after about the twelfth
joint. Interbrachial
spaces below covered by
huge oral shields and
single marginal plates ;
at outer corners of oral
shields, there may be one
or two small plates.
Oral shields rounded
without, abruptly narrowed within, about as wide as long. Adoral
and oral plates well defined, the latter decidedly the larger. Oral
papillae seven or eight on a side, closely soldered, outermost
much the widest. Genital slits long; genital scales large, each
one with a marginal series of minute papillae which become suffi-
ciently elongated dorsally to make a conspicuous arm comb of stout,
pointed teeth. First under arm plate triangular, with rounded cor-
ners about as long as wide; succeeding plates well separated from each
other, pentagonal quickly becoming tetragonal, with more or less
FIG. 31. OPHIURA GLYPTODISCA. X8. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM
BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
, signifying carved, ornamented, and dtoKoe, signifying disk, in reference to
the prettily ornamented appearance of the disk.
92 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
rounded angles, much wider than long. Side arm plates very large,
somewhat swollen, meeting above and below; each plate carries three
arm spines, not half as long as joint, the uppermost of which is far-
ther from the other two than they are from each other. Oral tentacle
pores small, opening at some distance distal to the mouth slit, and
guarded by one to three scales on each side; usually there are two
scales on one side and one on the other; first two tentacle pores of
arm with two minute scales, but succeeding pores have only a single
scale; there are neither scales nor pores at tip of arm. Color (dried
from alcohol), pale gray; arms nearly white.
Locality. Albatross station 4878, Korea Strait, lat. 34 18' 30" N.;
long. 130 14' 30" E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken shells, 1
specimen.
Type.C&t. No. 25539, U.S.N.M., from station 4878.
There is considerable room for difference of opinion as to whether
this species properly belongs in OpTiiura or not, but in view of the
fact that the genus as at present recognized is a very heterogeneous
group, and will have to be broken up into a number of genera, I think
it best to place glyptodisca here just now. The specimen may be
young, although the general appearance indicates full maturity, even
if not full size.
ANTHOPHIURA, new genus.a
Disk covered by the primary plates and radial shields with a very
few large interradial plates. Centrodorsal plate elevated and con-
spicuously star or flower shaped (see fig. 32a). No upper arm plates
beyond second joint, and under arm plates confined to basal joints
of arm. No arm comb. Tentacle pores of arm with a single spine-
like tentacle scale.
Type-species. AnthopJiiura axiologa.
This genus, although probably an offshoot from OpTiiura, does not
seem to be very nearly related to any other genus. While it resembles
Ophiopyrgus in some particulars, it differs in the absence of an arm
comb and in the shape of the centrodorsal plate, and moreover the
differences in tentacle scales, as well as in the form of the disk and
of the arms, are so great, the two can not be confused. There is also
a certain suggestion of Ophiomastus in this new genus, but Ophio-
mastus has upper and under arm plates on the terminal part of the
arms and the tentacle scales are utterly different, to say nothing
of the centrodorsal plate. From Ophiomusium, Anihophiura is
readily distinguished by the large tentacle pores and peculiar tentacle
scales.
a "AvOoc, signifying flower, and frfref, signifying snake, and o&p&, signifying tail, in
reference to the flower-like appearance of the centrodorsal plate, and in keeping with
the name of the largest genus (and the class) of brittle-stars.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
93
ANTHOPHIURA AXIOLOGA, new species."
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms 12 mm. long. Disk rather high,
its vertical diameter at center being nearly 2 mm.; it is covered by
twenty-six plates, of which six are primary plates, ten are radial
shields, and ten are interradial plates, arranged in pairs, one plate
in each pair being marginal and one lying against two radial plates;
centrodorsal plate very high and very distinctly star-shaped. Radial
shields, longer than wide, closely joined, somewhat depressed below
the other disk plates. Arms cylindrical and slender, gradually taper-
ing to tip. First upper arm plate rather large, swollen, just beneath
outer ends of radial
shields; second plate
much smaller or want-
ing; no upper arm plates
beyond second joint. In-
terbrachial spaces below
covered by oral shield, a
supplementary plate, the
marginal plate so con-
spicuous from above, and
very wide genital plates.
The last carry no mar-
ginal papillae and hence
there is no trace of an
arm comb. Oral shields
somewhat triangular,
with outer corners
rounded, nearly as wide
as long. Adoral and oral
plates moderately large, FIG. 32. ANTHOPHIURA AXIOLOGA. X10. a, FROM ABOVE; 6,
about of a size. Oral FROM BELOW; c > SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK '
papillae small, close-set, about three on a side, of which outermost
is as wide as other two together. Basal under arm plates mod-
erately large, more or less pentagonal; first longer than wide, but
others wider than long; beyond the disk the plates are much
smaller and triangular, and after about the sixth joint are entirely
wanting. Side arm plates very large, meeting broadly above
and below; beyond the sixth joint they cover the entire surface of
the arm; each plate carries three sharp, rather thick arm spines, of
which the uppermost is longest and approximately equals half an
arm joint. Oral tentacle pore with two or three scales on each side
much as in Ophiura; it does not open into the mouth slit. Tentacle
, signifying remarkable; the application is obvious,
94
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
pores of arm large, round, with a single, big, spinelike tentacle
scale on proximal side. Color (dried from alcohol), pale gray.
Locality. Albatross station 4765, Aleutian Islands, lat. 53 12' N. ;
long. 171 37' W., 1,217 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom temperature
35.2, 8 specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25534, U.S.N.M., from station 4765.
The smallest specimen has the disk only about 3 mm. in diameter
but in practically all of its characters it agrees with the others,
except that there seems to be a well-developed second upper arm
plate, which is not present in the type specimen. There is no danger
that this species will be confused with any other ophiuran, even if
these specimens prove to be very immature.
OPHIOTROCHUS LONGISPINUS, new species.o
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms about 30 mm. long. Disk very-
flat, thin, covered by radial shields and about twenty-six large
plates (six primaries, five
other radials, and three
plates in each interra-
dius) regularly arranged
and surrounded by nu-
merous much smaller
scales; along margin of
disk are numerous small
granules. Radial shields
longer than broad,
rounded at both ends,
separated by a narrow
line of scales or barely
in contact. Upper arm
plates triangular, or tet-
ragonal with outer end
rounded, very minute
but apparently present
to very tip of arm. In-
terbrachial spaces below
C covered with scales,
FIG. 33. OPHIOTKOCHUS LONGISPINUS. X8. a, FROM ABOVE; b, which are more Or leSS
FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK: concealed; especially
near margin, by coarse granules. Oral shields not very large, triangular,
with outer corners more or less rounded. Adoral plates very long,
Longus, signifying long, and spinus, signifying spine, in reference to the very
long arm spines of the first joint.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 95
narrow within but much expanded distally; oral plates long and
narrow. Oral papillae small, those along side of jaw more or less
completely fused into a low but very wide plate; at apex of jaw are
four or five longer and more pointed papillae. On adoral plates and
tip of oral shield are a number of granules like those on interbrachial
spaces. Genital slits short and genital scales inconspicuous, with
no trace of an arm comb. First under arm plate pentagonal, as long
as wide; second plate pentagonal, longer than wide; third plate simi-
lar but much wider distally than it is long, and with convex distal
margin; succeeding plates similar but continually becoming smaller
and yet relatively wider. Side arm plates very large, meeting
broadly above and below, much swollen distally; each plate carries
two short, pointed arm spines, half as long as joint, close together,
low down on arm; second joint (the first one visible from above)
bears in addition two much longer spines on upper part of plate;
uppermost spine, which lies near midline of upper surface of arm,
is nearly equal to three arm joints, while second little exceeds one.
Oral tentacle pore with one very large, long oral scale; tentacle
pores of arm, each with a single small round scale. Color (dried
from alcohol), disk, grayish; arms, yellowish.
Locality. Albatross station 5084, off Sagami Bay, Japan, lat. 34 N. ;
long. 137 49' 40" W., 918 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina,
bottom temperature 36.8, 1 specimen.
Type.Csit. No. 25538, U.S.N.M., from station 5084.
Although this species is near panniculus, the only species of the
genus hitherto known, it may be distinguished by the very long
spines on the upper side of the basal arm joints, and by the coarser
and more ornamental scaling of the disk; the radial shields are also
very much longer and narrower.
OPHIERNUS ADSPERSUS.
Ophiernus adspersus LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 10, 1883, p. 236.
Ophiernus annectens LUTKEN and MORTENSEN, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 23,
1899, p. 107.
Localities. Albatross station 4919, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 34' N.;
long. 129 19' 30" E., 440 fathoms, globigerina ooze, bottom tem-
perature 31.8, 1 specimen; station 4928, Colnett Strait, lat. 29 51' N. ;
long. 131 2' 30" E., 1,008 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, bottom
temperature 36.8, 1 specimen; station 4960, off southern Japan, lat.
32 34' N.; long. 132 21' 45" E., 578 fathoms, green-brown mud,
fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 38.7, 2 specimens;
station 4966, off Japan, lat. 33 25' 20" N.; long. 135 36' 20" E.,
244 to 290 fathoms, brown mud, sand, foraminifera, bottom tempera-
96
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
ture 44.1, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 244 to 1,008 fathoms.
Temperature range, 44.1 to 31.8. Six specimens.
The most careful comparison of these specimens with a large series
from the West Indies, among which is the type of adspersus, has failed
to bring to light any character by which they can be distinguished.
I have also examined carefully three cotypes of annectens and I do
not find that the characters, by which the distinguished Danish
zoologists suggested that that species might be recognized, are in any
degree reliable. I have therefore placed the name as a synonym of
adspersus, a conclusion which Ltitken and Mortensen themselves pre-
dicted might prove to be correct. We have in adspersus then, an
intertropical, if not a cosmopolitan species, for it has been taken in the
West Indian region by the Blake, in the eastern Atlantic by the
FIG. 34. OPHIERNUS ADSPERSUS. X3.33. a, FROM ABOV.E; 6, FROM BELOW; C,SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Talisman, in the Indian Ocean by the Investigator, in the East Indian
region by the Siboga, in the Galapagian region by the Fisheries
steamer Albatross, and finally off southern Japan by the Albatross.
OPHOCTEN PACIFICUM.
Ophiocten pacificum LUTKEN and MORTENSEN, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 23,
1899, p. 131.
Localities. Albatross station 2860, off Washington, lat. 51 23' N.;
long. 130 34' W., 876 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5,
1 specimen; station 3075, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N.; long.
125 41 ' W., 859 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.6, 2
specimens; station 3346, off Washington, lat. 45 30' N. ; long. 124 52'
W., 786 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 37.3, 1 specimen;
station 3696, off Honshu Island, Japan, 501 to 749 fathoms, green
mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 52 specimens; station 5082, off Suruga
Gulf, Japan, lat. 34 5' N. ; long. 137 59' E., 662 fathoms, green mud,
fine sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 37.7, 3 specimens; station
5083, off Suruga Gulf, Japan, lat. 34 4' 20" N. ; long. 137 57' 30" E.,
624 fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1,
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 97
1 specimen; station 5085, Sagami Bay, Japan, lat. 35 6' 45" K;
long. 139 19' 45" E., 622 fathoms, green mud, fine black sand, bot-
tom temperature 37.8, 3 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 501 to
876 fathoms. Temperature range, 38.1 to 36.5. Sixty-three
specimens.
These specimens have been compared with specimens from the
Panamic region identified by Liitken and Mortensen, and there seems
to be no reason to doubt their identity. The largest specimen is 14
mm. across the disk, the smallest only 6 mm.
OPHIOCTEN CHARISCHEMA, new species.a
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 70 mm. long. Disk very flat,
thin, deeply notched at the base of the arms (radius, 5 mm. long,
interradius 6 mm.), covered with a coat of fine, unequal scales which
are normally completely concealed by a very dense covering of minute
a
FIG. 35. OPHIOCTEN CHARISCHEMA. X5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
granules, several hundred to a square millimeter. Radial shields also
completely hidden. Upper arm plates tetragonal, distal margin con-
vex, lateral margins divergent; basal plates much wider than long but
becoming longer than wide on terminal half of arm; all are broadly in
contact. There is no trace of an arm comb. Interbrachial spaces
below covered by a coat of about thirty scales, among which a few
minute granules are scattered. Oral shields quite variable in shape,
but commonly longer than wide; usually they are pentagonal, with
somewhat rounded angles, and the sides nearly equal, but sometimes
(as in fig. 356) the distal side is very short. Adoral and oral plates not
peculiar, save for bearing a few scattered granules. Oral papillae
numerous, about seven on a side. Genital slits and scales short,
without marginal papillae. First under arm plate somewhat octagonal,
about as long as wide; second plate more hexagonal, distal margin
longer than proximal; third and fourth plates more tetragonal, but
Xaplete, signifying pleasing, and o^fJ-a (t6), signifying form, in reference to the
very graceful appearance.
34916 Bull. 7511 7
98 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
with a short proximal margin; succeeding plates very much wider than
long and well separated from each other. Side arm plates rather
small, widely separated above, but more or less broadly in contact
below, outside of disk; each plate carries two short, sharp, subequal
spines, a little longer than half a joint, placed close together, well
up on plate, but low down on arm. Oral tentacle pore opening into
mouth slit, protected by a very large scale on inner side, and one or
two smaller ones on outer side; latter directly continuous with oral
papillae; first pore of arm with two or three scales on each side; second
with about two scales; succeeding pores each with a single, small,
round scale. Color (dried from alcohol), dull yellowish, pale gray,
or nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 3720, off Honshu Island, Japan, 63
fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, 1 specimen; station 4893, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 3 specimens;
station 4900, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 28' 50" N.; long. 128 34' 40" E.,
139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9,
10 specimens; station 4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 59' N. ; long. 13029'
50" E., 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 56, 5 specimens;
station 4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.; long. 130 32' E.,
103 to 152 fathoms, rocky, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 63 to
152 fathoms. Temperature range, 56 to 52.9. Twenty specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25718, U.S.N.M., from station 4933.
This delicate and graceful species seems to be very well character-
ized, for while it resembles 0. depressum in many particulars, the oral
surface is different, the under arm plates alone being quite sufficient
to distinguish the two forms.
OPHIOCTEN BREVISPINUM, new species, a
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 70 mm. long. Disk very thin
and flat, notched at base of each arm, interradii being distinctly
longer than radii ; it is covered by a coat of scales among which pri-
mary plates, some large interradial scales and radial shields are
prominent ; larger scales and many smaller ones surrounded by belts
of minute granules, giving disk a highly ornamental appearance.
Radial shields somewhat triangular with rounded corners, longer than
wide, nearly in contact distally. Upper arm plates tetragonal, lateral
margins somewhat divergent, wider than long at base of arm, but soon
becoming longer than wide, broadly in contact, remarkably elevated
or swollen at middle of distal margin, more so than in any other
species of Ophiocten yet known. Interbrachial spaces below covered
aBrevis, signifying short, and spinus, signifying a spine, in reference to the short
arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 99
by about twenty-two large scales, with numerous granules along mar-
gin and near genital slits. Oral shields small, pentagonal, usually
wider than long. Adoral and oral plates rather large, each with
a few granules. Oral papillae about five on a side, outer ones trun-
cate, inner ones pointed. Genital slits short; genital scales rather
large, but without marginal papilla? ; no trace of an arm comb. First
two under arm plates longer than wide; next three about as long as
wide ; succeeding plates wider than long ; plates not in contact beyond
disk; first plate hexagonal, succeeding plates tetragonal, becoming
triangular, with outer corners rounded. Side arm plates rather small,
not meeting above, but meeting below beyond disk; each plate carries
two short, thick, pointed spines less than half as long as joint, placed
close together, high up on plate but low down on arm. Oral tentacle
pore concealed by a huge lid-like scale on its outer side ; first arm pore
with one low, wide scale or two smaller scales on each side; second
FIG. 36. OPHIOCTEN BREVISPINUM. X5.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
pore with two small scales; succeeding pores with only a single small,
round scale. Color (dried from alcohol), pale gray.
Localities. Albatross station 4917, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 24' N.;
long. 129 6' E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, broken shells, 2
specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25617, U.S.N.M., from station 4917.
Although the general appearance of this species is similar to that of
charischema, the granulation of the disk is entirely different in the two
species, and the huge oral tentacle scales, the short arm spines, and
the decidedly " humped" upper arm plates make brevispinum very
easy to recognize.
OPHIOCTEN OOPLAX, new species, a
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 65 mm. long. Disk flat,
nearly circular, covered by several hundred overlapping scales, small-
est near center of disk, largest between radial shields. Radial shields
a'Qov signifying egg, and 7rM, signifying plate, in reference to the oval upper arm
plates.
100 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
curved, triangular, twice as long as wide, with distal end rounded,
separated proximally by a large group of scales and distally by basal
upper arm plates. First three upper arm plates very short, much
wider than long, crowded between distal ends of radial shields ; fourth
plate longer and narrower, with a very convex distal margin ; succeed-
ing plates narrow, oval, very much longer than wide, only basal ones
or none in contact. Interbrachial spaces below, covered by oral
shields and numerous, small, imbricating scales. Oral shields large,
broad, pentagonal, about as wide as long, with lateral margins more
or less concave. Adoral plates long and narrow, wider within than
FIG. 37. OPHIOCTEN OSPLAX. X5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
without; oral plates large, nearly triangular, markedly swollen at tip.
Oral papillae three or four on each side, narrow and pointed. Genital
slits long and conspicuous; genital scales narrow; in young speci-
mens each scale carries a marginal series of very minute papillae,
which become long enough on upper end of scale, visible from above,
to form a more or less distinct arm comb ; in adults this comb is either
insignificent or entirely wanting, and the genital scales are scarcely
visible from above. First under arm plate more or less hexagonal,
wider than long ; second plate more pentagonal, with a sharp proximal
angle and outer corners rounded ; succeeding plates more tetragonal
or triangular, very much wider than long; only first two or three
plates in contact. Side arm plates large, meeting above and below,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIUEANS IK NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 101
except at base of arm; each plate carries three long, very slender,
acicular spines, of which uppermost is longest, equaling one and a
half joints, or at base of arm, exceeding two joints. Oral tentacle
pore large, opening into mouth slit, protected by six to eight scales on
each side; first three basal pores of arm, similar, though there may
not be quite so many tentacle scales ; fourth pore with only three or
four scales; succeeding pores with a single small scale, though there
may be two on fifth and sixth pores. Color (dried from alcohol),
grayish, yellowish, or nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 3704, off Honshu Island, Japan, 94
to 150 fathoms, fine volcanic sand, 3 specimens; station 4906,
Eastern Sea, lat. 31 39' N.; long. 129 20' 30" E., 369 to 406 fath-
oms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom temperature 43.4, 3 specimens;
station 4907, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 39' 30" N.; long. 129 24' E., 406
fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom temperature 42.6, 5 speci-
mens; station 4909, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 38' 30" N.; long. 129 27'
30" E., 434 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom temperature 42.9,
1 specimen; station 4912, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 39' 40" N.; long. 129
20' E., 391 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom temperature 41.9,
5 specimens; station 4913, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 39' 10" N.; long.
129 22' 30" E., 391 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom tempera-
ture 41.9, 5 specimens; station 4915, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 3' N.;
long. 129 25' 30" E., 427 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, broken
shells, bottom temperature 41.9, 39 specimens; station 4919,
Eastern Sea, lat. 30 34' N.; long. 129 19' 30" E., 440 fathoms,
globigerina ooze, bottom temperature 41.8, 1 specimen; station
4965, off Eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E.,
191 fathoms, dark green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4,
28 specimens; station 4972, off Eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 45" N.;
long. 135 33' E., 440 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 39.8, 3 specimens; station 4980, off East-
ern Japan, lat. 34 9' N.;long. 137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown
mud, fine sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 39, 1 specimen;
station 5086, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 8' 15" N.; long. 139 20' E., 292
fathoms, green mud, coarse, black sand, bottom temperature 43.7, 37
specimens; station 5087, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 9' 40" N.; long. 139
19' 5" E., 614 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 37.5, 1
specimen. Bathymetrical range, 94 to 614 fathoms. Temperature
range, 49.4 to 37.5. One hundred and thirty-two specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25719, U.S.N.M., from station 4972.
This species is so easily recognized by the peculiar upper arm plates,
that it is not likely to be confused with any other. The smallest
specimens have the disk only 5 mm. across, but they show very little
difference from the adults save in the greater prominence of their arm
combs, a peculiarity referred to above.
102 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
OPHIOPENIA, new genus/*
Disk covered with scales, many of which may be small and swollen
so as to look like coarse grains; arms short, less than twice diameter
of disk. Upper arm plates more or less widely separated from each
other. Basal under arm plates not in contact. Oral papillae few,
large, and ill-defined. Tentacle scales none (except on oral pore)
though lowest arm spine may function as one. Arm spines few and
short. Genital slits very minute, close beside first side arm plates.
Type species. OpTiiopenia disacantha.
This is a very curious and interesting genus, the relationship of
which is quite obscure. I am inclined to the opinion that it is perhaps
as near Ophiozona as it is to any genus now known, but the relation-
ship even with that genus is certainly not close. The distribution of
the genus appears to be very restricted, as it has been taken only once
outside Bering Sea and the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands. Most of
the specimens were taken in quite shallow water, but a few were col-
lected at depths of 100 to 225 fathoms. Cold water seems to be an
essential feature of the habitat, as the temperature range is only from
43 down-.
OPHIOPENIA DISACANTHA, new species, b
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 15 mm. long. Disk pentag-
onal, flat, covered with hundreds of small angular scales, among
which the centrodorsal and a marginal plate in each interradius are
quite distinct (in younger individuals, fig. 38a, larger radial plates
are easily distinguished and the radial shields may be very conspicu-
ous). Radial shields entirely concealed beneath the coat of small
scales, or if visible, widely separated and much longer than wide.
Upper arm plates transversely oval, much wider than long, those on
basal half of arm separated from each other and completely sur-
rounded by numerous minute scales like those of disk; these scales
extend far down on each side between side arm plates. Interbrachial
spaces below densely covered by minute angular plates, which may
even extend a little ways onto under surface of arm. Genital slits
very minute, crescent-shaped, lying, one on each side, against inner
corner of first side arm plate; genital scales completely hidden. Oral
shields small, transversely oval. Adoral plates very large, oblong but
nearly as wide as long. Oral plates ill-defined swollen into a sort of
knob at proximal end, which looks like an oral papilla. Oral papillae
ill-defined, apparently two on a side, outer flatter, inner more round
and swollen; at apex of jaw there are from one to several indistinct
, signifying snake, and xev'ea, signifying poverty, in reference to the lack of
tentacle scales and the small number of oral papillae, and in keeping with the custom-
ary formation of ophiuroid genera.
& J/f, signifying twice, double, and oKavda, signifying spine, in reference to the pres-
ence of only two arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 103
swellings, which might perhaps be considered tooth papillae, but their
real nature is very doubtful. First under arm plate very small, pen-
tagonal, wider than long; succeeding plates pentagonal or squarish,
soon becoming roundish and more or less swollen, in contact with each
other outside disk. Side arm plates moderate, but concealed above
and, in part, on sides of arm, on basal half, by granules; eachjplate
carries two short, stout spines, low down, near under side of arm;
upper spine very short and thick, nearly spherical, about one-third
as long as joint; lower spine a trifle longer, not quite so stout, and
placed just proximal to tentacle, where it apparently functions as a
tentacle scale. Oral tentacle pore concealed by a single large scale of
very variable shape, sometimes nearly circular, more often truncate
and wide, like an outer oral papilla; between the two pores, in the
FIG. 38. OPHIOPENIA DISACANTHA. a, YOUNG, X7; b-d, ADULT, X5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM ABOVE;
c, FROM BELOW; d, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
midline of the arm, there projects a thick, plate-like outgrowth, which
is sometimes double and apparently acts as an inner scale for both
pores. Tentacle pores of arm without tentacle scales but protected
by lower arm spine. Color (dried from alcohol) , yellowish or very
light grayish.
Localities. Albatross station 2849, off Alaska, lat. 55 16' N.; long.
160 28' W., 69 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 43, 1 spec-
imen; station 2852, off Alaska, lat. 55 15' N.; long. 159 37' W., 58
fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature 41.8, 1 specimen; station
2854, off Alaska, lat. 56 55' N.; long. 153 4' W., 60 fathoms, black
sand, bottom temperature 42.8, 1 specimen; station 3227, Bering
Sea, lat. 54 36' 30" N.; long. 166 54' W., 225 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature, 38.6, 1 specimen; station 3312, Bering Sea, lat.
104 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
53 59' 11" N.; long. 166 25' 9" W., 45 fathoms, fine sand, mud, bot-
tom temperature 43, 2 specimens; station 3313, Bering Sea, lat. 54
1' 51" N. ; long. 166 27' 38" W., 68 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom
temperature 42.7, 1 specimen; station 3483, Bering Sea, lat. 57 18'
N.; long. 171 18' W., 56 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
36.8, 1 specimen; station 3609, Bering Sea, lat. 55 35' N. ; long. 168
20' W., 74 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.9, 3
specimens; station 4812, Sea of Japan, lat. 38 31' N.; long. 138 40'
E., 176 to 200 fathoms, fine brown mud, bottom temperature 34.9, 2
specimens; Captains Harbor, Unalaska, 9 to 14 fathoms, 4 specimens;
Port Etches, Alaska, 12 to 18 fathoms, 3 specimens; between Icy Cape
and Cape Lisburne, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 9 to 225 fath-
oms. Temperature range, 43 to 34.9. Twenty-one specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25540, U.S.N.M., from station 3312.
A very interesting feature of this curious little, brittle star is the
way in which the radial shields become concealed with advancing age.
It is only in the largest specimen that they are completely covered,
and in many specimens they are conspicuous. There is also much
diversity in the distinctness of the five primary radial plates which in
some specimens are very noticeable. In the smallest specimen, which
is 6 mm. across the disk, the six primary plates, the radial shields, and
the interradial marginal plates are all very conspicuous.
OPHIOPENIA TETRACANTHA, new species.a
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms nearly 10 mm. long. Disk pentago-
nal, flat or somewhat elevated, covered with round, swollen, granule-
like plates among which the flat primary plates, radial shields and
marginal plates are usually conspicuous; a second interradial plate
and three plates in a longitudinal series between the radial shields of
each pair may also be distinguished in many specimens. Radial
shields very narrow and often more or less concealed. Upper arm
plates somewhat swollen, transversely oval, well separated; granular
scales of disk do not extend out around the arm plates; toward tip of
arm, plates become triangular. Interbrachial spaces below covered
by a scaling similar to that of disk. Genital slits very minute, cres-
centic, at each inner corner of first side arm plates; genital scales
concealed. Oral shields transversely oval, small. Adoral plates
squarish, each one nearly as large as oral shield. Oral plates ill
defined but with a knob-like swelling on proximal end. Oral papillae
small, ill defined and of variable shape, probably two on each side
and perhaps an unpaired one at apex of jaw. First under arm plate
somewhat pentagonal, about as wide as long; succeeding plates
a Te-cpa (combining form of reaoapef}, signify ing four, and arcavda, signifying spine,
in reference to the number of arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 105
larger, swollen, wider than long, oblong with rounded corners, becom-
ing triangular, all well separated from each other. Side-arm plates
swollen, not meeting above or below, at least on basal half of arm;
each plate carries four well developed, thick, blunt arm spines; up-
permost, longest, rather more than half as long as joint; lowest, close
to tentacle pore and apparently functioning as a tentacle scale. _Oral
tentacle pores provided with a very long, stout and .conspicuous ten-
tacle scale on outer side; inner side protected by a conspicuous
median projection between the two pores. Tentacle pores of arm
round and conspicuous, but with no tentacle scales. Color (dried
FIG. ;i9. OPHIOPENIA TETEACANTHA. X8. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FKOM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
from alcohol), dull purplish brown or less commonly light yellowish-
brown.
Localities. Albatross station 2854, off Alaska, lat. 56 55' N. ; long.
153 4' W., 60 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature 42.8, 2
specimens; station 3279, Bering Sea, lat. 56 25' 40" N.; long. 162
39' 15" W., 41 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 37, 1
specimen. Captains Harbor, Unalaska, 9 to 14 fathoms, 5 specimens;
same harbor, 60 to 80 fathoms, 2 specimens; Port LevashefF, 3 speci-
mens; W. of Amaknak Island, 60 fathoms, 7 specimens; Chagafka
cove, Kadiak, 12 to 20 fathoms, 330 specimens; Nazan Bay, Atka,
38 specimens; between Icy Cape and Cape Krusenstern, 1 specimen.
Bathymetrical range, 12 to 80 fathoms. Temperature range 42.8 to
37. Three hundred and eighty-nine specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25597, U.S.N.M., from station 3279.
Although this species occurs in the same locality, and sometimes
even at the same station, as the preceding, it can not be confused with
it, for the two may be distinguished at once by the difference in the
arm spines. Even the smallest specimen of tetracantha, with a disk
diameter of only 3 mm., has four spines on one joint, three on the
106 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
others. The difference between the two species in the nature of the
disk scales is also very constant. It is interesting to find two such
closely allied, yet very distinct species, occupying the same area.
OPHIOMUSIUM CANCELLATUM.
Ophiomusium cancellation LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 111.
Localities. Albatross station 3718, off Ose Zaki, Japan, 65 fathoms,
volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 1 specimen; station 3738, off Port Heda,
Japan, 168 fathoms, stiff blue mud, 1 specimen; station 4928, in
Colnett Strait, lat, 29 51' N.; long. 131 2' 30" E., 1,008 fathoms,
gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 36.8, 3 specimens;
station 4959, off eastern Japan, lat. 32 36' 30" N. ; long. 132 23' 20"
E., 405 to 578 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera,
1 specimen; station 4965, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long.
135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark green-gray sand, shells, bottom
temperature 49.4, 4 specimens; station 5059, Suruga Gulf, Japan,
lat. 35 5' 30" N.; long. 138 39' 50" E., 197 to 297 fathoms, gray
sand, bottom temperature 45, 1 specimen; station 5079, off Omai
Saki, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms, pebbles, bot-
tom temperature 39.1, 1 specimen; station 5088, Sagami Bay, lat.
35 11' 25" N.; long. 139 28' 20" E., 369 to 405 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 41.8, 2 specimens; station 5091, Uraga Strait,
lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green mud,
coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 2 specimens.
Bathymetrical range, 65 to 1,008 fathoms. Temperature range, 49.4
to 36.8. Sixteen specimens.
These specimens range in diameter of disk from 5 to 16 mm., and
are therefore both larger and smaller than Lyman's type. They show
considerable diversity in the form of the oral shields, the length of the
arm spines and in other details, but on the whole, they agree so well
with Lyman's description and figures, I feel no doubt of their identity.
The number of arm spines in young specimens is often only three or
two, even at the base of the arm. Although apparently not a very
common, or widely distributed form, this species has a notable bathy-
metrical range.
OPHIOMUSIUM LAQUEATUM.
Ophiomusium laqueatum LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 113.
Localities. Albatross station 4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.;
long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 56
to 60.6, 1 specimen; station 4936, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.;
long. 130 37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones, bottom temperature 60.6,
1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 103 to 152 fathoms. Tempera-
ture range, 60.6 to 56. Two specimens.
These specimens agree well with Lyman's description and figures.
One is 13 mm., the other 18 mm., across the disk. In both, the arms
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 107
are badly broken and the uppermost arm spine is missing from most
of the remaining joints. Perhaps this is due to the character of the
bottom from which they were dredged.
OPHIOMUSIUM LUTKENI.
Ophiomusium liitkeni LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 114.
Localities. Albatross station 4900, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 28 / 50' / N.;
long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 52.9, 5 specimens; station 4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30
59' N.; long. 130 29' 50" E., 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature
56, 3 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 139 to 152 fathoms. Tem-
perature range, 56 to 52.9. Eight specimens.
I have compared these specimens with a cotype of luikeni and
although there -are slight differences, I think it safe to call them that
species. In the luikeni from Challenger station 192 (off Kei Islands,
Arafura Sea), many grains of sand and shells of foraminifera still
remain attached to the specimens, and the whole surface of disk and
arms is pitted as though by the pressure of similar bodies when the
epidermal covering was soft. I am unable to decide whether this
appearance is natural or artificial, but at any rate the Japanese
specimens are not so pitted. In the latter, too, the arm spines are
longer and the arm-plates a little more swollen, but these differences
are slight and variable. The Albatross specimens have the disk 10 to
13 mm. in diameter and are light brown in color.
OPHIOMUSIUM LUNARE.
Ophiomusium lunare LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 116.
Locality. Albatross station 4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.;
long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature,
60.6 to 56, 7 specimens.
The disk diameter of these specimens ranges from 6 to 13 mm.;
they are thus larger than the Challenger specimen, but none of them
is so large as the largest taken by the Siboga. The species is remark-
ably well characterized and correspondingly easy to recognize.
There is very little difference in appearance between the smallest
and largest specimens, even in the number and arrangement of the
disk scales; only in the larger specimens, the basal side arm plates
carry some minute scattered spinelets above the regulation pair.
OPHIOMUSIUM LYMANI.
Ophiomusium lymani WYVILLE THOMSON, The Depths of the Sea, 1873, p. 172.
Localities. Albatross station 3074, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N.;
long. 125 48' 30" W., 877 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
36.6, 29 specimens; station 3075, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N.;
125 41' W., 859 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.6,
108 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
6 specimens; station 3342, off British Columbia, lat. 52 29' 30" N.;
long. 132 38' W., 1,588 fathoms, gray ooze, coarse sand, bottom tem-
perature 35.3, 24 specimens; station 3704, off Honshu Island,
Japan, 94 to 150 fathoms, fine volcanic sand, 5 specimens; station
4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 59' N. ; long. 138 29' 50" E., 152 fathoms,
rocky, bottom temperature 56, 38 specimens; station 4956, off eastern
Japan, lat. 32 32' N. ; long. 132 25' E., 720 fathoms, green-brown mud,
fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 37.5, 10 specimens;
station 4969, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 40" N. ; long. 135 38' E.,
587 fathoms, brown mud, sand, stones, bottom temperature 38.9,
6 specimens; station 4971, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30" N.;
long. 135 34' E., 649 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 38.1, 7 specimens; station 4976, off eastern
Japan, lat. 33 22' 50" N. ; long. 135 38' 30" E., 544 to 545 fathoms,
brown mud, small stones, bottom temperature 38.7, 3 specimens;
station 4977, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' N.; long. 135 37' 40" E.,
544 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38.9, 1
specimen; station 4980, off eastern Japan, lat. 34 9' N.; long. 137
55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 39, 6 specimens; station 5082, off Omai Saki, Japan,
lat. 34 5' N.; long. 137 59' E., 662 fathoms, green mud, fine sand,
globigerina, bottom temperature 37.7, 14 specimens; station 5083,
off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 4' 20" N.; long. 137 57' 30" E., 624
fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1, 20
specimens ; station 5084, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 N. ; long. 137 49'
40" E., 918 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina, bottom tem-
perature 36.8, 6 specimens; station 5092, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4'
50" N.; long. 139 38' 18" E., 70 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom
temperature 56.3, 7 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 70 to 1,588
fathoms. Temperature range, 56.3 to 35.3. One hundred and
eighty-two specimens.
This is a fine series of this cosmopolitan species, already known
from many of the deeper parts of the sea, but not previously recorded
from the North Pacific. The specimens range in disk diameter from
6.5 to 35 mm., and show considerable diversity of form and structure.
The largest specimen is circular and very flat, the vertical diameter
of the disk being only 7.5 mm., or 21 per cent of the horizontal, while
another specimen, 30 mm. in diameter, is pentagonal and 10 mm.
thick, the vertical diameter therefore being 33 per cent of the hori-
zontal. The various differences noted are not very important nor
are they sufficiently constant to be of systematic use. But this
species would certainly prove an excellent subject for careful com-
parative study of variation in widely separated geographical areas.
The bathy metrical range is no less remarkable than the geographical.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 109
OPHIOMUSIUM SIMPLEX.
Ophiomusium simplex LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 115.
Ophiomusium sanctum KCEHLER, Siboga Oph. Mer Prof., 1904, p. 59.
Localities. Albatross station 4888, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 26' N.;
long. 129 27' 30" E., 71 fathoms, dark gray sand, broken shells,
bottom temperature 59.7, 1 specimen; station 4893, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 2 specimens;
station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95
fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 2 specimens; station
4895, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95
fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 1 specimen; station
4903, Eastern Sea,lat.32 31' 10" N. ; long. 128 33' 20" E., 107 to 139
fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 7 specimens; station 4936, Eastern
Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones,
bottom temperature 60.6, 3 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 71 to
139 fathoms. Temperature range, 60.6 to 55.9. Sixteen specimens.
As these specimens range in size from 4 to 14 mm. across the disk,
they serve to connect Lyman's single specimen of simplex (disk
diameter, 6 mm.) with Koehler's specimens of sanctum (disk diam-
eter, 10 to 19 mm.). The specimen 4 mm. across is almost exactly
like Lyman's description and figures, while the largest specimen
answers too well to Koshler's to permit any doubt as to its identity.
It is clear, therefore, that in this species the growth changes involve
an increasing swelling of the disk plates, especially the marginal ones,
a wide separation of the radial shields, a greater or less separation
of the five primary radial plates, an increase in the number of disk
scales, the addition of two plates in the interbrachial space below,
and often, but not always, the addition of a third arm spine. On
the other hand, there is absolutely no change in the under arm plates
and tentacle pores, and practically none in the upper arm plates,
oral shields, and mouth parts. These facts are of importance in
determining the validity of species within the genus, and their rela-
tionship with each other.
OPHIOMUSIUM TRYCHNUM, new species.a
Disk 18 mm. in diameter; arms about 70 mm. long. Disk some-
what elevated, 6 mm. thick, covered with about one hundred and
fifty scales, of which the six primary plates, three large plates in
each interradius and three smaller ones in each radius, are most
conspicuous. Each of these is swollen into a large central tubercle,
or flattened, elevated area. Kadial shields large, much longer than
a Tpu%vo, signifying rough, rugged, in reference to the lumpy disk scales.
110
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
wide, with central area thick and elevated; surface more or less
tuberculous or rough. Interradial marginal plates of disk with
conspicuous tubercles; three or four similar plates distal to radial
shields at base of arm. First upper arm plate oblong, wider than
long ; second and third triangular and somewhat swollen ; succeeding
plates to tip of arm, minute, triangular. Interbrachial spaces below
covered by oral shield, genital scales and six or seven plates (in
each space), of which the marginal are greatly swollen; exact
arrangement of these plates variable; much smaller plates usually
scattered among them. Oral shields somewhat triangular, longer
than wide, very flat. Adoral plates large, wider without than
within; oral plates small.
Oral papillae about five on a
side, outermost much the
largest; a pointed one at
apex of jaw. Genital slits
short, but genital scales
long and broad. First
under arm plate small,
somewhat hexagonal ; sec-
ond and third more octag-
onal or even enneagonal,
second longer than wide,
third about as wide as long;
first and second and second
and third plates in contact;
succeeding plates small and
triangular, but persistent to
end of . arm. Side arm
plates very large, somewhat
swollen, broadly in contact
riG.4o.-opHioMusiuMTBYCHNUM. x3. , FROM ABOVE; above and below ; each plate
6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR carries five or six short,
blunt, irregularly spaced arm
spines, scarcely one-third as long as joint. Tentacle pores small,
covered by a single scale, and confined to first and second joints of
arm. Color (dried from alcohol), yellow-brown, dull brownish, or
nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 3661, off Uki Shima, Gulf of Tokyo,
Japan, 169 fathoms, mud, pebbles, 2 specimens; station 3704, off
Seno Umi, Japan, 94 to 150 fathoms, fine volcanic sand, 1 specimen;
station 4959, off eastern Japan, lat. 32 36' 30" N.; long. 132 23'
20" E., 405 to 578 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand, for-
aminifera, 1 specimen; station 4965, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 35'
20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark green-gray sand,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. Ill
shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 4 specimens; station 5069, Suruga
Gulf, lat. 35 3' 10" N.; long. 138 47' E., 108 to 131 fathoms, mud,
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 55.8, 2 specimens; station
5091, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197
fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom tempera-
ture 47.6, 7 specimens; station 5092, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4_' 50"
N.; long. 139 38' 18" E., 70 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom
temperature 56.3, 2 specimens; station 5093, Uraga Strait, lat.
35 3' 15" N.; long. 139 37' 42" E., 302 fathoms, coarse black
sand, bottom temperature 43.9, 1 specimen; station 5094, Uraga
Strait, lat. 35 4' 42" N.; long. 139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 54.8, 16 specimens. Bathy-
metrical range, 70 to 578 fathoms. Temperature range, 56.3 to
43.9. Thirty-six specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25646, U.S.N.M., from station 5069.
The smallest specimen has the disk 7 mm. in diameter. It differs
from the large ones in having fewer, less swollen, but more tuber-
culous disk scales, radial shields in contact near middle, only one
or three scales in interbrachial space distal to oral shield, and only
three or four arm spines. The growth changes, therefore, are the
same in this species as in simplex, which is apparently the nearest
ally of trychnum, but from which it is easily distinguished by the
persistence of the under arm plates, the much rougher disk and the
number of arm spines. I know of no other species with which
trychnum is likely to be confused.
OPHIOMUSIUM JOLLIENSIS.
Ophiomusium jolliensis MCCLENDON, Univ. of California Publ., Zool., vol. 6, 1909,
no. 3, p. 36.
Disk 21 mm. in diameter; arms 50 to 55 mm. long. Disk rela-
tively thin and flat, covered with numerous scales, among which
only a big marginal plate in each interradius and the radial shields
are prominent. Radial shields much longer than wide, well sep-
arated. Distal to each radial shield, on side of base of arm, are
numerous coarse, granule-like scales. First two or three upper arm
plates decidedly wider than long, but succeeding plates are longer
than wide ; at first rounded pentagonal, but soon becoming diamond-
shape. Near tip of arm the plates are very minute, nearly trian-
gular, and about as wide as long; only first three to six in contact.
Interbrachial spaces below covered by numerous scales, of which a
median series and those near margin are somewhat larger than
others. Oral shields small, much longer than wide, narrower dis-
tally than proximally. Adoral plates short and wide, lying beside,
instead of proximal to, oral shield ; oral plates small. Oral papillae
small, six to seven on a side, outermost largest; an odd one at
112 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
apex of jaw. Genital slits remarkably long and conspicuous, reach-
ing from middle of oral shield to fourth joint of arm. First under
arm plate very small, hexagonal, about as long as wide; next
two or three plates somewhat pentagonal, wider than long; suc-
ceeding plates small, pentagonal or triangular, becoming minute,
diamond-shaped. Side arm plates moderate, little swollen, meeting
broadly below, and above except at base of arm. Each plate car-
ries three small, blunt spines, close together, low down on the plate,
but on the basal joints there may be only two, one, or none.
Tentacle pores on second, third, and fourth joints of arm small,
protected usually by one, rarely by two, scales. Color (dried from
alcohol), pale yellowish, or light brown.
Localities. Albatross station 3104, off California, lat. 37 23' N.;
long. 123 8' W., 391 fathoms, clay, bottom temperature 40.8, 1
FIG. 41. OPHIOMUSIUM JOLLIENSIS. X2.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
specimen; station 3126, off California, lat. 36 49' 20" N.; long.
122 12' 30" W., 456 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature?
(42.8), 145 specimens; station 3347, off Washington, lat. 45 9' 35"
N.; long. 124 45' W., 345 fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 40.9,
21 specimens; station 3738, off Port Heda, Japan, 167 fathoms,
stiff blue mud, 3 specimens; station 4965, off eastern Japan, lat.
33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark green-
gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 11 specimens; station
5079, off eastern Japan, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E., 475 to 505
fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 39.1, 1 specimen; station
5091, Uraga Strait, Japan, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E.,
197 fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 47.6, 11 specimens. Locality?, 1 specimen. Bathymet-
rical range, 167 to 505 fathoms. Temperature range, 49.4 to 39.1.
One hundred and ninety-four specimens.
Although this species is closely allied to cancellatum, armigerum,
and eburneum, it may be at once distinguished from any of these
species by the combination of long genital slits with the very
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIUBANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 113
peculiar oral shields and the three pairs of tentacle pores. The
smallest specimen (10 mm. across the disk) differs from the large
only in having the primary plates of the disk distinguishable and
in there being only two arm spines on many of the joints. As my
description and figures of this species were prepared before the publi-
cation of McClendon's paper, and as they are taken from much larger
specimens, it has seemed best to let them stand.
OPHIOMUSIUM MULTISPINUM, new species.o
Disk 40 mm. in diameter; arms about 240 mm. long. Disk flat,
thin, pentagonal or rather decagonal, owing to great size of radial
shields, covered with numerous, irregular, rounded, small plates more
or less embedded in the skin, and five pairs of huge radial shields; the
latter are about 14 mm. long by 6 mm. wide, but their inner ends are
more or less buried in the scale-bearing skin; they are widely sepa-
rated throughput their length. Upper arm plates persistent to tip
of arm; basal ones somewhat pentagonal, wider than long, but from
FIG. 42. OPHIOMUSIUM MULTISPINUM. Xl.25. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
about fourth on they become diamond-shaped and as a rule are
longer than wide; they are in contact, or nearly so, to about the
eleventh plate. Interbrachial spaces below covered by numerous
rounded scales like those of disk. Oral shields arrowhead-shaped,
nearly as wide as long. Adoral plates long, wider without than
within; oral plates large, somewhat swollen proximally. Oral papillae
numerous, nine or ten on a side, outermost much the biggest. Gen-
ital slits moderate, about equal to three joints; genital scales long and
rather conspicuous. First under arm plate pentagonal, twice as
wide as long; next three similar, but longer; succeeding plates small,
triangular, persistent to end of arm. Side arm plates moderate,
little swollen, meeting broadly above and below except at extreme
base of arm; each plate carries twelve to sixteen very slender,
closely crowded, pointed spines, hardly one-fourth as long as side arm
plate; lowest spine (or two) often much stouter and more conspicu-
a Multus, signifying many, and spinus, signifying spine, in reference to the numerous
arm spines.
34916 Bull. 7511 -8
114 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
ous than others. Tentacle pores on four basal joints of arm, rather
large, protected by one, two, or three scales. Color (dried from alco-
hol), light cream-color or ve*ry light yellowish-brown, with center of
disk sometimes very much darker.
Locality. Albatross station 3074, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N.;
long. 125 48' 30" W., 877 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
36.6, 3 specimens.
Type.Csit. No. 25606, U.S.N.M., from station 3074.
I am not at all sure that this species will not prove to be identical
with glabrum Liitken and Mortensen. I have compared it with some
of their specimens and find it easy to distinguish the two species by
the differences in the arm spines and in the upper and under arm
plates. Thus glabrum has seven to eleven arm spines, small triangular
upper arm plates and more or less pentagonal under arm plates, while
multispinum has twelve to sixteen arm spines, larger, more elongated,
diamond-shaped upper arm plates and (except the basal ones, which
are much broader than long) the under arm plates are triangular. On
the other hand, the largest glabrum was 32 mm. across the disk while
the smallest multispinum is 33 mm., so I do not feel satisfied as to
these differences being of specific value.
Family AMPHIURIM}.
OPHIAMBIX ACULEATUS.
Ophiambix aculeatus LYMAN, Anniversary Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 1880,
p. 11.
Locality. Albatross station 4928, in Colnett Strait, lat. 29 51' N.;
long. 131 2' 30" E., 1,008 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, bottom
temperature 36.8, 1 specimen.
It is a matter for great regret that a single specimen, 5 mm. across
the disk, is all the material which the collection affords of this inter-
esting and important genus. I know of no ophiuran which gives as
much promise of throwing light on the relation of brittle-stars to star-
fishes as does Ophiambix. Seen from above the resemblance to a star-
fish is most striking, while the huge tentacles and tentacle pores and
the simple mouth parts give to the oral surface a very suggestive
appearance. It is rather curious that Lyman makes no reference to
the asteroid resemblances of this genus. To judge from the posi-
tion assigned it in the Challenger report, he seems to have considered
it allied to OpJiioscolex. Meissner a considers it nearer OpTiiopTiolis.
My own opinion is that its real position is very doubtful, and that we
shall not understand its relationships until more abundant material
shall make possible a complete study of its structure. For the pres-
ent it may as well stand at the beginning of the family Amphiuridae
as anywhere else.
oBronn's Thierreichs, vol. 2, pt. 3, p. 927.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLAEK. 115
Genus OPHIOPHOLIS.
The vast amount of material of this genus which has accumulated
in the National Museum from the North Pacific makes it possible to
offer here & revision of the species. The task has been a very difficult
one on account of the extraordinary diversity which individuals show
in all those features upon which specific distinctions must be based.
Few animals show as great individual diversity in color as do the
brittle-stars of this genus; it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that
in all the thousands of specimens I have examined I have never seen
two that were exactly alike, and there are few shades of color which
can not be matched in a living group of the best-known species.
The same diversity is seen in the covering of the disk and the sepa-
ration of species solely by the number and arrangement of the bare
plates is perfectly futile. In the length of the arm spines, the develop-
ment of disk spines and the; shape of the arm plates, and particularly
in the number, form, and arrangement of the supplementary upper
arm plates, the same remarkable diversity is found. The examina-
tion of more than five thousand specimens of the genus has satisfied
me that in Ophiopholis aculeata we have the primary species of the
group, a species with circumpolar distribution and extending far
down along the coasts of Europe, Asia, and America, in both the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For some obscure reason, there has
been no formation of new species or varieties in the Atlantic area
at least, I can not find any important differences between European
and American specimens, nor between those from the northern and
southern parts of the American range. In Bering Sea and the north-
ern Pacific, however, Ophiopholis seems to have met with very favor-
able conditions and has become diversified to such a degree that we
can properly recognize at least two very distinct species (mirabilis
and ~brachyactis] , two others (longispina and bakeri) which are fairly
well differentiated, and two well-marked varieties which, however,
grade into the parent form completely in Bering Sea. These two
varieties have already received names from Lyman, who, in the
absence of extensive material, regarded them as valid species, distin-
guished by the number and arrangement of the disk scales. One of
them (kennerlyi, including also caryi Lyman) is the characteristic
form of the Pacific coast of the United States, while the other (japo-
nica) is apparently the most common form on the coast of Japan.
My first inclination was to consider these two forms as subspecies of
aculeata, each characteristic of a geographical area, but I soon found
that this is not the case, for some of the finest examples of japonica
are from Alaska, typical aculeata occurs on the coast of Japan, and
some of the best specimens of kennerlyi are from the Aleutian Islands.
The typical form was taken by the Fisheries steamer Albatross at
116 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
twenty-nine stations, where japonica also occurred, and at five of
these stations kennerlyi was also taken; at four other stations the
typical form and Icennerlyi occurred together. In view of these facts,
I retain the names therefore simply to designate certain well-marked
forms, which it is convenient to distinguish on account of their
striking difference in appearance. In order to make as clear as pos-
sible the conclusions to which I have been led regarding the members
of this genus, I give herewith an artificial key to the species and
varieties of Ophiopholis.
KEY TO- SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF OPHIOPHOLIS.
A 1 . In addition to the usual small supplementary plates, adjacent to the upper arm
plates, there is a large, distinct plate on each side of each upper arm plate.
mirabilis.
A. 2 . No one of the supplementary upper arm plates differentiated as an accessory to
the upper arm plate.
B 1 . Supplementary upper arm plates confined to a transverse series, distal to
each arm plate, and not present at their sides; under arm plates short,
very much wider than long; arms short, only about 3-5 times disk diameter.
brachyaclis.
B 2 . Supplementary upper arm plates present, and often particularly abundant
at sides of upper arm plates; under arm plates usually almost or quite as
long as wide; arms usually more than five times disk diameter.
C 1 . Supplementary plates very small, often mere pointed granules, commonly
not in contact with each other along distal margin of upper arm plates;
latter more or less nearly circular, or longer than wide (sometimes wider
than long), usually more or less swollen distally; disk spines very slender
and acicular, or minutely thorny and with several points; general appear-
ance remarkably Ophiothrix-like.
Radial shields large and bare; disk spines few and long; arm spines
very long longispina.
Radial shields and disk, more or less completely covered by very
slender, more or less thorny spines; arm spines moderately long. .baJceri.
C 2 . Supplementary plates very variable, often large and angular, often small
but angular, sometimes rounded and granule-like but usually in more or
less close contact distal to upper arm plates; latter more or less trans-
verse oval, sometimes circular, but usually much wider than long, little or
not at all swollen distally; disk spines coarse or wanting aculeata.
Supplementary plates small, numerous, often rounded particularly
at sides of upper arm plates; arm spines long and pointed=H-2 arm
joints; radial shields usually bare and conspicuous, longer than wide;
disk with or without spines aculeata var. japonica.
Supplementary plates more or less numerous (ten to twenty-four to
each upper arm plate), angular or rounded; arm spines=f-l arm joints,
blunt; radial shields covered, or if bare, nearly circular; disk with or
(more commonly in Atlantic specimens) without spines.
aculeata var. typica.
Supplementary plates few (six to ten to each upper arm plate), large,
angular and crowded; arm spines short, rarely equal to a joint; disk
without spines aculeata var. kennerlyi.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 117
OPHIOPHOLIS MIRABILIS.
Ophiolepis mirabilis DUNCAN, Jour. Linn. Sor. London, Zool., vol. 14, 1879, p. 460.
Ophiopholis mirabilis LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 6, 1879, p. 43.
Localities. Albatross station 3656, Hakodate Bay, 11.5 fathoms,
green mud, sand, 7 specimens; station 3657, Hakodate Bay, 13.5
fathoms, fine gray sand, 12 specimens; station 3658, Hakodate Bay,
22 fathoms, fine gray sand, 4 specimens; station 3659, Hakodate
Bay, 15.5 fathoms, fine gray sand, 14 specimens; station 3771, off
Doumiki Saki, Japan, 61 Jathoms, green mud, sand, 3 specimens;
station 3773, off Kinkwasan Light, Japan, 78 fathoms, black sand,
4 specimens; station 4832, off Ando Zaki, Japan, lat. 36 14' 30" N.;
long. 135 56' 30" E., 76 to 79 fathoms, dark gray sand, bottom tem-
>perature 53.2, 1 specimen; station 5095, Uraga Strait, Japan, lat.
35 5' 34" N.; long. 139 38' 36" E., 58
fathoms, fine black sand, broken shells,
bottom temperature 57.8, 2 specimens.
Bathymetrical range, 11.5 to 79 fathoms.
Temperature range, down to 53.2. Forty-
seven specimens.
These specimens range in disk diameter
from 4 to 16 mm. and make up an excel-
lent series of this interesting species, the
most easily recognized of any in the genus.
Duncan's types were only 7 or 8 mm. across
the disk (Lyman's estimate of 4 mm. seems
to me too low), but specimens of that size
show the generic and specific characters
clearly and it is quite incomprehensible to
me why Duncan should have considered
his specimens as Ophiolepis or in any way connecting links with that
genus. Apparently mirabilis is confined to rather warm, shallow
water on the northern coasts of Japan and does not extend south of
Sagami Bay or north of the Hokkaido.
OPHIOPHOLIS BRACHYACTIS, new species.o
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 55 mm. long. Disk covered
by large radial shields and small circular or oval plates, surrounding
which are more or less numerous rounded or angular granules ; these
granules are largest at the interradial margins and in some specimens
become there thick, tubercle-like spines with rough tips. Radial
shields always conspicuous, much longer than broad. Arms rather
broad and stout at base, with very attenuate tips; they measure
three to five times the diameter of the disk, but as the attenuate tip is
FIG. 43. OPHIOPHOLIS MIRABILIS.
X 3.5. BASE OF ONE ABM AND AD-
JOINING PORTION OF DISK; FROM
ABOVE.
, signifying short, and
short, stout arms.
, signifying ray, in reference to the seemingly
118
BULLETIN 75. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
easily broken, most of the specimens have the appearance of being
unusually short-armed; this appearance is added to by the habit the
animal has of coiling the arms vertically,- a process by which the
attenuate tips are protected but also concealed. Upper arm plates
narrowly transverse elliptical in outline, nearly three times as wide
as long at base of arm but becoming relatively narrower and longer;
distal to each plate is a series of six to eight large squarish granules,
placed together and not extending proximally along the sides of the
upper arm plates. Interbrachial areas below covered by numerous
short thorny stumps. Oral shields commonly wider than long,
rounded laterally but with a distal angle. Adoral plates oblong,
short, and wide. Oral papilla? spine-like but rather stout, in a cluster
of four to six, just proximal to adoral plates. Teeth numerous, in
about a dozen horizontal series, the lowest of which contain several
small teeth that might be called tooth papillae; the whole group
makes a long, narrow, vertical or oblique oval, widest near the bottom.
FXG. 44. OPHIOPHOLIS BRACHYACTIS. X 4.5. a, FROM ABOVE; &, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Genital slits and scales large. First under arm plate very small and
indistinct; succeeding plates oblong, nearly twice as wide as long,
separated from each other by spaces nearly as wide as themselves.
Side arm plates moderate, not nearly meeting either below or above,
the distal margin elevated into a conspicuous spine-bearing ridge;
each plate carries seven short, thick, pointed spines, the middle ones
longest (about equal to joint), the uppermost shortest. Tentacle
pores large with a single tentacle scale. Color (dried from alcohol),
yellow, cream color, or dirty white.
Localities. Albatross station 3698, off Manazuru Zaki, Japan, 153
fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 7 specimens; station 4833,
off Ando Zaki, Japan, lat. 36 13' 40" N.; long. 135 56' 30" E., 79
fathoms, dark-gray sand, rocks, bottom temperature 53.2, 2 speci-
mens; station 4892, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 27' 30" N. ; long. 128 33' E.,
181 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, rocks, bottom temperature
50.2, 7 specimens; station 4900, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 28' 50" N.;
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIUEAKS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 119
long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 52.9, 10 specimens; station 4916, Eastern Sea, lat. 30
25' N.; long. 129 6' 40" E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina,
broken shells, bottom temperature 42.7, 1 specimen; station 4918
Eastern Sea, lat. 30 22' N.; long. 129 8' 30" E., 361 fathoms, gray
sand, globigerina, broken shells, bottom temperature 42.7^ t-speci-
men; station 4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 59' N. ; long. 130 29' 50" E.,
152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 56, 8 specimens; station 4934,
Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N. ; long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms,
rocky, bottom temperature 60.6 to 56, 9 specimens; station 4965, off
eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N. ; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms,
dark green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 2 specimens;
station 5069, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 10" N. ; long. 138 47' E., 108 to
131 fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 55.8,
6 specimens; station 5091, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long.
139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, pebbles,
bottom temperature 47.6, 2 specimens; station 5094, Uraga Strait,
lat. 35 4' 42" N.; long. 139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black sand,
broken shells, bottom temperature 54.8, 2 specimens. Bathymet-
rical range, 79 to 361 fathoms. Temperature range 60.6 to 42.7.
Fifty-seven specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25642, U.S.N.M., from station 4833.
Like mirdbilis, this species is very easy to recognize, for it shows
little tendency to variation, and in its color and in the arrangement
of its supplementary upper arm plates, it is quite different from the
other members of the genus. Its range is south of that of the other
species, and it may be regarded as one of the characteristic ophiurans
of southern Japan.
OPHIOPHOLIS LONGISPINA, new species.o
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 80 mm. long. Disk covered
in large part by radial shields; between these and on center of disk
are a number of more or less circular or elliptical plates; on many
of these there is a single long slender spine; these spines may be
acicular as in fig. 45a, or they may be rough with minute thorns and
end in several teeth. Radial shields very large, much longer than
wide, separated from each other or just touching at distal end. Upper
arm plates circular or longer than wide, much swollen distally, more
or less surrounded by rounded granules, which are not in close contact
except at sides of plates, where several may touch each other; basal
upper arm plates smaller than those farther out. Interbrachial areas
below covered by spine-bearing plates. Oral shield very short and
wide, with adoral plates nearly as large. Oral papillae long, flat, and
blunt, three or four in a cluster just proximal to adoral plate. Teeth
a Longus, signifying long, and spinus, signifying spine, in reference to the long arm
spines.
120 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
in a very narrow, oblique, oval area. Genital slits large, but genital
scales rather slender and inconspicuous. First under arm plate very
small, but succeeding plates large and somewhat hexagonal, scarcely
in contact, about as long as wide. Side arm plates rather large, each
one carrying a vertical spine-ridge upon which are borne six to eight
rather slender, bluntly pointed arm spines; uppermost spine longest,
about equal to three arm joints, lower ones successively shorter.
Tentacle pores moderately large, each with a single blunt tentacle
FIG. 45. OPHIOPHOLIS LONGISPINA. X5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
scale. Color (dried from alcohol), deep pink, marked with lighter;
pale pink becoming almost white; or light yellowish brown.
Localities. Albatross station 2890, off Oregon, lat. 43 46' N.;
long. 124 57' W., 277 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 42.2,
3 specimens; station 3070, off Washington, lat. 47 29' 30" N.; long.
125 43' W., 636 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 37.9,
43 specimens; station 3071, off Washington, lat. 47 29' N.; long.
125 33' 30" W., 685 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 38,
3 specimens; station 3104, off California, lat. 37 23' N.; long. 123 8'
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 121
W., 391 fathoms, clay, bottom temperature 40.8, 3 specimens.
Bathymetrical range, 277 to 685 fathoms. Temperature range,
42.2 to 37.9. Fifty-two specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25653, U.S.N.M., from station 3071.
This species is undoubtedly very near the japonica form of aculeata
but the character of the disk spines is quite distinctive and the huge
radial shields, long arm spines, and peculiar upper arm plates com-
bine to give longispina an easily recognizable appearance. Some
specimens, however, have the upper arm plates very clearly wider
than long and scarcely at all swollen, while the supplementary
granules are angular and near together. Such specimens resemble
japonica very much, but the character of the disk distinguishes them.
The general appearance of this species is remarkably OpMothrix-like,
the long arm spines, and finely spiny disk combining with the long,
slender arms to make one think of that genus. The geographical,
bathymetrical, and temperature ranges of longispina are all remark-
ably limited.
OPHIOPHOLIS BAKERI.
Ophiopholis bakeri MCCLENDON, Univ. of California Publ., Zool., vol. 6, 1909, no.
3, p. 41.
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 65 mm. long. Disk plates
completely concealed under a dense coat of delicate spines; these
spines show great diversity in length, being longest near center of
disk and in the interradial areas and shortest on the radial shields;
they are more or less thorny and generally end in several teeth.
Radial shields entirely concealed, though their outline can often be
distinguished, emphasized by the shortness of the spines which cover
them. Upper arm plates roundish, sometimes wider than long, often
swollen distally; supplementary plates fairly numerous, especially at
sides of upper arm plates, but not closely in contact. Interbrachial
spaces below covered by a close coat of spines. Oral shields very
small, somewhat hexagonal, much wider than long, with long, narrow
adoral plates proximal to them. Oral papillae flat and blunt, about
three in a group proximal to each adoral plate. Teeth not peculiar.
Under arm plates, side arm plates, tentacle pores, and tentacle scales
essentially the same as in longispina. Arm spines five to seven;
uppermost longest but hardly equal to two joints. Color (dried
from alcohol), some shade of pink, ranging from very pale to quite
deep, more or less marked and variegated with white.
Localities. Albatross station 2861, off British Columbia, lat.
51 14' N.; long. 129 50' W. ; 204 fathoms, bottom temperature
42.6, 1 specimen; station 2866, off Washington, lat. 48 9' N.; long.
125 3' W., 171 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 43.2,
2 specimens; station 2877, off Washington, lat. 48 33' N.; long.
124 53' W., 59 fathoms, black sand, mud, bottom temperature 45.5,
3 specimens; station 2886, off Oregon, lat 43 59' N.; long. 124 56'
122 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
30' ' W., 50 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 48.1, 237 speci-
mens; station 2887, off Oregon, lat. 43 58' N.; long. 124 57' W.,
42 fathoms, clay, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.1, 49 specimens;
station 2888, off Oregon, lat. 43 58' N.; long. 124 57' 30" W.,
41 fathoms, clay, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 22 specimens;
station 2889, off Oregon, lat. 43 59' N.; long. 124 56' W., 46 fath-
oms, clay, shells, bottom temperature 47.7, 4 specimens; station
3050, off Oregon, lat. 44 1' 15" N.; long. 124 57' W., 46 fathoms,
coral, broken shells, bottom temperature 46.1, 2 specimens; station
3051, off Oregon, lat. 43 59' 15" N.; long. 124 58' 30" W.,59 fath-
oms, coral, broken shells, rocky, 16 specimens; station 3052, off
C
FIG. 46. OPHIOPHOLIS BAKERI. X5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW, c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS
NEAR DISK.
Oregon, lat. 44 N.; long. 124 57' W., 48 fathoms, coral, broken
shells, rocky, bottom temperature 49, 2 specimens; station 3053, off
Oregon, lat. 44 4' 30" N.; long. 124 50' W., 64 fathoms, coral,
broken shells, rocky, bottom temperature 47.3, 22 specimens; sta-
tion 3054, off Oregon, lat. 44 13' N.; long. 124 44' 30" W., 53 fath-
oms, rocks, bottom temperature 48, 5 specimens; station 3079, off
Oregon, lat. 43 59' 15" N.; long. 124 44' 40" W., 55 fathoms, rocky,
bottom temperature 46.7, 2 specimens; station 3160, off California,
lat. 37 48' 35" N.; long. 123 12' 40" W., 39 fathoms, rocky, bottom
temperature 51.8, 2 specimens; station 3184, off California, lat.
36 26' 40" N. ; long. 122 00' 5" W., 77 fathoms, sand, gravel, bottom
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 123
temperature 46.4, 8 specimens; station 3672, off California, lat.
37 30' N.; long. 123 2' W. ; 68 fathoms, sand, coral, rocks, bottom
temperature 49, 6 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 39 to 204 fath-
oms. Temperature range, 5 1.8 to 42.6. Two hundred and eighty-
three specimens.
After this report had been completed, McClendon's paperr>rrthe
ophiurans of the San Diego Region appeared, and it became
evident that this Ophiopholis, which I had described and figured as
new, was identical with the species to which he had given the name
bakeri. But I determined to let my description and figures stand
for comparison with those of longispina to which bakeri is very nearly
allied. Typical specimens of the two forms are so different that
anyone would regard them as perfectly distinct species, but some
specimens of longispina have numerous disk spines which crowd
around the radial shields, though not actually encroaching on them,
while in some specimens of bakeri the spines on the radial shields are
much smaller and farther apart than elsewhere. I have not seen a
specimen which could not be placed in one species or the other with
little hesitation, and for that reason it seems best to use two names,
but it must be admitted that the line of separation between the two
forms is very narrow. It is interesting to note that although bakeri
ranges much farther south, the geographical areas of the two overlap,
while the bathymetrical and temperature ranges are quite distinct.
OPHIOPHOLIS ACULEATA var. JAPONICA.
Ophiopholis japonica LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 6, 1879, p. 42.
Localities. Albatross station 2842, off. Alaska, lat. 54 15' N.; long.
166 3' W., 72 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 41, 18 speci-
mens; station 2843, off Alaska, lat. 53 56' N. ; long. 165 56' W., 45
fathoms, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 43.5, 2 speci-
mens; station 2846, off Alaska, lat* 54 8' N.; long. 162 44' W., 44
fathoms, gravel, bottom temperature 42, 115 specimens; station 2847,
off Alaska, lat. 55 I 7 N. ; long. 160 12' W., 48 fathoms, fine gray sand,
bottom temperature 42, 1 specimen; station 2849, off Alaska, lat.
55 16' N. ; long. 160 28' W., 69 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 43, 24 specimens; station 2853, off Alaska, lat. 56 N. ; long. 154
20' W., 159 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 41, 11 speci-
mens; station 2854, off Alaska, lat. 56 55' N.; long. 153 4' W., 60
fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature 42.8, 2 specimens; station
2856, off Alaska, lat. 58 7' N. ; long. 151 36' W., 68 fathoms, gray
sand, black specks, bottom temperature 44, 20 specimens; station
2857, off Alaska, lat. 58 5' N. ; long. 150 46' W., 51 fathoms, broken
shells, gray sand, bottom temperature 44.6, 10 specimens; station
2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N. ; long. 148 36' W., 230 fathoms, blue
mud, gravel, bottom temperature 39.8, 67 specimens; station 3212.
124 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
off Alaska, lat. 54 5' 30" N. ; long. 162 54' W., 49 fathoms, gray
sand, black specks, bottom temperature 38, 219 specimens; station
3213, off Alaska, lat. 54 10' N.; long. 162 57' 30" W., 41 fathoms,
black sand, 44 specimens; station 3214, off Alaska, lat. 54 13' N.;
long. 163 6' W., 38 fathoms, gray sand, gravel, 136 specimens; sta-
tion 3215, off Alaska, lat. 54 14' 40" N.; long. 163 24' W.,43 fath-
oms, gravel, bottom temperature 38.5, 50 specimens; station 3226,
Bering Sea, lat. 55 1' N.; long. 167 25' W., 128 fathoms, mud, sand,
shells, bottom temperature 38.5, 19 specimens; station 3228, Bering
Sea, lat. 58 39' 20" N. ; long. 157 17' 30" W., 8 fathoms, gray sand,
pebbles, 1 specimen; station 3285, Bering Sea, lat. 56 45'45"N.;
long. 160 42' 45" W., 35 fathoms, gray sand, black specks, bottom
temperature 41, 3 specimens; station 3311, Bering Sea, lat. 53 39'
36"N. ; long. 166 29' 43" W., 85 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 41, 108 specimens; station 3312, Bering Sea, lat. 53 59' 11"N.;
long. 166 25' 9" W., 45 fathoms, fine sand, mud, bottom temperature
43, 7 specimens; station 3315, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 40" N.; long.
166 42' W., 277 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature
38.5, 10 specimens; station 3316, Bering Sea, lat. 54 1' N. ; long.
166 48' 45" W., 309 fathoms, black sand, gravel, bottom tempera-
ture 38.2, 9 specimens; station 3317, Bering Sea, lat. 53 57' 40" N.;
long. 166 59' W., 165 fathoms, coarse sand, gravel, rocks, bottom
temperature 39.5, 10 specimens; station 3321, Bering Sea, lat. 53
33' 30" N.; long. 167 15' 40" W., 54 fathoms, dark mud, bottom
temperature 41.5, 13 specimens; station 3322, Bering Sea, lat. 53
28' 45" N.; long. 167 23' 50" W., 35 fathoms, black sand, bottom
temperature 42.4, 5 specimens; station 3331, Bering Sea, lat. 54 1'
40" N.; long. 166 48' 50" W., 350 fathoms, mud, 2 specimens; sta-
tion 3332, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 50" N.; long. 166 45' W., 406
fathoms, rocky, sand, 13 specimens; station 3337, Bering Sea, lat.
53 55' 30" N.; long. 163 26' W.", 280 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 39.3, 39 specimens; station 3480, Bering Sea, lat. 52 6'
N.;long. 171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky, 6 speci-
mens; station 3486, Bering Sea, lat. 57 19' N.; long. 173 58' W.,
150 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38, 13
specimens; station 3487, Bering Sea, lat 57 10' N.; long. 173 45' W.,
81 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 37. 6, 4 speci-
mens; station 3495, Bering Sea, lat. 56 37' N.; long. 170 1' W., 56
fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38.5, 3 speci-
mens; station 3500, Bering Sea, lat. 56 2' N.; long. 169 30' W., 121
fathoms, fine gray sand, gravel, bottom temperature 38.6, 3 speci-
mens; station 3545, Bering Sea, lat. 56 15' N.; long. 171 33' W.,
1,030 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, clay, bottom temperature 36,
1 specimen; station 3602, Bering Sea, lat. 56 32' N. ; long. 172 40' W.,
81 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.1, 45 speci-
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 125
mens; station 3661, Gulf of Tokyo, 169 fathoms, mud, pebbles, bot-
tom temperature 48, 3 specimens; station 3699, off Port Arari, Japan,
400 to 7.26 fathoms, gray mud, volcanic particles, 1 specimen; station
3785, Bering Sea, North of Aleutian Islands, 270 fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, 21 specimens; station 4769, Bering Sea, lat. 54 40' 30"
N.; long. 179 14' E., 237 to 244 fathoms, gray sand, greerr mud,
bottom temperature 38.5, 2 specimens; station 4770, Bering Sea,
lat. 54 31' N.; long. 179 15' E., 247 fathoms, 43 specimens; station
4771, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' N. ; long. 179 17' E., 426 fathoms,
broken shells, 183 specimens; station 4772, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' 30"
N. ; long. 179 14' E., 344 to 372 fathoms, green-brown sand, bottom
temperature 38.1, 173 specimens; station 4777, Bering Sea, lat. 52
11' N.; long. 179 49' E., 43 to 52 fathoms, fine gravel, 2 specimens;
station 4779, Bering Sea, lat. 52 11' N.; long. 179 57' W., 54 to 56
fathoms, broken shells, pebbles, sand, 1 specimen; station 4781, off
Aleutian Islands, lat. 52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms,
fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6, 165 specimens;
station 4782, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 52 55' N.; long. 173 27' E.,
57 to 59 fathoms, rocks, gravel, 7 specimens; station 4784, off Attu
Island, lat. 52 55' 40" N.; long. 173 26' E., 135 fathoms, coarse
pebbles, 145 specimens; station 4788, off Copper Island, lat. 54 50'
24" N.; long. 167 13' E., 56 to 57 fathoms, green sand, 4 specimens;
station 4789, off Copper Island, lat. 54 49' 45" N. ; long. 167 12' 30"
E., 56 fathoms, green sand, 1 specimen; station 4790, off Bering Island,
lat. 54 38' 45" N.; long. 167 11' 45" E., 64 fathoms, pebbles, 10
specimens; station 4791, off Bering Island, lat. 54 36' 15" N. ; long.
166 58' 15" E., 72 to 76 fathoms, rocky, 10 specimens; station 4792,
off Bering Island, lat. 54 36' 15" N. ; long. 166 57' 15" E., 72 fathoms,
pebbled, 24 specimens; station 4797, off Kamchatka, lat. 52 37' 30"
N. ; long. 158 50' E., 682 fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand,
broken shells, bottom temperature 36.6, 2 specimens; station 4803,
off Simushir Island, lat. 46 42' N.; long. 151 45' E., 229 fathoms,
coarse pebbles, black sand, bottom temperature 35.9, 44 specimens;
station 4804, off Simushir Island, lat. 46 42' N. ; long. 151 47' E.,
229 fathoms, coarse pebbles, black sand, bottom temperature 35.9,
74 specimens; station 4809, sea of Japan, lat. 41 18' N. ; long. 140
8' 40" E., 90 to 207 fathoms, gray sand, pebbles, broken shells, bot-
tom temperature 48.8, 61 specimens; station 4810, Sea of Japan,
lat. 41 17' 20" N.; long. 140 7' E., 195 fathoms, fine gray sand,
bottom temperature 44.7, 18 specimens; station 4812, Sea of Japan,
lat. 38 33' N.; long. 138 40' E., 176 to 200 fathoms, fine brown
mud (?), bottom temperature 34.9, 6 specimens; station 4822, Sea
of Japan, lat. 37 8' 10" N.; long. 137 8' E., 130 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 39.4, 40 specimens; station 4826, Sea of
Japan, lat. 37 25' N.; long. 137 32' E., 114 fathoms, fine gray sand,
126 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
black specks, bottom temperature 42.5 ; 6 specimens; station 4861,
off Korea, lat. 36 19' K; long. 129 47' E., 163 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 33.4 ; 1 specimen; station 4967, off eastern Japan,
lat. 33 25' 10" N.; long. 135 37' 20" E., 244 to 253 fathoms, brown
mud, sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 45.9, 1 specimen;
station 4971, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30" N.; long. 135 34' E.,
649 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera, bottom temperature
38.1, 1 specimen; station 4972, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 45" N. ;
long. 135 33' E., 440 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera, bot-
tom temperature 39. 8 , 1 specimen; station 4980, off eastern Japan,
lat. 34 9' N.; long. 137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 39, 2 specimens; station 4982,
Sea of Japan, lat. 43 N.; long. 140 10' 30" E., 390 to 428 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 32.7, 6 specimens; station 4985,
Sea of Japan, lat. 43 5' 20" N.; long. 140 15' 15" E., 224 fathoms,
green mud (?), bottom temperature 33.1, 1 specimen; station 4987,
Sea of Japan, lat. 43 19' 20" N. ; long. 140 17' E., 59 fathoms, rocky,
bottom temperature 44.8, 51 specimens; station 4991, Sea of Japan,
lat. 45 23' 20" N. ; long. 140 48' E., 325 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 33, 2 specimens; station 4995, Sea of Japan, lat. 45 33'
40" N.; long. 140 54' E., 86 fathoms, black sand, pebbles, bottom
temperature 43.4, 62 specimens; station 4996, Sea of Japan, lat. 45
35' N.; long. 140 55' E., 86 fathoms, black sand, pebbles, bottom
temperature 43.4, 13 specimens; station 4997, Gulf of Tartary, lat,
47 38' 40" N.jlong. 141 24' 30" E., 318 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 32.8, 2 specimens; station 5010, off Saghalin,
lat. 46 30' 30" N.; long. 142 43' 30" E., 21 to 32 fathoms, green
mud, sand, bottom temperature ?, 11 specimens; station 5017, Ok-
hotsk Sea, lat. 46 43' 30" N.; long. 143 45' E., 64 fathoms, brown
mud, fine black sand, rocks, coral, bottom temperature ?, 7 speci-
mens; station 5018, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 46 41' 30" N.; long. 143 57'
40" E., 100 fathoms, brown mud, black sand, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 30.4, 2 specimens; station 5031, Yezo Strait, lat. 44 4' N.;
long. 145 32' E., 86 fathoms, dark sand, gravel, bottom temperature
43.7, 5 specimens; station 5037, off southern Hokkaido, lat. 42 2' 40"
N.; long. 142 33' 20" E., 175 to 349 fathoms, bottom temperature
37.9, 4 specimens; station 5038, off southern Hokkaido, lat. 42 2' 40"
N.; long. 142 36' E., 175 fathoms, fine black sand, brown mud,
broken shells, bottom temperature 37.1, 1 specimen; station 5049,
off Kinkwasan, Japan, lat. 38 12' N.; long. 142 2' E., 82 fathoms,
dark gray sand, broken shells, foraminifera, bottom temperature
37.8, 2 specimens; station 5079, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 15' N. ;
long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 39.1,
7 specimens; station 5080, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat, 34 10' 30" N. ;
long. 138 40' E., 505 fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 127
temperature 38. 7, 8 specimens, station 5088, Sagami Bay, lat. 35
11' 25" N.; long. 139 28' 20" E., 369 to 405 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 41.8, 1 specimen; station 5093, Uraga Strait,
lat. 35 3' 15" K; long. 139 37' 42" E., 302 fathoms, coarse black
sand, bottom temperature 43.9, 1 specimen; station 5095, Uraga
Strait, lat. 35 5' 34" N.; long. 139 38' 36" E., 58 fathoms, fine black
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 57.8, 4 specimens; Kadiak,
1 specimen; Prince of Wales Island, 1 specimen; Dolgoi Sound, 1
FIG. 47. OPHIOPHOLIS ACULEATA VAR. JAPONICA. a, E TREMK FORM WITH SMALL SUPPLEMENTARY
UPPER ARM PLATES AND NUMEROUS LONG DISK SPINES, X 2.66 J 6, MORE USUAL FORM WITH FEWER DISK
BPINES, X 3.33 ; c, UNUSUAL FORM WITH MANY DISK SCALES RESORBED, x 3.5 ; d, TYPICAL FORM WITHOUT
DISK SPINES, x 4.
specimen; locality ?, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 8 to 1,030
fathoms. Temperature range, 57.8 to 30.4. Two thousand two
hundred and eighty-two specimens.
A number of these specimens agree so well with Lyman's figures
and description of japonica that I felt no doubt as to their identifica-
tion, even before comparison with a cotype of that species. But I
soon found that these specimens intergrade so completely with
128 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
typical aculeata that it is impossible for me to separate them satis-
factorily. The four figures (47a-d) will give a little idea of the diver-
sity which this species shows in the disk covering and in the plates
of the upper side of the arm. While typical japonica approaches
kennerlyi, we find specimens at the other extreme which approach
very near to longispina and bakeri. Although japonica is very com-
mon in Bering Sea and near the Aleutian Islands, it extends down on
the Japanese coast nearly to lat. 33, while on the American coast
it is not found below lat. 54, being replaced by var. kennerlyi. The
largest specimen in the collection is 22 mm. across the disk. The
bathymetrical and temperature ranges of this variety are notable.
OPHIOPHOLIS ACULEATA.
Asterias aculeata LINN^JUS, Syst. Nat., 12th ed., 1767, p. 1101.
Ophiopholis aculeata GRAY, List Brit. Mus., Rad. Anim., 1848, p. 25.
Localities. Albatross station 2842, off Alaska, lat. 54 15' N. ; long.
166 3' W., 72 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 41, 9 speci-
mens; station 2845, off Alaska, lat. 54 5' N.; long. 164 9' W., 42
fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 42, 37 specimens;
station 2846, off Alaska, lat. 54 8' N.; long. 162 44' W., 44 fathoms,
gravel, bottom temperature 42, 12 specimens; station 2849, off
Alaska, lat. 55 16' N.; long. 160 28' W., 69 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 43, 24 specimens; station 2850, off Alaska,
lat. 54 52' N.; long. 159 46' W., 21 fathoms, broken shells, bottom
temperature 48.2, 1 specimen; station 2854, off Alaska, lat. 56 55'
N.; long. 153 4' W., 60 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature
42.8, 2 specimens; station 2856, off Alaska, lat. 58 T N.; long. 151
36' W., 68 fathoms, gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature 44,.
15 specimens; station 2857, off Alaska, lat. 58 5' N.; long. 150 46'
W., 51 fathoms, broken shells, gray sand, bottom temperature 44.6,
10 specimens; station 2874, off Washington, lat. 48 30' N.; long.
124 57' W., 27 fathoms, rocks, shells, bottom temperature 50.3,
4 specimens; station 2875, off Washington, lat. 48 30' N.; long. 124
57' W., 40 fathoms, rocks, shells, bottom temperature 47.8, 1 speci-
men; station 2887, off Oregon, lat. 43 58' N.; long. 124 57' W., 42
fathoms, clay, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.1, 1 specimen; station
3095, off Oregon, lat. 42 44' 45" N.; long. 124 38' 10" W., 42
fathoms, rocks, stones, broken shells, bottom temperature 47, 3
specimens; station 3158, off California, lat. 37 47' 30" N.; long. 123
10' 40" W., 29 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 51.4, 1 speci-
men; station 3159, off California, lat. 37 47' 20" N.; long. 123 10'
W., 27 fathoms, rocky, 1 specimen; station 3168, off California, lat.
38 1' 25" N. ; long. 123 26' 55" W., 34 fathoms, rocky, coral, 1 speci-
men; station 3212, off Alaska, lat. 54 5' 30" N.;long. 162 54' W.,
49 fathoms, gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature 38, 99
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLAKK. 129
specimens; station 3213, off Alaska, lat. 54 10' N. ; long. 162 57' 30"
W., 41 fathoms, black sand, 43 specimens; station 3214, off Alaska,
lat. 54 13' N.; long. 163 6' W., 38 fathoms, gray sand, gravel, 14
specimens; station 3215, off Alaska, lat. 54 14' 40" N.; long. 163
24' W., 43 fathoms, gravel, bottom temperature 38.5, 7 specimens;
station 3262, Bering Sea, lat. 54 49' 30" N.; long. 165 2' W^, 43
fathoms, black sand, rocks, bottom temperature 43, 4 specimens;
station 3263, Bering Sea, lat. 55 4' N.; long. 165 4' W., 61 fathoms,
black mud, bottom temperature 39.5, 1 specimen; station 3274,
Bering Sea, lat. 55 34' 30" N.; long. 162 31' 45" W., 19 fathoms,
black sand, shells, 36 specimens; station 3282, Bering Sea, lat. 56
30' 45" N.; long. 161 50' 15" W., 53 fathoms, fine sand, green mud,
bottom temperature 38.2, 8 specimens; station 3283, Bering Sea,
lat. 56 28' N.; long. 161 16' 30" W., 39 fathoms, fine gray sand,
bottom temperature 40.3, 1 specimen; station 3285, Bering Sea,
lat. 56 45' 45" N.; long. 160 42' 45" W., 35 fathoms, gray sand,
black specks, bottom temperature 41, 3 specimens; station 3289,
Bering Sea, lat. 56 44' 30" N. ; long. 159 16' W., 16 fathoms, black
sand, 1 specimen; station 3317, Bering Sea, lat. 53 57' 40" N.; long.
166 59' W., 165 fathoms, coarse sand, gravel, rocks, bottom tem-
perature 39.5, 10 specimens; station 3319, Bering Sea, lat. 53 40'
30" N.; long. 167 30' W., 59 fathoms, black sand, bottom tempera-
ture 40.8, 3 specimens; station 3321, Bering Sea, lat. 53 33' 30" N.;
long. 167 15' 40" W., 54 fathoms, dark mud, bottom temperature
41.5, 20 specimens; station 3322, Bering Sea, lat. 53 28' 45" N.;
long. 167 23' 50" W., 35 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature
42.4, 1 specimen; station 3337, off Alaska, lat. 53 55' 30" N.;
long. 163 26' W., 280 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom tempera-
ture 39.3, 6 specimens; station 3443, off Washington, lat. 48 13' 30"
N.; long. 123 11' 20" W., 97 fathoms, green mud, pebbles, bottom
temperature 46, 2 specimens; station 3480, Bering Sea, lat. 52 6' N. ;
long. 171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky, 6 specimens;
station 3482, Bering Sea, lat. 57 18' N.; long. 170 42' W., 42 fath-
oms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 38.9, 1 specimen;
station 3485, Bering Sea, lat. 57 18' N.; long. 172 34' W., 62 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 37.1, 1 specimen; station 3487,
Bering Sea, lat. 57 10' N.; long. 173 45' W., 81 fathoms, green mud,
fine sand, bottom temperature 37.6, 4 specimens; station 3496,
Bering Sea, lat. 56 32' N.; long. 169 45' W., 41 fathoms, gray sand,
stones, green mud, bottom temperature 39.9, 13 specimens; station
3497, Bering Sea, lat. 56 18' N.; long. 169 38' W., 86 fathoms,
gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature 38.7, 1 specimen;
station 3498, Bering Sea, lat. 56 13' N. ; long. 169 36' W., 142 fath-
oms, fine gray sand, gravel, bottom temperature 38.6, 3 specimens;
34916 Bull. 7511 9
130 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
station 3500, Bering Sea, lat. 52 2' N. ; long. 169 30' W., 121 fathoms,
fine gray sand, gravel, bottom temperature 38.6, 11 specimens;
station 3546, Bering Sea, lat. 54 12' N. ; long. 165 42' W., 36 fathoms,
gravel, black sand, bottom temperature 45.6, 4 specimens; station
3552, Bering Sea, lat. 56 28' N.;long. 169 28' W.,54 fathoms, black
sand, rocky, bottom temperature 39.8, 19 specimens; station 3558,
Bering Sea, lat. 56 58' N.; long. 170 9' W., 25 fathoms, sand, dark
specks, rocky, bottom temperature 42.5, 33 specimens; station 3560,
Bering Sea, lat. 56 40' N.; long. 169 20' W., 43 fathoms, fine gray
sand, black specks, bottom temperature 40.7, 3 specimens; station
3599, Bering Sea, lat. 52 5' N.; long. 177 40' W., 55 fathoms, rocky,
fine sand, shells, 60 specimens; station 3609, Bering Sea, lat. 55 35'
N.; long. 168 20' W., 74 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom tempera-
ture 37.9, 1 specimen; station 4772, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' 30" N.;
long. 179 14' E., 344 to 372 fathoms, green-brown sand, bottom tem-
perature 38.1, 5 specimens; station 4777, Bering Sea, lat. 52 11' N.;
long. 179 49' E., 43 to 52 fathoms, fine gravel, 240 specimens; station
4778, Bering Sea, lat. 52 12' N.; long. 179 52' E., 33 to 43 fathoms,
fine black gravel, pebbles, broken shells, 85 specimens; station 4779,
Bering Sea, lat. 52 11' N.; long. 179 57' W., 54 to 56 fathoms,
broken shells, pebbles, sand, 102 specimens; station 4782, off Aleu-
tians, lat. 52 55' N.; long. 173 27' E., 57 to 59 fathoms, rocks,
gravel, 156 specimens; station 4788, off Copper Island, lat. 54 50' 24"
N. ; long. 167 13' E., 56 to 57 fathoms, green sand, 1 specimen; station
4792, off Bering Island, lat. 54 36' 15" N.; long. 166 57' 15" E.,
72 fathoms, pebbles, 3 specimens; station 4860, Sea of Japan, lat.
36 18' N.; long. 129 44' E., 122 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 34.1, 1 specimen; station 4987, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 19'
20" N.; long. 140 17' E., 59 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature
44.8, 4 specimens; station 4994, Sea of Japan, lat. 45 27' 50" N.;
long. 140 54' E., 190 fathoms, brown mud, fine black sand, bottom
temperature 34, 24 specimens; station 4996, Sea of Japan, lat. 45
35' N. ; long 140 55' E., 86 fathoms, black sand, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 43.4, 4 specimens; station 4997, Gulf of Tartary, lat. 47
38' 40" N.; long. 141 24' 30" E., 318 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 32.8, 1 specimen; station 5016, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 46
44' 30" N.; long. 143 45' E., 64 fathoms, brown mud, fine black
sand, rocks, coral, bottom temperature 29.8, 1 specimen; station
5017, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 46 43' 30" N.; long. 143 45' E., 64 fathoms,
brown mud, fine black sand, rocks, coral, bottom temperature 29.8,
2 specimens; station 5020, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 32' 45" N.; long.
145 7' 30" E., 73 fathoms, green mud, sand, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 30.9, 3 specimens; station 5021, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 32'
30" N.; long. 145 8' 45" E., 73 fathoms, green mud, sand, pebbles,
bottom temperature 30.9, 3 specimens; Captains Harbor, Unalaska,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 131
40 specimens; Unalaska, 4 specimens; Kyska, 9 to 12 fathoms, 62
specimens; Port Levasheff, Unalaska, 20 to 30 fathoms, 1 specimen;
Port Etches, Alaska, 5 specimens; Constantine Harbor, 15 specimens;
Unga, 3 specimens; Agattu, 46 specimens; Iliuliuk, 64 specimens;
Port Al thorp, Alaska, 1 specimen; Chineak Bay, Kadiak, 1 specimen;
Medui Island, 2 specimens; Aleutian Islands, 2 specimens; Bering
Island, 19 specimens; Shumagin Islands, 1 specimen; Dolgoi Sound,
30 fathoms, 1 specimen; Bay of Islands, 8 specimens; Avatscha
Bay, Kamtchatka, 1 specimen; 10 miles west of Point Franklin,
Alaska, 13^ fathoms, sand, 21 specimens; between Icy Cape and
Cape Lisburne, Alaska, 7 specimens; lat. 53 11' N.; long. 166 51' W.
84 fathoms, black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 40.6, 8 speci-
mens; Bering Straits, 2 specimens; Sitka, 1 specimen; Alaska, 134
specimens; Arctic Ocean, 1 specimen; Albatross Hydrographic station
1141, off Alaska, 84 fathoms, 8 "specimens. Bathymetric range, 9
to 372 fathoms. Temperature range, 51.4 to 29.8. One thousand
six hundred and forty-three specimens.
These specimens vary greatly in the
disk covering, ranging all the way from
those with numerous disk plates sepa-
rated by lines and bands of nearly
spherical granules to those in which
the disk is largely covered by coarse
spines, and only one or two plates can
be distinguished. Many of the speci-
mens so grade into japonica that sep-
aration from that variety is difficult
and arbitrary. As a rule, the supple- FIG. 48. OPHIOPHOLIS ACULEATA. xa.
! , ~ i FROM ABOVE.
mentary upper arm plates are much
coarser and more angular than in japonica (compare fig. 48 with fig.
476), and this peculiarity is very noticeable when these Alaskan speci-
mens are compared with some from the coast of Maine. The majority
of the Alaskan specimens have relatively few large supplementary
plates, as in fig. 48, while the Maine specimens have numerous small
ones ; in the Alaskan specimens, too, the disk is commonly more or less
spiny, while I have never seen spiny specimens from the Atlantic. The
Albatross collections leave no doubt that in Ophiopholis aculeata, as in
Ophiura sarsii and 0. nodosa, we have a species of circumpolar distri-
bution extending far to the south in both the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. The specimens here recorded from off Washington, Oregon,
and California are all small and obviously young. They would probably
be more properly regarded as var. Jcennerlyi, but as they are too young
to show definite characters, it has seemed best to record them simply
as aculeata One of the specimens from Captains Harbor is remark-
132 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
able in that it has only four rays. The largest specimen is 18 mm.
across the disk, a smaller maximum than that of either of the two
varieties.
OPHIOPHOLIS ACULEATA var. KENNERLYI.
Ophiopholis kennerlyi LYMAN, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 7, 1860, p. 200.
Ophiopholis caryi LYMAN, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 7, 1860, p. 261.
Localities. Albatross station 2849, off Alaska, lat. 55 16' N.;
long. 160 28' W., 69 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 43,
1 specimen; station 2850, off Alaska, lat. 54 52 ' N.; long. 159 46' W.,
21 fathoms, broken shells, bottom temperature 48.2, 62 specimens;
station 2856, off Alaska, lat. 58 7' N. ; long. 151 36' W., 68 fathoms,
gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature, 44, 5 specimens;
station 2862, off Washington, lat. 50 49' N.; long. 127 36' 30" W.,
238 fathoms, gray sand and pebbles, bottom temperature 44.7, 7
specimens; station 2865, off Washington, lat. 48 12' N".; long. 122
49' W., 40 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 51.7, 6 specimens;
station 2873, off Washington, lat. 48 30' N.; long. 124 57' W., 40
fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 47.8, 3 specimens; station 2875,
off Washington, lat. 48 30' N.; long. 124 57' W., 40 fathoms, rocks,
shells, bottom temperature 47.8, 12 specimens; station 2877, off
Washington, lat 48 33' N.; long. 124 53' W., 59 fathoms, black
sand, mud, bottom temperature 45.5, 3 specimens; station 2889, off
Oregon, lat. 43 59' N. ; long. 124 56' W., 46 fathoms, clay, shells, bot-
tom temperature 47.7, 1 specimen; station 3095, off Oregon, lat.
42 44' 45" N.; long. 124 38' 10" W., 42 fathoms, rocks, stones,
broken shells, bottom temperature 47, 3 specimens; station 3116,
off California, lat. 37 5' 30" N.; long. 122 19' W., 16 fathoms, rocky,
6 specimens; station 3159, off California, lat. 37 47' 20" N.; long.
123 10' W., 27 fathoms, rocky, 4 specimens; station 3214, off Alaska,
lat. 54 13' N.; long. 163 6' W., 38 fathoms, gray sand, gravel, 2
specimens; station 3220, Bering Sea, lat. 54 15' N. ; long. 165 6' W.,
34 fathoms, gravel, broken shells, 2 specimens; station 3262, Bering
Sea, lat. 54 49' 30" N.; long. 165 2' W., 43 fathoms, broken shells,
rocks, bottom temperature 40.7, 16 specimens; station 3322, Bering
Sea, lat. 53 28' 45" N.; long. 167 23' 50" W., 35 fathoms, black
sand, bottom temperature 42.4, 2 specimens; station 3593, off
Washington, lat. 48 11' 30" N.; long. 122 48' W., 37 fathoms,
rocky, bottom temperature 46, 3 specimens; station 4193, off Bowen
Island, Gulf of Georgia, 18 to 23 fathoms, green mud, fine sand,
bottom temperature 50.3, 1 specimen; Humboldt Bay, Alaska, 41
specimens; Kadiak, 16 specimens; Portage Bay, Alaska, 7 speci-
mens; Bellkofski, 1 specimen; Unalaska, 6 specimens; Semidi
Island, 8 fathoms, 5 specimens; Donnelly Point, Loring, Alaska, 16
specimens; Killisnoo, Alaska, 15 specimens; Mary Island, Alaska,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 133
1 specimen; Round Island, Unga, 2 specimens; Sitka, 1 specimen;
Alaska, 9 specimens; Straits of Fuca, 2 specimens; Puget Sound, 1
specimen; Monterey, California, 4 speci-
mens; west coast of America, 1 specimen.
Bathymetrical range, 8 to 238 fathoms.
Temperature range, 51.7 to 40.7. Two
hundred and sixty-seven specimens.
The Albatross collections leave no room
for doubt that the intergradation between
caryi, Jcennerlyi, and aculeata is complete,
but it is convenient to retain the name
Jcennerlyi for the ordinary American Pacific
coast form which has only radial plates
. FIG. 49. OPHIOPHOLIS ACULEATA
visible, or none at all, and no spines on the VAR . KENNERLYI. x2.co. FROM
disk. The largest specimen in the collec- AB OVE.
tion is from Kadiak and measures 22 mm. across the disk on which
only three of the radii have bare plates.
OPHIOCHITON FASTIGATUS.
Ophiochiton fastigatus LYMAN, Bull. Mua. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 132.
Localities. Albatross station 3695, off Tsuragi Saki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 110 to 259 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, 8 specimens; station
3697, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 120 to 265 fathoms,
gray mud, volcanic sand, 2 specimens; station 3704, off Seno Umi,
Honshu Island, Japan, 94 to 150 fathoms, fine volcanic sand, 4 speci-
mens; station 4907, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 39' 30" N.; long. 129 24' E.,
406 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom temperature 42.6, 1
specimen; station 5056 Suruga Gulf, Japan, lat. 34 57' 35" N. ; long.
138 43' 35" E., 258 fathoms, green mud, broken shells, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 46, 1 specimen; station 5057, Suruga Gulf,
Japan, lat. 34 58' 40" N.; long. 138 34' E., 270 fathoms, gray mud,
bottom temperature 44.8, 1 specimen; station 5073, Suruga Gulf,
Japan, lat. 34 46' N.; long. 138 21' 50" E., 148 fathoms, gray mud,
bottom temperature 54.6, 3 specimens; station 5088, Sagami Bay,
lat. 35 11' 25" N.; long. 139 28' 20" E., 369 to 405 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 41.8, 2 specimens; station 5091, Uraga
Strait, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green
mud, coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 1 speci-
men; station 5092, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 50" N.; long. 139 38' 18"
E., 70 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 56.3, 3
specimens; station 5094, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 42" N.; long.
139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black sand, broken shells, bottom tem-
perature 54.8, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 70 to 406 fathoms.
Temperature range, 56.3 to 41.8. Thirty specimens.
134
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
These specimens have been compared with a cotype of Lyman's
and there is no doubt of their identity. The disk diameter ranges
from 11 to 22 mm. There are usually three arm spines present,
sometimes only two, but in the larger specimens there are often four.
The greatest diversity is shown in the shape of the mouth shields, for
while it is true that they are usually much wider than long, in some
specimens they are nearly oval in outline and quite as long as broad.
Intergradations between the two extremes are common. Specimens
with long oral shields have the adoral plates very indistinct or almost
wanting. The degree of carination on the under side of the base of the
arm is also subject to considerable variation.
OPHIACTIS PTEROPOMA, new species.-*
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 to 25 mm. long. Disk cov-
ered by rather coarse scales, 150 to 200 altogether, without any disk
FIG. 50. OPITIACTIS PTEROPOMA. xio.
a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
spines. Radial shields long and narrow, separated by a linear series
of three scales, or in contact at outer end. Arms six, broad at base,
but becoming attenuate at tip. Upper arm plates broadly triangular,
with rounded angles, much wider than long, not actually in contact
even at base of arm, though side arm plates do not meet between
them there. Interbrachial spaces below closely covered with scales.
Oral shields variable, broad, triangular, or top-shaped, with lateral
angles rounded. Adoral plates long and narrow, wider without than
a Urspov, signifying wing, and retina, signifying lid, in reference to the wing-shaped
oral papillae.
I
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 135
within. Oral papillae single, at outer corner of mouth angle, very
large, flat, and wing-shaped. Teeth minutely notched. Genital
slits narrow. First under arm plate very small, tetragonal, about as
wide as long; second, much larger, somewhat pentagonal; succeeding
plates tetragonal, becoming wider than long ; first and second in con-
tact, but succeeding plates hardly touch each other, thougbTthey
separate the side arm plates widely. Latter rather large, not meeting
either above or below at base of arm, but soon touching and meeting
broadly at tip ; each plate carries three arm spines, of which the upper-
most is about twice as long as lowest, which is equal to an arm joint.
Tentacle scales single, very large, oval. Color (dried from alcohol),
disk, pale gray; upper side of arms, pink; arm spines and lower surface,
whitish.
Localities. Albatross station 4810, Sea of Japan, lat. 41 17' 20 "
N. ; long. 140 7' E., 195 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature
44.7, 1 specimen; station 4965, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.;
long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark green-gray sand, shells, bottom
temperature 49.4, 6 specimens; station 4967, off eastern Japan, lat.
33 25' 10" N. ; long. 135 37' 20" E., 244 to 253 fathoms, brown mud,
sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 45.9, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 191 to 253 fathoms. Temperature range 49.4 to
44.7. Eight specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25640, U.S.N.M., from station 4965.
Although there are several indications besides the size and the
presence of six arms that the specimens from station 4965 are young,
the individual from 4967 measures 6 mm. across the disk, and is quite
probably mature, yet it does not differ in any important particular
from the others, except that the upper arm spine is not equal to two
joints and the color is uniformly whitish. In any case, the very large
oral papillae, the six arms, the long arm spines and the peculiar upper
arm plates combine to give a very characteristic appearance, and I
know of no species to which the specimens could be referred. The
one from station 4810 is, however, so small (disk diameter less than 3
mm.) that its identity is bound to be somewhat uncertain.
OPHIACTIS BRACHYGENYS, new species, a .
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms about 25 mm. long. Disk covered
with about two hundred scales of diverse sizes and indefinite arrange-
ment. Radial shields long and narrow, separated except at their
distal ends. Arms five, broad at base, but slender at tip. Upper
arm plates transverse, elliptical, or low triangular, with rounded an-
gles, scarcely in contact even at base of arm. Interbrachial spaces
below completely covered with fine scales. Oral shields low, trian-
, signifying short, and r&uf , signifying jaw, in reference to the small mouth
angles.
136 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
gular, with rounded angles, wider than long, somewhat variable.
Side mouth shields large, nearly horizontal, much wider without than
within. Oral papillae single in outer corner of mouth angle, large,
flat, and wing-shaped. Teeth notched so that some of the lower ones
seem to have three points. Genital slits broad and conspicuous.
First under arm plate small, triangular, with a distal angle or
tetragonal with distal margin narrow; succeeding plates more or less
hexagonal (or tetragonal) with rounded angles, wider than long,
scarcely or not at all in contact, though the side arm plates do not
meet between them at base of arm. Side arm plates large, meeting
below and above on distal part of arm; each plate carries three mod-
erately stout spines,
uppermost longest and
longer than an arm
joint. Tentacle scales
single, large, oval.
Color (dried from alco-
hol), very light yellow-
ish, grayish, or nearly
white.
Localities. Albatross
station 3697, off Mana-
zuru Zaki, Honshu Is-
land, Japan, 120 to 265
fathoms, gray mud,
volcanic sand, 1 speci-
men; station 4956,
southeastern Japan,
lat. 32 32' N.; long.
13225'E.,720fathoms
green-brown mud, fine
gray sand, foraminif-
era, bottom tempera-
ture 37.5, 1 specimen;
station 4957, southeastern Japan, lat. 32 36' N.; long. 132 23' E.,
437 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 39.8, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range 120 to 720
fathoms. Temperature range 39.8 to 37.5. Four specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25602, U.S.N.M., from station 4957.
The specimen from station 3697 measures 9 mm. across the disk.
It differs from the type in having the radial shields separated even at
the tip, the upper arm plates are lower and wider, and both the upper
and under arm plates seem to be nearer together. There are a very
few short spines at margin of disk and below, and in several of the
mouth angles a small second oral papilla is distal to the large one.
FIG. 51. OPHIACTIS BEACHYGENYS. X10. a, PROM ABOVE; 6, FROM
BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OP TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 137
The adoral plates are broadly in contact both radially and interradi-
ally and so make a continuous circumoral ring, as in HemipJiolis. The
principal difference between this species and the preceding is in the
number of arms, but this striking difference is associated with several
minor ones, such as the form of the oral shields and adoral plates, the
length of the arm spines, and the color.
OPHIACTIS DYSCRITA, new species, a
Disk 2.5 mm. in diameter; arms about 10 mm. long. Disk cov-
ered with about one hundred and fifty coarse scales. Radial shields
long and narrow, separated, except at distal ends, by a single wedge-
shaped scale. Arms six, not very attenuate. Upper arm plates
somewhat pentagonal (or hexagonal) much wider than long, with
lateral angles rounded, more or less in contact with each other, on
FIG. 52. OPHIACTIS DYSCRITA. X20. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS
NEAR DISK.
basal half of arm. Interbrachial spaces below closely scaled. Geni-
tal slits rather conspicuous. Oral shields oval or ovoidal, about as
long as wide or a little shorter. Adoral plates large, not meeting
within, enlarged at outer ends. Oral papillae, single, on each side
of mouth angle, small and flat. First under arm plate small, longer
than wide, narrowed distally; succeeding plates more or less pentag-
onal, about as wide as long, more or less in contact on basal part of
arm. Side arm plates moderate, meeting above and below on distal
half of arm; each plate carries three spines, of which the middle one
is longest or at least as long as the uppermost, and equals the joint.
Tentacle scales single, moderately large, oval. Color (dried from
alcohol), gray.
, signifying hard to determine, in reference to the doubtful value of the
specific characters.
138 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Locality. Albatross station 4937, Kagoshima Gulf, lat. 31 13' N.;
long. 130 43' 10" E., 58 fathoms, mud, lava, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 64.8, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25610, U.S.N.M., from station 4937.
This specimen is so small and so obviously young, it is a great pity
to have to give it a name, but it clearly does not belong with any of
the other species of Ophiactis in the collection, for the oral shields,
adoral plates, oral papillae, arm plates and spines are all more or
less distinctive. I can not find any previously known species to
which I can refer it and I have therefore decided to call it dyscrita.
OPHIACTIS BRACHYASPIS, new species.*
Disk 3 mm. in diameter; arms about 15 mm. long. Disk covered by
about one hundred and seventy-five irregular scales, without spinelets.
Radial shields short, though longer than wide, well separated within
but touching distally. Arms six, not very attenuate. Upper arm
FIG. 53. OPHIACTIS BRACHYASPIS. x 16. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
plates elliptical, much wider than long, broadly in contact far out
on arm. Interbrachial spaces below covered with scales. Genital
slits very inconspicuous. Oral shields rounded pentagonal, much
wider than long. Adoral plates short and broad but meeting in
midradial line. Oral papillae single, one on each jaw margin, flat and
wide. First under arm plate, apparently concealed by meeting of
adoral plates; second plate (seemingly first) large, squarish or broadly
hexagonal; succeeding plates somewhat longer than wide, almost if
not quite, broadly in contact. Side arm plates moderate, not meet-
ing above or below on basal half of arm, each with four short, thick
arm spines, of which the middle pair are longest and about equal the
a Bpaxbf, signifying short, and doTtle, signifying shield, in reference to the short
radial shields.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 139
joint. Tentacle pores on first arm joint very large, protected by
two scales; succeeding pores less conspicuous, protected by a single
large, oval scale. Color (dried from alcohol), light brown.
Locality. Albatross station? "No label in jar, Nov. 1892."
Type.C&t. No. 25638, U.S.N.M.
This little specimen is doubtless still young, but the unusual~coTii-
bination of six arms, short radial shields, elliptical upper arm plates,
long tetragonal under arm plates and four short arm spines distinguish
it from any other known Ophiactis. It is a great pity that there is no
clue to the locality of this interesting species.
OPHIACTIS GYMNOCHORA, new species, a
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms about 30 mm. long. Disk cov-
ered by about two hundred small scales, which, along the margin,
carry little spines. Radial shields long and narrow, separated within
but in contact distally. Arms six, remarkably stout in proportion
FIG. 54. OPHIACTIS GYMNOCHORA. X 10. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
to the size of disk. Upper arm plates broadly hexagonal or heptag-
onal, much wider than long, in contact throughout; many are
broken into two or more pieces. Interbrachial spaces below quite
bare, save for scales alongside the genital slits, which are rather large.
Oral shields rounded without and pointed within, about as wide as
long. Adoral shields narrow within and much broader at outer
end, not meeting either radially or interradially. Oral papillae two
or three on a side, large, flat, rounded at tip. First under arm plate
small, triangular; succeeding plates much larger, more or less octag-
onal, nearly or quite as long as wide, broadly in contact throughout.
Side arm plates rather small, not meeting either above or below;
, signifying space, in reference to the bare
, signifying naked, and
interbrachial spaces.
140 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
each one carries five or six short, thick arm spines, of which the upper-
most is longest and equals the joint. First tentacle pore with two
scales; succeeding pores with single, large, oval scales. Color (dried
from alcohol), brown, the terminal portions of the arms faintly
banded or variegated with a lighter shade.
Locality. Tanegasima, Japan (North Pacific Exploring Expedi-
tion), three specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 3324, U.S.N.M.
The smallest specimen has the disk less than 3 mm. across. It has
only four arm spines, a single oral papilla on each side, and short
radial shields, so that it resembles the type of brachyaspis quite
strongly, but the shape of the arm plates and particularly the form
and arrangement of the oral shields and adoral plates make it im-
possible for me to regard the two as identical. The six stout arms,
small disk, naked interbrachial spaces, characteristic arm plates
and oral shields, two or three oral papilla, and six arm spines will
serve to distinguish gym,nochora from other species of Ophiactis
without difficulty.
AMPHIURA BELLIS.
Amphiura bellis LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, vol. 6, 1879, p. 19.
Localities. Albatross station 3697, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu
Island, Japan, 120 to 265 fathoms, gray mud, volcanic sand, 2 speci-
mens; station 3707, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 63 to 75
fathoms, volcanic sand, ashes, gravel, 1 specimen; station 4971, off
eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30" N.; long. 135 34' E., 649 fathoms,
brown-green mud, foraminifera, bottom temperature 38.1, 1 speci-
men; station 5083, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 4' 20" N. ; long. 137
57' 30" E., 624 fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom tempera-
ture 38.1, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 63 to 649 fathoms.
Five specimens.
These specimens agree admirably in all particulars with Lyman's
description and figures. The largest specimen is 11 mm. across the
disk, but one of the others, which now has a pentagonal disk, with
deeply concave sides, 7 mm. across, was formerly nearly 13 mm.
across the disk, as shown by the condition of the base of the arms.
It is an unusually interesting example of disk-shedding followed by
regeneration.
AMPHIURA DIOMEDE.E.
Amphiura diomedex LUTKEN and MORTENSEN, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 23,
1899, p. 151.
Localities. Albatross station 3696, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu
Island, Japan, 501 to 749 fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand,
9 specimens; station 3697, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan,
120 to 265 fathoms, gray mud, volcanic sand, 1 specimen; station
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 141
3699, off Port Arari, Honshu Island, Japan, 400 to 726 fathoms, gray
mud, volcanic particles, 24 specimens; station 4833, Sea of Japan,
lat. 36 13' 40" N. ; long. 135 56' 30" E., 79 fathoms, dark gray sand,
rocks, bottom temperature 53.2, 1 specimen; station 4937, Kago-
shima Gulf, lat. 31 13' N.; long. 130 43' 10" E., 58 fathoms, mud,
lava, pebbles, bottom temperature 64.8, 1 specimen; station ^946,
off eastern Japan, lat. 31 29' 10" N.; long. 130 34' 30" E., 39
fathoms, brown sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature
68.7, 1 specimen; station 5053, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 49' 20" N.;
long. 138 40' 15" E., 503 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
34.9, 34 specimens; station 5054, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 52' 45" N.;
long. 138 42' 20" E., 282 fathoms, green mud, broken shells, fora-
minifera, bottom temperature 45.3, 2 specimens; station o056, Suruga
Gulf, lat. 34 57' 35" N.; long. 138 43' 35" E., 258 fathoms, green
mud, broken shells, foraminifera, bottom temperature 46, 1 speci-
men; station 5057, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 58' 40" N. ; long. 138 34' E.,
270 fathoms, gray mud, bottom temperature 44.8, 5 specimens; sta-
tion 5061, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 4' 50" N.; long. 138 38' E., 250 to
332 fathoms, brown mud, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 43.7,
2 specimens; station 5073, Suruga Gulf, lat. 36 46' N.; long. 138
21' 50" E., 148 fathoms, gray mud, bottom temperature 54.6, 4
specimens; station 5079, off Omai Saki, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E.,
475 to 505 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature 39.1, 1 specimen;
station 5082, off Omai Saki, lat. 34 5' N.; long. 137 59' E., 662
fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 37.7,
1 specimen; station 5085, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 6' 45" N.; long. 139
19' 45" E., 622 fathoms, green mud, fine black sand, bottom tempera-
ture 37.8, 1 specimen; station 5087, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 9' 40" N.;
long. 139 19' 5" E., 614 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
37.5, 3 specimens. B at hymetrical range, 39 to 749 fathoms. Tem-
perature range, 68.7 to 34.9. Ninety-one specimens.
These specimens range in size from those 3 mm. across the disk to
those 11 mm. They agree well with the descriptions and figures of
Liitken and Mortensen, and comparison with some of their Panamic
specimens confirms the identification. It is noteworthy indeed to
find this species on the Japanese coast.
AMPHIURA SUNDEVALLI.
OphiolepissundevalliMiJLLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. 93.
Amphiura sundevalli LJUNGMAN, Oph. Viv., 1866, p. 320.
Localities. Alaska, Corwin coll., 1 specimen; Bering Strait, 12
fathoms, gravel, 2 specimens.
The specimens measure about 10 mm. across the disk and are well
preserved. There seems to be no room for doubt as to their identity
with European and Greenland specimens, so that we have here still
another apparently circumpolar species of ophiuran.
142 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
AMPHIURA CARCHARA, new species.a
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk covered
by numerous (250 to 300) scales. Radial shields long and narrow,
separated throughout or in contact distally . Upper arm plates more or
less pentagonal or hexagonal, decidedly rounded distally, in contact at
least to some extent on basal half of arm. Interbrachial spaces below
naked, save near margin, where the scaling ends abruptly. Oral
shields, rounded pentagonal, rather wider than long. Adoral plates
narrow within but broader at outer end, not in contact with each other
at either end. Oral papillae two on a side, one rounded knob-like, at
apex of jaw, and one, which is long and spiniform, in outer corner of
mouth angle. Genital slits large. First under arm plate very small,
pentagonal; succeeding plates squarish or pentagonal, slightly in
contact with each other basally. Side arm plates large, meeting
FIG. 55. AMPHIURA CARCHARA. X 0. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
above and below except on basal part of arm, where they are slightly
separated; each plate carries three subequal arm spines about equal
to a joint. Tentacle scale single and small. Color (dried from alco-
hol), pale gray or nearly white, except interbrachial spaces below which
are brownish-yellow.
Localities. Albatross station 2854, off Alaska, lat. 56 55' N.; long.
153 4' W., 60 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature 42.8, 4
specimens; station 3069, off Washington, lat. 47 25' 30" N.; long.
125 42' W., 760 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 37.6, 1
specimen; station 3338, off Alaska, lat. 54 19' N.; long. 159 40' W.,
625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.3, 6 speci-
mens; station 3340, off Alaska, lat. 55 26' N.; long. 155 26' W., 695
, signifying sharp-pointed, in reference to the peculiar oral papillae.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 143
fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 36.8, 113 specimens; station
4761, off Alaska, lat. 53 57' 30" N.; long. 159 31' W., 1,973 fathoms,
blue clay, bottom temperature 35, 3 specimens; station 4766, Bering
Sea, lat. 52 38' N.; long. 174 49' W., 1,766 fathoms, bottom tem-
perature ? (about 35), 13 specimens; station 5087, Sagami Bay, lat.
35 9' 40" N.; long. 139 19' 5" E., 614 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 37.5, 1 specimen; locality ?, 21 specimens. Bathymet-
rical range, 60 to 1,973 fathoms. Temperature range, 42.8 to 35.
One hundred and sixty-two specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25594, U.S.N.M., from station 2859.
This species will be easily recognized by the combination of naked
interbrachial spaces, long radial shields, one tentacle scale, three arm
FIG. 50. AMPHIURA LEPTODOMA.
X 15. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
spines, and spine-like outer, oral papillae. The specimens range in
size from less than 3 mm. disk diameter to a full 8 mm. No differ-
ences were detected between the specimens from 60 fathoms and those
from 1,973. It is interesting to note that in spite of this great bathy-
metrical range, the temperature range is less than 8 and the bottom
at all the stations was soft, without rocks or shells.
AMPHIURA LEPTODOMA, new species.a
Disk a little more than 3 mm. in diameter; arms about 25 mm.
long. Disk covered by numerous (300 to 400) small scales. Radial
shields large, about twice as long as wide, separated, except at distal
ends. First upper arm plate twice as wide as long, elliptical; suc-
ceeding plates broadly oval, wider than long, scarcely in contact.
a AsTZTodouof, signifying slightly built, in reference to the general appearance.
144
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Interbrachial spaces below naked. Genital slits rather large. Oral
shields nearly elliptical, much wider than long. Adoral plates
roughly triangular, with the side next the oral shield deeply concave,
not meeting either radially or interradially. Oral papillae two on a
side, one large and conspicuous at apex of jaw, one minute and scale-
like at outer corner of mouth angle; first oral tentacle scale conspicu-
ous and giving the impression of being a third oral papilla. First
under arm plate small, tetragonal or pentagonal; succeeding plates
much larger, somewhat pentagonal, with a proximal angle, rather
longer than wide, scarcely in contact. Side arm plates rather small,
barely meeting, above and below, on basal part of arm; each plate
carries three subequal spines, about as long as the arm joint. Ten-
tacle pores very large, but tentacle scales single and small. Color
(dried from alcohol), grayish.
Locality. Albatross station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30" N.;
FIG. 57. AMPHIURA EUOPLA. c-c, X 5; d, YOUNG, x 10. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW
OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK; d, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS FROM A YOUNG SPECIMEN.
long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 38.6, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25627, U.S.N.M., from station 4781.
This specimen does not seem to be referable to any known amphiu-
roid and I have accordingly thought best to give it a name. The
naked interbrachial spaces, the three arm spines, the peculiar oral
papillae, and the single tentacle scale combine with the characteristic
oral shields, adoral plates, and upper arm plates to give the species a
unique appearance.
AMPHIURA EUOPLA, new species.o
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 80 mm. long. Disk covered
by numerous (500 to 600) small scales, the largest of which are around
the radial shields. Radial shields about twice as long as broad, more
a EuonXoe, signifying well-armed, in reference to the numerous, rather crowded arm
spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 145
or less separated at least proximally. Upper arm plates tetragonal
or somewhat pentagonal, wider than long, becoming transversely
elliptical, more or less broadly in contact throughout. Interbrachial
spaces below naked. Oral shields longer than wide, somewhat
rounded diamond-shaped. Adoral plates large, roughly triangular
'in outline. Oral papillse two on a side, one thick, rounded at apex
of jaw, and one long, thick and spine-like at outer corner of mouth
angle. Genital slits large. First under arm plate small, tetragonal,
narrowest distally; succeeding plates squarish with rounded corners,
about as wide as long, more or less completely in contact. Side arm
plates high but short, not meeting below or above, each with six or
seven flattened, blunt arm spines, of which the lowest is the longest
(but little exceeds a joint), while the uppermost is sometimes thick-
ened at tip. In a young specimen there are only four or five arm
spines. Tentacle scales two on each pore, large and of nearly equal
size. Color (dried from alcohol), disk, pale gray; interbrachial spaces
below, brown; arms yellowish or whitish.
Localities. Albatross station 3713, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 45 to 48 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 1 specimen;
station 3714, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 48 to 60 fathoms,
volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 11 specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25651, U.S.N.M., from station 3714.
Although the specimen from station 3713 is less than 4 mm. across
the disk and has only four or five arm spines, there is no doubt what-
ever of its identity with the large ones. The naked interbrachial
spaces, spine-like oral papillae, long oral shields, large tentacle scales,
and characteristic arm plates are unmistakable distinguishing marks.
Combined with the numerous arm spines of the adult they make the
species an easily recognized one.
AMPHIURA ACRYSTATA, new species.o
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 130 to 150 mm. Disk usu-
ally more or less naked at center and in the interradii, but around
the radial shields there is a variable amount of close, fine scaling;
in some specimens (fig. 58$) the entire disk is covered by minute scales.
Radial shields long and narrow, in contact distally. Basal upper arm
plates rather small, somewhat pentagonal, with a short proximal side ;
succeeding plates more transverse, elliptical (though sometimes angu-
lar), very much wider than long, in contact throughout. Inter-
brachial spaces below naked, or more or less covered with minute
scales. Oral shields nearly oval, almost as wide as long. Adoral
plates large, narrow and meeting within (or nearly so), very broad at
' AKpuaraTos , signifying surrounded with nets, in reference to the appearance of the
radial shields.
34916 Bull. 7511 10
146
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
outer end. Oral papillae two on a side, one thick and knob-like at
apex of jaw, the other long, thick, and spine-like at outer corner of
mouth angle; tentacle scale of first oral tentacle pore, long and
FIG. 58. AMPHIURA ACEYSTATA. a-/, X 5. g-i, x 4. a-c, TYPE, a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW;
C, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK; d, ANOTHER SPECIMEN, FROM ABOVE; , FROM BELOWJ
/, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK; g, ANOTHER SPECIMEN, FROM ABOVE; h, FROM BELOW;
i, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK. ,
spine-like, easily mistaken for an oral papilla. First under arm plate
much wider within than distally ; second plate pentagonal ; succeeding
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 147
plates more tetragonal, rather wider than long in the type, but in
some specimens (fig. 58e} longer than wide, in contact throughout.
Side arm plates high, but narrow, particularly near base of arm, where
they are well separated by patches of naked skin; each plate carries
six or seven (rarely only five) slender, more or less flattened,_sharp
spines, of which the lowest is the longest, a little exceeding the joint.
Tentacle pores large, each with two rather small tentacle scales.
Color (dried from alcohol), bare skin, deep brown; scales, grayish;
arms, yellowish.
Localities. Albatross station 3132, off California, lat. 36 44' N.;
long. 121 51' W., 33 fathoms, brown mud, bottom temperature 52.1,
26 specimens; station 3695, off Tsuragi Saki, Honshu Island, Japan",
110 to 259 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, 4 specimens; station 4965,
off eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191
fathoms, dark green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 2
specimens; station 4987, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 19' 20" N.; long.
140 17' E., 59 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 44.8, 2 speci-
mens; station 5036, south of the Hokkaido, lat. 41 58' N. ; long. 142
30' 30" E., 464 fathoms, brown mud, bottom temperature 37.9,
2 specimens; station 5039, south of the Hokkaido, lat. 42 11' N. ;
long. 141 57' E., 269 to 326 fathoms, green mud, bottom tem-
perature 37.9, 8 specimens; station 5043, south of the Hokkaido, lat.
42 10' 20" N. ; long. 142 15' 20" E., 309 to 330 fathoms, brown mud,
fine black sand, coral, sand, bottom temperature 37.9, 9 specimens;
Monterey Harbor, Cal., 8 to 12 fathoms, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical
range, 33 to 464 fathoms. Temperature range, 52. 1 to 37.9. Fifty-
four specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25623, U.S.N.M., from station 3132.
These specimens vary in disk diameter from 5 to 16 mm. In the
smallest, the disk is covered with minute scales except close to the
interradial margins, while in the largest there is no scaling on the
disk except very close to the radial shields. In specimens of all
sizes (except one large one), there are six or seven arm spines.
The diversity in the amount of scaling on the disk and interbrachial
spaces below is most remarkable, affording an unusually interesting
case of resorption of calcareous matter. Scales seem to be present in
young specimens and in regenerating disks, but their presence is not
wholly a matter of youthfulness, for there is some individual variation
in the matter. The condition of the disk in the type-specimen re-
minds one strongly of Ophionephthys, but the oral papillae are. quite
different from those of that genus. In all particulars, except the
naked disk of many large specimens, acrystata is so evidently an
Amphiura, it has not seemed to me either practicable or desirable to
remove it from that genus. There seem to be no characters by which
the specimens from station 3132 can be distinguished from the
148 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
others; one can hardly avoid the suspicion that "3132" should read
"3732," which is a station in Japanese waters. The specimen from
Monterey Harbor is very possibly not this species, but it seems to be-
long here rather than with any known Californian species.
AMPHIURA ECNOMIOTATA, new species.o
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms probably about 85 mm. long. Disk
naked, except close to radial shields, which are unusually long and
narrow, and, though very close together, are in contact only near
outer ends. Upper arm plates extraordinarily narrow, somewhat
elongated oval, nearly concealed by the apparent meeting of the rows
of. arm spines on upper side of arm; upper arm plates in contact with
each other, at least at base of arm. Interbrachial spaces below,
naked. Oral shields, long pentagonal, rounded and narrow distally,
longer than wide. Adoral plates nearly horizontal, wider without
than within. Oral papillss two on a side, one at apex of jaw, short
and thick, one near tip of adoral plate, long and spine-like; tentacle
FIG. 59. AMPHIURA ECNOMIOTATA. x 8. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
scale of first oral pore, sharp and spine-like, easily mistakable for an
oral papilla. Genital slits, short but wide. First under arm plate
very small, nearly triangular, with the base proximal; succeeding
plates at first oval and much longer than wide, but gradually becom-
ing squarish, about as wide as long, with rouno^ed angles, and a notch
in the distal margin ; more or less in contact with each other through-
out. Side arm plates very large, though apparently not in contact
with each other either above or below, at least on basal part of arm;
each plate carries ten delicate though rather thick arm spines, the
lowest the longest, a little exceeding a joint; at the tip these spines
are very rough with minute booklets and spinelets; the arm spines
are so numerous, crowded, long, and rough that the arm fairly
bristles with them. Tentacle pores large, but tentacle scales none.
Color (dried from alcohol), dull yellowish-white.
a 'EKvo/juorara, signifying most unusual, in reference to the combination of several
unusual characters.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 149
Locality. Albatross station 3702, off Seno Umi, Honshu Island,
Japan, 31 to 41 fathoms, volcanic mud, sand, rocks, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25628, U.S.N.M., from station 3702.
It is to be regretted that only a single, badly broken specimen rep-
resents this remarkable species in the collection. It combines such
an unusually large number of arm spines with such peculiar Tipper
arm plates and unusually naked disk that it is really quite unique.
AMPHIURA TRACHYDISCA, new species, a
Disk 13 mm. in diameter; arms probably from 125 to 150 mm. in
length. Disk covered with very numerous scales, the larger of which
bear hemispherical or more elevated swellings, which on the inter-
radial margins become somewhat cylindrical, and may be nearly half
a millimeter long. Radial shields about twice as long as wide, sepa-
rated or just in contact distally. Upper^arm plates about twice as
FIG. f.o. AMPHIURA TRACHYDISCA. X 4. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
wide as long, rather broadly in contact ; the shape may be considered
either a more or less angular transverse oval, or a very wide, short
hexagon with rounded angles; the first two or three are smaller than
those which follow. Interbrachial spaces below covered by a very
close coat of small and minute scales, only the larger, marginal ones
bearing the characteristic swellings. Oral shields broadly oval,
about as wide as long, somewhat abruptly narrowed distally. Adoral
plates roughly triangular, with the longest side adjoining the oral
shield and deeply concave. Oral papillae, two on a side, one round
and thick at apex of jaw, and one stout, acute and spine-like at outer
corner of mouth angle ; tentacle scale of first oral pore also large and
spine-like. Genital slits short and inconspicuous. First under arm
, signifying rough, and OCOKOC, signifying disk, in reference to the remark-
ably rough disk.
150 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
plate tetragonal, wider within than distally; succeeding plates more
or less hexagonal, pentagonal, or tetragonal, with* rounded corners,
more or less broadly in contact throughout. Side arm plates rather
small, those at base of arm separated from each other by areas of
naked skin; each plate carries four arm spines, of which the highest
and lowest are somewhat the longest and rather exceed the joint.
Tentacle pores large, protected by two rather large scales. Color
(dried from alcohol), pale gray, pale yellow, or nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 3737, off Port Heda, Honshu Island,
Japan, 161 to 167 fathoms, green mud, volcanic sand, 18 specimens;
station 3738, off Port Heda, Honshu Island, Japan, 167 fathoms,
stiff blue mud, 24 specimens; station 5069, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 10"
N.; long. 138 47' E., 108 to 131 fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells,
bottom temperature 55.8, 3 specimens; station 5073, Suruga Gulf,
lat. 34 46' N.; long. 138 21' 50" E., 148 fathoms, gray mud, bottom
temperature 54.6, 9 specimens; station 5094, Uraga Strait, lat. 35
4' 42" N.; long. 139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black sand, broken
shells, bottom temperature 54.8, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range
88 to 167 fathoms. Temperature range 55.8 to 54.6. Fifty-six
specimens.
TypeCsit. No. 25632, U.S.N.M., from station 5094.
This is a very good series of specimens, ranging in disk diameter
from 4 to 14 mm. The smallest specimens do not have the lumps
on the disk scales, though the scales near the margin and in the inter-
brachial spaces below are somewhat rough; in a specimen 8 mm.
across the disk, the lumps are very well developed. These lumps are
a very characteristic species mark, and when taken in connection
with the oral papillae and arm plates and spines, they make it difficult
to confuse this species with any other.
AMPHIURA MICRASPIS, new species."
Disk 4 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 mm. long probably. Disk
covered by numerous small scales, of which the largest are near
center. Radial shields very small, well separated, two or three
times as long as broad. Upper arm plates somewhat hexagonal or
fan-shaped, about as wide as long, narrow proximally, in contact
with each other, at least on base of arm. Interbrachial spaces below
covered by a close coat of fine scales. Oral shields large, broadly
oval, about as wide as long. Adoral plates triangular, lying at sides
of oral shields. Oral papillae, two on a side, one thick and rounded
at apex of jaw, and one broad, flat, and fan-shaped, on adoral
plate. Genital slits short and wide. First under arm plate broadly
tetragonal, but very small; succeeding plates tetragonal, with
MfKpof, signifying small, and daxec, signifying shield, in reference to the small
radial shields.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 151
rounded corners, longer than wide, broadly in contact. Side arm
plates moderate, not meeting above or below, at least on base of
arm; each plate carries six or seven cylindrical, blunt arm spines,
of which all but the lowest are subequal and about as long as the
joint; the lowest is decidedly longer than the rest, and near the
middle of the arm is fully twice as long as the others. ~~Tentttcle
scale, single, elongated oval. Color (dried from alcohol), very light
gray-
Locality. Albatross station 3735, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 36 fathoms, coarse gray volcanic sand, broken shells, 1
specimen.
Type. Accidentally destroyed immediately after the illustrations
given herewith had been completed.
It is, of course, a matter of great regret that the unique specimen
here described should have met with such an untimely fate, but
FIG. 61. AMPHIURA MICRASPIS. x 12. a, FROM ABOVE; 6 FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK; d, SIDE VIEW OF AN ARM JOINT NEAR MIDDLE OF ARM.
nevertheless it seems best to publish the description and figures
since the small radial shields, peculiar oral papillae, and the con-
spicuous lowest arm spine combine to make the species one which
will be very easily recognized.
AMPHIURA PYCNOSTOMA, new species.a
Disk 4 mm. in diameter; arms 22 mm. long. Disk covered by
about two hundred coarse scales, among which the six primary plates
are rather prominent. Radial shields twice as long as wide, in contact
distally, but well separated at inner ends. Upper arm plates some-
what hexagonal, with outer corners much rounded, decidedly wider
than long, broadly in contact. Interbrachial spaces below, well
, signifying closed, and arfym, signifying mouth, in reference to the way
in which the peculiar scales of the first pair of oral tentacle pores close the mouth.
152
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
covered with scales. Genital slits short. Oral shields very broadly
oval, much wider than long. Adoral plates unusually large and
conspicuous, meeting broadly within, about twice as long as wide;
oral plates, correspondingly large. Oral papillae, two on a side, one
small, thick, rounded, at apex of jaw, the other small, flat, some-
what triangular, on adoral plate; scales of first oral tentacle pores
very wide and flat, but low and truncate, meeting each other across
the mouth slits so as to tightly close the mouth. First under arm
plate elongated (so that mouth slits are short), much longer than
wide, narrow at inner end, but rather abruptly widened near middle,
and gradually narrowed a little at distal end; succeeding plates
somewhat hexagonal or heptagonal, with rounded corners, and
lateral sides concave, about as wide as long, rather broadly in con-
tact. Side arm plates low and long, not meeting either below or
above; each one carries three stout spines, thick at base but taper-
FIG. 62. AMPHIUEA PYCNOSTOMA. x 12. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
ing rapidly to a sharp point; middle one longest and about as long
as joint. Tentacle pores large, but the single tentacle scale is very
small. Color (dried from alcohol), disk, very pale gray, arms
whitish.
Locality. Albatross station 4972, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 45"
N.; long. 135 33' E., 440 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 39.8, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25641, U.S.N.M., from station 4972.
Although this specimen is probably young and is unique in the collec-
tion, it seems best to make it the type of a new species on account of
the remarkable mouth parts, which are unlike those of any Amphiura
I have ever seen. The peculiarly stout arm spines and large tentacle
pores, each with a very small scale, are additional diagnostic char-
acters.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 153
AMPHIURA PSILOPORA, new species."
Disk 4 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 mm. long. Disk covered
by comparatively few (180 to 200) large scales. Radial shields short,
rounded triangular, not twice as long as wide, widely separated prox-
imally but touching distally. Upper arm plates broadly triangular,
wider than long, scarcely in contact; distal margin very convex.
Interbrachial spaces below covered by about fifteen to twenty coarse
scales. Oral shields rounded distally and with a rounded point
proximally, somewhat longer than wide. Adoralr plates very large,
triangular with a truncate angle where they touch the second under
arm plate, and a blunt angle where they touch each other, proximal to
the oral shield; oral plates also very large. Oral papillae, two on a
side, one very large, thick, and rounded at apex of jaw, the other
FIG. (13. AMPHIURA PSILOPORA. x 12. a, FROM ABOVE; &, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TIIRFE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
long, stout and spine-like at inner end of adoral plate; scale of first
oral tentacle pore conspicuous, broad, and truncate. Genital slits
small. First under arm plate tetragonal, wider within than distally;
succeeding plates somewhat hexagonal, longer than wide, more or less
broadly in contact. Side arm plates moderately large, not meeting
either above or below, at least near base of arm; each plate carries
four (or three on most joints) rather stout, terete spines, of which the
lowest is scarcely longer than the others and about equals the joint.
Tentacle pores large and wholly naked. Color (dried from alcohol),
yellowish-white.
oc, signifying naked, and xopoc, signifying a way through, a pore, in reference
to the absence of tentacle scales.
154
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Locality. Plover Bay, East Siberia, 15 to 20 fathoms (William
H. Dall).
Type. Cat. No. 16586, U.S.N.M.
It is most unsatisfactory to establish new species upon single,
young specimens, but it seems to me much better to name, figure, and
describe them than to ignore them or to refer them to species to
which they almost certainly do not belong. This unique specimen,
which I have called psilopora, is like A. gymnopora Liitken and Mor-
tensen in the absence of tentacle scales and the presence of three arm
spines; but as there are four spines on some of the basal joints, and
as the disk scales, radial shields, outer oral papillae, and upper and
under arm plates are so different from the Panamic form, I am sure it
does not belong to that species.
AMPHIODIA URTICA.
Amphiura urtica LYMAN, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 7, 1860, p. 195.
Amphiodia urtica VERRILL, Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. 10, 1899, p. 313.
Localities. Albatross station 3131, off California, lat. 36 41' 30"
N.; long. 121 54' 10" W., 48 fathoms, brown mud, rocks, bottom
FIG. 64. AMPHIODIA URTICA. X 6.
a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
temperature 50.8, 91 specimens; station 3148, off California, lat.
37 8' N.; long. 122 28' 10" W., 47 fathoms, brown mud, bottom
temperature 51.3, 1 specimen; station 3165, off California, lat.
37 59' 45" N.; long. 123 8' 35" W., SOfathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 49, 29 specimens; Sanborn Harbor, Alaska, 50 speci-
mens; Sitka, 15 fathoms, mud, 3 specimens; Puget Sound, 3 speci-
mens (Lyman's originals); Loc. ?, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range,
15 to 50 fathoms. Temperature range 51.3 to 49. One hundred
and seventy-eight specimens.
As this very interesting species has never been figured, it seems to
be worth while to give some illustrations showing the essential char
acters. The specimens before me range in disk diameter from 2 to 9
mm., so that it is evident the species is of small size, though the arms
are exceedingly long, and slender.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 155
AMPHIODIA OCCIDENTALIS.
Amphiura ocddentalis LYMAN, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 7, 1860, p. 194.
Amphiodia ocddentalis VERRILL, Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. 10, 1899, p. 313.
Localities. Monterey, California, 1 specimen (Lyman's type);
Puget Sound, 1 specimen; Kadiak, Alaska, 1 specimen.
This species has been sufficiently figured by Lyman, so that no~rlrus-
trations need be given here. The arm spines are the most charac-
teristic specific character. The range northward is greatly extended
by the discovery of ocddentalis at Kadiak.
AMPHIODIA CRATERODMETA, new species.*
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 32 mm. long. Disk rather
thick and stout, covered by numerous, coarse, distinct scales, among
which the primary plates are not conspicuous. Radial shields about
twice as long as wide, closely joined. Upper arm plates somewhat
FIG. f>5. AMPHIODIA CRATERODMETA. x 6. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM RELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
variable, broadly triangular, or diamond-shaped, with lateral angles
truncate, *or somewhat hexagonal, much wider than long, only
narrowly in contact. Interbrachial spaces below well covered with
numerous, distinct scales. Oral shields small, rather variable, but
usually wider than long and pointed proximally. Adoral plates
very large, variable in shape, somewhat triangular in the type, with
inner sides concave, but usually they are tetragonal and meet broadly
at their inner ends, which are nearly as wide as outer. Oral papillae
three on a side, subequal, thick and rounded, or the two inner ones
may be somewhat pointed. Genital slits rather large. First under
arm plate small, wider than long; succeeding plates variable, but
generally more or less in contact, somewhat pentagonal and about
as long as wide; in the type they are much wider than long. Side
a Kparep6e, signifying strong, and defjuu, signifying to build, in reference to the com-
paratively stout structure.
156 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM,
arm plates moderate, hardly meeting above or below, at least at
base of arm; each plate carries three, and at base of arm, four sharp,
rather slender spines, of which the uppermost may be a little the
longest and somewhat exceed the joint. Tentacle scales, two, small.
Color (dried from alcohol), gray-brown, brownish-yellow, pale gray
or nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 2848, off Alaska, lat. 55 10' N.;
long. 160 18' W., 110 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 41,
5 specimens; station 3255, Bering Sea, lat. 56 33 ' 30" N.; long. 164
31' 40" W., 43 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 7,
5 specimens; station 3529, Bering Sea, lat. 58 36' N.; long. 172 24'
W., 56 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.1, 1 specimen;
station 3540, Bering Sea, lat. 56 27' N. ; long. 166 8' W., 51 fathoms,
green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 36, 2 specimens; station
4794, Sea of Okhotsk, lat. 52 47' 20" N.; long. 158 44' 30" E.,
58 to 69 fathoms, sand, pebbles, 1 specimen; station 4844, off Korea,
lat. 36 34' N.; long. 132 50' 20" E., 116 fathoms, green mud, gray
sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 35.9, 1 specimen; station
4997, Gulf of Tartary, lat. 47 38' 40" N.; long. 141 24' 30" E.,
318 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 32.8, 2 specimens;
station 5010, off Saghalin, lat. 46 30' 30" N.; long. 142 43' 30" E.,
21 to 32 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature ?, 1 specimen;
station 5033, Yezo Strait, lat. 44 4' 20" N.; long. 145 28' E., 533
fathoms, green mud, fine black sand, bottom temperature 35.9,
2 specimens; lat. 63 37' N.; long. 165 19' W., 2 specimens; Chiachi
Islands, 20 fathoms, Dall collection, 1 specimen; Iliuliuk, Unalaska,
1 specimen; off Cape Sabine, Alaska, 4 specimens; 10 miles west of
Point Franklin, Alaska, 13? fathoms, sand, 1 specimen; Bay of
Islands, Adak, Dall collection, 1 specimen; Port Levashef, Alaska,
2 specimens; off Point Hope, Alaska, 25 fathoms, 1 specimen; Coal
Harbor, Unga, 3 specimens; Captains Harbor, Alaska, 15 specimens;
Arctic Ocean, 3 specimens; Alaska, 10 specimens; Alaska, Dall col-
lection, 11 specimens; Port Clarence, Alaska, 12 fathoms, 5 specimens;
Loc. ?, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 12 to 533 fathoms.
Temperature range, 41 to 32.8. Eighty-four specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25613, U.S.N.M., from station 4997.
These specimens range in disk diameter from 3 to 9 mm. Several,
in which the disk is being regenerated, are remarkable for the small
size and irregular form of the radial shields. Such specimens, if
dark colored, have a striking superficial resemblance, dorsally, to
Ophiura maculata, though the ventral view is, of course, quite different.
Although this species is nearly related to urtica, it is so much more
stoutly built and the disk scales are so much coarser that the two species
are not likely to be confused. The adoral plates of craterodmeta and
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 157
the presence of four arm spines on the basal joints of the arm are
excellent diagnostic characters.
AMPHIODIA MACRASPIS, new species."
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 150 mm. long, probably.
Disk rather soft, inclined to be swollen and more or less deeply
notched in interradii, covered with very numerous scales, which are
much larger around the radial shields than they are at center of disk
and in the interradii. Radial shields long and curved, rather more
than three times as long as wide, separated throughout or in contact
distally. Upper arm plates more or less triangular, with truncated
angles, in contact with each other, at least at base of arm, rather
wider than long. Interbrachial spaces below covered by a close, fine
scaling. Oral shields pentagonal or more hexagonal, with somewhat
rounded angles, much wider than long. Adoral plates large, about
twice as long as broad, nearly or quite meeting within. Oral papillae
three on a side (in large specimens there is an additional small
FIG. 06. AMPHIODIA MACRASPIS. X 5. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
papilla at the distal end of the mouth slit), subequal, though the one
at apex of jaw is rather thicker than the others; between first and
second, the tentacle scale of the first oral pore appears and might be
mistaken for another papilla. Genital slits, large. First under arm
plate very small, wider than long; succeeding plates tetragonal,
nearly square but sometimes longer than wide (as in type, fig. 66, &),
and sometimes wider than long; broadly in contact throughout.
Side arm plates small, not quite meeting above at base of arm, widely
separated below; each plate carries five (at base of arm, sometimes,
six) slender, sharp spines, of which the lowest is the longest, nearly
equaling the joint, but the uppermost is not the shortest. Tentacle
scale single, small; on some of the basal pores, a second scale is present.
Color (dried from alcohol), disk, gray; arms, dirty whitish; in several
specimens the radial shields, some of the larger disk scales, and the
, signifying long, and danis signifying shield, in reference to the long,
narrow radial shields.
158 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
arms, especially the side arm plates, have a decidedly reddish tint,
the red being of a brownish-orange shade.
Localities. Albatross station 3696, off Honshu Island, Japan, 501
to 749 fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 23 specimens;
station 3708, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 60 to 70 fathoms,
green mud, volcanic sand, ashes, 1 specimen; station 3709, off
Shimidzu Harbor, Honshu Island, Japan, 173 to 260 fathoms, stiff
blue volcanic mud, rocks, 10 specimens; station 3789, off Washington,
lat. 48 21' 45" N.; long. 124 52' 30" W., 115 fathoms, coarse gray
sand, gravel, 1 specimen; station 4862, off Korea, lat. 36 20' N.;
long. 129 50' E., 184 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 32.9,
3 specimens; station 4997, Gulf of Tartary, lat. 47 38' 40" N.; long.
141 24' 30" E., 318 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 32.8,
11 specimens; station 5056, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 57' 35" N.; long.
138 43' 35" E., 258 fathoms, green mud, broken shells, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 46, 1 specimen; station 5057, Suruga Gulf,
lat. 34 58' 40" N.; long. 138 34' E., 270 fathoms, gray mud, bottom
temperature 44.8, 6 specimens; station 5085, Sagami Bay, lat. 35
6' 45" N.; long. 139 19' 45" E., 622 fathoms, green mud, fine black
sand, bottom temperature 37.8, 58 specimens. Bathymetrical
range, 60 to 749 fathoms. Temperature range, 46 to 32.8. One
hundred and fourteen specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25584, U.S.N.M., from station 5057.
This species is not likely to be confused with any other member of
the genus save the following, the arrangement of the disk scales
and mouth parts, the form of the radial and oral shields, and the
number of arm spines and tentacle scales being very distinctive.
The occurrence in large specimens of an extra oral papilla distally
may naturally raise the question as to whether the species belongs in
Amphiodia or AmpJiioplus. In view of all the characters, however, I
do not think there can be any serious doubt that its relationships are
actually with Amphiodia. The specimen from station 3789 is not
peculiar, but the occurrence of this species at that point certainly
calls for some comment.
AMPHIODIA EURYASPIS, new species.
Disk 13 mm. in diameter; arms about 150 mm. long. Disk more
or less decagonal, with each side of the decagon convex; the radial
indentations of disk more marked than the interradial; disk covered
with numerous irregular scales, of approximately equal size. Radial
shields small, short, seldom twice as long as wide, in contact distally.
Arm plates, interbrachial spaces below, oral shields, adoral plates,
oral papillae, tentacle scales and arm spines somewhat variable and
bf, signifying broad, and danlf, signifying shield, in reference to the short,
wide radial shields.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 159
not distinguishable by any constant characters from the same parts
in the preceding species (macraspis) . The distal oral papillae are
often distinctly pointed, the oral shields are sometimes as long as wide,
and the number of arm spines is commonly four, though always five at
base of arm, but never six, so far as I can see even in the largest
specimen. Color (dried from alcohol), disk, gray or brownish; "arms,
very pale brownish, or yellowish or nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 3227, Bering Sea, lat. 54 36' 30" N.;
long. 166 54' W., 225 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 38.6,
72 specimens; station 3478, off California, lat. 36 44' 45" N.; long.
120 57' W., 68 fathoms, gray sand, mud, 3 specimens and a mass of
arms; station 4862, off Korea, lat. 36 20' N. ; long. 129 50' E., 184
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 32.9, 1 specimen; station
4863, off Korea, lat. 36 21' N.; long. 129 53' E., 250 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 32.7, 1 specimen; station 4997, Gulf of
Tartary, lat. 47 38' 40" N. ; long. 141 24' 30" E., 318 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 32.8, 2 specimens; station 5066, Suruga
FIG. 67. AMPHIODIA EUKYASPIS. x 4. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Gulf, lat. 35 6' 5" N. ; long. 138 40' 20" E., 211 to 293 fathoms, fine
black sand, bottom temperature 50.8, 1 specimen; Iliuliuk, Unalaska,
1 specimen; Bering Sea, 5 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 68 to
318 fathoms. Temperature range, 58 to 32.7. Eighty-six speci-
mens.
Type.C&t. No. 25652, U.S.N.M., from station 3478.
It is only after great hesitation that I have determined to keep this
species separate from the preceding. The differences in the scaling
of the disk and in the form of the radial shields are obvious and seem
to be remarkably constant, so that there is no difficulty in deciding to
which species a given specimen belongs. Yet it is difficult to find any
other character, which is at all reliable, by which the two forms can
be distinguished. As they were seldom both taken at the same sta-
tion, thus indicating preference for somewhat different habitats, my
impression of their distinctness is confirmed. The largest specimen
of euryaspis measures 16 mm. across the disk. One of the specimens
from 3227 has six arms.
160 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
AMPHIODIA PERIERCTA, new species.o
Disk 14 mm. in diameter; arms about 150 mm. long or more,
probably. Disk distinctly pentagonal, with nearly straight sides, the
margin formed by a row of quite distinct scales, which may stand more
or less erect and be bluntly pointed. In the type, the interbrachial
spaces are so swollen, presumably with the reproductive cells, that they
project out far beyond this margin (see fig. 68a), while in a smaller
specimen (fig. 68d) drying has caused enough shrinkage so that the
disk margin is a little concave and the marginal scales are just below
the edge, beyond which they project in quite a conspicuous manner.
Disk covered by numerous irregular scales, the largest of which are
near the radial shields. Radial shields small, closely joined, at least
FIG. 68. AMPHIODIA PERIERCTA. x 3.5. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK; d, A MUCH YOUNGER SPECIMEN, FROM ABOVE, X 9.
distally; they are broadly oval in the young specimen, but are twice
as long as wide in the type. Upper arm plates very wide, somewhat
tetragonal with more or less rounded ends, two or three times as wide
as long, broadly in contact throughout. Interbrachial spaces below,
very closely covered with fine scales, in marked contrast to the disk.
Oral shields small, somewhat pentagonal or triangular, with an inner
angle, and outer side curved, wider than long. Adoral plates not
conspicuous, wider without than within. Oral papillae three on a
side, thick, rounded and subequal. Genital slits large. First under
arm plate, small, much wider than long; succeeding plates squarish,
, signify ing fenced round, in reference to the distinctly bounded disk.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 161
broadly in contact, with distal margin somewhat concave. Side arm
plates small, not meeting either above or below; each plate carries
three terete, sharp arm spines, of which the middle one is a trifle the
longest and may exceed the joint. Tentacle scales two, rather large.
Color (dried from alcohol), pale fawn-color, or yellowish-brown.
Localities. Albatross station 2885, off Oregon, lat. 45 56' N. ; long.
124 2' W., 30 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 49, 1
specimen; Captains Harbor, Unalaska, 9 to 15 fathoms, stones and
mud, Dall collection, 1 specimen.
Type.C&t. No. 16391, U.S.N.M., from Captains Harbor, Un-
alaska.
The type-specimen is labeled " Amphiura occidentalis," and there is
no doubt that periercta is closely related to that species. But a
glance at the arm spines is sufficient to distinguish the two, for in
occidentalis they are thick, flattened, and remarkably blunt, while
in periercta they are terete and sharp.
FIG. 69. AMPHIODIA ANCISTROTA. x 5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK; d, NEXT TO THE LOWEST ARM SPINE, X 10.
AMPHIODIA ANCISTROTA, new species."
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 50 mm. long. Disk covered
by numerous small scales, which are somewhat smaller at the inter-
radial margins than elsewhere; disk tends to be pentagonal with
sides indented. Radial shields small, divergent, touching distally.
Upper ends of genital scales, usually visible, just distal to radial
shields, each often with a small, projecting spinelet. Upper arm
plates, somewhat tetragonal, twice as wide as long, narrower prox-
imally than distally, broadly in contact; lateral and proximal margins
tend to merge into a continuous curve. Interbrachial spaces below
covered with a coat of very fine scales. Oral shields, broadly oval,
wider than long. Adoral plates nearly horizontal, very narrow at
inner end, so broad at outer end that they look almost triangular.
Oral papillae, three on each side, subequal, rounded, and a fourth
smaller at outer corner of mouth angle; the one at apex of jaw is the
, signifying hooked, in reference to the hooked arm spine.
34916 Bull. 7511 - 11
162 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
thickest of all. First under arm plate minute, but very distinct,
longer than wide; succeeding plates squarish and broadly in contact,
soon becoming pentagonal and narrowly in contact. Side arm
plates small, not meeting above or below, at least at base of arm;
each plate carries four, or rarely five, slender, very acute spines, of
which the third or fourth is distinctly hooked at tip and microscop-
ically serrate, and the fourth or fifth (lowest) is the longest, slightly
exceeding the joint. Tentacle scales two, distinct if not large. Color
(dried from alcohol), disk, grayish; arms, pale brownish or nearly
white.
Localities. Albatross station 3698, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu
Island, Japan, 153 fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 16
specimens; station 3713, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 45 to
48 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 2 specimens ^ station 3739,
off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 55 to 65 fathoms, volcanic sand,
shells, rocks, 21 specimens; station 4817, Sea of Japan, lat. 38 12'
N. ; long. 138 52' E., 61 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temper-
ature 51.9, 1 specimen; station 4965, off eastern Japan, lat. 33
25' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark green-gray sand,
shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 3 specimens; station 5091, Uraga
Strait, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green
mud, coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 2 spec-
imens; station 5092, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 50" N.; long. 139 38'
18" E., 70 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 56.3,
5 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 45 to 197 fathoms. Temper-
ature range, 56.3 to 47.6. Fifty specimens.
Type.C&i. No. 25601, U.S.N.M., from station 3698.
This is one of those perplexing species which link Amphiodia and
Amphioplus so closely that the latter will have to be redefined if not
abandoned. In the present species there are certainly four oral
papillae on a side, but the fourth (outermost) is so much smaller than
the others that, in view of its other characters, I prefer to keep
ancistrota in Amphiodia for the present. There may be more than
one of the arm spines in each group hooked at the end, but as a rule
there is only a single one and that only on the basal part of the arm.
The upper arm plates and the tentacle scales taken in connection
with the arm spines will serve to distinguish this species.
AMPHIODIA DIGITULA, new species.a
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long, probably.
Disk covered by a close coat of numerous scales, of which those at
the center are the largest and those at the interradial margins are
very minute; the primary plates are scarcely distinguishable. Radial
a Digitulus (dim. of digitus}, signifying a little finger, in reference to the finger-like
processes on the spines borne by the genital scales.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 163
shields long and narrow, separated throughout or barely touching
distally. Upper arm plates, broadly elliptical, though somewhat
pointed laterally, twice as wide as long (or nearly so), nearly or quite
in contact. Interbrachial spaces below covered by a very fine
scaling, markedly in contrast to that of the disk. Oral shield qyoid,
rather longer than wide, abruptly narrowed distally. Adoral plates
long, narrow within, where they meet, but very broad at outer end.
Oral papillae three on a side, the one at apex of jaw thick and rounded,
the second longer and pointed, the third smaller and rounded; be-
tween first and second, the scale of first oral tentacle pore may appear
like another papilla. Genital slits large, each bounded by a long
genital scale, the thickened
outer end of which is vis-
ible from a'bove, just distal
to a radial shield ; this thick-
ened end carries a peculiar,
slightly curved spine-like
outgrowth, which is some-
what flattened and bears
four or five digit-like proc-
esses at the tip (fig. 70, d).
First under arm plate very
small, squarish; succeeding
plates rounded pentagonal,
longer than wide, broadly
in contact. Side - arm
plates, rather small, scarcely
meeting above, and not at
all below ; each plate carries
four slender, acute spines,
subequal (or the uppermost
and lowest, longest), about
equal to the joint. Ten-
tacle pores large, each with
two good-sized scales. Color (dried from alcohol), very light grayish.
Localities. Albatross station 3713, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 45 to 48 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 1 specimen;
station 4815, Sea of Japan, lat. 38 16' N. ; long. 138 52' E., 70 fath-
oms, dark green sand, bottom temperature 51, 1 specimen.
Type.C&t. No. 25530, U.S.N.M., from station 4815.
It is hard to determine how much weight may be properly placed
on the peculiar digitate processes on the ends of the genital scales, as
a specific character. They are remarkably well developed in the
type but in the specimen from station 3713 they are much less
FIG. 70. AMPHIODIA DIGITULA. x 8. a, FROM ABOVE; 6,
FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR
DISK; d, OUTGROWTHS ON UPPER END OF GENITAL SCALES,
GREATLY ENLARGED.
164
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
noticeable. Moreover they are so fragile they might easily be broken
off by rough handling, so that their absence would not prove that
a given specimen did not belong to this species. The interbrachial
scaling, arm plates and spines, oral shields and adoral plates are,
however, reliable specific characters.
AMPHIODIA STRONGYLOPLAX, new species.o
Disk 5J mm. in diameter; arms about 50 mm. long. Disk deeply
notched in interradii, covered by a coat of numerous irregular
plates, without definite arrangement. Radial shields somewhat
curved, long and narrow, rather broadly in contact distally, but
well separated within. Upper arm plates more or less rounded,
little wider than long, scarcely in contact even at base of arm, though
the side arm plates hardly meet between them. Interbrachial spaces
below, practically naked, though there are numerous white granules
of lime scattered about on the surface. Genital slits very large.
Oral shields large, pointed within, rounded laterally, truncate dis-
FIG. 71. AMPHIODIA STRONG YLOPL AX. x 9. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
tally, about as long as wide. Adoral plates large, scarcely meeting
within, much wider at their outer ends. Oral papillae three, some-
times four, on a side. One at apex of jaw is thick and rounded; the
second is small and pointed; the third is large and bluntly pointed;
the fourth, if present, is very small. The scale of first oral tentacle
pore is visible between the first and second papillae. First under
arm plate very small, narrower distally than within; succeeding
plates tetragonal, with rounded corners, longer than wide, broadly
in contact. Side arm plates moderate, each with five arm spines,
of which the lowest is the longest and exceeds the joint. Tentacle
pores large, each with a single, minute scale. Color (dried from
alcohol), disk grayish, arms very light brownish; radial shields and
arm plates with an orange-brown tint.
a 2-cporrbXof, signifying round, and 7rAd, signifying plate, in reference to the rounded
upper arm plates.
NORTH PACIFIC ' OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 165
Locality. Albatross station 2866, off Washington, lat. 48 9 r N.;
long. 125 3' W., 171 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 43.2,
8 specimens.
Type Cut. No. 25615, U.S.N.M., from station 2866.
This species bears a curious superficial resemblance to A. macras-
pis, but the bare interbrachial spaces, the upper arm plates, and the
oral shields are quite unlike those of that species. As only one of
the eight specimens possesses a disk, it is impossible to estimate the
value of the bare interbrachial spaces; they may prove to be very
variable.
AMPHIODIA PSILOCHORA, new species.o
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 65 mm. long. Disk more or
less deeply indented in interbrachial areas, covered by a close coat
of scales, the largest of which are near the center of disk and close
to the radial shields, while the smallest are at the interradial mar-
FIG. 72. AMPHIODIA PSILOCHORA. X 0. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM RELOW; c , SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
gins. Radial shields long and curved, separate or barely touching
distally. Upper arm plates at first somewhat hexagonal, with the
proximal side shortest, but soon the angles are rounded off and they
become biconvex, much wider than long and scarcely or not at all
in contact. Interbrachial spaces below bare. Oral shields some-
what variable, wider than long, with a broad proximal angle and a
rounded (or sometimes truncate) outer margin. Adoral plates vari-
able, nearly triangular, sometimes meeting within, but often well
separated. Oral papillae three on a side, the first one (at apex of
jaw) thick and rounded; the second small, flat, and pointed; the
third larger, often longer, and sometimes attenuate pointed. The
tentacle scale of first oral pore is often visible between the first and
, signifying bare, and ^w/oof, signifying a space, in reference to the naked
interbrachial spaces.
166 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
second papillae. Genital slits moderate. First under arm plate,
minute; succeeding plates tetragonal, with rounded angles, longer
than wide, broadly in contact. Side arm plates fairly large, barely
meeting above, but scarcely below. Each plate carries five slender,
sharp spines, of which the lowest is a little the longest and slightly
exceeds the joint. Tentacle pores large, each with a single, small
tentacle scale. Color (dried from alcohol), disk, gray; interbrachial
spaces below light brown to nearly black; arms dull grayish to
nearly white; radial shields sometimes (in large specimens) with a
reddish tinge.
Localities. Albatross station 3739, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 55 to 65 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 4 specimens;
station 4972, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 45" N.; long. 135 33' E.,
440 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera, bottom temperature
39.8, 1 specimen; station 5085, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 6' 45" N.;
long. 139 19' 45" E., 622 fathoms, green mud, fine black sand,
bottom temperature 37.8, 4 specimens; station 5086, Sagami Bay,
lat. 35 8' 15" N.; long. 139 20' E., 292 fathoms, green mud, coarse
black sand, bottom temperature 43.7, 1 specimen; station 5088,
Sagami Bay, lat. 35 11' 25" N.; long. 139 28' 20" E., 369 to 405
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 41.8, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 55 to 622 fathoms. Temperature range, 43.7 to
37.8. Eleven specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25544, U.S.N.M., from station 5085.
This species is not likely to be mistaken for any other species of
Amphiodia, and the mouth parts alone will distinguish it from any
Amphiura having the interbrachial spaces below naked. The speci-
mens before me range in disk diameter from 4 to 10 mm. and show
comparatively little diversity.
AMPHIPHOLIS PUGETANA.
Amphiura pugetana LYMAN, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 7, 1868, p. 193.
Amphipholis pugetana VERRILL, Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. 10, 1899, p. 312.
Localities. Albatross station 2850, off Alaska, lat. 54 52' N.;
long. 159 46' W., 21 fathoms, broken shells, bottom temperature
48.2, 5 specimens; station 2856, off Alaska, lat. 58 7' N.; long.
151 36' W., 68 fathoms, gray sand, black specks, bottom tempera-
ture 44, 1 specimen; station 2876, off Washington, lat. 48 33' N.;
long. 124 53' W., 59 fathoms, black sand, mud, bottom tempera-
ture 45.5, 3 specimens; station 3052, off Oregon, lat. 44 N. ; long.
124 57' W., 48 fathoms, coral, broken shells, rocky, bottom tem-
perature 49, 1 specimen; station 3466, off Washington, lat. 48 18'
30" N.; long. 123 22' W., 56 fathoms, gray sand, shells, rocky,
bottom temperature 48.5, 1 specimen; station 4230, off Indian
Point, Alaska, 10S to 240 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 42.4,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 167
2 specimens; Puget Sound, 1 specimen; Monterey, California, 8 to 12
fathoms, 4 specimens. Bathy metrical range, 8 to 240 fathoms.
Temperature range, 49 to 44. Eighteen specimens.
As no figures of this species have been published, it has been
thought desirable to give the accompanying illustrations. The char-
acteristic mouth parts easily distinguish this species from afty-of
the others taken by the Fisheries steamer Albatross. In fact, it is
the only representative of its genus in the collection.
AMPHIOPLUS RHADINOBRACHIUS, new species.a
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms about 100 mm. long. Disk covered
by a coat of several hundred scales, of nearly uniform size. Radial
shields long and very slender, in contact distally but separated within.
Upper arm plates much wider than long, strongly convex distally ; at
base of arm angular proximally, and slightly in contact, but farther
out broadly convex proximally, and separated from each other.
Interbrachial spaces below covered with much smaller scales than
FIG. 73. AMPHIPHOLIS PUGETANA. X 12. a, FROM ABOVE; ft, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
those of the disk. Genital slits large. Oral shields oval, longer than
broad. Adoral plates large, narrow within where they nearly or quite
meet, very much broader at outer ends. Oral papillae four on a side,
one thick and rounded at apex of jaw, the second and third nearly as
large, but flat and rounded or pointed at tip, the fourth somewhat
smaller; the tentacle scale of the first oral pore shows between the
first and second papillae and may be mistaken for another papilla.
First under arm plate minute, pentagonal, about as long as broad;
succeeding plates pentagonal or hexagonal, broader than long, be-
coming longer than broad, distinctly in contact, at least on base of
arm. Side arm plates small, meeting above except at base of arm, not
meeting below; each plate carries three sharp, slender spines, sub-
equal, or the middle one longest. Tentacle scales, two. Color (dried
from alcohol), light gray or whitish.
, signifying slender, and /fywz^/wv, signifying arm, in reference to the very
slender arms.
168 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Localities. Albatross station 5053, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 49' 20"
N.; long. 138 40' 15" E., 503 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 34.9, 1 specimen; station 5054, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 52' 45"
N.; long. 138 42' 20" E., 282 fathoms, green mud, broken shells,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 45.3, 2 specimens, without disks;
station 5088, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 11' 25" N.; long. 139 28' 20" E.,
369 to 405 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 41.8, 1 speci-
men. Bathymetrical range, 282 to 503 fathoms. Temperature
range, 45.3 to 34.9. Four specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25587, U.S.N.M., from station 5053.
The extremely slender arms and the characteristic mouth parts,
taken in connection with the radial shields, three arm spines and two
tentacle scales, make this an easy species to recognize. As the disks
are wanting in the specimens from station 5054, it is, of course, possi-
ble that their identification as rhadinobrachius is incorrect.
FIG. 74. AMPHIOPLUS RHADINOBRACHIUS. X 8. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF
THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
AMPHIOPLUS ACANTHINUS, new species."
Disk 14 mm. in diameter; arms about 140 mm. long. Disk some-
what decagonal (the decagon with somewhat convex sides), lightly
notched radially, and deeply so interradially ; covered with a close
coat of very numerous scales, some of which bear slender acute spines
one-half millimeter long; these spines are set into little pits, so that
when they are rubbed off their former position is clearly indicated.
Radial shields small, divergent, but in contact distally. Upper arm
plates tetragonal or pentagonal with more or less rounded corners,
twice as wide as long or more, broadly in contact basally but barely
touching on terminal part of arm. Interbrachial spaces below covered
by much finer scales than the disk, and without spines. Oral shields,
oval or elliptical, much longer than wide. Adoral plates large and
triangular, hardly meeting within. Oral papillae four or five on a side,
the one near apex of jaw largest. Genital slits very large; genital scales
inconspicuous orally, but often noticeable from above just distal to
the radial shields, and frequently bearing there a little outgrowth simi-
, signifying thorny, in reference to the numerous disk spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 169
lar to that so characteristic of Amphiodia digitula. First under arm
plate minute, squarish; succeeding plates somewhat hexagonal or
pentagonal, about as wide as long, more or less in contact on basal
part of arm; on many of them there is a minute tooth or sharp pro-
jection at the center of the distal margin. Side arm plates small, each
with only three sharp, subequal spines, about as long as the joint-or-a
little longer. Tentacle scales, two. Color (dried from alcohol), nearly
white, or light grayish-brown; upper and under arm plates some-
times rather heavily shaded with dull brownish-red.
Localities. Albatross station 3695, off Tsuragi Saki Light, Honshu
Island, Japan, 110 to 259 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, 30 speci-
FIG. 75. AMPHIOPLUS ACANTHINUS. x 4. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK; d, REGENERATED DISK AND THREE REGENERATED ARMS.
mens; station 5073, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 46' N.; long. 138 21' 50"
E., 148 fathoms, gray mud, bottom temperature 54.6, 2 specimens.
Type. Cat,. No. 25595, U.S.N.M., from station 3695.
This is an unusually well-characterized species and yet its generic
position is somewhat in doubt. As an Amphioplus it ought not to
have spines on the disk, while, on the other hand, it will not go into
Verrill's genus Amphilimna, where spiny-disked species of Amphio-
plus ought to go, for it does not have "six to ten" arm spines, nor are
the tentacle scales " spiniform," nor are the radial shields "parallel,
170 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
largely in contact." One of the specimens from station 3695 affords
such a remarkably fine illustration of arm and disk regeneration after
breaking and shedding, that it has seemed wise to show it (fig. 75d).
The limits of the original disk are plainly shown on the bases of the
four large arms, while the fifth arm is regenerating from a single basal
joint The disk scales are surprisingly small, and the radial shields
are very inconspicuous. The disk spines are represented by minute
knobs. Two of the four large arms are regenerating from basal
stumps.
AMPHIOPLUS HEXACANTHUS, new species."
Disk lacking. Upper arm plates broadly hexagonal, with rounded
corners, twice as wide as long. Arm spines six, about equal to joint;
middle ones shortest and one or more terminated by a minute,
glassy crossbar. Oral shields oval, longer than wide. Adoral plates
large, meeting broadly within. Oral papillae, four on a side, sub-
equal or apical one largest. Under arm plates squarish or slightly
pentagonal, rather wider than long. Tentacle scales, two.
Localities. Albatross station 3165, off California, lat. 37 59' 45"
N.; long. 123 8' 35" W., 50 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 49, 6 specimens; station 5094, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 42" N.;
long. 139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 54.8, several arms.
Type.C&t. No. 25583, U.S.N.M., from station 3165.
The absence of any disks makes it impossible to describe this form
with sufficient detail to be satisfactory, but at the same time, since I
do not know of any species to which these mutilated individuals can
be assigned, it is only fair that they should be named, and such
distinctive features as they have, be described. It is possible that
they belong in AmpJiilimna rather than in Amphioplus.
AMPHIOPLUS MEGAPOMUS, new species.6
Disk lacking. Upper arm plates tetragonal, two or three times as
wide as long, with distal side much longer than proximal and lateral
corners rounded, broadly in contact. Arm spines three, longer than
joint, middle one longer and thicker at base than the others. Oral
shields diamond-shaped, with rounded corners and somewhat con-
cave sides, much longer than wide. Adoral plates moderate, almost
triangular. Oral papillas four on a side, the apical ones small and
widely separated from each other, the other three large, and nearly
closing the mouth slit. Under arm plates broadly pentagonal, much
a "E, signifying six, and aKavOa, signifying spine, in reference to the number of
arm spines.
bMej-ae, signifying big, and xaJjia, signifying lid, in reference to the large lid-like
tentacle scales.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 171
wider than long, barely in contact. Tentacle scales two, unusually
large and flat, nearly closing the large pores.
Locality. Albatross station 4964, off eastern Japan, lat. 34 5' 30"
N.; long. 134 56' 40" E., 37 fathoms, fine gray sand, mud, bottom
temperature 66.6, 2 individuals without disks.
Type. Cut. No. 25633, U.S.N.M., from station 4964.
It is too bad that this very well marked species should be repre-
sented in the collection only by two diskless specimens, for I know of
no other species in which typical AmpTiioplus mouth parts are com-
bined with such remarkable tentacle scales and arm plates. It
would be most interesting to know the disk structure.
AMPHILEPIS PLATYTATA, new species."
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 32 mm. in length. Disk
excessively flat, covered with a smooth coat of about two hundred
FIG. 76. AMPHILEPIS PLATYTATA. X C. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
large, thin, rounded scales. Radial shields, more than twice as long
as broad, well separated within, but just barely in contact distally.
Upper arm plates broadly pentagonal, with somewhat rounded angles
and a convex distal margin, twice as wide as long, not in contact
except at very base of arm. Interbrachial spaces below, quite naked
except for a few marginal scales. Oral shields triangular, with
slightly convex sides, a little wider than long. Adoral plates large,
wider without than within. Oral plates large, each carrying two
low, wide, truncate papillae. Teeth nearly triangular. Genital slits
very inconspicuous. First under arm plate large, somewhat pentag-
onal, with inner lateral margins concave; succeeding plates also
, signifying fattest, in reference to the exceedingly flat disk.
172 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
pentagonal, but larger, and distinctly broader than long; they are
barely in contact at first (first and second quite separate) but farther
out become separated. Side arm plates rather large, meeting more or
less completely above and below, except at very base of arm; each
plate carries three slender, acute, subequal spines, longer than a
joint. Tentacle scales, none, though pores are rather large. Color
(dried from alcohol), disk light gray, arms nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 2859, off Alaska, lat. 55 20' N.;
long. 136 20' W., 1,569 fathoms, gray ooze, bottom temperature
34.9, 12 specimens; station 4761, south of Shumagin Islands, lat.
53 57' 30" N.; long. 159 31' W., 1,973 fathoms, blue clay, bottom
temperature 35, 1 specimen.
Type.Csit. No. 25734, U.S.N.M., from station 2859.
Although this species resembles A. papyracea Lyman quite closely
in many particulars, the much coarser disk scales and the naked inter-
brachial spaces serve to distinguish it easily. The specimens vary
little in size or details of structure.
FIG. 77. AMPHIUMNA PENTACANTHA. x 5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
AMPHILIMNA PENTACANTHA, new species.a
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 70 mm. long. Disk more or
less swollen, covered by a coat of hundreds of small scales, many of
which carry minute sharp spines. Radial shields long, narrow, more
or less joined, somewhat sunken. Upper arm plates at first somewhat
tetragonal, with a long convex side distally, and angular proximally,
soon becoming almost perfectly elliptical, much wider than long, and
then gradually becoming proximally angular again; more or less
lightly in contact, at least basally. Interbrachial spaces below some-
what sparsely scaled, especially near oral shield, but with numerous
spinelets. Oral shields nearly circular or else a little longer than
broad. Adoral plates nearly horizontal and triangular, meeting
broadly within. Oral papillae four on a side, the apical one thick and
rounded, the next two elongate and pointed, the fourth very small
signifying five, and SxavOa, signifying spine, in reference to the five
arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 173
and rounded ; just back of the apical papilla is the small pointed scale
of the first oral tentacle pore, which might very naturally be counted
as a fifth oral papilla. Genital slits very large. First under arm
plate very small, rounded ; succeeding plates squarish or a little longer
than wide, in contact at least on basal part of arm. Side arm plates
moderate, meeting above and below very little or not at all; each -one
carries five slender, sharp spines, of which the lowest is longest and
exceeds the joint. Tentacle scales two, not at all spiniform. Color
(dried from alcohol), very light brownish, the disk more or less gray.
Locality. Albatross station 3131, off California, lat. 36 41 ' 30" N.;
long. 121 54' 10" W., 48 fathoms, brown mud, rocks, bottom tem-
perature 50.8, 40 specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25614, U.S.N.M., from station 3131. .
This species appears, from its mouth parts, radial shields, and
spiny disk to be entitled to a place in Amphilimna, but the small
number of arm spines and the flat, rounded tentacle scales have made
me hesitate to place it there. The specimens show little diversity in
size or color. The characteristic disk covering of Ophiocnida com-
bines with the five arm spines, the nearly circular oral shields, and
the mouth parts of an Amphioplus to make this an easy species to
recognize.
OPHIONEREIS EURYBRACHIPLAX, new species."
Disk 24 mm. in diameter; arms about 160 mm. long, probably.
Disk covered with a firm coat of minute, overlapping scales, which are
coarsest near the radial shields; there are about fifteen scales to the
square millimeter at center of disk. Radial shields very small and
widely separated, rather more than twice as long as wide. Upper
arm plates hexagonal, very wide, twice as wide as long or more,
broadly in contact ; supplementary pieces small, longer than wide, either
triangular with outer side very convex or tetragonal with outer distal
corner obliterated. Interbrachial spaces below covered with a coat
of very fine scales. Oral shield triangular, longer than broad (in the
Japanese specimen, fig. 786, the breadth exceeds the length). Adoral
plates small, at sides of oral shields, wide distally but pointed at inner
end. Oral papillae four or five on a side, truncate or blunt, the next
to the outermost the widest. Genital slits small. First under arm
plate squarish; succeeding plates tetragonal, with slightly curved
sides and rounded angles, at first wider than long, but becoming
sooner or later longer than wide, broadly in contact. Side arm plates
small, not nearly meeting either above or below; each plate carries at
first four, then three, stout blunt arm spines, rather exceeding the
joint; basally the lowest is the longest but farther out the middle one
a Eupbf, signifying wide, and (3pa%lajv, signifying arm, and n&a, signifying plate, in
reference to the characteristic upper arm plates.
174
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
is longer and somewhat stouter than the others. Tentacle scale
single, huge, circular or oval. Color (dried from alcohol), disk light
brownish-gray, or dull purplish with a few small light spots; arms
somewhat duller, irregularly and indistinctly banded with dull purple,
especially on distal half; upper arm plates dull gray, often clouded
with purplish, or else prettily mottled with dull purple and whitish;
oral surface lighter.
Localities. Albatross station 3159, off California, lat. 37 47' 20 "
N.; long. 123 10' W., 27 fathoms, rocky, 1 specimen; station 3168,
off California, lat. 38 1' 25" N.; long. 123 26' 55" W., 34 fathoms,
FIG. 78. OPHIONEREIS EURYBRACHIPLAX. a-c, FROM JAPAN, X 3. d~f, FROM CALIFORNIA, X 2. a AND d,
FROM ABOVE; b AND e, FROM BELOW; c AND /, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
rocky, coral, 1 specimen; station 3702 ; off Honshu Island, Japan, 31
to 41 fathoms, volcanic mud, sand, rocks, 3 specimens; off California,
station ?, 1 specimen.
Type.Csit. No. 25589, U.S.N.M., from off California.
This species may be distinguished at once from its Pacific relatives,
annulata, porrecta, schayeri, and nuda, by the very characteristic upper
arm plates, which are quite unlike those of any of the four. It is a
great pity that there should be any doubt about the locality of any of
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 175
the specimens, but I can not suppress the feeling that there is some
mistake about the label "3702." If that were read "3102," a station
in 27 fathoms, off central California, the distribution of the species
would be quite natural. In view of the absence of Ophionereis, a
tropical and subtropical, littoral genus, north of California, it is hard
for me to believe that a Californian species occurs in Japan. I~srrall
therefore assume that 3702 is a mistake for 3102, at least until further
specimens are taken in Japanese waters.
OPHIOCRASIS, new genus."
Similar to Ophionereis, but with one or more secondary supple-
mental plates, just distal to the usual supplementary plates. Arms six
in young, five in adults. Reproduction by fission apparently occurs.
Type-species OpJiiocrasis dictydisca.
The presence of secondary supplemental plates is somewhat exag-
gerated in the drawings given herewith (figs. 79a, 79d 79</), for it is
almost impossible to represent them accurately, they are so small and
delicate. In Ophionereis the upper arm plates and their supple-
mentary plates, even in young and small specimens, are thick and
when dry are clear cut, with well-defined smooth margins. In
Ophiocrasis, however, when the arm is dried, it is seen that the upper
arm plates are thin, with a fairly well-defined distal margin ; the sup-
plementary plates have the margin very poorly defined and close to
them distally some additional minute plates are to be seen; of these
the one adjoining the upper arm plate is the most sharply defined;
the others are usually very hard to distinguish, and may be absent;
these secondary plates can only be seen when the arm is dry and are
best shown near the base of the arm. I have found nothing like
them in Ophionereis, though I have examined old and young speci-
mens of four species with great care. There seems little room for
doubt that reproduction takes place early in life by fission, as this is
clearly indicated by one specimen (see fig. 79^). At the same time I
am forced to the conclusion that the six-rayed condition is juvenile
and that the adult has only five rays. But it must be confessed that
a larger series of specimens is needed to determine these facts beyond
question.
OPHIOCRASIS DICTYDISCA, new species.^
Disk 7 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk covered by
a delicate coat of very fine scales, coarser in the young and less em-
bedded in the skin than in the adult. Radial shields small, elongate,
a ofaf, signifying snake, and Kpdate, signifying a compounding, in reference to the
compounding of the supplementary arm plates, and to be symphonious with other
ophiuran genera.
b dlnrtjov, signifying net, and dlanoe, signifying disk, in reference to the reticulated
disk.
176 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
FIG. 79. OPHIOCRASIS DICTYDISCA. a-c, X 7; d-g, X 11. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE
VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK; d, A YOUNGER SPECIMEN, FROM ABOVE; C , THE SAME, FROM BELOW;
/. SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK; (J, ANOTHER YOUNG SPECIMEN FROM ABOVE, SHOWING
THE INEQUALITY OF THE TWO TRIOS OF ARMS.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM - CLARK. 177
widely separated, nearly three times as long as wide. Upper arm
plates as long as broad or nearly so, the distal margin very convex
while the proximal half is three-sided with more or less, or almost
completely, obliterated angles; supplementary plates rather large
and, as described above, provided with minute secondary plates
along their distal border. Inter brachial space below very closely
covered with minute scales. Oral shields rounded triangular, or
arrow-head shaped, somewhat longer than wide, particularly in the
young (in fig. 79e the shield is too wide). Adoral plates, long tri-
angular, hardly meeting within. Jaws short, with four to six oral
papillae which are rather long, flat and rounded in the young, but
become thick and truncate in the adult. First under arm plate
somewhat pentagonal, of moderate size; succeeding plates oblong
or somewhat pentagonal, longer than wide, broadly in contact.
Side arm plates small, each with three thick, blunt spines, of which
either the middle or lowest is the longest, and about equals the joint.
Tentacle scale single, very large, elliptical. Color (dried from alco-
hol), disk, yellowish with an irregular network of purplish-brown
lines; arms grayish, banded with dull purple; the relative amount
of yellow and purple on the disk is variable, as is also the number of
bands on the arms and their distance from each other.
Localities. Albatross station 3758, off Suno Saki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 52 to 73 fathoms, blue clay, rocks, 1 specimen; station 4875,
Korea Strait, lat. 34 19' N.; long. 130 9' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 62.1, 1 specimen; station
4879, Korea Strait, lat. 34 17' N.; long. 130 15' E., 59 fathoms,
fine gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 62.1, 1 specimen;
off Japan, station ?, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25715, U.S.N.M., from off Japan.
The specimens with six arms range from 2.5 to 4.5 mm. in disk
diameter. Specimens of Ophionereis porrecta of the same size have
only five arms. It is of course possible that these six-armed speci-
mens do not belong to the same species as the larger five-armed one
which I have taken as the type of dictydisca, but their resemblances
otherwise are so close I am satisfied of their identity.
OPHIODORIS PERICALL^ S, new species."
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 110 mm. long. Disk cov-
ered by a close smooth coat of fine scales, distinctly larger along mar-
gin, in interbrachial areas. Radial shields small, widely separated,
about twice as long as wide; distal to them, and extending down-
ward on the genital scales, are a number of minute spinelets, the
, signifying very pretty, in reference to the form and markings.
34916 Bull. 7511 - 12
178 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
presence of which is one of the characteristic features of the genus.
Interbrachial spaces below covered with a coat of very fine scales,
which are coarsest near the margin. Oral shield longer than wide,
pointed within, and rounded distally. Adoral plates very small,
lying at the sides of the oral shield. Oral papillae, four or five on a
side, thick, bluntly pointed, the next to the outermost largest. Geni-
tal slits inconspicuous. First under arm plate rounded; succeeding
ones squarish, wider distally than proximally, scarcely as long as
wide, in contact more or less fully throughout. Side arm plates
small, each with three subequal, rather slender spines, about as long
as a joint. Tentacle scales two or three, one large oval one on side
arm plate and one or two very small ones attached to under arm plate.
Color (dried from alcohol), variegated greenish-gray and white; the
markings of the disk are often very symmetrical, but may be quite
irregular; the arms are more or less distinctly banded with a darker
FIG. 80. OPHIODORIS PERICALLES. x 4. a, FKOM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
shade of gray. As a rule the radial shields are white and from each
one a curved line of white runs inward to the center of the disk.
Localities. Albatross station 3740, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 65 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, pebbles, 1 specimen; sta-
tion 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to
106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature
55.9, 2 specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N.; long.
128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles,
bottom temperature 55.9, 2 specimens; station 4895 Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 4 specimens; sta-
tion 4936, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37' 30" E., 103
fathoms, stones, bottom temperature 60.6, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 65 to 106 fathoms. Temperature range, 60.6 to
55.9. Ten specimens.
Type.Csit. No. 25591 U.S.N.M., from station 4894.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 179
This very handsome ophiuran seems to be quite distinct from any
of the three species upon which Krehler based the genus, though it
is obviously congeneric with them. Aside from its pretty coloration,
it may be easily recognized by the very small adoral plates, the long,
pointed oral shields, the wide upper arm plates and the small, widely
separated radial shields. It seems to be nearest to 0. malignus
Koehler, but the differences in the shape of the disk, of the oral shields,
of the radial shields, and of the upper arm plates are very marked.
Family OPHIOHELUXE."
OPHIOMITRA CARDIOMORPHA, new species, ft
Disk 14 mm. in diameter; arms' about 90 mm. long. Disk divided
into five wedge-shaped divisions by deep interradial sulci; each divi-
sion is covered by a pair of large, naked, radial shields and a number
of irregular plates; of these plates those at center of disk are the
smallest, but many of them carry spines 2 mm. or more in length,
with rough tips; the marginal disk plates are entirely without spines
but plates next to the radial shields often carry spines. Radial shields
very large, roughly triangular, nearly twice as wide as long, separated
for their entire length. Upper arm plates nearly twice as wide as
long, the distal margin slightly convex or straight, the proximal
strongly convex; basal ones slightly overlapping, though scarcely in
contact, but on the greater part of the arm they are separated.
Interbrachial areas below heart-shaped, covered with irregular smooth
scales. Genital slits very conspicuous. Oral shield diamond-shaped,
about as wide as long. Adoral plates large, wider without than
within ; oral plates small and indistinct. Oral papillae five on a side,
with an infradental one at apex of jaw; all but the last and penulti-
mate, distinctly pointed. First under arm plate small, somewhat
triangular; succeeding plates much wider than long, with the straight
or angular distal margin longer than the proximal, and lateral mar-
gins more or less concave and diverging distally; except first and
second, no two are in contact. Side arm plates large, meeting both
above and below, though not broadly; each plate carries five long,
slender arm spines, the uppermost longest (nearly equal to three
joints), sharpest and smoothest; the lowest shortest, bluntest, and
roughest. Tentacle scale single, large, thick, and sharp pointed.
Color (dried from alcohol), very light gray, nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 4918, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 22' N.;
long. 129 8' 30" E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, broken
shells, bottom temperature 42.7, 1 specimen; station 4919, Eastern
Sea, lat. 30 34' N.; long. 129 19' 30" E., 440 fathoms, globigerina
For remarks on this family, see under Ophiacanthidse (p. 195).
b Kapd'ca, signifying heart, and floppy, signifying form, in reference to the heart-
shaped interbrachial spaces, seen from below (see fig. 816).
180
BULLETIN
UNITED STATES NATJONAL MUSEUM.
ooze, bottom temperature 41.8, 4 specimens; station 4956, Bungo
Channel, Japan, lat. 32 32' N. ; long. 132 25' E., 720 fathoms, green-
brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 37.5,
1 specimen; station 4969, off Shino Misaki, Japan, lat. 33 23' 40" N.;
long. 135 33' E., 587 fathoms, brown mud, sand, stones, bottom
temperature 38.9, 1 specimen; station 5083, off Omai Saki, Japan,
lat. 34 4' 20" N.; long. 137 57' 30" E., 624 fathoms, fine gray sand,
globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical
FIG. 81. OPHIOMITRA CAKDIOMOEPHA.
X 4. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, HIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
range, 361 to 720 fathoms. Temperature range, 42.7 to 37.5. Eight
specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25650, U.S.N.M., from station 4969.
The smallest of these specimens is rather less than 4 mm. across
the disk, but the specific characters are all well shown, except that
the radial shields are distally in contact. There is no species of
Ophiomitra now known with which this species is likely to be confused.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 181
OPHIOMITRA DISCYCLA, new species, a
Disk 5.5 mm. in diameter; arms about 32 mm. long. Disk circular,
covered by numerous (125 to 175) plates of irregular size, one on each
interradial margin being decidedly larger than the rest. Radial
shields short and wide, closely joined except at their proximal and.
Upper arm plates small, diamond-shaped or triangular with convex
distal margin, about as wide as long, widely separated from each
other. Interbrachial spaces below covered by very few, rather large
plates. Genital slits short. Oral shields diamond-shaped, much
FIG. 82. OPHIOMITRA DISCYCLA. x 9.
a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c,
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
wider than long. Adoral plates very large, about 'as broad without
as within where they meet; oral plates small and indistinct. Oral
papillae three on a side and one at apex of jaw; outermost, broad,
flat and truncate, apical one, broad but sharp, others, narrow and
pointed. First under arm plate large, somewhat hexagonal, wider
within than distally; succeeding plates very much wider than long,
J/C, signifying double, and /cy/cAof, signifying ring, in reference to the two nearly
complete rings, formed by the arm spines of the two basal joints.
182 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
somewhat pentagonal, with a proximal angle and a straight distal
margin. Side arm plates very large, meeting broadly both above and
below; each plate carries four slender, pointed spines, but on the first
joint beyond the disk, each side arm plate carries eight and on the
second joint seven such spines; these sixteen and fourteen spines,
respectively, nearly encircle the arm, except on the lower side; the
uppermost spine is the longest and smoothest and may equal two
joints; the lowest is shortest and roughest and is only about half as
long as a joint, except on the first two or three. Tentacle scale single,
oval, rather small. Color (dried from alcohol), very light gray, nearly
white.
Localities. Albatross station 4908, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 40' N.;
long. 129 29' 40" E., 434 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom
temperature 42.9, 1 specimen; station 4957, Bungo Channel, Japan,
lat. 32 36' N.; long. 132 23' E., 437 fathoms, green-brown mud,
fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature, 39.8, 2 specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25637, U.S.N.M., from station 4908.
The short, closely joined radial shields, the small widely separated
upper arm plates, the encircling rows of arm spines at base of arms
and the huge adoral plates combine to give this species an unique
appearance. It can hardly be confused with any other species, except
possibly the following.
OPHIOMITRA HABROTATA, new species.o
Disk 3J mm. in diameter; arms very slender, about 28 mm. long.
Disk nearly circular, covered by about one hundred and fifty rather
irregular, coarse scales, many of which bear each a single small, blunt
spinelet, while a few at the center of the disk carry each a long, sharp
spine. Radial shields very large, somewhat triangular, nearly twice
as wide as long, in contact only at distal end, where one of the pair
may carry a long, sharp spine. Upper arm plates somewhat trian-
gular, wider than long, with a convex distal margin, smooth and
shining, slightly swollen, and widely separated from each other. Be-
tween the upper arm plates, the arms are much constricted, so that
they have a beaded appearance. Interbrachial spaces below, wide,
covered by numerous rather coarse scales. Genital slits very small and
inconspicuous. Oral shield very small, somewhat triangular, longer
than broad. Adoral plates relatively huge, much wider without than
within, where they meet; oral plates very small. Oral papilla three
or four on a side and one at apex of jaw; outermost very wide with a
straight margin, the others narrow and pointed. First under arm
plate hexagonal, longer than wide; succeeding plates about as long as
wide or longer, pentagonal or squarish, widely separated from each
a *Aftpoe, signifying delicate, dainty, in reference to its light and delicate structure.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 183
other. Side arm plates very large, meeting broadly both above and
below; each plate carries five straight, slender, sharp, smooth spines,
the uppermost longest and considerably exceeding the joint; on the
first two joints outside the disk there are eight or nine spines, which
meet the corresponding series of the same joint on the upper side of
the arm, and thus the arm is encircled at its base (as in discycia) by
two nearly complete rings of eighteen and sixteen spines. Tentacle
scale single, oval but acute. Color (dried from alcohol), disk very
pale gray, arms very light yellowish.
FIG. 83. OPHIOMITRA HABKOTATA. x 15. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Localities. Albatross station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.;
long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells,
pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 1 specimen; station 4900, Eastern
Sea, lat. 32 28' 50" N. ; long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9, 4 specimens; station 4902,
Eastern Sea, lat. 32 30' 50" N.; long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms,
gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9, 2 specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25609, U.S.N.M., from station 4900.
184
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Although this species is like discycla in many points, notably the
arrangement of the arm spines, it is at once distinguished from that
species by the spiny disk, separated radial shields, very small oral
shields, and decidedly more "beaded" or "knotted" arms. The
large spine at the distal end of the radial shields is a conspicuous fea-
ture when fully developed, but it is frequently small and sometimes
FIG. 84. OPHIOMITRA MICROPHYLAX. x 6. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FEOM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
appears to be wanting. The very broad, outermost mouth papilla
reminds one immediately of the similar papilla in the genus AmpM-
pholis.
OPHIOMITRA MICROPHYLAX, new species.n
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 60 mm. long. Disk with deep
interradial notches, covered with numerous small scales, most of
which bear minute thorny stumps; these are most numerous at the
, signifying guard, in reference to the small size of
, signifying little, and
the tentacle scales.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 185
center of the disk and fewest near the radial shields. Radial shields^
very small, widely separated, only the distal ends visible, and these*
are hardly distinguishable from the larger disk scales. Upper arm
plates pentagonal or bell-shaped, wider than long, well separated
from each other or the basal ones barely in contact. Interbrachial
spaces below covered with small scales. Genital slits rather small.
Oral shields wider than long, somewhat rhombic but with distal half
larger than proximal. Adoral plates large, much wider without than
within where they meet; oral plates small. Oral papillae six or seven
on a side, subequal, pointed; an unpaired one somewhat larger at
apex of jaw. First under arm plate small, squarish; succeeding
plates two or three times as wide as long, convex distally and with
more or less of a proximal angle, well separated from each other.
Side arm plates large, meeting above and below; each one carries six
slender, sharp arm spines, all more or less thorny, but the uppermost
nearly smooth. Tentacle scales two on the first pore of the arm,
sometimes on the second also, but single thereafter; at first rather
large and oval, they quickly become small and pointed and often
quite thorny near tip. Color (dried from alcohol), light brown.
Localities. Albatross station 4901, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 30' 10" N. ;
long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 1 speci-
men; station 4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 59' N.; long. 130 29' 50" E.,
152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 56, 22 specimens; station
4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.; long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152
fathoms, rocky, 18 specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25608, U.S.N.M., from station 4933.
The appearance of the radial shields inclines one to put this species
in Ophiacantha, but the general character of the arms and mouth
parts has induced me to consider it more nearly related to Ophiomitra.
The tentacle scales seem small compared with those of most species
of Ophiomitra, and this character, combined with the small radial
shields and characteristic disk spines, makes it easy to recognize the
species, even in the face of some little individual diversity in these and
other points.
OPHIOMITRA BYTHIASPIS, new species."
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms about 60 to 70 mm. long, probably.
Disk divided by deep interradial sulci into five wedge-shaped parts,
each of which is subdivided by the narrow, deeply sunken radial
shields into three nearly equal portions; disk covering consists of
numerous irregular plates, smallest at center and largest near mar-
gins; many of these plates carry each a low, smooth, blunt, cylindrical
stump. Radial shields about four times as long as wide, slightly
a Budtoc, signifying sunken and da^/f , signifying shield, in reference to the sunken
radial shields.
186
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
curved, deeply sunken below the disk scales, widely separated
throughout. Upper arm plates wider than long, with a convex or
straight distal margin and a strongly convex, often angular, proximal
margin; thus somewhat broadly pentagonal with only the two distal,
lateral angles marked; they are much swollen and widely separated.
Interbrachial spaces below rather broad, somewhat heart-shaped, cov-
ered by irregular plates which are large at the margin but become
very small near the oral shield. Genital slits short but rather con-
spicuous. Oral shields rhombic or pentagonal, about as wide as long.
Adoral plates long
and narrow, about
as wide without as
within, where they
meet; oral plates very
small. Oral papillae
about five on a side
and one at apex of
jaw, the outer ones
are truncate, but the
inner are more or less
sharply pointed; be-
tween the penulti-
mate and antepenulti-
mate papilla3 are sev-
eral small granules,
which apparently
serve as tentacle scales
to the oral tentacle
pore. First under
arm plate pentagonal,
about as wide as long;
second plate nearly
triangular, but trun-
FIG. 85. OPHIOMITRA BYTHIASPIS. X 5. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM cated at the angles,
BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK. wider than long ' SUC-
ceeding plates nearly tetragonal, much wider than long, widely sep-
arated from each other. Side arm plates very large, meeting both
above and below ; each plate carries, on rather a conspicuous vertical
ridge, six or five long slender arm spines, of which the uppermost,
which may equal two joints, is the longest (sometimes the second is
the longest), smoothest, and sharpest, while some of the lower,
shorter spines are quite rough near the tip. Tentacle scale single;
those ori the basal pores are very large and broadly oval and are
often accompanied by a second, smaller scale; beyond the third
pair of pores the scales are narrower and are pointed. Color (dried
from alcohol), very light gray.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 187
Locality. Albatross station 4979, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 53' N.;
long. 137 42' E., 943 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 36.4, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25636, U.S.N.M., from station 4979.
The groups of granular papillae near the distal end of the jmouth
slits are very peculiar, giving a characteristic appearance to the oral
region, and indicate a possible relationship to Ophiocamax lithosora.
Whether the sunken
appearance of the ra-
dial shields and the
correspondingly re-
markable division of
the disk into fifteen
wedge-shaped parts
is characteristic of
the species or only an
accentuated individ-
ual peculiarity can
not, of course, be de-
termined without
more material. But
it is hard to doubt
that the main fea-
tures of the peculiar
disk will be found to
be characteristic of
the species.
OPHIOMITRA POLYA-
CANTHA, new species.**
Disk 6 mm. in di-
ameter; arms about
30 mm. long. Disk
circular, covered
with numerous
small, rather regular
scales, many of which
bear each a low, thorny stump. Radial shields small, triangular or
squarish, about as wide as long, distinctly separated. Upper arm
plates small, rhombic or triangular, with convex distal margin, widely
separated from each other; between the upper arm plates the arm is
somewhat constricted. Interbrachial spaces below, covered with
FIG. 86. OPHIOMITRA POLYACANTHA. x 8. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM
BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
signifying many and aKavda, signifying spine, in reference to the large
number of arm spines.
188 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
scales like those of the disk. Genital slits long. Oral shields rhombic,
about as long as wide. Adoral plates very large, tetragonal, meeting
broadly within; oral plates moderate. Oral papillae about six on a
side and one at apex of jaw; they are long, flat, and somewhat spatu 1
late, the outer ones the widest. First under arm plate, tetragonal,
wider than long; succeeding plates somewhat hexagonal, about as
long as wide; basal ones in contact or at least overlapping. Side
arm plates rather large, meeting broadly above, but only narrowly
below, or not at all near base of arm; each plate carries nine or ten
long, slender sharp arm spines, of which the highest (first) and lowest
are shortest arjd the second or third the longest; the lowest and the
upper two or three are smooth, the others more or less prickly; the
longest spines are equal to three or more joints. Tentacle scale single,
oval but pointed, relatively huge, especially at base of arm. Color
(dried from alcohol), very pale yellowish-brown.
Locality. Albatross station 4936, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.;
long. 130 37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones, bottom temperature 60.6,
3 specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25631, U.S.N.M., from station 4936.
This is a remarkably well-characterized species, the numerous long
arm spines, the huge tentacle scales, the numerous oral papillae, the
small radial shields and upper arm plates, and the very large adoral
plates giving it an unique appearance. The thorny stumps on the
disk are curiously expanded at the tip, unlike those of any Ophiomitra
with which I am acquainted.
OPHIOMITRA CODONOMORPHA, new species.o
Disk 13 mm. in diameter; arms about 65 mm. long, probably.
Disk with very slight interradial grooves, covered with scales, the
largest of which are between the radial shields (radially) and the
smallest are along the interradial grooves ; a few of the scales near
center of disk carry each a minute, low, rough projection. Radial
shields large, oval, longer than wide, so far separated that the inter-
radial distance between two scarcely exceeds the radial. First upper
arm plate elliptical, much wider than long; succeeding plates dis-
tinctly bell-shaped, about as wide as long, scarcely in contact; more
or less noncalcified skin is visible among the basal plates of the arm.
Interbrachial spaces below covered by rather numerous scales. Geni-
tal slits short and wide. Oral shields much wider than long, some-
o/
what triangular, with a wide distal and two lateral angles, but the
proximal base also tends to form a wide angle between the two adoral
plates, which are nearly horizontal, and are a little narrower without
than within where they meet; oral plates moderate. Oral papillae
, signifying bell, and fiop^T] signifying shape, in reference to the peculiar
upper arm plates.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 189
large, about three on a side and one at apex of jaw; long, flat, and
more or less pointed; outermost somewhat the largest. First under
arm plate hexagonal, much wider than long; second plate some-
what triangular, barely in contact with the first, wider than long;
succeeding plates separated, much wider than long, nearly tetragonal,
but the sides are not straight ; proximal margin with a slight median
point and distal, with a shallow median notch. Side arm plates large,
meeting below but hardly above on basal part of arm; each plate
carries eight sharp, slender spines, of wliich the upper ones are smooth,
C
FIG. 87.- -OPHIOMITRA CODONOMOKPHA. x 4. a, PROM ABOVE; 6, FKOM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
the others (except the lowest) being rough or thorny; the next to the
uppermost is longest, considerably exceeding the joint. Tentacle
scale single ; on first arm pore the scale is rounded oval and relatively
enormous, but the succeeding scales are much smaller and are soon
narrow and pointed. Color (dried from alcohol), light gray.
Locality. Albatross station 4979, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 53' N.;
long. 137 42' E., 943 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 36.4, 1 specimen.
'Type.C&t. No. 25603, U.S.N.M., from station 4979.
190
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
This is still another well-characterized and easily recognized species,
of which the collection contains but a single specimen. The position
of the radial shields, the shape of the upper arm plates, and the large
size of the first tentacle scales are noticeable features.
OPIIIOMITRA ACONTOPHORA, new species.o
Disk 3 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 mm. long. Disk covered
by numerous small scales, which are more or less concealed by the
many long, slender spear-like spines which they carry; these spines
are sharp pointed and have a few teeth near the tip. Radial shields
very long and narrow, closely joined for nearly or quite their entire
length. Upper arm plates small, triangular, with sides a little curved,
widely separated from each other. Interbrachial spaces below cov-
FIG. 88. OPHIOMITRA ACONTOPHOKA. x 16. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
ered, like the disk, by numerous scales, and, except near the oral
shield, these carry the characteristic spines. Oral shields rounded
triangular, about as long as wide. Adoral plates large, wider without
than within where they meet. Oral papillae two or three on a side,
and one at apex of jaw, long, flat, and pointed. Genital slits rather
large. First under arm plate pentagonal, about as wide as long;
succeeding plates rather wider than long, pentagonal, with lateral
margins concave, separated from each other, except the first two or
three. Side arm plates large, meeting both above and below; each
plate carries four sharp, straight spines, of which the lowest is a little
the longest and slightly exceeds the joint. Tentacle scale single, of
moderate size. Color (dried from alcohol), nearly white.
a "AKOJV, signifying a javelin, and (j>op&, signifying carrying, in reference to the
numerous javelin-like spines borne on the disk.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 191
Localities. Albatross station 3338, off Alaska, lat. 54 19' N.; long.
159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature
37.3, 13 specimens; station 4765, off Aleutian Islands, lat. 53 12'
N.; long. 171 37' W., 1,217 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom temper-
ature 35.2, 32 specimens; station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14^30"
N.; long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom
temperature 38.6, 1 specimen; station 4803, off Kurile Islands, lat.
46 42' N.; long. 151 45' E., 229 fathoms, coarse pebbles, black sand,
bottom temperature 37, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 229 to
1,217 fathoms. Temperature range, 38.6 to 35.2.
Type.C&t. No. 25648, U.S.N.M., from station 4781.
This pretty little ophiuran differs so much from the other species of
OpJiiomitra in the shape of the radial shields and the spines of the
disk that it may perhaps more properly be placed in a separate genus.
But in the present state of our knowledge of the Ophiohelidse and
Ophiacanthidse, I do not think it desirable to make new genera, if it
can be avoided.
OPHIOCAMAX LITHOSORA, new species.a
Disk 17 mm. in diameter; arms about 125 mm. long. Disk rather
high, with a vertical diameter of about 6 mm., divided into five wedge-
shaped areas by deep interradial sulci, covered by a coat of numerous,
small, irregular scales, the largest of which are on the interradial
sides of the distal ends of the radial shields; many disk scales carry
each a low cylindrical stump with two to six minute teeth near the
apex. Radial shields long, narrow, separated, more or less sunken
among the disk scales. Upper arm plates pentagonal, much wider
than long, with a proximal angle and a nearly straight distal margin;
only two or three at base of arm in contact. Interbrachial spaces
below somewhat heart-shaped; covered with small scales. Genital
slits conspicuous. Oral shields very much wider than long, with a
proximal angle, but broadly convex or nearly straight distally.
Adoral plates large, about as wide at outer end as at inner, where they
meet; oral plates indistinct. Oral papillae numerous and irregular,
ten or fifteen on a side; those near apex of jaw are longer and more
pointed than the distal ones, which are rounded and crowded together,
and look somewhat like little heaps of pebbles. First under arm
plate squarish; succeeding plates tetragonal, very much wider than
long; second plate has proximal margin much shorter than distal
and is in contact with first; remaining plates, widely separated.
Side arm plates rather large, meeting below and above; each plate
carries six or seven long, slender spines, the upper ones smooth, the
lower, more or less thorny; uppermost spine, or next one, longest,
a A'cdo<;, signifying stone, and aojpoc, signifying heap, in reference to the appear-
ance of the distal clusters of oral papillae.
192
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
about equal to three joints. Tentacle scales, three at first arm pore,
two at second and one thereafter; long, rounded at tip or pointed,
very conspicuous. Color (dried from alcohol), nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 4918, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 22' N.;
long. 129 8' 30 " E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, broken
shells, bottom temperature 42.7, 1 specimen; station 4967, off eastern
Japan, lat. 33 25' 10" N.;'long. 135 37' 20" E., 244 to 253 fathoms,
brown mud, sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 45.9; 1 specimen.
Type.C&t. No. 25622, U.S.N.M., from station 4918.
FIG. 89. OPHIOCAMAX LITHOSORA. x 3.
a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
These specimens remind one at once of Ophiomitra bytfiiaspis, and I
can not avoid the feeling that more abundant material will show that
the two species are congeneric, if not identical. The differences in
the radial shields, disk scales, disk spines, and oral shields are marked,
as well as those in the oral papillae, but in each of these points the three
specimens vary among themselves, and the specimen of lithosora
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 193
from station 4967, is orally very much like byihiaspis, though on the
upper side it is totally unlike that species. Indeed, I am not sure
that this specimen from 4967 is really conspecific with the one from
4918, but it seems best to so regard it for the present.
OPHIOCAMAX POLYPLOCA, new species.
Disk 17 mm. in diameter; arms about 125 mm. long. Disk rather
decagonal, with very slight interradial notches, covered largely by
&
C
FIG. 90. OPHIOCAMAX POLYPLOCA. x 3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
the radial shields except at center and on narrow interradial areas,
where there are numerous overlapping scales; these scales bear
, signifying much tangled, in reference to the long, unusually spiny
arms.
34916 Bull. 7511 - 13
194 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
more or less numerous, minute, thorny stumps. (In specimens
smaller than the type, in addition to the thorny stumps, the scales at
the center of the disk carry long, sharp, thorny spines; a specimen 8
mm. across the disk has a cluster of fourteen such spines, 1.5 to 2 mm.
long.) Kadial shields very large, twice as long as wide, smooth and
bare, closely joined; in small specimens they are not so closely ap-
pressed, and there may even be several little stumps between them.
Basal upper arm plates tetragonal and in contact, about twice as
wide as long, with smooth distal margins; they rapidly become broader
and shorter, widely separated, and somewhat pentagonal with proxi-
mal-lateral angles rounded, with distal margin minutely thorny.
Interbrachial spaces below covered with scales, most of which carry
the minute thorny stumps. Oral shields small, somewhat rhombic,
but with angles a little rounded, the distal one curiously drawn out
into a sort of stem, connecting with the in terbrachial space. Genital
slits very large. Adoral plates extraordinarily large, quadrant-
shaped, closely appressed to each other, as well as to the oral shield;
oral shields and adoral plates may carry thorny stumps; oral plates
indistinct. Oral papillae spiniform and very numerous, about fifteen
on each side. First under arm plates small and squarish; succeeding
plates, two or three times as wide as long, distinctly separated, of a
very peculiar shape, with a proximal angle and a remarkable distal
projection; at first this projection is smooth, but beyond the first
few basal joints it becomes more and more rough and thorny, and at
the middle of the arm it is a thorny lump. Side arm plates large,
meeting above and below; each plate carries nine or ten straight,
rather sharp spines, the upper ones smooth, but the middle and lower
ones more or less thorny; the next to the uppermost, or the uppermost,
is longest and may equal five joints. Tentacle scales variable; on
first two or three basal tentacle pores there are three (rarely four)
long, somewhat spatulate, smooth spine-like scales; on the next few
joints there are two such scales and then there is only a single
scale, which is short and thorny. Color (dried from alcohol), nearly
white.
Localities. Albatross station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.;
long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells,
pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 3 specimens; station 4901, East-
ern Sea, lat. 32 30' 10" N.; long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9, 1 specimen; station
4903, Eastern Sea, laL 32 31' 10" N.; long. 128 33' 20" E., 107 to
139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9, 3
specimens; station 4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 59' N.; long. 130 29'
50" E., 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 56, 2 specimens;
station 4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.; long. 130 32' E., 103
to 152 fathoms, rocky, 18 specimens; station 4939, Kagoshima Gulf,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 195
lat. 31 18' 30" N.; long. 130 42; E., 85 fathoms, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 85 to 152 fathoms. Temperature range, 56 to 52.9.
Twenty-eight specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25588, U.S.N.M., from station 4933.
This very fine species is distinguished from the other members of
the genus by the huge radial shields, which cover most of the disk,
the very long, smooth, upper arm spines and the peculiar oral shields.
It is probably nearest to 0. rugosa Koehler, from the Dutch East
Indies.
Family OPHIACANTHID^E.
With the probable exception of the Ophiolepididse, there is no
group of Ophiurans so much in need of revision as those which are
commonly included under this family designation. The preceding
family (Ophiohelidae) is a most unnatural group as proposed by
Perrier (1891) a and as used here, for Ophiomitra and Ophiocamax are
very close to true Ophiacaniha, and Ophioiholia is an almost unique
genus of doubtful relationships. Verrill b has divided the Ophia-
canthidse into a large number of genera, many of which, to say the
least, are valid and worthy of recognition. But some of the charac-
ters, of which he makes use, seem to me of doubtful value, and in
many cases I have found it hard to see the lines which he has drawn.
Lack of time prevents my going into the subject at present with the
thoroughness which it demands, and I am therefore reluctantly com-
pelled to ignore VerrilFs genera for the present and use OpJiiacantha in
a very wide sense. I have also stretched Ophiolebes to include a
number of diverse forms, but in spite of using these two genera to
their widest extent, it has been necessary to establish some new genera.
It is hoped that the figures and descriptions given will atone in some
measure for leaving the group even more chaotic than it was before.
OPHIACANTHA BIDENTATA.
Asterias bidentata RETZIUS, Diss. Ast., 1805, p. 33.
Ophiacantha bidentata LJUNGMAN, Ofv. Kon.Vet.-Akad. Forh., vol. 28, 1872, p. 652.
Localities. Albatross station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30" N.;
long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom temper-
ature 38.6, 1 specimen; station 4804, off Kurile Islands, lat. 46 42' N. ;
long. 151 47' E., 229 fathoms, coarse pebbles, black sand, bottom
temperature 35.9(?),1 specimen; station 48 12, off Sado Island, lat. 38
33' N.; long. 138" 40' E., 176 to 200 fathoms, fine brown mud, bottom
temperature 34.9, 3 specimens; station 4818, off Sado Island, lat. 38
8' 55" N.; long. 138 31' 30" E., 225 to 245 fathoms, fine brown mud,
bottom temperature 33.7, 51 specimens; station 4819, off Sado
a Verrill used the same name in 1899 as though ignorant of Perrier 's proposed family.
b Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. 10, 1899, pp. 319-357.
196 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Island, lat. 38 9' N.; long. 138 32' 12" E., 245 fathoms, fine brown
mud, bottom temperature 33.1, 28 specimens; station 4820, off Sado
Island, lat. 37 37' N.; long. 138 19' E., 536 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 32.4, 3 specimens; station 4822, off Noto
Peninsula, Japan, lat. 37 8' 10" N.; long. 137 8' E., 130 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 39.4, 11 specimens; station 4828,
Sea of Japan, lat. 37 23' N.; long. 137 36' E., 163 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 34.9, 13 specimens; station 4861, off
Korea, lat. 36 19' N.; long. 129 47' E., 163 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 33.4, 19 specimens; station 4862, off Korea,
lat. 36 20' N.; long. 129 50' E., 184 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 32.9, 2 specimens; station 4982, Sea of Japan, 1 lat. 43
N.; long. 140 10' 30" E., 390 to 428 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 32.7, 3 specimens; station 4984, Sea of Japan, lat. 43
4' 20" N.;long. 140 12' 10" E., 224 to 248 fathoms, green mud, bot-
tom temperature 33, 6 specimens; station 4986, Sea of Japan, lat. 43
1' 40" N.; long. 140 22' 40" E., 172 fathoms, fine black sand, black
mud, bottom temperature 33.9, 1 specimen; station 4997, Gulf of
Tartary, lat. 47 38' 40" N.; long. 141 24 ' 30" E., 318 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 32.8, 8 specimens. Bathymetrical range,
130 to 536 fathoms. Temperature range, 39.4 to 32.4. One hun-
dred and fifty specimens.
This species is another example of an Ophiuran with an apparently
circumpolar range, extending southward in both the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans. It belongs thus in the same class with Ophiura sarsii,
Ophiura nodosa, and Ophiopholis aculeata. ' It is noticeable, however,
that the extension southward is only along the Asiatic side of the
Pacific and not along the American coast. The Pacific specimens are
apparently indistinguishable from individuals collected along the east
coast of North America.
OPHIACANTHA PENTAGONA.
Ophiacantha pentagona KCEHLER, Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool. (8), vol. 4, 1897, p. 342.
Localities. Albatross station 3698, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu
Island, Japan, 153 fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 1 speci-
men; station 3713, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 45 to 48
fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 1 specimen; station 3717, off
Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 63 to 100 fathoms, volcanic sand,
shells, rocks, 3 specimens; station 3737, off Port Heda, Honshu Island,
Japan, 161 to 167 fathoms, green mud, volcanic sand, 1 specimen;
station 3758, off Suno Saki, Honshu Island, Japan, 52 to 73 fathoms,
blue clay, rocks, 10 specimens; station 4879, Korea Strait, lat. 37
17' N.; long. 130 15' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken shells,
bottom temperature 62.1, 2 specimens; station 4891, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 27' N.; long. 128 34' E., 181 fathoms, gray sand, broken
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 197
shells, rocks, bottom temperature 50.2, 1 specimen; station 4893,
Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms,
gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 2 speci-
mens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N.; long. 12832' 10"E.,
95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 1 specimen; station
4901, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 30' 10" N.; long. 128 34' 40" Er, ^3$
fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9, 1 speci-
men; station 4902, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 30' 50" N.; long. 128 34'
40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 1 specimen; station
4903, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 31' 10" N.; long. 128 33' 20" E., 107 to
139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 23 specimens; station 4904,
Eastern Sea, lat. 32 31' 20" N.; long. 128 32' 40" E., 107 fathoms,
fine gray sand, broken shells, 1 specimen; station 4905, Eastern Sea,
lat. 31 39' N.; long. 129 19' E., 369 fathoms, bottom temperature
43.4, 1 specimen; station 4916, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 25' N.; long.
129 6' 40" E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, broken shells,
bottom temperature 42.7, 136 specimens; station 4965, off eastern
Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark
green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature 49.4, 3 specimens;
station 4967, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 10" N.; long. 135 37'
20" E., 244 to 253 fathoms, brown mud, sand, bottom temperature
45.9, 2 specimens; station 4979, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 53' N.;
long. 137 42' E., 943 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, for aminif era,
bottom temperature 36.4, 9 specimens; station 5055, Suruga Gulf,
lat. 34 53' N.; long. 138 44' 50" E., 124 fathoms, green mud, gray
sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 56.6, 2 specimens;
station 5069, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 10" N.; long. 138 47' E., 108 to
131 fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 55.8,
1 specimen; station 5070, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 25" N.; long. 138
47' 40" E., 108 fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells, bottom tempera-
ture 57.6, 1 specimen; station 5084, off Omai Saki Light, lat. 34 N.;
long. 137 49' 40" E., 918 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina,
bottom temperature 36.8, 4 specimens. B a thy metrical range, 45 to
943 fathoms. Temperature range, 62.1 to 36.4. Two hundred and
seven specimens.
These specimens show great diversity in color (dried from alcohol)
and in the relative length of arm (compared to disk diameter). The
color varies in different specimens from cream-white to deep grayish-
brown. The length of arm varies from four to six times the diameter
of the disk. There is so little divergence from Kcehler's figures and
description that I need mention only two points; the distal margin of
the upper and under arm plates is very convex except on the first two
or three joints and the plates are very much farther apart than in his
figures; the basal rows of spines of opposite sides are almost com-
pletely approximated dorsally . The largest specimen is nearly 8 mm.
198 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
across the disk, but most of them are much less than that and some
may be the young of other species. The extensive bathymetrical and
temperature ranges would indicate the presence of more than one
species in the lot, but such small specimens of OpTiiacantha can seldom
be positively identified.
OPHIACANTHA LEVISPINA.
Ophiacantha levispina LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 147.
Localities. Albatross station 4908, Eastern Sea, lat. 31 40' N.;
long. 129 29' 40" E. ; 434 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom
temperature 42.9, 7 specimens; station 4912, Eastern Sea, lat. 31
39' 40" N.; long. 129 20' E., 391 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze,
bottom temperature 41.9, 1 specimen; station 4915, Eastern Sea,
lat. 31 31' N.; long. 129 25' 30" E., 427 fathoms, gray globigerina
ooze, broken shells, bottom temperature 41.9, 2 specimens; station
4916, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 25' N. ; long. 129 6' 40" E., 361 fathoms,
gray sand, globigerina, broken shells, bottom temperature 42.7, 11
specimens; station 4917, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 24' N. ; long. 129 6' E.,
361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, broken shells, bottom tempera-
ture 42.7, 8 specimens; station 4918, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 22' N.;
long. 129 8' 30" E., 361 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, broken
shells, bottom temperature 42.7, 11 specimens; station 4919, East-
ern Sea, lat. 30 34' N.; long. 129 19' 30" E., 440 fathoms, globig-
erina ooze, bottom temperature 41. 8, 19 specimens; station 4956,
off southern Japan, lat. 32 32' f 'N.; long. 132 25' E., 720 fathoms,
green-brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature
37.5, 7 specimens; station 4971, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30"
N.; long. 135 34' E., 649 fathoms, green-brown mud, foraminifera,
bottom temperature, 38.1, 1 specimen; station 4980, off eastern
Japan, lat. 34 9' N. ; long. 137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud,
fine sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 39, 4 specimens; station
4984, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 4' 20" N.; long. 140 12' 10" E., 224 to
248 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 33, 1 specimen; sta-
tion 5083, off Omai Saki Light, lat. 34 4' 20" N. ; long. 137 57' 30"
E., 624 fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature
38.1, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 224 to 720 fathoms. Tem-
perature range, 42.9 to 33. Seventy-four specimens.
Lyman considered his single specimen, which measured 6 mm.
across the disk, as immature, but the largest specimen before me is
only 9 mm. in disk diameter and the great majority are under 7 mm.
The broad distal oral papilla is the most striking mark of this species
and is fortunately very constant. It serves to distinguish levispina
from pentagona at once, although in other characters the two species
often approach each other very nearly. There is considerable diver-
sity shown in the shape of the arm plates and oral shields; the latter
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 199
are usually much wider than long, but they are sometimes longer than
wide. None of the Albatross specimens have the under arm plates
as narrow as in Lyman's figures, and the upper arm plates are rela-
tively larger than he shows them, but I do not think these can be
specific differences.
OPHIACANTHA ADIAPHORA, new species.o
Disk 7 mm. in diameter; arms about 28 mm. long. Disk pentag-
onal covered closely with little stumps, nearly one-third millimeter
high, which are about
cylindrical and ter-
minate in several
slender, more or less
diverging teeth. Ra-
dial shields con-
cealed. Upper arm
plates small, nearly
triangular, widely
separated. Inter-
brachial spaces be-
low, like disk, except
that the scales are
visible just distal to
oral shield. Genital
slits small. Oral
shield rather small,
wider than long,
somewhat rhombic,
with rounded angles
and concave sides.
Adoral plates mod-
erate, wider without
than within, where
they do not always
meet. Oral papillge FlG> W- OPHIACANTHA ADIAPHORA. x 7. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM
BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
subequal, narrow,
flat, bluntly pointed, three on a side and one at apex of j aw. First under
arm plate rather large, pentagonal, nearly as long as wide; succeeding
plates hexagonal, pentagonal, or tetragonal, much wider than long,
well separated from each other. Side arm plates rather large, meeting
broadly above and below, each with six or seven long, straight,
pointed spines; these spines are not perfectly smooth, but seem so
to the unaided eye; the uppermost (or one next to it) is the longest
, signifying not different, in reference to the resemblance to 0. pentagona.
200 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
and equals two or three joints. Tentacle scale single (sometimes two
on basal pores), moderate, rounded or bluntly pointed. Color (dried
from alcohol), nearly white, or bright brownish-yellow, or brownish-
gray.
Localities. Albatross station 3480, Bering Sea, lat. 52 6' N. ; long.
171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky, 3 specimens;
station 4769, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' 40" N.; long. 179 14' E., 237
to 244 fathoms, gray sand, green mud, bottom temperature 38.5, 2
specimens; station 4771, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' N. ; long. 179 17' E.,
426 fathoms, broken shells, 1 specimen; station 4772, Bering Sea, lat.
54 30' 30" N.; long. 179 14' E., 344 to 372 fathoms, green-brown
sand, bottom temperature 38.1, 3 specimens; station 4797, Sea of
Okhotsk, lat. 52 37' 30" N.; long. 158 50' E., 68 fathoms, green
mud, coarse black sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 36.6, 1
specimen; station 4809, Sea of Japan, lat. 41 18' N. ; long. 140 8' 40"
E., 90 to 207 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, 2 specimens;
station 4828, Sea of Japan, lat. 37 23' N.; long. 137 36' E., 163
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 34.9, 1 specimen; station
5085, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 6' 45" N.; long. 139 19' 45" E., 622
fathoms, green mud, fine black sand, bottom temperature 37.8, 1
specimen. Bathymetrical range, 68 to 622 fathoms. Temperature
range, 38.5 to 34.9. Fourteen specimens.
Type. Cut. No. 25543, U.S.N.M., from station 4772.
Some specimens of this species seem to be so near to 0. pentagona
that I have been in great doubt as to whether the species ought to
be considered different or not, but as they are mostly from much
more northern stations, I have decided to establish it. It may be
recognized by the following characters: The adoral plates are much
narrower and thinner than in pentagona, the oral papillae are nar-
rower and more delicate, the tentacle scale is larger and more obtuse,
the upper arm plates are smaller and more triangular, the arm
spines are a trifle shorter and thicker, and the disk stumps are much
longer and slenderer. Unfortunately no one of these characters is
so constant as to form an unfailing mark of distinction, yet when
all are taken into account the two species are distinguishable. The
tentacle scales and disk stumps furnish the best characters, par-
ticularly in adults. Comparison of the figures given here with the
figures of pentagona given by Kcehler a will serve to emphasize the
resemblances, rather than the differences, between the two species.
The largest specimen of adiaphora before me is 9 mm. across the
disk and is remarkable for having six arms and six jaws; it is not
otherwise peculiar.
a Investigator Deep Sea Oph., 1899, .pi. 4, figs. 27-29.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 201
OPHIACANTHA RHACHOPHORA, new species.a
This species is so close to the two preceding that a detailed descrip-
tion would be quite superfluous. Its only specific peculiarities lie
in the very rough arm spines (except the uppermost), tentacle
scales, and even oral papillae. In extreme cases the tips of the distal
oral papillae bear several teeth or little thorns, and the tentacle
scales are sharp pointed with a thorn or two on each side. Other
specimens have these peculiarities less marked and approach very
near to pentagona, and I do not feel sure that rhachophora is anything
more than a slight variety of that species. For the present, how-
ever, I think it well to
distinguish it by a sepa-
rate name.
Localities . A Tbatross
station 3698, off Mana-
zuru Zaki, Honshu Is-
land, Japan, 153 fathoms,
green mud, volcanic
ashes, sand, 1 specimen;
station 3717, off Ose
Zaki, Honshu Island, Ja-
pan, 63 to 100 fathoms,
volcanic sand, shells,
rocks, 2 specimens; sta-
tion 3750, off Suno Saki,
Honshu Island, Japan,
83 to 140 fathoms, gray
sand, broken shells, peb-
bles, 1 specimen; station
4771, Bering Sea, lat.
5430 / N.; long. 179 17'
E., 426 fathoms, broken
shells, bottom tempera-
ture 38.1 2 specimens' FIG. 92. OPHIACANTHA RHACHOPHORA. X 8. a, FROM ABOVE; b,
FROM BELOW; c. SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
station 4772, Bering Sea,
lat. 54 30' 30" N.; long. 179 14' E., 344 to 372 fathoms, green-
brown sand, 1 specimen; station 4775, Bering Sea, lat. 54 33' 30"
N.; long. 178 44' E., 584 fathoms, green mud, black specks,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 37.2, 16 specimens; station
4809, Sea of Japan, lat. 41 36' 12" N.; long. 140 8' 40" E., 90 to
207 fathoms, gray sand, pebbles, broken shells, 12 specimens; sta-
tion 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to
106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom tempera-
, signifying a briar, and <f>opa, signifying a carrying, in reference to the very
thorny arm spines and tentacle scales.
202
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
ture 55.9, 2 specimens; station 4902, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 30' 50"
N.; long. 128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells,
bottom temperature 52.9, 2 specimens; station 4903, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 31 ' 10" N.; long. 128 33' 20" E., 107 to 139 fathoms, gray
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9, 1 specimen; station
4965, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.; long. 135 10' 50" E.,
191 fathoms, dark green-gray sand, shells, bottom temperature
49.4, 71 specimens; station 4967, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 10"
N.; long. 135 37' 20" E., 244 to 253 fathoms, brown mud, sand,
foraminif era, bottom temperature 45.9, 2 specimens; station 5079, off
Omai Saki Light, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms,
FIG. 93. OPHIACANTHA OMOPLATA. X 8. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
pebbles, bottom temperature 39.1, 4 specimens; station 5001,
Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms,
green mud, coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6,
5 specimens. Bathymetrica] range, 63 to 584 fathoms. Tempera-
ture range, 55.9 to 37.2. One hundred and twenty-two specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25630, U.S.N.M., from station 4902.
OPHIACANTHA OMOPLATA, new species.*
Similar to adiaphora in size and proportions and in many other
respects. Upper arm plates a little larger and relatively wider
papilla.
, signifying shoulder blade, in reference to the shape of the distal oral
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 203
than in that species. Disk spines with shorter and more numerous
thorns, so that they are really rough spines. Outermost oral papilla
wide ajid rounded, shaped like the shoulder blade of many Carnivora.
Oral shield very wide and short. Tentacle scale conspicuous, long,
rounded at tip, often distinctly furrowed. Under arm plates more
nearly square than in adiapTiora.
Locality. Albatross station 4861, off Korea, lat. 36 19' N.; long.
129 47' E., 163 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 33.4, 2
specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25740, U.S.N-M., from station 4861.
Although this species is very near to the three preceding I do
FIG. 94. OPHIACANTHA. ACANTHINOTATA. x 6. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
not think there can be much question of its validity. The distal
mouth papilla and the disk spinules are very characteristic features,
and the peculiar tentacle scales are quite noticeable.
OPHIACANTHA ACANTHINOTATA, new species.&
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 45 mm. long. Disk covered
with numerous rough blunt spines, about half a millimeter long.
& ' 'AKavOworaroe, signifying most spiny, in reference to the large number and
length of both disk and arm spines.
204 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Radial shields completely concealed. Upper arm plates triangular,
nearly as long as wide, the basal ones more or less in contact. Inter-
brachial spaces below, covered with scales which are partly obscured
by spines, similar to those of the disk. Genital slits large. Oral
shields somewhat pentagonal, longer than broad, with distal end
narrower. Adoral plates moderate, not peculiar. Oral papilla about
three on a side, notably elongated, the distal one largest and some-
what widened at tip; there are two small scales protecting the second
pair of oral pores, close to the first under arm plate ; there is a long
infradental papilla at apex of jaw. First under arm plate small,
squarish; succeeding plates more or less hexagonal, with both prox-
imal and distal angle somewhat rounded, rather wider than long, at
first barely in contact but soon becoming separated. Side arm plates
very large, meeting more or less above and below, each with ten or
eleven smooth, slender spines, of which the next to the uppermost is
usually the longest and may equal three or four joints. Tentacle
scale single, long, flat, and rounded at tip or bluntly pointed. Color
(dried from alcohol), light brown.
Localities. Albatross station 3661, Gulf of Tokyo, Japan, 169
fathoms, mud, pebbles, bottom temperature 48, 9 specimens; station
4892, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 27' 30" N. ; long. 128 33' E., 181 fathoms,
gray sand, broken shells, rocks, bottom temperature 50.2, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25634, U.S.N.M., from station 4892.
This species is well characterized by its mouth parts, arm spines,
and tentacle scales, in addition to its peculiar disk spinules. It is not
likely to be confused with any of the preceding. So far as can be
judged by the material at hand it shows little variability, except that
the oral shield tends to become triangular with a proximal base and
a distal angle.
OPHIACANTHA ANCHILABRA, new species.o
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk covered
by short, thick stumps, crowned with spinules. Radial shields con-
cealed. Arms wide and little constricted between the upper arm
plates; width of arm at base nearly equal to one-half radius of disk.
Upper arm plates broadly triangular, widely separate. Interbrachial
spaces below covered with scales which are little obscured by the
stumps they carry. Oral shields much wider than long, with little or
no proximal angle and a broadly curved distal edge. Adoral plates
large, about as wide without as within, where they do not always
meet. Oral papillae, about three on a side and one at apex of jaw,
long, thick, and bluntly pointed. Genital slits short. First under
aV Ar%c, signifying near to, and Xafipoc, signifying voracious (Latin vorax), in refer-
ence to its obvious relationship to 0. vorax Koahler.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 205
arm plate wider than long, in contact with second, which is corre-
spondingly heptagonal; succeeding plates hexagonal, separated, at
first wider than long but rapidly becoming longer than wide; at
middle of arm the under arm plates are so encroached on by the huge
tentacle scales that their length may be nearly twice their least
breadth. Side arm plates large, meeting both above and below;
each plate carries about nine (seven to eleven in different specimens) -
long, smooth spines, of which the second or third (from above) is
the longest, and may equal four joints. Tentacle scale single, very
large, often as long as the under arm plate, or nearly so, more or less
pointed. Color (dried from alcohol), very light brown.
FIG. 95. OPHIACANTHA ANCHILABRA. x 0. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Localities. Albatross station 4971, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30"
N. ; long. 135 34' E., 649 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 38.1, 1 specimen; station 5084, off Omai Saki
Light, lat. 34 N. ; long. 137 49' 40" E., 918 fathoms, green mud, fine
sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 36.8, 5 specimens.
Type.Csit. No. 25654, U.S.N.M., from station 5084.
Although this species is nearly related to pentagona and its allies,
it is easily distinguished from that group by its much broader and
stouter arms, and its longer and thicker oral papillae ; the long under
206
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
arm plates near middle of arm are also a good character. On the
whole the nearest ally of anchilabra is Koshler's species vorax, from
which it seems to differ only in the smooth arm spines and in the
absence of bare scales and radial shields at the bases of the arms.
OPHIACANTHA TRACHYBACTRA, new species.a
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms about 60 mm. long. Disk covered
by numerous, nearly cylindrical stumps, crowned with several minute
spinules. Radial shields concealed, but in dry specimens their form
and position is clearly indicated by long, narrow, well-separated
ridges. Arms rather
stout; upper arm
plates rounded tri-
angular, about as wide
as long, well sepa-
rated; the side arm
plates, however, do
not in the type meet
on basal part of arm;
in smaller specimens
they do. Inter bra-
chial spaces below
well covered with
more or less pointed
stumps. Genital slits
small. Oral shield
small, somewhat pen-
tagonal, quite varia-
ble in proportion of
length and breadth;
commonly much
wider than long.
Adoral plates very
large, wide, and thick,
meeting broadly with-
in. Oral papillae nu-
merous, five or six on a side, besides one at apex of jaw, subequal,
long, thick, bluntly pointed. First under arm plate rather large, some-
what hexagonal, wider proximally than distally; succeeding plates
ranging from nearly triangular to nearly square; wider than long,
widely separated. Side arm plates large, separating the upper arm
plates above (even if they do not quite meet each other) and meeting
broadly below; each plate carries six or seven rather thick arm spines,
o Tpa%bc, signifying rough, and fioKTpov, signifying club, in reference to the rough,
club-shaped, lower arm spines.
FIG. 96. OPHIACANTHA TRACHYBACTRA. x 4. a, FROM ABOVE; 6,
FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 207
of which the upper ones are smooth, tapering, and pointed, while the
lower are club-shaped and have rough or thorny tips; uppermost
longest, equal to two joints or nearly so; distally, the lower arm spines
are crowded and turned inward to cover the lower surface of the arm.
Tentacle scale single, very small and pointed ; those on the first pair of
arm pores are larger and blunter than the others, but the difference is
not so great as is shown in fig. 966. Color (dried from alcohol) , very
light brown.
Localities. Albatross station 3338, off Alaska, lat. 54 19' N.; long.
159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.3,
3 specimens; station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30" N.; long. 174
13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6,
1 specimen; station 5029, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 22' 30" N.; long. 145
43' 30" E., 440 fathoms, black sand, gravel, bottom temperature
35.3, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 440 to 625 fathoms. Tem-
perature range, 38.6 to 35.3. Five specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25649, U.S.N.M., from station 5029.
In some respects, notably the lower arm spines, this species ap-
proaches certain forms which I have included (in this report) in the
genus Ophiolebes, but the disk and mouth parts are so characteris-
tically ophiacanthine that it has seemed to me more natural to include
it here. The numerous oral papillae are a very noticeable feature and
the peculiar position of the lower arm spines on the terminal half of
the arm is remarkable, at least in the larger specimens.
OPHIACANTHA DIPLOA, new species.o
Disk 7 mm. in diameter; arm about 45 mm. long. Disk covered
with thorny stumps, among which are some elongated thorny spines
almost exactly like those figured by Koehler 6 for duplex. Radial
shields narrow, widely separated, only the distal ends visible; there
are no bare plates between or around them. Upper arm plates small,
triangular with distal margin curved, widely separated, at first wider
than long. Interbrachial spaces below covered like disk, only
the stumps are all very minute. Genital slits not conspicuous.
Oral shields much wider than long, rhombic with distal angle rounded.
Adoral plates large, rather short and wide, meeting broadly within.
Oral papillae three or four on a side and one at apex of j aw, long, thick
and sharp, subequal. First under arm plate about one-third as long
as second, hexagonal, wider than long; succeeding plates also hexag-
onal and wider than long, but the distal angle is rounded, and there
is a distinct median notch in the consequently convex distal margin;
all the plates are separated or the basal ones are barely in contact.
a Ac-nXbos, signifying double, equivalent to Latin duplex in reference to the two kinds
of spines on the disk and its close relationship to 0. duplex Koehler.
& Investigator, Deep Sea Oph., 1899, pi. 9, fig. 70.
208 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Side arm plates large, meeting broadly above and more or less below;
each plate carries nine long, slender, nearly smooth arm spines, of
which the uppermost (or next to it) is the longest, and may equal
fully four joints; on the basal joints of the arm, the spine series of
opposite sides meet immediately behind the upper arm plate; this
union of the spine series is most marked on the first three joints
distal to the disk, but at no point on the arm are the series of any one
joint as far apart as the width of an upper arm plate. Tentacle scale
single, of moderate size, flat, oval, and sharp. Color (dried from alco-
hol), nearly white, but with a yellowish tinge.
Locality. Albatross station 4957, off southern Japan, lat. 32 36'
N.; long. 132 23' E., 437 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 39.8, 2 specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25741, U.S.N.M., from station 4957.
I was at first inclined to consider these specimens as representatives
of 0. duplex Kcehler, but further study has satisfied me they can not
be that species. It does not seem necessary, however, to give figures,
the relationship with duplex is so marked. The essential difference
is in the number and arrangement of the arm spines; in duplex (10
mm., disk diameter) .there are eight, and, except the first basal series,
they are not approximated dors ally, but are separated by the full
width of the upper arm plates; in diploa (7 mm., disk diameter) there
are nine, and the series are closely approximated dorsally immedi-
ately behind the upper arm plates. Moreover, while the spines in
diploa are nearly smooth (rough under a magnification of eight diame-
ters) and the longest are equal to fully four joints, Koehler says of
duplex, "piquants garnis de denticulations assez fortes; le premier
ventral est plus long que Particle, le dernier dorsal est plus long que
deux articles." The oral papillae in diploa seem to be much more
slender, and sharper than those of duplex, and the under arm plates
are very different. The combination of these characters has per-
suaded me to distinguish diploa as a new species.
OPHIACANTHA INUTILIS.
Ophiacantha inutilis KCEHLER, Siboga Oph. Mer Prof., 1904, p. 111.
Localities. Albatross station 49 19, Eastern Sea, lat. 3034' N.; long.
129 19' 30" E., 440 fathoms, globigerina ooze, bottom temperature
41.8, 1 specimen; station 4965, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 35' 20" N.;
long. 135 10' 50" E., 191 fathoms, dark green-gray sand, shells, bot-
tom temperature 49.4, 1 specimen; station 5091, Uraga Strait, lat.
35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green mud, coarse
black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 1 specimen; station
5092, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 50" N.; long. 139 38' 18" E., 70
fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 56.3, 1 specimen.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 209
Bathy metrical range, 70 to 440 fathoms. Temperature range, 56.3
to 41.8. Four specimens.
These specimens range in size from 7 to 14 mm. across the disk.
The length of the disk spinules is very variable, as is the shape of the
adoral plates, and the number and length of the sharp, slender spinules
on the outer edge of the upper arm plates show great diversity; in the
smallest specimens, the latter are wanting. The largest specimen has
nine arm spines and the smallest has seven on the basal arm joints.
Koehler suggests that inutilis may be identical with gratiosa, one of
the Investigator species he described in 1897, and these Japanese speci-
mens incline me to think that this is probably so, but as I do not feel
sure of it, I prefer to use the name inutilis for them.
OPHIACANTHA DIPLASIA, new species."
Disk 23 mm. in diameter; arms about 150 mm. long. Disk covered
with coarse, nearly spherical granules, which are slightly elongated at
the interradial margins ; distal to each of the radial shields, which are
completely concealed, is a group of slender spines of various lengths
(these spines were not seen in any of the other specimens
examined, but all of them (16) were smaller than the type). Upper
arm plates rhombic, more or less overlapping at base of arm and in
contact far out toward the tip ; at base of arm they are rather wider
than long, but distally they become distinctly longer than wide; the
distal angle of each plate is rounded or truncate and in large speci-
mens, near the base of the arm, may carry one or more large granules
like those of the disk; these are particularly numerous and noticeable
in the type. Interbrachial spaces below more or less fully covered
by somewhat elongated, pointed granules. Genital slits large. Oral
shields variable, but wider than long and usually rhombic ; often pen-
tagonal, and not uncommonly with the distal part abruptly narrowed
into a sort of bridge between the shield and the interbrachial space.
Adoral plates remarkably variable; often short, moderately wide and
wholly proximal to the oral shield ; more commonly long and narrow,
with more or less of an intrusive branch between the oral shield and
first side arm plate; in the type, the adoral shields are distinctly
L-shaped and completely inclose the oral shield, save for a short distal
margin. Oral papillae numerous, five to seven on a side and one or
more at apex of jaw, besides (in the type) one or two extra ones
on the surface of either the adoral or the oral plate; they are long,
flattened, blunt, and subequal, or the outermost may be longer or
wider than the others; it is sometimes very long. First under arm
plate small, wider than long; succeeding plates squarish or by trun-
cation of one or more angles, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and
, signifying twice as many, in reference to the pair of tentacle scales.
34916 Bull. 751114
210
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
even octagonal; distal angles often rounded instead of truncate; all
of the under arm plates are near together, but they may be slightly
separated; they are often in contact. Side arm plates moderate, not
meeting above and only slightly, if at all, below; each plate carries
seven or eight smooth, stout but delicate arm spines, which are more
or less distinctly flattened; the spines are not only hollow, but the
central cavity is relatively very large; uppermost spine (or one next
to it), longest, rather exceeding two joints; basal series of spines of
opposite sides not noticeably approximate. Tentacle scales two on
each pore, long, flat, and blunt ; in large specimens the basal pores have
three scales. Color (dried from alcohol), disk, brown of some shade,
FIG. 97. OPHIACANTHA DIPLASIA.
X 2.25. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
ranging from very light to very dark; arm spines usually much lighter
than disk and often nearly white; occasionally the disk is dark brown,
mottled with a lighter shade.
Localities. Albatross station 3051, off Oregon, lat. 43 59' 19" N.;
long. 124 58' 30" W., 59 fathoms, coral, broken shells, rocky, 23
specimens; station 3053, off Oregon, lat. 44 4' 30" N.; long. 124 50'
W., 64 fathoms, coral, broken shells, rocky, bottom temperature
47.3, 5 specimens; station 3054, off Oregon, lat. 44 13' N. ; long.
124 44' 30" W., 53 fathoms, rocks, bottom temperature 48, 3 speci-
mens; station 3078, off Oregon, lat. 43 59' 15" N. ; long. 124 46' W.,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 211
68 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 45.7, 6 specimens;
station 3079, off Oregon, lat. 43 59' 15" N.; long. 124 44' 40" W.,
55 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 46.7, 12 specimens; station
3119, off California, lat. 36 56' 30" N.; long. 122 17' 40" W., 54
fathoms, rocky, coral, bottom temperature 50.9, 20 specimens;
station 3160, off California, lat. 37 48' 35" N. ; long. 123 12' 401' W.,
39 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 51.8, 1 specimen; station
3163, off California, lat. 37 56' 40" N.; long. 123 25' 30" W., 69
fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 48.5, 3 specimens;
station 3350, off California, lat. 38 58' 10" N.; long. 123 57' 5" W.,
75 fathoms, fine sand, mud, bottom temperature 48.4, 7 specimens.
Bathymetrical range, 39 to 75 fathoms. Temperature range, 51.8
to 45.7. Eighty specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25647, U.S.N.M., from station 3051.
This large species, though so variable in many characters, is well
defined by its granular disk covering, numerous smooth flattened arm
spines, rhombic upper arm plates and two (or even three) long and
conspicuous tentacle scales. The specimens before me range in disk
diameter from 12 to 23 mm. The most interesting of the variable
features is the remarkable diversity shown in the form of the adoral
plates; in many cases the oral shield is in contact with the first side
arm plate, while the adoral plates are wholly proximal to it; but it
is equally common to find the oral shield more or less isolated by
the inclosing arms of the adoral plate. Comparison of specimens
shows that in the young the adoral plates are proximal to the oral
shield, while in large specimens they have pushed down in between
the shield and the arm. While this is largely a matter of age it is not
wholly so, for great individual diversity is shown; moreover the
different mouth angles of a single individual often differ from each
other to a notable degree. In view of this condition in this species, I
find myself in doubt as to the value of the form of the adoral shields
as a generic character in the Ophiacanthidse, and this is one of the
chief reasons why I have not followed Verrill's classification.
OPHIACANTHA ENNEACTIS, new species.a
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms nine, 15 mm. long. Disk closely cov-
ered by spines and sharp granules; the spines cover the central area,
but are few or wanting at the margins; they are long, straight, slender,
sharp and nearly smooth; the granules are most abundant marginally,
but are not crowded anywhere; they are sharply conical and end in
a glassy tip which may have two or even three points. Radial shields
completely concealed. Upper arm plates somewhat pentagonal with
the disto-lateral angles rounded; the first one or two are wider than
long but the others are as long as wide or longer; all are widely
a ^Ewta, signifying nine, and d/cr/f , signifying ray, in reference to the number of rays.
212
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
FIG. 98. OPHIACANTHA ENNEACTIS. x 10. a, FROM ABOVE, SHOWING ONE ARM NEARLY COMPLETE;
b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
tfORTH PACIFIC OPHIURAKS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 213
separated. Interbrachial spaces below covered with elongated sharp
granules, or spinelets. Genital slits large. Oral shields rounded,
about as long as wide, pointed proximally but with a truncate, distal
angle. Adoral plates somewhat variable, about three times as long
as wide, meeting broadly within, either wholly proximal to the oral
shield or else pushing down more or less between it and the first side
arm plate. Jaws very narrow, and compressed, each with about seven
long, flat, pointed oral papillae, which are subequal or the apical one
is largest. First under arm plate hexagonal, longer than wide, with
proximal margin deeply notched; succeeding plates broadly triangular
with lateral angles rounded and distal margin convex, much wider
than long; all the under arm plates are widely separated from each
other. Side arm plates large, meeting broadly above and below;
each plate carries seven slender, smooth, pointed spines, of which the
uppermost is longest and may exceed two joints. Tentacle scales
single, large, oval and flat, more or less pointed at tip. Color (dried
from alcohol), very pale brownish.
Locality. Albatross station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30" N.;
long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 38.6, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat,. No. 25598, U.S.N.M., from station 4781.
This remarkable ophiuran reminds one at once of Ophiacantha vivi-
para, an Antarctic species in which the females have six to eight
arms a although the males have only five. b It is easily distinguished
by the differences in disk covering, under arm plates and oral pa-
pillae, but one naturally wonders whether both sexes in this north
Pacific species have nine arms or whether there is here also a sexual
dimorphism. Other related questions naturally arise, but in the
presence of only a single specimen it is futile to discuss them. We
can only hope that further collecting in Bering Sea will bring to light
more abundant material of this most interesting Ophiacantha.
OPHIACANTHA PRIONOTA, new species.c
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 42 mm. long. Disk covered
with a coarse scaling, which is only partially concealed by numerous
rough, stout spines, nearly a millimeter long. Distal ends of radial
shields visible, widely separated. Upper arm plates rhombic, with
distal angle rounded, or triangular with distal margin strongly convex,
about as wide as long, only the first two or three in contact. Inter-
brachial spaces below covered with scales, upon which only a few
a Wyville Thomson (Jour. Linn. Soc. London, vol. 13, 1876, p. 77) says there are
six to nine arms and that he never saw fewer than six.
bSee Koehler, Zool. Anz., vol. 31, 1907, p. 229.
c flptovajTof, signifying like a saw, in reference to the character of the lowest arm
spines.
214
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
scattered spines are borne. Genital slits very large. Oral shield
nearly triangular, rather wider than long. Adoral plates very large,
wider without than within where they meet. Oral papillae three on a
side and one at apex of jaw; the apical papilla and those on each side
are relatively huge, thick, rhombic, or triangular, and sharp; distal
papillae smaller, narrower, and blunter. First under arm plate
rather large, squarish, wider than long; succeeding plates separated,
somewhat pentagonal, with very wide distal margin, and narrow
proximal angle; toward the tip of the arm, the proximal half of
each under arm plate is very narrow. Side arm plates moderate,
meeting slightly above
and below; each plate
carries six short arm
spines, of which the up-
permost is longest and
may equal three joints;
the upper ones are terete,
smooth, and pointed ; the
lower are flat and more or
less toothed or serrate on
the margins, as well as
rough on the surface; at
the base of the arm the
flattening is confined
chiefly to the lowest spine
of each series, but distally
all of the lower spines
show it to a greater or
less degree; of course, the
flatter the spine, the more
marked are the serrations.
Tentacle scale single
(rarely two on first pore of arm), rather large, flat, oval, pointed.
Color (dried from alcohol), light brown.
Locality. Albatross station 4928, off southern Japan, lat. 29 51 ' N. ;
long. 131 2' 30" E., 1,008 fathoms, gray sand, globigerina, bottom
temperature 36.8, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25729, U.S.N.M., from station 4928.
This species is so well characterized by the disk covering, the huge
oral papillae, the big adoral plates and the serrate lower arm spines,
that it is not likely to be confused with any other. It would be
interesting to know whether it is strictly an abyssal form or, like 0.
bidentata, has a great bathymetric range. It is futile to speculate
on the basis of one specimen, but it is perhaps worth noting that the
FIG. 99. OPHIACANTHA PRIONOTA. x 5.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6,
FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 215
disk spines and the large adoral plates recall some of the deep-sea
types collected by the Challenger.
OPHIACANTHA GRANULOSA.
Ophiacantha granulosa LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 5, 1878, p. 138.
Localities. Albatross station 3755, off Suno Saki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 52 to 77 fathoms, gray sand, coral, 4 specimens ; station 4895,
Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms,
green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 1 specimen; station 4936, Eastern
Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones,
bottom temperature 60.6, 5 specimens.
None of the specimens are as large as Lyman's type, but they do
not differ in any structural feature so far as I can see. They range in
disk diameter from 3 to 6 mm. The numerous, long, slender, smooth
spines, the granular disk covering, and the bare radial shields are a
very distinctive combination of characters.
OPHIACANTHA NORMANI.
Ophiacantha normani LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 6, 1879, p. 58.
Localities. Albatross station 2853, off Alaska, lat. 56 N. ; long. 154
20' W., 159 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 41, 81 speci-
mens; station 2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N.; long. 148 36' W., 230
fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom temperature 39.8, 37 specimens;
station 2860, off Washington, lat. 51 23' N.; long. 130 34' W., 876
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5, 14 specimens; sta-
tion 2871, off Washington, lat. 46 55' N.; long. 125 11' W., 559
fathoms, brown ooze, bottom temperature 38.4, 811 specimens; sta-
tion 2873, off Washington, lat. 48 30' N.; long. 124 57' W., 40
fathoms, rocks, bottom temperature 47.8, 1 specimen; station 3069,
off Washington, lat. 47 25' 30" N.; long. 125 42' W., 760 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 37.6, 10 specimens; station 3070,
off Washington, lat. 47 29' 30" N.; long. 125 43' W., 636 fathoms
green mud, bottom temperature 37.9, 302 specimens; station 3071,
off Washington, lat. 47 29' N.; long. 125 33' 30" W., 685 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 38, 102 specimens; station 3073,
off Washington, lat. 47 28' N.; long. 125 15' W., 477 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 49.2, 20 specimens; station 3074, off
Washington, lat. 47 22' N.; long. 125 48' 30" W., 877 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 36.6, 33 specimens; station 3075,
off Washington, lat. 47 22' N. ; long. 125 41' W., 859 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 36.6, 122 specimens; station 3316, Bering
Sea, lat. 54 1' N.; long. 166 48' 45" W., 309 fathoms, black sand,
gravel, bottom temperature 38.2, 150 specimens; station 3317, Bering
Sea, lat. 53 57' 40" N.;long. 166 57' W., 165 fathoms, coarse sand,
216 BULLETIN 75 ; UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
gravel, rocks, 3 specimens; station 3330, Bering Sea, lat. 54 ()' 45"
N.; long. 166 53' 50" W., 351 fathoms, black sand, mud, bottom
temperature 37.8, 154 specimens; station 3331, Bering Sea, lat. 54
1' 40" N.; long. 166 48' 50" W., 350 fathoms, mud, 1 specimen;
station 3332, Bering Sea, lat. 54 2' 50" N.; long. 166 45' W., 406
fathoms, rocky sand, 1 specimen; station 3337, off Alaska, lat. 53
55' 30" N.; long. 163 26' W., 280 fathoms, green mud, rocks, bottom
temperature 39.3, 50 specimens; station 3338, off Alaska, lat. 54 19'
N.; long. 159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, 163 specimens;
station 3340, off Alaska, lat. 55 26' N.; long. 155 26' W., 695 fath-
oms, mud, 75 specimens; station 3343, off Washington, lat. 47 40'
40" N.; long. 125 20' W., 516 fathoms, green mud, bottom tempera-
ture 38.2, 250 specimens ( + "1 bushel rejected"); station 3346, off
Washington, lat. 45 30' N.; long. 124 52' W., 786 fathoms, green
mud, bottom temperature 37. 3 , 18 specimens; station 3347, off
Washington, lat. 45 9' 35" N.; long. 124 45' W., 345 fathoms, mud,
bottom temperature 40.9, 69 specimens; station 3480, Bering Sea,
lat. 52 6' N. ; long. 171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky,
2 specimens; station 3607, Bering Sea, lat. 54 11' 30" N.; long. 167
25' W., 987 fathoms, green mud, black lava, sand, bottom tempera-
ture 35.9, 53 specimens; station 3608, Bering Sea, lat. 55 19' N.;
long. 168 11' W., 276. fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 37.8,
845 specimens; station 3609, Bering Sea, lat. 55 35' N.; long. 168
20' W., 74 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.9, 6
specimens; station 3696, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan,
501 to 749 fathoms, green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 73 specimens;
station 4767, Bering Sea, lat. 54 12' N.; long. 179 7' 30" E., 771
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5, 6 specimens; station
4768, Bering Sea, lat. 54 20' 30" N.; long. 179 9' 30" E., 764 fath-
oms, green-brown mud, fine black sand, bottom temperature 37, 2
specimens; station 4775, Bering Sea, lat. 54 33' 30" N.; long. 178
44' E., 584 fathoms, green mud, black specks, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 37.2, 387 specimens; station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32
32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken
shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 2 specimens; station 4971,
off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30" N.; long. 135 34' E., 649 fathoms,
brown-green mud, foraminifera, bottom temperature 38.1, 3 speci-
mens; station 4972, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 45" N.; long. 135
33' E., 440 fathoms, brown-green mud, foraminifera, bottom tempera-
ture 39.8, 2 specimens; station 4977, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23'
N. ; long. 135 37' 40" E., 544 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, bottom
temperature 38.9, 4 specimens; station 4980, off eastern Japan, lat.
34 9' N.; long. 137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 39, 5 specimens; station 5015,
Okhotsk Sea, lat. 46 44' N.; long. 144 2' E., 510 fathoms, green
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
mud, bottom temperature 35.9, 4 specimens; station 5023, Okhotsk
Sea, lat. 48 43' 30" N.; long. 145 .3' E. ; 75 fathoms, sand, pebbles,
bottom temperature 30.9, 1 specimen; station 5033, Yezo Strait, lat.
44 4' 20" N.; long. 145 28' E., 533 fathoms, green mud, fine black
sand, bottom temperature 35.9, 1 specimen; station 5036, south of
Hokkaido, lat. 41 58' N.; long. 142 30' 30" E., 464 fathoms, brown
mud, bottom temperature 37.9, 2 specimens; station 5082, off Omai
Saki, lat. 34 5' N.; long. 137 59' E., 662 fathoms, green mud, fine
sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 37.7, 76 specimens; station
5083, off Omai Saki, lat. 34 4' 20" N.; long. 137 57' 30" E., 624
fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1, 3
specimens; station 5085, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 6' 45" N.; long. 139
19' 45" E., 622 fathoms, green mud, fine black sand, bottom tempera-
ture 37.8, 2 specimens; station 5087, Sagami Bay, lat. 35 9' 40"
N.; long. 139 19' 5" E., 614 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
37.5, 1 specimen. No label, 12 specimens. Bathymetrical range,
40 to 987 fathoms. Temperature range, 55.9 to 30.9. Three thou-
sand nine hundred and fifty-nine specimens.
The above list is sufficient evidence of the abundance of this species
in the north Pacific, but in spite of this abundance and the great
geographical and bathymetrical range, it shows remarkable con-
stancy in its specific characters. Among all these thousands of
specimens, ranging in disk diameter from 3J to 22 mm., there are no
notable variations and the individual diversity shown is very slight.
One specimen from station 3696 is, however, perfectly tetramerous.
In specimens under 8 mm. disk diameter there are only three arm
spines, but even in the largest specimens the fourth spine is found
only on the basal joints of the arm. The extent to which the disk
scales are concealed by the granules, the size and pointedness of the
granules, the number of granules on the upper arm plates, the form
of the under arm plates and the shape of the teeth are the principal
features in which a normal amount of diversity is shown. Lyman,
in his final report on the Challenger ophiurans, transferred this species
to Ophiomitra, but subsequent writers have, as a rule, considered it
as more properly an Ophiacantha, and it certainly seems to belong in
that genus, in a broad sense. According to VerrilPs classification,
it would be a very typical member of his proposed genus OpJiialcsea.
OPHIACANTHA CATALEIMMOIDA, new species.a
Disk 17 mm. in diameter; arms about 75 to 80 mm. long. Disk
covered more or less sparsely with coarse, rounded granules, as in
normani. Radial shields, as in that species, with distal half bare,
a Karodsinfiof, signifying relictus, and etdof, signifying form, in reference to the general
resemblance to 0. relicta Kcehler.
218 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
widely separated. Upper arm plates more or less rhombic, or tri-
angular with distal margin convex or straight, wider than long, only
a few of the basal ones in contact; distal margin of some basal ones
carrying granules as in normani. Interbrachial spaces below with a
sparse granulation. Genital slits very large. Oral shield tetragonal,
very short and wide. Adoral plates rather large, proximal to oral
shield, meeting broadly within, slightly curved. Oral papillae
rather large, three on a side and often one at apex of jaw, subequal
or the distal one largest. First under arm plate small, wider than
long; succeeding plates heptagonal, hexagonal, or pentagonal,
according to the truncation or rounding of the proximal and distal
FIG. 100. OPHIACANTHA CATALEIMMOIDA. x 3. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
angles, wider than long, all but the first two distinctly separated.
Side arm. plates moderate, in contact both above and below; each
plate carries six or seven straight, smooth spines, of which the next
to the uppermost is longest and may exceed three joints; rows of
spines not approximate dorsally. Tentacle scale single, very large,
flat, rounded, and more or less distinctly curved outward around the
base of the lowest arm spine. Color (dried from alcohol), quite vari-
able, ranging from deep purplish-brown to light yellowish-brown or
even almost white; dark specimens sometimes have the disk mottled
with lighter; the rubbing off of the disk granules, with its consequent
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 210
exposure of the close, even scaling of the disk, greatly affects the
color, for the scales are gray of some shade, often quite dark; some-
times the radial scales are dark while the interradial are light. The
arms are sometimes prettily banded with light and dark.
Localities. Albatross station 2853, off Alaska, lat. 56 N.; long.
154 20' W., 159 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 41,~T04
specimens; station 3332, off Alaska, lat. 54 2' 50" N.; long. 166
45' W., 406 fathoms, rocky, sand, 4 specimens; station 3338, off
Alaska, lat. 54 19' N.; long. 159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud,
sand, bottom temperature 37.3, 3 specimens; station 3339, off
Alaska, lat. 54 46' N.; long. 157 43' 30" W., 138 fathoms, mud,
gravel, bottom temperature 37.4, 106 specimens ("half a peck
rejected"); station 3340, off Alaska, lat. 55 26' N.; long. 155 26'
W., 695 fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 36.8, 2 specimens;
station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13' E., 482
fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6, 3 spec-
imens; station 4804, off Kurile Islands, lat. 46 42' N.; long. 151 47'
E., 229 fathoms, coarse pebbles, black sand, bottom temperature 35.9,
1 specimen; station 4980, off eastern Japan, lat. 34 9' N.; long.
137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera, bot-
tom temperature 39, 39 specimens; station 5079, off Omai Saki Light,
lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms, pebbles, bottom
temperature 39.1, 10 specimens; station 5080, off Omai Saki Light,
lat. 34 10' 30" N.; long. 138 40' E., 505 fathoms, fine gray sand,
globigerina, bottom temperature 38.7, 1 specimen; station 5083,
off Omai Saki Light, lat. 34 4' 20" N.; long. 137 57' 30" E., 624
fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 38.1, 38
specimens; station 5093, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 3' 15" N.; long. 139
37' 42" E., 302 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 43.9,
2 specimens. Loc. ?, 12 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 138 to
695 fathoms. Temperature range, 43.9 to 35.9. Three hundred
and twenty-five specimens.
Type.Csit. No. 25625, U.S.N.M., from station 3339.
Although at first sight this species is very near both relicta Koehler
and normani Lyman, it is quite distinct from either. The arm spines
are as numerous as in relicta, but they are perfectly smooth, while the
remarkable tentacle scales are very characteristic.
OPHIACANTHA (EDIDISCA, new species.a
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 50 mm. long. Disk decidedly
tumid, or swollen, its vertical diameter being about 4 mm.; it is
very closely covered by minute granules, which are not, however, in
a 'Oldeaj, signifying to swell, and dloicoe, signifying disk, in reference to the very
elevated disk.
220 BULLETIN ^75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
actual contact with each other. Radial shields, or at least distal ends
of them, bare, roundish, well separated. Upper arm plates triangular,
those on basal half of arm more or less in contact and consequently
with proximal angle, more or less truncate, wider than long; distal
margin with a series of granules like those of the disk, and others are
often scattered on the surface of the plates. Interbrachial spaces
below less thickly granulated than disk. Genital slits very large.
Oral shield somewhat rhombic with lateral and distal angles rounded,
much wider than long. Adoral plates long, narrow, straight. Oral
papillae three or four on a side, and one at apex of jaw, long, flat,
pointed, subequal or apical one largest. First under arm plate small,
wider than long, narrower distally ; second plate more or less triangu-
lar, wider than long; succeeding plates squarish, their outlines, par-
FIG. 101. OPHIACANTHA CEDIDISCA. x 5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FKOM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
ticularly proximally, quite indistinct; they are well separated and
between each two there is more or less of a depression; it is difficult
to" determine whether the side arm plates meet in the depression or
not. Side arm plates not very large, not meeting above and appar-
ently not below; each plate carries six short, stout, arm spines, of
which the upper two are longest, though hardly exceeding the joint,
and smoothest; lowest spines quite rough, at least near tip. Ten-
tacle scale single, not very large, pointed. Color (dried from alcohol),
yellowish or grayish.
Localities. Albatross station 4957, off southern Japan, lat. 32 36'
N.; long. 132 23' E., 437 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 39.8, 1 specimen; station 4959,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 221
off southern Japan, lat. 32 36' 30" N. ; long. 132 23' 20" E., 405 to
578 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 40.1, 3 specimens; station 4960, off southern Japan,
lat. 32 34' N. ; long. 132 21 ' 45" E.. 578 fathoms, green-brown mud,
fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature, 38.7, 1 specimen;
station 4976, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 22' 50" N. ; long. 135 38'JM)^'
E., 544 to 545 fathoms, brown mud, small stones, bottom tempera-
ture 38.7, 1 specimen; station 5080, off Omai Saki Light, lat. 34 10'
30" N. ; long. 138 40' E., 505 fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina,
bottom temperature 38.7, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 405 to
578 fathoms. Temperature range, 40.1 to 38.7. Seven specimens.
Type.^C&t. No. 25731, U.S.N.M., from station 4959.
This is an interesting species for while the figures and description
reveal a close relationship to normani and relicta, the general appear-
ance is quite different owing to the tumid disk and the slender
arms with short spines. Indeed the arms, and particularly the arm
spines, are much like those of some species of Ophiolebes. The under
arm plates, with the depressions between, also give an impression
quite different from that of any of the related species of Ophiacantha.
OPHIACANTHA LEUCORHABDOTA, new species.a
Disk 16 mrn. in diameter; arms about 65 mm. long. Disk covered
with a sparse coating of very coarse granules, only three to five to the
square millimeter; most of the granules are spherical or nearly so
but some have minute spinelets on the free end. Radial shields
large, bare, near together but not in contact, longer than broad.
Upper arm plates rhombic with proximal angle more or less truncate,
distal angle rounded and distal sides curved (concave); first one.
wider than long, second longer than wide, remainder as wide as long
or wider; all more or less in contact. Interbrachial spaces below
well covered with granules. Genital slits long but not conspicuous.
Oral shield pentagonal with all angles, except proximal, rounded,
wider than long. Adoral plates rather large, about as wide without
as within where they meet; oral plates moderately large. Oral
papillae numerous, five or six on each side and one or more at apex of
jaw, long, flat, blunt, the distal one distinctly the largest. First
under arm plate longer than wide, narrower distally ; succeeding plates
much wider than long, narrower proximally, nearly, if not quite, in
contact; they are pentagonal with proximo-lateral sides concave and
distal angle rounded, or if this angle is truncated they are of course
hexagonal. Side arm plates rather large, not meeting above and
AeuKOf, signifying white, and papdtordf, signifying striped, in reference to the color of
the arms.
222
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
scarcely so below; each plate carries eight or nine smooth, stout
spines, of which the two uppermost are longest and about equal to
two joints. Tentacle scales two on first pair of arm pores but single
thereafter, large, flat, rounded, with a decided tendency to curve
around the base of lowest arm spine. Color (dried from alcohol),
brown; inner ends of radial shields and a broad longitudinal stripe
on each arm, white; arm spines, disk granules, and oral surface very
light.
Locality. Albatross station 4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.;
long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature
60.6 to 56, 1 specimen.
FIG. 102. OPHIACANTHA LEUCOEHABDOTA. x 3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Type.C&t. No. 25655, U.S.N.M., from station 4934.
This species is easily the handsomest Ophiacaniha in the collection.
The combination of large, bare radial shields, rhombic upper arm
plates in contact, numerous oral papillae, numerous stout, smooth arm
spines and characteristic tentacle scales, with .the striking coloration,
will prevent confusion with any other species. Of course, it must be
borne in mind that the coloration may prove to be a very inconstant
and therefore unreliable character.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 223
OPHIACANTHA EURYPOMA, new species.a
Disk 15 mm. in diameter; arms about 85 mm. long. Disk covered
with very minute thorny stumps, which are more or less rubbed off,
leaving the underlying scaling bare. Radial shields roundish, bare,
near together, and sometimes almost touching distally. Upper arm
plates triangular, about as wide as long, well separated, except jtwo
at base of arm, which are tetragonal and broadly in contact. Inter-
brachial space below, like disk. Genital slits small. Oral shield
rhombic, with rounded angles, wider than long. Adoral plates large,
only about twice as long as wide, meeting broadly within. Oral
papillae three on a side and one at apex of jaw; all are long and con-
FIG. 103. OPHIACANTHA EURYPOMA. x 3.5. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
spicuous, and all but the outermost are narrow and sharp ; outermost
very wide, squarish. First under arm plate hexagonal, wider than
long; second plate, in contact with first, broadly bell-shaped, much
wider than long; succeeding plates heptagonal, hexagonal or tetrag-
onal, at first wider than long, but becoming longer than wide, sepa-
rated from each other. Side arm plates moderate, meeting slightly
above and below ; each plate carries seven or eight slender spines, the
upper ones smooth, the lower ones very slightly thorny, the lowest
, signifying lid, in reference to the broad, distal
a Eupo, signifying broad, and
oral papilla.
224 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
smooth; next to uppermost longest, equal to rather more than two
joints. Tentacle scale single, very large, especially on first pair of
pores, flat and blunt or somewhat pointed. Color (dried from alcohol),
very light yellowish.
Locality. Albatross station 2859, off Alaska, lat. 55 20' N.; long.
136 20' W., 1,569 fathoms, gray ooze, bottom temperature 34.9, 3
specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25626, U.S.N.M., from station 2859.
Although this species is obviously related to normani, cataleimmoida,
and wdidisca, it may be readily distinguished from any of those species
by the thorny stumps, rather than granules, on the disk; the proximity
C
. 104. OPHIACANTHA LEPIDOTA. x 10. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
of the radial shields, the huge outer oral papilla, and the numerous
very slender arm spines. The general appearance is lighter and more
fragile than that of any of the related species.
OPHIACANTHA LEPIDOTA, new species.a
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 mm. long, probably. Disk
covered by large overlapping scales, upon which are borne low, thorny
signifying covered with scales, in reference to the coarse scaling of the
disk (fig. 104a); very likely not particularly applicable to an uninjured specimen.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM - CLAEK. 225
stumps; how numerous the stumps normally are the present condi-
tion of the specimen does not permit us to determine. Radial shields
exposed only at the extreme distal ends where they are not quite in
contact. Upper arm plates triangular, as long as wide or longer,
widely separated; arms decidedly constricted between each pair.
Interbrachial space below like disk above. Genital slits large. Oral
shield broadly pentagonal, much wider than Jong; distal side very
short. Adoral plates moderate, three times as long as broad, meeting
very narrowly within. Oral papillae three on a side and one at apex
of jaw, long, thick, bluntly pointed; distal papilla much the widest.
(In fig. 1046 the distal papilla is drawn in an oblique position, so that
its full width is not indicated.) First under arm plate longer than
wide, rather hexagonal; succeeding plates more or less pentagonal,
at first much wider than long, but soon becoming longer than wide,
well separated. Side arm plates low and long, but meeting broadly
both above and below; each plate carries six smooth, slender spines,
of which the next to the uppermost is longest and may equal two
joints. Tentacle scale single, quite large, oval, flat, and blunt.
Color (dried from alcohol), dirty whitish, the disk with a decidedly
gray tinge.
Locality. Albatross station 3338, off Alaska, lat. 54- 19' N.; long.
159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature
37.3, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25529, U.S.N.M., from station 3338.
This is one of those exasperating specimens which, although without
any distinctive or notable characters, refuse to be assigned to any
known species, and yet are so small and badly preserved it is humilia-
ting to make them types of new species. Although other species of
Ophiacaniha were taken at station 3338, this specimen can not be
referred to any one of them, and I do not know of any species from
elsewhere with which it might be united.
OPHIACANTHA EUPHYLACTEA, new species.a
Disk 7 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk covered
by a fine scaling (coarse near radial shields), which was probably
concealed in life by the minute, thorny stumps, of which there are
now only a few scattered ones left. Distal ends of radial shields
exposed and nearly in contact. Upper arm plates rounded pentag-
onal or hexagonal, at first 'wider than long, but soon becoming as
long as wide. Although not actually in contact, they separate the
side arm plates widely. Interbrachial space below like disk. Geni-
tal slits very large. Oral shield tetragonal, with wide proximal
E5, signifying well, and ^yAa/c-reof, signifying guarded, in reference to the way in
which the lower arm spines protect the tentacles.
34916 Bull. 7511 - 15
226
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
angle, much broader than long. Adoral plates - short and wide,
hardly meeting within. Oral papillae very long, stout, pointed,
three or four on a side, subequal, and a larger one at apex of jaw.
First under arm plate very large, squarish, about as long as wide;
succeeding plates squarish or hexagonal, wider than long, broadly
separated from each other. Side arm plates moderate, well sep-
arated above, but meeting broadly below. Each plate carries six
to eight short, thick, bluntly pointed arm spines; upper ones smooth,
second and third longest, not quite equal to two joints; lowest three
or four smaller (much smaller at middle of arm), more or less flat-
FIG. 105. OPHIACANTHA EUPHYLACTEA. X 7. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
tened, rough, and hooked at tip. Tentacle scales none, but the
three or four lowest arm spines form a very efficient protection for
the tentacles, which are, however, except the first two or three
pairs, very small. Color (dried from alcohol), whitish.
Locality. Albatross station 3697, off Manazuru Zaki, Honshu
Island, Japan, 120 to 265 fathoms, gray mud, volcanic sand, 1
specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25730, U.S.N.M., from station 3697.
Although the single specimen shows the effect of acid alcohol, by
a certain amount of decalcification, which is most marked on the
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 227
upper arm plates, the arm spines, and the oral papillae, its characters
are so unique I have no hesitation in making it the type of a new
species. I would call particular attention to the huge, spiniform
oral papillae; the very large first under arm plate widely separated
from second; the absence of tentacle scales, and the very charac-
teristic lower arm spines.
OPHIACANTHA HYLACANTHA, new species.a
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 60 mm. long. Disk covered
by numerous stout, pointed, rough spines, nearly or quite a milli-
FIG. 106. OPHIACANTHA HYLACANTHA. x 4.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FKOM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
meter long. Among the spines are scattered coarse granules, but
whereas the spines are chiefly near the center of the disk, the gran-
ules are chiefly marginal, particularly distal to the radial shields.
Radial shields large, well separated, rather longer than wide, bare
and smooth. Upper arm plates more or less triangular, as long as
wide or longer; basal ones in contact, but farther out they are sep-
arated; some basal ones bear marginal granules, as in normani.
a "TXi], signifying forest, and amvda, signifying spine, in reference to the forest of
spines on the disk.
228 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Interbrachial spaces below covered with scales, carrying a few elon-
gated granules. Genital slits small. Oral shields rhombic, with
rounded angles, about as long as wide. Adoral plates very large,
about half as wide as long, meeting broadly within. Oral papillae
large, three on a side and one at apex of jaw, bluntly pointed, sub-
equal, or distal one largest. Under arm plates wider than long, the
first about half as large as second; first and second distinctly in
contact, second and third hardly so, the remainder separated. Side
arm plates rather large, meeting above and below, except at very
base of arm. Each plate carries eight stout spines, of which the
second or third (from above) is the longest, equaling two joints or
more; uppermost three and lowest one smooth, the intermediate
four slightly rough near tip. Tentacle scale single, large; broad and
rounded on basal pores, it soon becomes narrower and pointed.
Color (dried from alcohol), light grayish-brown.
Locality. Albatross station 5084, off OmaiSaki Light, lat. 34 N.;
long. 137 49' 40 " E., 918 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globiger-
ina, bottom temperature 36.8, 1 specimen.
Type.C&t. No. 25593, U.S.N.M., from station 5084.
This single specimen, which is very well preserved, is much like
cataleimmoida, except in the oral shields and adoral plates and in
the disk covering. In the latter particular, it is quite unlike any
other Ophiacantha in the collection, and I fail to find any previously
known species to which it might be referred.
OPHIACANTHA ATOPOSTOMA, new species."
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms probably about 50 mm. long.
Disk covered by numerous slender pointed spines, one-fourth to one
millimeter long, which under a microscope are minutely thorny.
Radial shields only visible distally, where they are well separated
and surrounded by the disk spines. Upper arm plates triangular,
with distal side convex, wider than long and well separated. Inter-
brachial spaces below much like disk above. Genital slits small.
Oral shields rounded, wider than long, with distal side more or less
projecting. Adoral plates large, twice as long as wide, meeting
broadly within. Oral papillae five or six on a side (sometimes a single
one at apex of jaw), the proximal ones narrow and pointed, the distal
one (outermost) broad, flat and rounded at tip; distal to this broad
papilla and borne on the proximal edge of the adoral plate, is a sharp,
slender, spinelike papilla (sometimes there are two). First under
arm plate small and squarish, a trifle wider than long; second plate
in contact with first, heptagonal, wider than long; third barely touch-
<* "Armor, signifying odd, peculiar, and arfyta, signifying mouth, in reference to the
peculiar mouth parts.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 229
ing second, hexagonal, about as long as wide; succeeding plates sepa-
rated, more or less pentagonal, with rounded distal margin, longer
than wide. Side arm plates large, meeting above and below, each
with seven stout, smooth, not very sharp spines, of which the upper-
most is longest and exceeds two joints. Tentacle scales two on first
pair (or first two pairs) of arm pores; after that single, but very large,
flat and oval. Color (dried from alcohol), light grayish-brown or dirty
whitish.
FIG. 107. OPHIACANTHA ATOPOSTOMA. x 5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Locality. Albatross station 4772, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' 30" N.;
long. 179 14' E., 344 to 372 fathoms, green-brown sand, bottom
temperature 38.1, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25599, U.S.N.M., from station 4772.
Although this specimen is in very poor condition, the mouth parts
are so peculiar and characteristic that, taken in connection with the
disk covering, they warrant the description of a new species. I do
not know of any other with which it is likely to be confused, although
it resembles 0. stimuleaLtymsui in many characters; the exposed radial
230 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
shields and characteristic adoral plates, with their spines, readily
distinguish it from that southern species.
OPHIACANTHA BAIRDI.
Ophiacantha bairdi LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 10, 1883, p. 256.
Localities. Albatross station 3070, off Washington, lat. 47 29' 30"
N.; long. 125 43' W., 636 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
37.9, 59 specimens; station 3338, off Alaska, lat. 54 19' N.; long.
159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature
37.3, 2 specimens; station 3784, Bering Sea, lat. 54 32' N.; long.
178 31 ' E., 850 fathoms, green mud, fine gray sand, 78 specimens;
station 4767, Bering Sea, lat. 54 12' N.; long. 179 1' 30" E., 771
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5, 150 specimens;
station 4772, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' 30" N.; long. 179 14' E., 344
to 372 fathoms, green-brown .sand, bottom temperature 38.1, 1
specimen; station 4979, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 53' N.; long. 137
42' E., 943 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 36.4, 5 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 344 to 943
fathoms. Temperature range, 38.1 to 36.4. Two hundred and
ninety-five specimens.
Although Lutken and Mortensen" have already recorded this
species from the Pacific Ocean and have given some excellent figures
of it, I have only been persuaded, after persistent comparison with
Lyman's West Indian specimens, that these North Pacific specimens
are really bairdi. I am unable, however, to find any character in
which the Pacific specimens consistently differ, nor is there the
slightest difference between the specimens from station 4767 and
those from station 4979. The geographical range of bairdi is there-
fore astonishing, extending from the eastern Atlantic (Travailleur
coll.), through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Panama, westward to
Japan and northward to Alaska. In Liitken and Mortensen's fig-
ures, already referred to, a the arm spines are rather heavy. All of
the specimens before me have very slender and sharp arm spines.
Kcehler 6 speaks of bairdi as having tw& tentacle scales, whereas Lyman
definitely says, and Lutken and Mortensen clearly figure, one; none
of the specimens before me have more than one, even on the first
arm pores. This species is very near Ophioconis, and it is virtually
impossible to find any character which would warrant their being
placed in separate families, yet our present system of classification
severs them widely. There is not a little individual diversity in the
relative abundance of spines and granules on the disk of bairdi. In
some specimens there are no granules sufficiently elongated to be
a Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 23, 1891, p. 177.
bSiboga Oph. Mer Prof., 1904, p. 119.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 231
called spines, while in other cases nearly all of the granules are
elongated and most of them are really spiniform.
OPHIACANTHA LAMBDA, new species.a
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 60 mm. long. Disk covered
by a dense coat of small, elongated granules. Radial shields bare dis-
tally, widely separated. Upper arm plates rhombic or triangular, with
distal side convex, widely separated. Interbrachial spaces below, less
closely covered than disk, with elongated granules. Oral shield very
large, wider than long, pointed within, laterally rounded. Genital slits
small. Adoral plates L-shaped, meeting within, the short arm of the
L about half as long
as the other, and
separating the oral
shield from the first
side arm plate. In-
ner ends of adoral
plates and the oral
plates carry a num-
ber of granules like
those of the disk,
but shorter. Oral
papillae four on a
side, and a large,
flat, pointed one at
apex of jaw; outer-
most papilla much
the largest, very
wide, truncate.
First under arm
plate large, wider
than long, some-
what hexagonal; FIG. 108. OPHIACANTHA LAMBDA. X 5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM
succeeding plates
also wider than long, pentagonal with distal side convex; all are
widely separated from each other. Side arm plates large, meeting
above and below, each with five smooth pointed arm spines, of which
the uppermost is much the longest, nearly equaling three joints.
Tentacle scale single, very large, oval, flat, not at all pointed. Color
(dried from alcohol), nearly white.
Locality. Albatross station 4957, off southern Japan, lat. 32 36'
N.; long. 132 23' E., 437 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 39.8, 2 specimens.
a Aappda, signifying L, in reference to the shape of the adoral plates.
232
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
. Cat. No. 25722, U.S.N.M., from station 4957.
Although this species is obviously near to bairdi, and therefore very
near Ophioconis, it is easily distinguished from these allies by the
exposed radial shields, the characteristic mouth parts and the few
arm spines; the rounded tentacle scales are also different from those
of bairdi.
OPHIACANTHA LOPHOBRACHIA, new species.a
Disk about 4| mm. in diameter; arms about 15 mm. long. Disk
completely covered with a dense coat of short spines, which are thick,
and of nearly uniform height. Radial shields completely concealed.
Upper arm plates small, nearly triangular, somewhat wider than long,
well separated. Interbrachial spaces below apparently covered like
FIG. 109. OPHIACANTHA LOPHOBRACHIA. x 12. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
disk. Genital slits short but wide. Oral shield nearly triangular
(madreporite, rhombic) longer than wide. Adoral plates very large,
wider without where they separate oral shield from arm plate than
within where they meet. Jaw terminated by a large, nearly triangu-
lar tooth, the lowest of the vertical series. On each side are three
oral papillae, narrow and spine-like. The outermost is much the
longest and is virtually a tentacle scale for the first oral tentacle,
which is very large. First under arm plate hexagonal, longer than
broad, widely separated from second, which is somewhat larger, pen-
a A6<j>of signifying ridge, and {tpa%iiov, signifying arm, in reference to the unusually
notable ridges on the side arm plates.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 233
tagonal, and wider than long; succeeding plates pentagonal, wider
than long, well separated from each other. Side arm plates short
but high, meeting broadly above and below; median area of each
plate elevated into a narrow, conspicuous ridge, as high as half the
diameter of the arm between the ridges. Each ridge carries eight or
nine straight, smooth, pointed spines, of which the middle ones__are
longest and a little exceed two joints. Tentacle scales three on the
first two pairs of arm pores, and after that single; sharp and spine-
like, nearly as long as a joint. Color (dried from alcohol), yellow-
brown.
Locality. Albatross station 4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 59' N.; long.
130 29' 50" E., 152 fathoms, rocky; bottom temperature 56, 1
specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25536, U.S.N.M., from station 4933.
This single small specimen is in such poor condition that it is a pity
to designate it as the type of a new species, but nevertheless it shows
clearly such distinctive characters that no other course is open. The
mouth parts (including the oral shields), the very marked ridges on
which the arm spines are borne, and the very long, spine-like tentacle
scales are worthy of particular mention.
OPHIACANTHA BATHYBIA, new species.a
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms about 70 mm. long. Disk more
or less distinctly pentagonal, covered' with very minute thorny
stumps. Radial shields concealed but their form and position are
indicated in dry specimens, through the skin ; they are long, narrow,
and well separated. Upper arm plates rounded triangular, tending
to rhombic, somewhat swollen, about as wide as long, all but first
two well separated. Interbrachial spaces below covered like the
disk. Genital slits fairly large. Oral shield very much wider than
long, with a somewhat rounded proximal angle and distal side only
slightly convex. Adoral plates large, three times as long as wide,
meeting broadly within; usually they partly inclose the oral shield,
sending a branch down between it and the side arm plate; some-
times, however, they are wholly proximal to the oral shield which is
then in contact with the side arm plate. Oral papillae three or four
on a side, with sometimes an odd one at apex of jaw; outermost flat,
wide, and truncate; others narrower, thicker, and more pointed.
First under arm plate oblong, nearly twice as wide as long, barely in
contact with second which is broadly pentagonal or triangular, very
wide distally, with a somewhat curved margin; succeeding plates
similar but smaller, and relatively longer, well separated. Side arm
uf , signifying deep, and /2/of, signifying life, in reference to the great depth
at which it lives.
234
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
plates moderate, meeting both above and below; each plate carries
half a dozen slender, sharp spines, the uppermost longest and exceed-
ing three j oints ; the two upper spines are smooth but the lower ones
are rough near the tip. Tentacle scales single, small, spiniform, and
sharp. Color (dried from alcohol), whitish, yellowish, or grayish.
Localities. Albatross station 2859, off Alaska, lat. 55 20' N.j long.
136 20' W., 1,569 fathoms, gray ooze, bottom temperature 34. 9, 183
specimens; station 2860, off British Columbia, lat. 51 23' N.; long.
130 34' W., 876 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5,
11 specimens; station 3603, Bering Sea, lat. 55 23' N.; long. 170
31' W., 1,771 fathoms, brown ooze, bottom temperature 35.1, 3
specimens; station
4761, off Shumagin Is-
lands, lat. 53 57' 30"
N.; long. 159 31' W.,
1 ,973 fathoms, blue
clay, bottom tempera
ture 35, 14 specimens;
station 4766, Bering
Sea, lat. 52 38' N.;
long. 174 49' W., 1,766
fathoms, character of
bottom and bottom
temperature not ob-
served, 117 specimens.
Bathymetrical range,
876 to 1,973 fathoms.
Temperature range,
36.5 to 34.9. Three
hundred and twenty-
eight specimens.
Type.C at. No.
FIG. 110. OPHIACANTHA BATHYBIA. x 4. a, FROM ABOVE; b, 25541, U.S.N.M., from
FROM BELOW; C, SIDE VIEW OF TWO AKM JOINTS NEAR DISK. , j_ 9QKQ
Although this species has no very distinctive marks, it appears to
be different from any other known member of OpTiiacantJia. The
form and position of the adoral plates are unfortunately not abso-
lutely reliable characters, but taken in connection with others may
be useful. The disk covering, the upper arm plates, the arm spines,
and the tentacle scales are the most important characters in that
connection. The species seems to be a typically abyssal ophiuran
and it is rather remarkable that it is so little differentiated from more
shallow-water species.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 235
OPHIACANTHA LEUCOSTICTA, new species.o
Disk 17 mm. in diameter; arms about 70 mm. long. Disk covered
with a thin, uncalcified skin, which appears to be speckled with both
black and white ; examination with a lens shows that the black spots
are due to organic tissue on the inner surface of the skin, while the
white spots are due to minute, elongated calcareous granules; these
granules are borne by plates which for the most part have a diameter
scarcely exceeding that of the granules, but around the radial shields
they are developed into ordinary overlapping scales. Radial shields
rather large, distinctly separated, the distal half exposed but bearing
on the outer margin one or more elongated granules. Upper arm
plates rounded, hexagonal, or elliptical, much wider than long, more
FIG. 111. OPHIACANTHA LEUCOSTICTA. x 3. a, FROM ABOVE; ft, FROM BELOW; c, THREE ARM JOINTS
NEAR MIDDLE OF ABM, SEEN FROM BELOW; d, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
or less in contact with each other, at least on basal part of arm.
Interbrachial space below like disk above. Genital slits large.
Oral shields somewhat rhombic, twice as wide as long. Adoral plates
moderate, short and wide, hardly meeting within. Oral papillae
three on a side, broad, flat, rounded. Teeth very large and con-
spicuous. First under arm plate hexagonal, about as long as wide;
succeeding plates more or less octagonal and longer than broad, but
rapidly becoming hexagonal, tetragonal, or rounded and much wider
than long; the first two or three are in contact, but the succeed ing
plates appear to be separated by a depression; whether the side
arm plates meet in this depression, or whether it is a proximal pro-
, signifying white-spotted, in reference to the appearance of the disk.
236 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
longation of the under arm plates, or whether its floor is formed
simply of connective tissue, is not clear from an external examina-
tion of the dry specimen. Side arm plates very short and separated
from each other by an area of bare, uncalcified skin, as wide as them-
selves; each plate carries a conspicuous vertical ridge on which are
borne seven or eight arm spines; of these the four or five uppermost
are stout, smooth, and blunt, the two middle ones longest and nearly
equaling two joints; the three or four lowest spines are very much
smaller than the upper ones, are rough or hooked at the tip, and
practically serve as tentacle-scales (see fig. lllc). Tentacle pores
very large ; first one usually with no .tentacle scale, but sometimes
with a small one ; next three pairs of pores with a single well-marked
scale on the side arm plate but not on the spine-bearing ridge;
beyond the fourth pair of pores, the tentacle scales are replaced by
the lowest arm spines. Color (dried from alcohol), disk deep brown,
finely speckled with white and black; radial shields and adjoining
scales yellowish- white; arms light drab; oral surface yellowish- white,
except for the brown interbrachial spaces.
Locality. Albatross station 4980, off eastern Japan, lat. 34 9' N.;
long. 137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminifera,
bottom temperature 39, 4 specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25549 U.S.N.M., from station 4980.
This remarkable ophiuran is almost certainly entitled to be the
type of a new genus, the large amount of uncalcified skin and the
peculiar condition of arm spines and tentacle scales furnishing good
generic characters. But until Ophiacantha is more carefully revised
and the limits of its component genera better understood, I think
this species may well rest therein. It is not likely to be mistaken
for any of the now known species of that genus.
OPHIACANTHA MACRARTHRA, new species.a
Disk 2 mm. in diameter; arms about 7 mm. long. Disk covered
with few coarse scales, upon which are borne some minute stumps,
more or less elongated, conical, and with several terminal teeth.
Radial shields hardly distinguishable from the other disk scales,
closely joined. Upper arm plates minute, triangular or rhombic,
widely separated. Interbrachial spaces below like disk above.
Genital slits very large. Oral shield large, wider than long, dis tally
rounded but with a proximal angle. Adoral plates large, L-shaped,
meeting within and separating the oral shield from the side arm
plate; oral plates rather large. Oral papillse three on a side and one
at apex of jaw; latter much the largest, broad, flat, pointed; outer-
a MaKpdf, signifying long, and dpdpov, signifying joint, in reference to the very long
arm joints.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 237
most papilla (perhaps more properly the tentacle scale of the outer
oral tentacle) very long, slender, spiniform, and acute; the other two
are similar but shorter. First under arm plate very large, hexagonal,
a little broader than long; second plate larger, pentagonal, much
broader than long; third plate smaller than second but similar;
succeeding plates similar but much smaller and tending to become
squarish; all the plates are widely separated. Side arm plates very
large, all but first two or three pairs much longer than high, meeting
broadly both above and below; each plate carries three arm spines,
of which the uppermost is smooth, acute, and equals the joint, while
the lower two are shorter and rough at the tip. Tentacle pores large;
tentacle scale single, small,
spiniform. Color
from alcohol),
whitish.
Locality. Albatross sta-
tion 4775, Bering Sea, lat.
54 33' 30" N.; long. 178
44' E., 584 fathoms, green
mud, black specks, foram-
inifera, bottom tempera-
(dried
dirty-
ture 37.2, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25739,
U.S.N.M., from station
4775.
Although there is every
indication that this speci-
men is very young (except
the size of the genital
slits), it reveals certain
characters that are so dis-
tinctive it seems best to
give it a name. The
mouth parts and the un-
usually long (for this family) side arm plates are quite remarkable
and will make the species easy to recognize.
OPHIACANTHA MEGATRETA, new species.o
Disk wanting, but judging from the .scars on bases of arms, it was
about 25 mm. in diameter; arms about 115 mm. long, beyond disk
scars. Upper arm plates more or less rhombic, with rounded angles,
FIG. 112. OPHIACANTHA MACRAKTHRA. x 25. a, FROM ABOVE;
b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
, signifying big, and Tpyrfa, signifying pierced through', that is, with big holes,
in reference to the conspicuous tentacle pores.
238
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
as long as wide (except at base of arm) or longer, overlapping or in
contact on basal half of arm, but becoming separated distally. Inter-
brachial space below with scales, at least near oral shield. Genital
slits large. Oral shield as long as wide or longer, rounded heptagonal
(in smaller specimen, oral shield rhombic with rounded angles, dis-
tinctly wider than long). Adoral plates large, L-shaped, meeting
within, completely separating the oral shield from side arm plate (in
smaller specimen, proximal or long arm of the L more or less aborted
and consequently not meeting within). Oral papillae five or six on a
side, thick, blunt, crowded; distal to them, and attached to adoral
plate, are several small spine-like papillae, which are the tentacle
scales of the huge oral tentacles (second pair). First under arm
plate moderate, wider
than long and widest
proximally ; succeeding
plates hexagonal or pen-
tagonal, rounded distally,
much wider distally than
proximally, at first wider
than long, but rapidly be-
coming much longer than
wide ; distal end somewhat
swollen and elevated; all
the plates except first
two well separated from
each other. Side arm
plates low and moder-
ately long, scarcely meet-
ing above, until far out on
arm, meeting narrowly be-
low; each plate carries five
or six long, slender,
smooth spines, of which the uppermost (or next one) is longest,
equaling about two joints. Tentacle pores very large; tentacle scales
none. Color (dried from alcohol), whitish.
Localities. Albatross station 4969, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23'
40" N.; long. 135 33' E. ; 587 fathoms, brown mud, sand, stones,
bottom temperature 38.9, 1 specimen; station 4979, off eastern
Japan, lat. 33 53' N.; long. 137 42' E., 943 fathoms, brown mud,
fine sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 36.4, 1 specimen.
Type.Csit. No. 25596, U.S.N.M., from station 4969.
It is both remarkable and unfortunate that the two specimens of
this interesting species should have completely lost the disk. But
a, FROM BE-
FIG. 113. OPHIACANTHA MEGATRETA. X 2.25.
LOW; 6, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK; C, UPPER
VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR MIDDLE OF ARM.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 239
there is no question of their close relationship to 0. bartletti Lyman,
and they therefore belong in VerrilFs genus Ophiopora, which I
believe is probably a very natural group. The only important dif-
ferences between bartletti and megatreta, which these damaged speci-
mens show, is in the shape of the upper arm plates and in the number
of arm spines. Possibly perfect specimens will show differences^ in
the disk.
OPHIOLEBES ASAPHES, new species.o
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 mm. long. Disk more or
less completely covered with rough unequal granules or low stumps.
Radial shields long, narrow, well separated, partly bare (along the
middle) or wholly con-
cealed, their position
more or less clearly indi-
cated. Upper arm
plates rounded, the first
two or three wider than
long, the others roughly
circular; they are well
separated from each
other, but the side arm
plates do not meet be-
tween them; in many
places, though not nec-
essarily on all arms, sup-
plementary plates ap-
pear between the upper
arm plates; when these
are not present the
space is occupied by
uncalcified tissue. In-
terbrachial spaces below FlG - U4. OPHIOLEBES ASAPHES. X 6. a, FROM ABOVE; 6,
, . , . FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
covered with scales, upon
which a few of the rough granules are borne. Genital slits short
and narrow. Oral shield rounded rhombic, very much wider than
long. Adoral plates large but poorly defined, wider without than
within, where they do not quite meet. Oral papillse three on a side,
short, blunt. All the mouth parts are more or less covered by a
thick skin, which obscures their outlines even when dry. First
under arm plate large, wider than long and wider within than dis-
tally; second and third plates somewhat pentagonal, with distal side
notched, wider than long; succeeding plates somewhat kidney-shaped,
jf, signifying indistinct, in reference to the indistinctness of many of the
plates.
240 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
wider than long; all the under arm plates are well separated from
each other, and the side arm plates nearly or quite meet between
them. The lower surface of the arm is, like the mouth parts, covered
by a skin which obscures the outlines of the plates and makes it very
hard to see the sutures. Side arm plates low but rather long, meeting
below but not above; each plate carries five short, thick, smooth, blunt
spines, of which the uppermost is longest, and slightly exceeds a joint.
Tentacle pores minute; tentacle scales, none; the pores are protected
by the lower end of the arm spine ridge and the spines which it bears.
Color (dried from alcohol), reddish, yellowish, or grayish-brown.
Localities. Albatross station 5018, off Saghalin, lat. 46 41 ' 30" N. ;
long. 143 57' 40" E., 100 fathoms, brown mud, black stones, peb-
bles, bottom temperature 30.4, 2 specimens; station 5037, off the
Hokkaido, lat. 42 2' 40" N.; long. 142 33' 20" E., 175 to 349 fath-
oms, bottom temperature 37.9, 2 specimens; station 5049, off
Kinkwa San Light, lat. 38 12' N. ; long. 142 2' E., 182 fathoms, dark
gray sand, broken shells, foraminifera, bottom temperature 37.8, 9
specimens. Bathymetrical range, 100 to 349 fathoms. Temperature
range 37.9 to 30.4. Thirteen specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25738, U.S.N.M., from station 5018.
Although this species is related to 0. scorteus Lyman it differs so
much in its larger upper and under arm plates, its shorter arms, and
its more slender, less blunt, arm spines, that the two can not be con-
fused. Many of the specimens from station 5049 are clinging tightly
to starfishes (Henricia) ; one starfish, only 42 mm. from tip to tip, is
tightly grasped over the disk and base of the arms by three speci-
mens of Ophiolebes. It would be interesting to know whether this is
a normal or accidental association. Aside from the differences in
color the chief individual diversity is shown in the amount of exposure
of the radial shields; they are sometimes visible for nearly their
whole length, but in the type they are wholly concealed and other
specimens are intermediate.
OPHIOLEBES BRACHYGNATHA, new species.o
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 40 mm. long. Disk covered
by numerous rough, low, pointed stumps. Radial shields more or less
exposed, long, very narrow, parallel, and widely separated. Upper
arm plates tetragonal, with distal side somewhat curved, and much
longer than proximal; they are well separated and between them ap-
pear squarish supplementary plates of much smaller size. Inter-
brachial spaces below much like disk above, but scaling shows more
distinctly. Genital slits short but wide. Oral shields small, rhombic,
wider than long. Adoral plates rather large, curved, hardly meeting
, signifying short, and pjaffoc, signifying jaw, in reference to the unusually
short, wide jaws.
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLAKK. 241
within. Oral plates small and so nearly parallel with adorals that
the jaw is somewhat rounded and projects very little. Oral papillae
four on a side and usually an infradental one at apex of jaw; the
papillae are thick and blunt, and the outermost is clearly the largest.
First under arm plate very large, somewhat rounded, hexagonal, wider
than long; second plate somewhat larger, pentagonal, widest distajlyj
succeeding plates more rounded, soon becoming elliptical and then
onger than broad, and ultimately long pentagonal with distal end
rounded; all the under arm plates are more or less separated from
FIG. 115. OPHIOLEBES BRACHYGNATHA. X 5. a, FROM ABOVE; &,FROM BELOW; C,SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
each other except the first two. Side arm plates moderate, not meet-
ing above and only slightly so below; each plate carries seven or eight
stout, blunt arm spines; upper two longest, exceeding joint, smooth;
next two similar, but distinctly smaller; lowest three or four very
much smaller, somewhat flattened, and with rough tips; they lie more
or less appressed to lower surface of arm, pointing distally and in-
ward. Tentacle pores small, first pair with a more or less prominent
spiniform tentacle scale; a few other pores may have minute tentacle
scales, but as a rule the scales are completely replaced functionally by
the lowest arm spines. Color (dried from alcohol), light yellowish.
34916 Bull. 7511 16
242 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Localities. Albatross station 4803, off Simushir Island, lat. 46 42'
N. ; long. 151 45' E., 229 fathoms, coarse pebbles, black sand, bottom
temperature 35.9, 1 specimen; station 4804, off Simushir Island, lat.
46 42' N. ; long. 151 47' E., 229 fathoms, coarse pebbles, black sand,
bottom temperature 35.9, 3 specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25592, U.S.N.M., from station 4804.
This species is in its proportions much like vestitus, but it is not very
near that species. The disk spinules, the arm spines, and the jaws
furnish its most distinctive features.
OPHIOLEBES PACHYBACTRA, new species.a
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long, probably.
Disk covered with coarse scales, many of which bear stout club-
FIG. 116. OPHIOLEBES PACHYBACTRA. X 1.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
shaped spines, which are much thicker at the tip than at the base.
Radial shields moderate, roughly triangular, in contact distally but
widely separated within. Upper arm plates triangular or rhombic,
much wider than long, well separated from each other. Interbrachial
spaces below covered by scales somewhat smaller than those of disk.
Genital slits very large. Oral shields small, rounded rhombic,
, signifying thick, and p&crpov, signifying club, in reference to the very
thick, club-like lower arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM - CLARK. 243
wider than long. Adoral plates each about as large as oral shield,
roughly pentagonal, twice as long as wide; oral plates rather large.
Oral papillae, three on a side and one at apex of jaw, rather thick and
club-shaped. First under arm plate small, wider than long; second
plate somewhat triangular, nearly as long as wide; succeeding plates
more pentagonal or hexagonal, as long as wide or longer; all- -the
plates, except the first two, are well separated from each other.
Side arm plates large, meeting above and below; each plate carries
six stout arm spines, of which the uppermost is longest and exceeds
two joints; three lowest spines thickened and deeply notched (ver-
tically) at tip, so that each one ends in two or three blunt points.
Tentacle pores small; tentacle scales single, flat, smooth, rounded.
Color (dried from alcohol), dirty yellowish- white.
Locality. Albatross station 4784, off Attu Island, lat. 52 55' 40'''
N.; long. 173 26' E., 135 fathoms, coarse pebbles, 1 specimen.
Type.Csit No. 25737, U.S.N.M., from station 4784.
This species is so unlike any of the preceding or any of the previ-
ously known species that it can not be confused with them, but it is
very near the following species (tylota), with which it was taken, and
more abundant material may show that it is not specifically distinct.
OPHIOLEBES TYLOTA, new species.a
Disk 10 mm. in diameter; arms about 40 mm. long. Disk covered
with coarse scales, many of which bear stout, blunt spines; these
spines are thickest near base and are sometimes imperfectly divided
or slightly branched. Radial shields triangular, in contact at inner
distal angle but widely separated within. Upper arm plates rhombic,
basal ones more or less rounded, about as long as wide, well separated
from each other. Interbrachial spaces below much like disk above.
Genital slits rather small. Oral shields rather small, rounded
rhombic, very much wider than long. Adoral plates nearly as large,
about twice as long as wide; oral plates well developed. Oral
papillae, three on a side and one at apex of jaw, long, thick, and blunt.
First under arm plate squarish; second plate much larger, some-
what pentagonal, longer than wide; succeeding plates rapidly becom-
ing wider than long, with distal margin curved and notched at the
middle; all plates except first two separated from each other, though
not always distinctly. Side arm plates large, meeting above, but not
below, at base of arm; each plate carries six stout arm spines, of
which the uppermost is longest and nearly equal to three joints;
lower ones rough at tip and sometimes thickened and slightly
notched. Tentacle pores moderate ; tentacle scale single, flat, some-
what elongated, smooth, rounded at tip. Color (dried from alaohol),
whitish, yellow, dirty brownish, or bright brown.
, signifying knobbed, in reference to the thick disk spines and lowest
arm spines.
244
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Localities. Albatross station 3599, Bering Sea, lat. 52 5' N.;
long. 177 40' E., 55 fathoms, rocky, fine sand, shells, 56 specimens;
station 3785, Bering Sea, north of Rat Islands, 270 fathoms, gray
sand, broken shells, 1 specimen; station 4771, Bering Sea, lat. 54
30' N.; long. 179 17' E., 426 fathoms, broken shells, 2 specimens;
station 4781, off Agattu Island, lat. 52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13' E.,
482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6,
22 specimens; station 4782, off Attu Island, lat. 52 55' N.; long.
173 27' E., 57 to 59 fathoms, rocks, gravel, 2 specimens; station 4784,
off Attu Island, lat. 52 55' 40" N.; long. 173 26' E., 135 fathoms,
coarse pebbles, 14 specimens; station 4809, Sea of Japan, lat. 41
18' N.; long. 140 8' 40" E., 90 to 207 fathoms, gray sand, pebbles,
broken shells, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 55 to 482 fathoms.
FIG. 117. OPHTOLEBES TYLOTA. x 5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS
NEAR DISK.
Temperature range, ? to 38.6. One hundred and one specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25726, U.S.N.M., from station 3599.
The characteristic disk-covering and arm spines are quite sufficient
to distinguish this from any of the other species, but it must be con-
fessed that the preceding species (pachylactra} is very closely related.
The differences shown by the arm spines are of degree rather than of
kind, but I find it hard to believe that the same is true of the disk
spines. Possibly pachylactra is a "mutant" from tylota. The
specimens from station 4809 are almost exactly like those from
station 3785, but have the disk spines much shorter than in the type.
It is remarkable that this species should have been taken so far
south as at station 4809, and one can not avoid suspecting the label.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEtJM CLARK. 245
OPHIOLEBES DIAPHORA, new species.a
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk covered
by thick, rounded plates of variable size, upon and among which are
scattered numerous coarse, rounded granules, which are largest
around the radial shields. Radial shields large, oval, widely sep-
arated from each other. Upper arm plates rhombic, about as long
as wide. Interbrachial spaces below covered by rounded plates and
granules like those of disk. Genital slits inconspicuous. Oral
shields very small, rounded pentagonal, about as long as wide.
Adoral plates twice as long as wide; oral plates moderate; all of
these plates about the mouth
are indistinct, due to the
skin which covers them.
Oral papillae four on a side
and one at apex of jaw;
thick and rounded, or
pointed at tip; outermost
papilla much the largest.
First under arm plate
small, thick, squarish, or
rounded; succeeding plates
thick and swollen and poorly
defined, on account of the
skin covering. They seem
to be wider than long, but
their exact shape is hard to
determine; all but the first
two seem to be separated
from each other. Side arm
plates moderate, meeting
slightly above but not below,
somewhat thick and swol-
len. Each plate carries five
to seven short, thick, blunt
spines, of which the up-
permost or next lower is longest and equals a joint and a half;
lower spines short and very stout, with rough, prickly tips; lowest
spine may be almost spherical. Tentacle pores small; tentacle scale
single, large, rounded, but rough at tip. Color (dried from alcohol),
yellowish or yellowish-brown.
Localities. Albatross station 3599, Bering Sea, lat. 52 5' N.; long.
177 40' E., 55 fathoms, rocky, fine sand, shells, 4 specimens; station
4779, Bering Sea, lat. 52 II' N. ; long. 179 57' W., 54 to 56 fathoms,
C
FIG. 118. OPHIOLEBES DIAPHORA. X 4.5. a, FROM ABOVE;
b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR
DISK.
a Aca(f)opo, signifying different.
246
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
broken shells, pebbles, sand, 2 specimens; station 4781, off Agattu
Island, lat. 52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine
gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6, 8 specimens; station
4784, off Attu Island, lat. 52 55' 40" N.; long. 173 26' E., 135
fathoms, coarse pebbles, 7 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 54 to
482 fathoms. Temperature range, ? to 38.6. Twenty-one specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25721, U.S.N.M., from station 3599.
Although the type of this species comes from the same station
where that of tylota was taken, the two species are so unlike they
can not be confused. Specimens of diaphom show great diversity
in the number of disk granules and arm spines, in the size and form
of the radial shields, which may be quite small and indistinct in
FIG. 119. OPHIOLEBES PAUCISPINA. X 7. a, FROM ABOVE; ft, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
small specimens, and in the degree to which the plates and the
lower arm spines are swollen, but their identification is rarely diffi-
cult. Young specimens might, however, be confused with the next
species, owing to their having only four or five arm spines and few
disk granules.
OPHIOLEBES PAUCISPINA, new species.a
Disk 7 mm. in diameter; arms about 22 mm. long. Disk covered
with coarse, thick scales, some of which bear rounded granules.
Radial shields moderate, rounded, well separated from each other.
Upper arm plates thick and more or less swollen, rounded, triangular
or rhombic; except first two, separated from each other. Inter-
a Pauci, signifying few, and spinus, signifying a spine, in reference to the small
number of arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 247
brachial spaces below covered by coarse scales. Genital slits large.
Oral shields rhombic, wider than long. Adoral plates thick, about
twice as long as wide; oral plates small. Oral papillae, three on a
side and one at apex, thick and blunt, outermost largest. Under
arm plates tetragonal, much wider than long, the distal margin with
more or less of a median notch; well separated from each other.
Side arm plates large and somewhat swollen, meeting above and
below. Each plate carries four short, thick, smooth arm spines, of
which the uppermost or next lower is the longest, and hardly exceeds
a joint. Tentacle pores minute or wanting; tentacle scale single,
large, thick, rounded or bluntly pointed. Color (dried from alcohol),
yellowish-brown.
Localities Albatross station 2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N.; long.
148 36' W., 230 fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom temperature
39.8, 2 specimens; station 3480, Bering Sea, lat. 52 6' K; long.
171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky, 26 specimens;
station 4781, off Agattu Island, lat. 52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13'
E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6,
2 specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25620, U.S.N.M., from station 3480.
There is an excellent series of this species, showing a range in disk
diameter from 4 to 10 mm. All the specimens agree in number and
character of arm spines, so that this may well be considered the
distinguishing mark of the species. Small specimens of diapTiora,
with only four or five arm spines, are hard to separate from pau-
cispina, though the thicker granulation of the disk and the shape
of the under arm plates will usually distinguish them. The adults
can not be confused.
OPHIOLEBES BREVISPINA, new species, a
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 mm. long. Disk covered
with thick, irregular, overlapping scales, showing no very definite
arrangement and without granules or spines. Radial shields moder-
ate, rounded, widely separated. Upper arm plates rounded, swollen,
much wider than long, nearly or quite in contact on basal half of arm.
Interbrachial spaces below, covered by thick scales. Genital slits
short. Oral shields rhombic or pentagonal, about as long as wide.
Adoral plates short and very wide, with inner ends rounded; oral
plates large. Oral papillse three on a side and one at apex of jaw,
rounded or pointed at tip, outermost largest. Under arm plates
tetragonal or pentagonal, wider than long, all but first two widely
separated from each other. Side arm plates large, more or less
swollen, meeting below and nearly or quite meeting above; each plate
o Brevis, signifying short, and spinus, signifying a spine, in reference to the very short
arm spines.
248
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
carries three or four small, very stout, blunt spines, of which the next
to the lowest is longest, but scarcely equals half a joint. Tentacle
pores apparently wanting, but tentacle scales well developed, single,
thick and blunt or pointed. Color (dried from alcohol), yellowish-
brown.
Locality. Albatross station 3480, Bering Sea, lat. 52 6' N.; long.
171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky, 22 specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25736,
U.S.N.M., from station
3480.
It is a curious coinci-
dence that we should
have here another case
of a new species of Ophi-
olebes from the same sta-
tion as its nearest rela-
tive, the type of 0. pauci-
spina having come from
station 3480. There does
not seem to be any room
for doubt, however, that
the two species are really
distinct, for the differ-
ences in disk covering
and in arm spines are
very marked and appear
to be perfectly constant.
The foregoing seven
species deserve a word of
comment, as they form
quite a homogeneous
group, apparently char-
acteristic of the Aleutian
Island region and north-
ern-^ Japan. The two
_
JapSftfeSe S P 6 C 1 6 S &T&
easuVdistinguished from
1,1
the others by the long and
narrow radial shields. It is somewhat remarkable tnat none of the
Aleutian species extends southward on the American coast. All of
the species have the plates more or less covered by skin, but the
extent to which they are obscured varies with the individual. As
the drawings and descriptions have been made from dried specimens,
little attention has been paid to this character.
FIG. 120. OPHIOLEBES BEEVISPINA. c, YOUNG SPECIMEN, FKOM
ABOVE, X 8. 6, ADULT, FROM ABOVE, X 6. C, FROM BE-
LOW, x e. d, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM JOINTS OF ADULT
NEAR DISK, X 6.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 249
OPHIOPHRURA, new genus.a
Disk covered with a smooth coat of fine scales, entirely concealing
the radial shields; oral tentacle scales very long and conspicuous;
tentacle scales of arm numerous, three or four guarding each pore;
otherwise as in Ophiacantha.
Type-species. Ophiophrura liodisca.
Although obviously related to Ophiacanfha, the following species
is so well characterized it seems to me best to make it the type of a
new genus. The smooth, finely scaled disk, without an external
hint of radial shields, looks very different from any OpJiiacantha I
have seen, while the very long spine-like scales at the distal ends of
the mouth slits and the numerous tentacle scales give the oral surface
an equally characteristic appearance.
FIG. 121. OPHIOPHKURA LIODISCA. x 6. , FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
OPHIOPHRURA LIODISCA, new species.^
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 20 to 25 mm. long, probably.
Disk covered with a smooth coat of very fine scales which entirely
conceal the radial shields. Upper arm plates rhomboidal with distal
angle rounded, about as long as wide; basal ones nearly or quite in
contact, but middle and distal ones well separated. Interbrachial
spaces below covered like disk by fine scales. Genital slits large.
Oral shields pentagonal, nearly as long as wide, disto-lateral sides
concave. Adoral plates narrow and meeting within, broad without
and separating oral shield from first side arm plate; oral plates long
and narrow. Oral papillsB numerous, nine or ten on a side, of which
a "0<f>to and (frpouph, signifying a guard, in reference to the numerous tentacle scales.
b Aioc, signifying smooth, and diaxof t signifying disk, in reference to the absence
of all spines and granules from the disk.
250 BULLETIN *75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
the three distalmost are long, flat, pointed spines, serving as oral
tentacle scales; remaining six or seven, small, narrow, and sharp.
(The contrast between the inner and outer oral papillae is not quite so
abrupt as appears in fig. 1216.) First under arm plate small, thimble-
shaped, longer than wide; succeeding plates hexagonal or heptagonal,
longer than wide, more or less in contact. (The change in form in
the under arm plates in fig. 1216, by which they become wider than
long, is a mistake.) Side arm plates moderate, meeting narrowly or
not at all above, and not at all below; each plate carries four flat-
tened, hollow, fragile, bluntly pointed arm spines, of which the
uppermost is longest and nearly equals two joints. Tentacle pores
large, each one protected by three or four sharp, spiniform scales, of
which one is on the under, the others on the side, arm plate. Color
(dried from alcohol), disk grayish, arms and oral surface dirty
whitish.
Locality. Albatross station 5079, off Omai Saki Light, lat. 34 15'
N. ; long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms, pebbles, bottom temperature
39.1, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25672, U.S.N.M., from station 5079.
It is unfortunate that only a single specimen of this interesting
species is in the collection. It will not go into any of VerrilFs sub-
divisions of Ophiacanfha, nor into any of the related genera.
OPHIURASES, new genus.
Disk composed of five radial wedge-shaped divisions, each of which
is covered by a pair of large radial shields, the primary radial plate
and two or three high rounded granules between the radial shields;
the primary central and interradial plates are also well marked.
Mouth parts and arms much as in Ophiolebes.
Type-species. OpJiioceramis ( ?) obstricta Lyman.
That Lyman was in doubt as to the true relationships of this
species is evident from the question mark with which he wrote the
generic name. It seems to me that its relationships are with OpJiio-
lebes, rather than with the Ophiolepididae, for it agrees with that
genus in its habits and arm structure very closely. But the differ-
ence in the disk is so marked, a new genus seems to be necessary.
Koehler's Ophiogyptis is, I think, nearly related, but the under sur-
face of the arms in that genus is quite different.
OPHIURASES OBSTRICTUS.
Ophioceramis (?) obstricta LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, vol. 5, 1878, p. 124.
Localities. Albatross station 4890, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 26' 30"
N.; long. 128 36' 30" E., 135 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature
and afe, signifying moth, in reference to the fanciful resemblance to
a thick-bodied moth at rest, of the radial wedges which compose the disk (fig. 122a).
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 251
52.3, 1 specimen; station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long.
128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles,
bottom temperature 55.9, 1 specimen; station 4895, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand,
broken shells, pebbles, 2 specimens; station 4936, Eastern Sea, lat.
30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones, -bottom
temperature 60.6, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 95 to 135
fathoms. Temperature range, 60.6 to 52.3. Six specimens.
Comparison of these individuals with a cotype of Lyman's in the
Museum of Comparative Zoology collection leaves no room for
doubt that they are identical. The Albatross specimens were taken
clinging to sponges, hydroids, and corals, so that their habits seem
to resemble those of Ophiolebes and some allied genera. As the
figures given in the Challenger Ophiuroidea a do not agree either with
FIG. 122. OPHIURASES OBSTRICTUS. X 10. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Ly man's description or with any of the specimens before me, it seems
best to give new figures of this interesting little species. If I did
not have a Challenger cotype for comparison, I should not criticise
Lyman's figures, but should suppose I had a different species. As
it is, I think Ionian's fig. 2 is erroneous in having the radial shields
separated interradially, as well as radially by squarish plates, and his
fig. 1 has the under arm plates very different from any specimen I
have seen. In the figures given herewith the real appearance of
both surfaces may be seen. It might be suggested that Lyman's
figures were drawn from a larger and more mature specimen than
those here given, but he gives the disk diameter as 4 mm. and does
not speak of any larger specimens. He refers to the first under arm
plate as " rounded and conspicuous;" it is not so in any of the spec-
Plate 11, figs. 1-3.
252 BULLETIN 'IS, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
imens before me. He calls the arm spines "blunt," while they seem
to me to be unusually sharp. He says the "color in alcohol" is
"pale brown;" all the specimens before me have the radial shields
and bands on the arms grayish, the rest of the animal whitish; the
degree of contrast varies much in different specimens, but is usually
very slight.
OPHIOLOGIMUS, new genus/*
Disk covered by a fine coat of scales, more or less concealed by
thin skin; both skin and scales extend out on base of arms. No visi-
ble radial shields. Upper and under arm plates well developed. Ten-
tacle scales present. Oral papillae numerous, but arm spines few.
Type-species . OpJiiologimus Jiexactis .
This genus may be defined as OpJiioscolex with well-developed upper
arm plates, a definition used by Lyman for OpTiiotoma. Ophiolo-
gimus differs from OpJiiotoma very markedly, however, not only in
FIG. 123. OPHIOLOGIMUS HEXACTIS. X 10. c, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF THREE
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
disk covering but especially in the presence of well-developed tentacle
scales.
OPHIOLOGIMUS HEXACTIS, new species.6
Disk 5 mm. in diameter; arms, six, about 20 mm. long. Disk
covered by a close coat of fine scales, more or less concealed by skin.
No visible radial shields. Bases of arms covered like disk. Upper
arm plates thin but well developed, rhombic with distal angle rounded,
longer than wide, more or less overlapping. Interbrachial spaces
below covered by skin, which contains, peripherally, scattered scales.
Genital slits rather small. Oral shields rounded triangular, wider
than long. Adoral plates large, three times as long as wide, meeting
broadly within and separating oral shield from first under arm plate
without; oral plates indistinct. Oral papillae numerous, very small,
thin and truncate; outer ones largest. First under arm plate pen-
a "0(f)o and Ao^o^, signifying worthy of mention, remarkable.
b"E, signifying six, and d/cr^-, signifying ray, in reference to the number of arms.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 253
tagonal; succeeding plates pentagonal, quickly becoming tetragonal,
with distal side convex; all are longer than wide and more or less
fully in contact. Side arm plates small, not meeting either above or
below; each plate carries three hollow, flat, smooth, bluntly pointed,
subequal arm spines, about as long as a joint. Tentacle pores
large, each one guarded by two flat, thin, rounded, subequal scales..
Color (dried from alcohol), pale brown or dirty whitish.
Locality. Albatross station 3749, off Suno Saki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 83 to 158 fathoms, black sand, shells, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25724, U.S.N.M., from station 3749.
It is a great pity that the Fisheries steamer Albatross, in her later,
more extensive collecting around Japan, failed to meet with this species
again. It resembles an Ophioscolex, but the upper arm plates are so
well marked and the two tentacle scales so distinct and regular, it
will not be confused with any known species of that genus.
OPHIOSTYRACIUM, new genus.a
Disk covered with a bare skin, upon which are scattered some small
thin, roundish plates, a few of which bear a single sharp-pointed spine
each. Radial shields evident, long, diverging, each with a conspicuous
spike-like spine on its proximal end. No upper arm plates or tentacle
scales. Oral papillaB and arm spines few.
Type species. Ophiostyracium trachyacanihum.
This is another relative of OpJiioscolex, but is at once distinguished
from that genus by the large radial shields and the spike-like disk
spines.
OPHIOSTYRACIUM TRACHYACANTHUM, new species, b
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms about 25 mm. long. Disk covered
with a thin skin, on which are scattered a few thin, indistinct scales,
the more conspicuous of which carry long, sharp spines. Radial
shields large, thick, three times as long as wide, rounded at the ends,
nearly or quite touching distally but diverging widely within. Each
shield carries near its proximal end a very large, sharp, spike-like
spine. Upper arm plates wanting. Interbrachial space below bare.
Genital slits very large. Oral shield rounded pentagonal, wider than
long, with dis to-lateral sides concave. Adoral plates very large,
meeting broadly within, and separating oral shield from side arm
plates without; oral plates and oral tentacle pores conspicuous.
Oral papillae spiniform, three on a side and one at apex of jaw; distal-
most smallest, short, rounded, looking as though it arose from first
under arm plate, below oral tentacle pore. First under arm plate
roundish; succeeding plates tetragonal, with rounded corners, and
a "0(j)co and arup&iuov, signifying a small spike, in reference to the spike-like spines
on the disk.
& Tpa/yf , signifying rough, and oKavda, signifying spine, in reference to the rough arm
spines.
254 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
after the third well separated and with very indistinct outlines. Side
arm plates rather large, not quite meeting either above or below;
each plate carries three solid, flattened, serrate or rough, bluntly
pointed arm spines, of which the middle one is longest and slightly
exceeds a joint; base of spine white and opaque, like side arm plate,
but remainder glassy. Tentacle pores very large, but no tentacle
scales. Color (dried from alcohol), disk dark greenish, radial shields
pure white, arms and oral surface, whitish.
Locality. Albatross station 4919, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 34' N.;
C
FIG. 124. OPHIOSTYRACIUM TRACHYACANTHUM. X 9. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW
OF THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
long. 129 19' 30" E., 440 fathoms, globigerina ooze, oottom tem-
perature 41.8, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25733, U.S.N.M., from station 4919.
This individual is well preserved and its remarkable features stand
out distinctly, so that one wishes more than usually that a good series
were available.
OPHIOSCHIZA, new genus."
Disk covered with irregular plates and large radial shields. Upper
arm plates wanting, except one or two rudimentary ones at base of
-"0<})co and o%^a, signifying crack, slit, in reference to the single genital slit in each
interradius.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 255
arm. Oral shields wanting, except in one interradius. Under arm
plates numerous, forming an irregular pavement. No tentacle scales.
Arm spines reduced in number and size, with hooked tip. Genital
slit single in each interradius, just distal to adoral plates.
Type-species. Ophioschiza monacantTia .
This is one of the most remarkable ophiurans in the collection^ the
combination of a well-scaled disk, with the absence of upper arm
plates and oral shields and the presence of hooked arm spines being
most unusual, while the occurrence of a single genital slit in each
interbrachial space is certainly unique. The relationships of such a
strange form are most obscure but it is almost certain that it does not
belong here. The tips of the arms are spirally coiled as in Asteronyx
and its allies and I am in-
clined to think that Ophio-
schiza is probably one of the
Cladophiurae.
OPHIOSCHIZA MONACANIHA, new
species.a
Disk 6 mm. in diameter;
arms about 20 mm. long.
Disk flat, covered with a
coat of coarse scales, of
which two in each interra-
dius are larger than the
others. Radial shields very
large, twice as long as broad,
separated from each other
by a narrow strip of small
scales. Upper arm plates
wanting save for one or
two rudimentary ones at
very base of arm. Inter-
brachial spaces below covered with bare skin but entirely sur-
rounded by coarse scales. Genital slit, short, oblong, placed trans-
versely in proximal angle of interbrachial space. Oral shields
wanting except in one interradius, where a rudimentary one much
wider than long lies proximal to genital slit. Adoral plates large
and distinct, hardly twice as long as wide, meeting broadly within;
oral plates moderate but oral tentacle pores very large. Oral
papillae rudimentary, three or four on a side. First under arm
plate large, pentagonal, longer than wide; succeeding plates broken
up into an irregular pavement, the component parts of which are
FIG. 125. OPHIOSCHIZA MONACANTHA. x 9. a, FROM ABOVE;
6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR
DISK.
aM6vo signifying single, and &K.av6a, signifying spine, in reference to the single arm
spine.
256
BULLETIN 15, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
more or less indistinct. Side arm plates very low, rounded, each
with a single, short blunt spine, not one-third as long as joint; under
the microscope this spine is seen to have the hook-shape so character-
istic of Cladophiurse. Tentacle pores distinct, but tentacle scales
entirely wanting. Color (dried from alcohol), pale yellowish.
Locality. Albatross station 3480, Bering Sea, lat. 52 6' N.; long.
171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25735, U.S.N.M., from station 3480.
Further material of this interesting ophiuran will be necessary
before its real relationships can be positively determined. There is a
possibility that the type-specimen is immature. The single oral
shield present may very likely be the madreporite.
Family OPHIOCOMHXE.
OPHIOMASTIX MIXTA.
Ophiomastix mixta LUTKEN, Add. Hist. Oph., pt. 3, 1869, p. 44.
Locality. Tanegashima, Japan, 1 specimen.
Although this species was described forty years ago, it has never
FIG. 126. OPHIOMASTIX MIXTA.
a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
been figured, so it seems worth while to illustrate its principal features
here. The specimen before me has three tentacle scales on each of the
basal arm pores, but this is not characteristic of the species.
OPHIOCOMA BREVIPES.
Ophiocoma brevipes PETERS, Arch. f. Naturg., vol. 18 (1), 1852, p. 85.
Locality. Tanegashima, Japan, 1906, 6 specimens.
The disk diameter of these individuals ranges from 8 to 27 mm.
The smallest has some white markings near the disk margin but the
others are uniformly blackish above.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 257
OPHIOCOMA ERINACEA.
Ophiocoma erinaceus MULLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. 98.
Locality. Kagoshima Bay, Japan, 1 specimen.
The disk diameter of this specimen is 23 mm. and the upper arm
spines are remarkably long, 8 to 10 mm. The specific name has
always been written erinaceus, but there seems to be no good reason
why it should not conform in gender to the generic name.
OPHIOPTERIS PAPILLOSA.
Ophiocoma papillosa LYMAN, 111. Cat. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 8, pt. 2, 1875. p. 11.
Locality. Monterey, California, 8 to 12 fathoms, 3 specimens.
There seems to be no question that this species is congeneric with
0. antipodum, although it has hitherto been left in Ophiocoma. The
specimens before me are about 13 mm. across the disk and light
brown in color, the arms faintly banded with darker.
Family OPHIOTHRICHm
OPHIOTHRIX CILIARIS.
Ophiura ciliaris LAMARCK, Anim. s. Vert., vol. 2, 1816, p. 545.
Ophiothrix ciliaris MULLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. 114.
Locality. Kobe, Japan, 8 fathoms, 1 specimen.
This is one of the Challenger specimens, identified doubtfully by
Lyman as ciliaris. It is unlike that species in certain characters , and
I suspect it is probably a form of Icoreana.
OPHIOTHRIX KOREANA.
Ophiothrix koreana DUNCAN, Jour. Linn. Soc. London (Zool.), vol. 14, 1879, p. 473.
Localities. Albatross station 3656, Hakodate Bay, Japan, 11.5
fathoms, green mud, sand, 1 specimen; station 3657, Hakodate Bay,
Japan, 13.5 fathoms, fine gray sand, 2 specimens; station 3659,
Hakodate Bay, Japan, 15.5 fathoms, fine gray sand, 1 specimen;
station 3661, Gulf of Tokyo, Japan, 169 fathoms, mud, pebbles, 2
specimens; station 3698, off Manazuru Zaki, Japan, 153 fathoms,
green mud, volcanic ashes, sand, 9 specimens; station 3702, off Seno
Umi, Japan, 31 to 41 fathoms, volcanic mud, sand, rocks, 1 specimen;
station 3704, off Seno Umi, Japan, 94 to 150 fathoms, fine volcanic
sand, 2 specimens; station 3707, off Ose Zaki, Japan, 63 to 75 fathoms,
volcanic sand, ashes, gravel, 20 specimens; station 3713, off Ose Zaki,
Japan, 45 to 48 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 1 specimen;
station 3716, off Ose Zaki, Japan, 65 to 125 fathoms, volcanic sand,
shells, rocks, 4 specimens; station 3717, off Ose Zaki, Japan, 63 to
100 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 10 specimens; station 3720,
off Ose Zaki, Japan, 63 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, 2 specimens;
34916 Bull. 7511 17
258 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
station 3725, off Noma Saki, Japan, 13 fathoms, sand, shells, gravel, 2
specimens; station 3730, off Omai Zaki, Japan, 34 to 37 fathoms,
mud, gravel, rocks, 6 specimens; station 3741, off Ose Zaki, Japan,
63 to 68 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, pebbles, 5 specimens; station
3752, off Suno Saki, Japan, 54 to 100 fathoms, gray sand, gravel, 12
specimens; station 3755, off Suno Saki, Japan, 52 to 77 fathoms,
gray sand, coral, 3 specimens; station 3756, off Suno Saki, Japan,
50 to 77 fathoms, rotten coral, 4 specimens; station 3757, off Suno
Saki, Japan, 41 to 50 fathoms, coarse coral sand, gravel, 1 specimen;
station 3758, off Suno Saki, Japan, 52 to 73 fathoms, blue clay, rocks,
2 specimens; station 3764, off Suno Saki, Japan, 44 to 50 fathoms,
fine gravel, broken shells, 7 specimens; station 4807, Sea of Japan,
lat. 41 36' 12" N.; long. 140 36' E., 44 to 47 fathoms, shells, coarse
gravel, 1 specimen; station 4808, Sea of Japan, lat. 41 35' 50" N.;
long. 140 36' 45" E., 47 fathoms, sand, shells, coarse gravel, 3 speci-
mens; station '4816, Sea of Japan, lat. 38 14' N.; long. 138 54' E.,
64 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 51.7, 2 specimens;
station 4826, Sea of Japan, lat. 37 25' N.; long. 137 32' E., 114
fathoms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature 42.5,
3 specimens; station 4832, Sea of Japan, lat. 36 14' 30" N.; long.
135 56' 30" E., 76 to 79 fathoms, dark gray sand, bottom tempera-
ture 53.2, 5 specimens; station 4833, Sea of Japan, lat. 36 13'
40" N.; long. 135 56' 30" E., 79 fathoms, dark gray sand, rocks,
bottom temperature 53.2, 66 specimens; station 4842, coast of Korea,
lat. 36 13' N.; long. 133 27' E., 82 fathoms, fine gray sand, shells,
bottom temperature 54.6, 6 specimens; station 4875, Korea Strait,
lat. 34 19' N.; long. 130 9' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken
shells, 6 specimens; station 4876, Korea Strait, lat. 34 20' N.;
long. 130 10' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 62.1, 27 specimens; station 4877, Korea Strait, lat.
34 20' 30" N.; long. 130 11' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken
shells, 11 specimens; station 4878, Korea Strait, lat. 34 18' 30" N.;
long. 130 14' 30" E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken shells, 5
specimens; station 4885, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 31' 30" N.; long. 129
30' 15" E., 53 fathoms, dark gray sand, broken shells, 3 specimens;
station 4888, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 26' N.; long. 129 27' 30" E., 71
fathoms, dark gray sand, broken shells, 1 specimen; station 4891,
Eastern Sea, lat. 32 27' N.; long. 128 34' E., 181 fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, rocks, bottom temperature 50.2, 2 specimens; station
4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long. 128 32' 50" E., 106 fathoms,
gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 33
specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N.; long. 128
32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 3 speci-
mens; station 4895, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128
32' 10" E. ; 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, 1 specimen;
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 259
station 4900, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 28' 50" N.; long. 128 34' 40" E.,
139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 52.9,
14 specimens; station 4901, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 30' 10" N.; long.
128 34' 40" E., 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 5 specimens;
station 4902, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 30' 50" N.; long. 128 34' 40" E.
139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 3 specimens; station 4903,
Eastern Sea, lat. 32 31' 10" N.; long. 128 33' 20" E., 107 to 139
fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, 26 specimens; station 4933,
Eastern Sea, kt. 30 59' N.; long. 130 29' 50" E., 152 fathoms,
rocky, bottom temperature 56, 1 specimen; station 4934, Eastern
Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.; long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, rocky,
2 specimens; station 4937, Kagoshima Gulf, lat. 31 13' N.; long.
130 43' 10" E., 58 fathoms, mud, lava, pebbles, bottom tempera-
ture 64.8, 32 specimens; station 4946, off southern Japan, lat.
31 29' 10" N.; long. 130 34' 30" E., 39 fathoms, brown sand,
broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 68.7, 1 specimen; sta-
tion 4947, off southern Japan, lat. 31 28' 20" N.; long. 130 35' 30"
E., 51 fathoms, 1 specimen; station 5055, Suruga Gulf, lat. 34 53' N.;
long. 138 44' 15" E., 124 fathoms, green mud, gray sand, broken
shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 56.6, 2 specimens; station 5068,
Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 2' 25" N.; long. 138 46' 55" E., 77 to 131
fathoms, black sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 63, 1 speci-
men; station 5069, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 10" N.; long. 138 47'
E., 108 to 131 fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells, bottom tempera-
ture 55.8, 11 specimens; station 5070, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 25"
N.; long. 138 47' 40" E., 108 fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells,
bottom temperature 57.6, 8 specimens; station 5091, Uraga Strait,
lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197 fathoms, green mud,
coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 47.6, 6 specimens;
station 5092, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 50" N.; long. 139 38' 18" E.,
70 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature 56.3, 3 speci-
mens; station 5093, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 3' 15" N.; long. 139
37' 42" E., 302 fathoms, coarse black sand, bottom temperature
43.9, 1 specimen; station 5094, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 42" N.;
long. 139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 54.8, 5 specimens; station 5095, Uraga Strait, lat. 35
5' 34" N.; long. 139 38' 36" E., 58 fathoms, fine black sand, broken
shells, bottom temperature 57.8, 14 specimens. Bathymetrical
range, 11J to 302 fathoms. Temperature range, 68.7 to 42.5. Four
hundred and eleven specimens.
There is no doubt that this is a most variable species and these
specimens ranging in disk diameter from 3 to 17 mm., reveal it to a
remarkable degree. They vary in color, in abundance and size
of disk stumps and spines, in slenderness of arm spines and in degree
to which radial shields are bare, and extremes in any one of these
260
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
points may agree well in others. Few of the specimens answer to
Duncan's description of the color, but the majority have the longi-
tudinal white stripe on upper side of arm more or less distinct.
Greenish, whitish, gray, and brown tints are more common than
red in dried specimens. The arms are often banded with light and
dark shades. The radial shields are usually bare, but are often
partly, and sometimes wholly covered with the more or less trifid
stumps. In some specimens there are no spines on the disk, only
the trifid stumps; in others the disk spines are more numerous than
the stumps, and the latter are occasionally very few. The relative
length of the thorns and the base, of the stumps, and the degree to
FIG. 127. OPHIOTHKIX KOEEANA. X 3. o, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
which the thorns are united to each other by membrane vary greatly.
In some specimens the stumps are practically wanting and the disk
spines very long and crowded; these specimens are so different from
typical Icoreana that I attempted to separate them as a distinct
species but connecting links are too numerous to permit one to
follow that course. The arm spines are usually slender and some-
what tapering, not rarely almost acicular though rough, but they are
sometimes stouter and very blunt; occasionally they are flattened;
the lowest forms a hook, as described by Duncan, but this very
inconspicuous feature is not at all diagnostic, for the same structure
occurs to a greater or less degree in many species of Ophioihrix.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 261
The largest specimen (fig. 127) has almost no trifid stumps, but
numerous rough disk spines of very variable length. In fig. 128a
is shown one of the most interesting varieties, a specimen from
station 5055; in this individual the disk stumps have very long
thorns, usually only two, and these are united to each other by a
membrane; there are no disk spines; the arm spines are unusually
slender and the upper arm plates are unusually long, somewlia/t
FIG. 128. OPHIOTHRIX KOREANA. a, PAKT OF SPECIMEN FROM STATION 5055, FROM ABOVE, x 6; 6, PART
OF SPECIMEN FROM STATION 4878, FROM ABOVE, X 8.
pentagonal with distal angle rounded and proximo-lateral sides
longest and concave, rather than straight; the disk is nearly white,
the arms very pale brown, with a broad longitudinal white stripe
bordered on each side with reddish, faintly indicated on upper side
of arm. Another interesting specimen, taken at station 4878, is
shown in fig. 128Z>; this individual has extraordinarily long and
prominent disk spines and the color of the disk is unique, uniform
262
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
deep purple, the disk spines, and distal ends of radial shields (with
adjoining disk margin) nearly white in marked contrast.
OPHIOTHRIX SPICULATA.
Ophiothrix spiculata LECONTE, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 5, 1851,
p. 318.
Localities. Albatross station 3329, Bering Sea, lat. 53 56' 50"
N.; long. 167 8' 15" W., 399 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom tem-
perature 37.7, 12 specimens; West Coast of North America, 3
specimens.
The specimens labeled "West Coast of North America' 7 have
evidently been in alcohol a long time and have lost all color, but
FIG. 129. OPHIOTHRIX SPICULATA. X 4.5. o, FROM ABOVE; 5, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
those labeled "3329" show the characteristic blue and red coloring
of the species. The largest specimen, in particular has the arms
bright purplish-blue with frequent narrow cross bands of reddish.
All the specimens agree in having the disk fully, and the radial shields
sparsely, covered with rough spinelets, which can scarcely be divided
into "stumps" and "spines," but differ from each other only in
length and thickness. This is the only difference between these
specimens, and typical examples from Pearl Islands, Panama. It is
hard to believe that there is not some mistake about the label, " 3329,"
for it is most extraordinary that such a bright-colored, littoral, Pana-
micform as spiculata should occur in deep water in Bering Sea. The
NORTH PACIFIC OPHITJRANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 263
record may well be regarded as very doubtful, at least until the
species is reported from Alaska.
OPHIOTHRIX LONGIPEDA.
Ophiura longipeda LAMARCK, Anim. s. Vert., vol. 2, 1816, p. 544.
Ophiothrix longipeda MULLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. 113.
Locality. Ousima, Japan, 3 specimens.
Two of these specimens are very large, having a disk diameter of
30 mm. and arms
645 mm. long; the
arms are thus more
than twenty -one ^sh^&
times the disk di-
ameter.
OPHIOTHRIX HYLODES,
new species."
Disk 10 mm. in
diameter; arms
about 45 mm. long.
Disk thickly cov
ered with stout
blunt, rough spines,
which are of nearly
uniform length.
Radial shields mod-
era te, triangular,
much longer than
wide, well sepa-
rated; they carry
many of the disk
spines, but although
their outlines are
thereby obscured the distal portion is nearly bare. Upper arm
plates rounded hexagonal or rhombic, wider than long. Oral sur-
face with no characteristic features. Arm spines about eight in
number, of moderate length, rough, blunt, and somewhat flattened.
Color (dried from alcohol), variable; in type, disk and oral surface
brown; arms dull purplish with a longitudinal light stripe more
or less clearly indicated; in other specimens, disk pale brown or
greenish, arms greenish, with longitudinal light stripe very faintly
indicated.
Localities. Misaki, Japan, 2 specimens; Ayukawa, Japan, 1 speci-
men. " Northwestern Pacific, probably Japan/ 7 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25723, U.S.N.M., from Misaki.
u'rhbdyc, signifying wooded, in reference t the thick covering of spines on the disk.
FIG. 130. OPHIOTHRIX HYLODES. x 5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BE-
LOW; C, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
264
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Although the general appearance of these specimens is quite dis-
tinctive, and trifid stumps appear to be wholly wanting, the indi-
cations of a longitudinal white stripe on the upper side of the arms
make me suspicious that this is only an extreme variety of koreana.
Observations on an extended series of living specimens at Misaki
would very easily settle the matter.
OPHIOTHRIX PANCHYENDYTA, new species.a
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 to 40 mm. long, probably.
Disk thicjdy covered with nearly smooth, cylindrical spines, blunt and
FIG. 131. OPHIOTHRIX PANCHYENDYTA. a, FROM ABOVE, x 5; 6, FROM BELOW, x 5; c, SIDE VIEW OF
TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK, X 5; d, AN UPPER ARM PLATE, X 15; e, AN UNDER ARM PLATE, X 15j
/, A TENTACLE, X 15.
rough at tip. Radial shields very large, smooth, nearly free from
spines, in contact at inner, distal corner, but elsewhere separated by a
narrow series of scales bearing numerous small spines. Upper arm
plates (fig. 13ld) rhombic, coarsely granular, a little swollen, wider
than long, in contact throughout ; the first one carries a tubercle on
which is borne a conspicuous spine. Interbrachial spaces below
fully covered with scales and spinelets like those of disk. Oral
shields, adoral plates, and under arm plates rather indistinct (as
u, signifying wholly, and Ivdurbf, signifying clothed, in reference to the inter-
brachial spaces below being entirely covered with scales and spinelets..
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 265
though skin-covered) and slightly swollen, coarsely granular. Under
arm plates (fig. 13 le) widely separated, very much wider than long.
Arm spines about eight, rather short, slightly flattened at blunt, rough
tip. Tentacles large and very papillose (fig. 13 I/), therefore tentacle
pores very large. Color (dried from alcohol), very pale fawn color.
Locality. Albatross station 4876, Korea Strait, lat. 34 -201JL;
long. 130 10' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 62.1, 3 specimens; station 4877, Korea Strait, lat. 34
20' 30" N.; long. 130 11' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken
shells, 1 specimen.
Type.Csit. No. 25644, U.S.N.M., from station 4876.
Although this species is possessed of a number of distinctive
characters, I am in doubt as to the reliability of any of them. Thus
the disk spines differ from those of either Jcoreana or liylodes, but it is
not really an essential difference, and the coarse granulation of the
upper arm plates, very different from what is shown by the other
species, is probably not a distinctive peculiarity. So the conspicuous
spine-bearing tubercle on the first upper arm plate of each arm, may
not be a constant feature, and even if it is, similar, if not as con-
spicuous, tubercles occur in other species of OpMothrix. The complete
covering of the interbrachial spaces below helps to distinguish
panchyendyta from Jiylodes and most specimens of Jcoreana, but not
from all! The arms of panchyendyta seem to be unusually short, but
as all are broken, it is not possible to reach a positive decision on the
point. As the general appearance of these specimens is quite unique,
they may well stand by themselves for the present.
OPHIOTHRIX EUSTEIRA, new species, a
Disk 9 mm. in diameter; arms about 60 mm. long, probably.
Disk with numerous, but not crowded, minute thorny stumps and at
center with a number of very long, slender, rough spines; there are
smaller, smoother spines between the radial shields and rarely in the
interradial spaces. Radial shields very large, covering most of disk,
free from stumps and spines; interradial distance between two about
twice radial; lateral margins straight, distal margin concave. Upper
arm plates beyond first, rhombic, longer than wide, in contact and
strongly carinate. Interbrachial spaces below well covered with
minute stumps. Genital slits large. Oral shields very much wider
than long, rounded laterally. Adoral plates large, broader without
than within, where they meet. Tooth papilla about thirty, rather
pointed, forming a high narrow oval group. First four or five under
arm plates, longer than wide, next five or six squarish, succeeding plates
En, signifying well, and oreipa, signifying keel, in reference to the form of the
upper arm plates.
266 BULLETIN *75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
longer than wide again. Side arm plates moderate, not meeting either
above or below; each plate carries six or seven long, slender, acute,
thorny spines, of which the lowest is very small, while the uppermost
or next is longest and at base of arm may equal fully four joints.
Tentacle pores very large, each with a single small tentacle scale which
may be lacking on the first one or two joints. Color (dried from
alcohol) , light wood-brown, disk spines, arm spines, and keel on upper
arm plates white in marked contrast.
FIG. 132. OPHIOTHRIX EUSTEIRA.
a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
Locality. Ousima, Japan, William Stimpson, collector, 2 specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 3319, U.S.N.M., from Ousima.
There can be no question about the distinctness of this beautiful
species which has lain unnamed for half a century, in the collections
of the National Museum. The few, long, white arm spines, the long
under arm plates, and the long, strongly keeled upper arm plates are
striking features apart from the characters of the disk. It seems
strange that such a handsome and noticeable species should have so
long awaited description, and it is also rather remarkable that no
NORTH PACIFIC OPHlURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 26?
specimens of it were taken by the Fisheries steamer Albatross on either
of her Japanese cruises.
OPHIOTHRIX MACROBRACHIA, new species, a
Disk 11 mm. in diameter; arms apparently about 165 mm. long.
Disk covered with a thick skin containing scales which bear slender,
minutely thorny spines of variable length and acuteness. Radial
shields very large, but completely hidden by the skin, except at inner
distal corner, where they are barely in contact. Upper arm plates
pentagonal, becoming squarish far out on arm; first four or five small
and separated from each other by skin; succeeding twenty or so in
contact ; remainder more or less separated. Interbrachial spaces below
FIG. 133. OPHIOTHRIX MACROBRACHIA. X 4.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
quite naked, the thin skin with only a few scattered minute spine-
lets. Oral shields wide, sometimes twice as wide as long, more or less
oval or elliptical. Adoral plates very small, not meeting within; jaw
frames with a large median perforation. Teeth about four and teeth
papillae about twenty on each jaw. Under arm plates with rather
indistinct outlines, but hardly in contact with each other, and usually
well separated; first two or three longer than wide, following squarish
or wider than long until toward tip of arm, they become longer than
wide again; each plate has a more or less distinct median, minute
notch in distal and proximal margins, connected by a longitudinal line
on its surface, the cause of which is hard to determine, for it is not
a MoKpoe, signifying long, and ftpa%'ctov, signifying arm, in reference to the very long
arms.
268 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
due to a ridge ; a furrow, or color; possibly the plate is thinner along
that line. Side arm plates not very large, each with about eight
blunt, nearly smooth arm spines, of which the lowest are very small,
while the two or three uppermost are equal to two or three joints-
Tentacle pores large but tentacle scales wanting. Color (dried from
alcohol), disk pure white, arms and spines very pale cream or fawn
color, interbranchial spaces below dark brown or blackish; a few
specimens have a reddish tinge, and in one very small specimen the
bare part of the radial shields is deep pink.
Localities. Albatross station 3707, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 63 to 75 fathoms, volcanic sand, ashes, gravel, 5 specimens;
station 3715, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 65 to 68 fathoms,
volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 15 specimens; station 3727^ off Omai
Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 34 fathoms, mud, coarse sand, black
shells, 13 specimens; station 3729, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 34 fathoms, mud, gravel, 8 specimens; station 3734, off Omai
Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 36 to 48 fathoms, coarse gray volcanic
sand, broken shells, 10 specimens; station 3735, off Omai Zaki, Hon-
shu Island, Japan, 36 fathoms, coarse gray volcanic sand, broken
shells, 1 specimen; station 4875, Korea Strait, lat. 34 19' N.J long.
130 9' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken shells, bottom tempera-
ture 62.1, 1 specimen; station 4890, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 26' 30"
N.; long. 128 36' 30" E., 135 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature
52.3, 1 specimen; station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long.
128 32' 50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles,
bottom temperature 55.9, 2 specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 33' N.;- long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken
shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 3 specimens; station 4895,
Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms,
green sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 5 speci-
mens; station 4936, Eastern Sea, lat 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37'
30" E., 103 fathoms, stones, bottom temperature 60.6, 10 specimens;
station 4948, Bungo Channel, lat. 31 19' N.; long. 131 23' E., 65
fathoms, dark gray volcanic sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom
temperature 62.6, 5 specimens; station 5069, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35
3' 10" N.; long. 138 47' E., 108 to 131 fathoms, mud, sand, broken
shells, bottom temperature 55.8, 1 specimen; station 5070, Suruga
Gulf, lat. 35 3' 25" N.; long. 138 47' 40" E., 108 fathoms, mud,
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 57.6, 2 specimens. Bathy-
metrical range, 34 to 135 fathoms. Temperature range, 62.6 to 52.3.
Eighty-two specimens.
Type.Csit. No. 25712, U.S.N.M., from station 4875.
This unusually handsome and well-characterized species reminds
one strongly of Ophiogymna, but the disk spines and upper arm plates
are those of an Ophiofhrix and it seems better to place it in that genus.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 269
The contrast between the disk and the interbrachial spaces l>elow,
both in texture of skin and in color, is most striking, and the very
long arms with nearly smooth arm spines are additional features of
interest. The specimens before me range in disk diameter from 4.5
to 11 mm.
FAMILY OPHIOMYXIM;.
OPHIOBYRSA ACANTHINOBRACHIA, new species.
Disk 20 mm. in diameter; arms about 280 mm. long. Disk covered
by a soft skin, which carries numerous scattered plates, each of which
bears a single, small spinelet. Radial shields faintly indicated and
part of distal end more or less visible. Upper arm plates broken up
into small fragments, each one of which carries a little spinelet like
those of disk; these transverse spine-bearing bands are separated
from each other by bare skin. Interbrachial spaces below like disk.
Genital slits rather big. Mouth parts and lower surface of arms more
FIG. 134. OPHIOBYRSA ACANTHINOBRACHIA. X 2.5. c f FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF
TWO ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
or less concealed by skin. Oral shields rounded triangular about as
long as wide. Adoral plates large, short, and wide, hardly meeting
within; oral plates about as large. Oral papillae few, minute, irregu-
lar. Teeth (or tooth papillae) spiniform, rough at tip, in two more
or less irregular vertical series. Under arm plates obscure, squarish,
with rounded corners, wider than long, distal margin with a deep
notch. Side arm plates small, each one bearing six or seven small,
acute, subequal skin-covered arm spines, about half as long as joint;
lowest arm spine hooked. No tentacle scales. Color (dried from
alcohol), dull yellowish or reddish brown; young specimens, yellow.
Localities. Albatross station 4894, Eastern Sea ; lat. 32 33' N.;
long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles,
, signifying thorny, and /fy>a/wy, signifying arm, in reference to the numer-
ous small spines on the upper arm plates.
270
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
bottom temperature 55.9, 2 specimens; station 4895, Eastern Sea,
lat. 32 33' 10" N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand,
broken shells, pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 2 specimens; sta-
tion 5070, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 25" N.; long. 138 47' 40" E., 108
fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 57. 6, 2
specimens.
Type. Cat. No. 25585, U.S.N.M., from station 4895.
The transverse spiny bands on the upper side of the arms will
readily distinguish this species from all of its allies. The specimens
before me have a disk diameter ranging from 5 to 20 mm.
OPHIOBYRSA SYNAPTACANTHA, new species, a
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms about 220 mm. long. Disk covered
by skin containing numerous rounded scales, only a few of which
carry minute sharp spinelets. Radial shields small, well separated,
plainly indicated and made conspicuous by the linear group of spine-
lets which they carry, at least on the proximal end. Upper arm
FIG. 135. OPHIOBYRSA SYNAPTACANTHA. x 4. a, FROM ABOVE; &, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF
THREE ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
plates separated by naked skin, broken into several pieces, of which
two median are largest; none of them carry spines or spinelets.
Interbrachial spaces below like disk. Genital slits large. Plates of
whole oral surface more or less obscured by skin. Oral shields small,
apparently squarish-oval, longer than wide. Adoral plates at sides
of shield very small, much longer than wide. Oral papillae and teeth
(tooth papillae ?) as in acanthinobrachia. Under arm plates indistinct,
apparently longer than wide, with a deep median notch in distal
margin. Side arm plates small, each with four cylindrical, blunt,
spines, about as long as joint, more or less united to each other by a
fold of skin, which includes two-thirds or more of each spine. No
tentacle scales. Color (dried from alcohol), dark brown.
Locality. Albatross station 4933, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 59' N.;
long. 130 29' 50" E., 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 56,
1 specimen.
a luvanrk, signifying joined together, and 8.KavOa, signifying spine, in reference to the
webbed arm spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 271
Type.C&t. No. 25714, U.S.N.M., from station 4933.
There may be some question whether the webbed arm spines are
not sufficient to remove this species from Ophiobyrsa, but the upper
arm plates, disk covering, mouth parts, and lack of tentacle scales
seem to me sufficient reasons for placing it in that genus. The
smooth upper surface of the arms, plus the webbed arm spines, will
serve to distinguish synaptacantha from the other members of the
group.
OPHIOMYXA AUSTRALIS.
Ophiomyxa australis LUTKEN, Add. Hist. Oph., pt. 3, 1869, p. 45.
Localities. Albatross station 3757, off Suno Saki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 41 to 50 fathoms, coarse coral sand, gravel, 8 specimens;
station 4880, Korea Strait, lat. 34 16' N.; long. 130 16' E., 59
fathoms, fine gray sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 62.1,
1 specimen; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' N.; long. 128 32'
10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 55.9, 2 specimens; station 4895, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10"
N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken shells,
pebbles, bottom temperature 55.9, 1 specimen; station 4936, Eastern
Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones,
bottom temperature 60.6, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 41
to 103 fathoms. Temperature range, 62.1 to 55.9. Fourteen
specimens.
These specimens range in disk diameter from 6 to 20 mm. and
vary in color from light gray or yellowish to deep brown. The num-
ber of arm spines varies from four .(rarely three, often five) in small
individuals to six, sometimes seven, in large ones. *
OPHIOMYXA ANISACANTHA, new species, o
Disk 20 mm. in diameter; arms about 120 mm. long. Similar to
australis, except that the disk skin is thinner and the marginal scales
are wanting; the oral papillae are smaller, especially the outermost,
which are smallest, and are well spaced; and the arm spines are
longer and fewer, three (rarely two, often four) in small individuals
and four (very rarely five) in large ones ; uppermost spine largest and
stoutest next lower shorter and somewhat more slender; third very
slender, about equal to second; lowest as long as or longer than
uppermost, but very much more slender. Color (dried from alcohol),
ranging from nearly white to dull reddish-brown.
Localities. Albatross station 3749, off Suno Saki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 83 to 158 fathoms, black sand, shells, 11 specimens; station
4892, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 27' 30" N. ; long. 128 33' E., 181 fathoms,
gray sand, broken shells, rocks, bottom temperature 50.2, 1 speci-
""Aveooe, signifying unequal, and amvOa, signifying spine, in reference to the inequal-
ity of the arm spines.
272
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
men; station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N. ; long. 128 32' 50" E.,
95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom tem-
perature 55.9, 4 specimens; station 4912, Eastern Sea, lat, 31 39' 40"
N.; long. 129 20' E., 391 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze, bottom
temperature 41.9, 1 specimen; station 5069, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3'
10" N.; long. 138 47' E., 108 to 131 fathoms, mud, sand, broken
shells, bottom temperature 55.8, 3 specimens; station 5070, Suruga
Gulf, lat. 35 3' 25" N.; long. 138 47' 40" E., 108 fathoms, mud,
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 57.6, 5 specimens; station
5091, Uraga Strait, lat. 35 4' 10" N.; long. 139 38' 12" E., 197
fathoms, green mud, coarse black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature
47.6, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 83 to 391 fathoms. Tem-
perature range, 57.6 to 41.9. Twenty-six specimens.
Type.C&t. No. 25605, U.S.N.M., from station 4892.
FIG. 136. OPHIOMYXA ANISACANTHA. x 2.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
The differences in number, length, and proportions of arm spines
between this species and australis seem to be very constant, and con-
sequently adult specimens of the two species are easy to distinguish.
Naturally very small specimens can not be separated so easily, but
on comparison even they can be distinguished. In the series of
anisacaniha before me the disk diameter ranges from 5 to 21 mm.
OPHIOPHRIXUS, new genus.
Disk nearly naked, carrying only a few scattered scales. Radial
shields narrow and compressed, bearing a linear series of erect, acute
a O&o and (frpljoe, signifying a bristling, in reference to the bristling combs of spines
on the radial shields.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 273
spines. Upper arm plates wanting. Teeth spiniform in a double
series, followed by a few tooth papillae ; oral papillae reduced to a few
tubercles. Under arm plates present. Arm spines rough and skin-
covered. Tentacle scales wanting.
Type-species, Ophiophrixus acanthinus.
Although this genus has the form and general appearance of Ophio-
myxa, it is evident from the mouth parts that it is not really very
nearly related to that group. The notable radial shields and the
absence of upper arm plates are further obvious, but not so essential,
differences.
OPHIOPHRIXUS ACANTHINUS, new species.^
Disk 12 mm. in diameter; arms about 80 to 85 mm. long. Disk
covered with a thin skin carrying, near center, a few scattered scales,
FIG. 137. OPHIOPHRIXUS ACANTHINUS. x 4. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
each of which bears a minute spine. Radial shields narrow, and com-
pressed into a distinct ridge, well separated, parallel; each one carries
six or seven erect, acute spines. Between distal ends of radial
shields of each pair are two large calcareous plates in contact with
each other. Upper arm plates wanting, but arm bones show through
thin skin of arm. Interbrachial spaces below naked. Genital slits
large. Oral shields rather large, triangular, with curved lateral mar-
gins, about as long as wide. Adoral plates large, much broader
without than within where they meet. Jaws very short, each with
a double series of rough spiniform teeth, below which, at apex of
jaw, are four or five small, blunt tooth papillae, irregularly arranged;
f, signifying thorny, in reference to the appearance of the arms.
34916 Bull. 7511 - 18
274 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
on each side of jaw, there are often to be found one or two small
blunt tubercles, which may be regarded as rudimentary oral papillae.
First under arm plate wider than long; second and third about
square; succeeding plates more or less indistinct, each with a deep
median notch in distal margin. Side arm plates small and narrow;
each plate carries four slender, acute, thorny, skin-covered spines;
next to uppermost longest and equal to two joints. Tentacle pores
large but tentacle scales none. Color (dried from alcohol), yellow
brown.
Locality. Albatross station 3704, off Seno Umi, Honshu Island,
Japan, 94 to 150 fathoms, fine volcanic sand, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25713, U.S.N.M., from station 3704.
This unique specimen, one of the most interesting in the whole col-
lection, is unusually well preserved, so that its characters are easily
made out. Although it looks more like an OpJiiomyxa than an
Ophiobyrsa, on account of the shorter and wider arms, its real rela-
tionships are probably nearer the latter genus.
OPHIOCYNODUS, new genus.
Disk covered with naked skin. Radial shields, upper arm plates
and tentacle scales wanting. Teeth, tooth papillae and oral papillae
alike, spiniform, rough at tip.
Type-species. Ophiocynodus corynetes.
This genus presents a really remarkable combination of characters,
for while its general appearance resembles Opliiomyxa, the mouth
parts and the absence of radial shields and upper arm plates show
it is no near relative of that group.
OPHIOCYNODUS CORYNETES, new species.6
Disk 30 mm. in diameter; arms about 160 mm. long. Disk covered
with a naked skin on which are scattered some calcareous grains.
Radial shields wanting, but expanded upper ends of genital plates
show through the skin at base of arm. No upper arm plates. Inter-
brachial spaces below, naked. Oral shields small, longer than wide,
wider within than without. Adoral plates large, three times as long
as wide; oral plates large. Teeth, tooth papillae, and oral papillae
all alike, rather numerous, spiniform and rough at tip; upper teeth
largest; distal oral papillae smallest. Under arm plates large, dis-
tinct, except first two longer than wide. Side arm plates small,
each with three subequal spines, nearly equal. to two joints; upper-
most spine pointed, lowest club-shaped with a marked swelling at
tip; middle spine intermediate; all spines are rough at tip, and more
a Ofao and Ktjvddotjf, signifying canine tooth, in reference to the epiniform teeth and
oral papillae.
& KopuvrjTrjf, signifying a club-bearer in reference to the form of the lower arm
spines.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 275
or less skin-covered. Tentacle pores very large but tentacle scales
none. Color (dried from alcohol), disk, deep brown, arms yellowish
or dirty whitish.
Localities. Albatross station 3071, off Washington, lat. 47 29' N.;
long. 125 33 ' 30" W., 685 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature
38, 1 specimen; station 3347, off Washington, lat. 45 9' 35 '^N.;
long. 124 45' W., 345 fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 40.9,
1 specimen.
Type.C&t. No. 25607, U.S.N.M., from station 3347.
It is unfortunate that both of the specimens are badly damaged,
the disk being entirely gone in the smaller specimen and more -than
three-fifths gone in the larger. In spite of this defect, however, the
larger specimen shows its unique characters very clearly, so that I
have not hesitated to base the new species and genus upon it. Most
FIG. 138. OPHIOCYNODUS CORYNETES. x 2. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
of the lower arm spines are much more conspicuously clubbed and
thorny at the tip than is shown in the figures. Better specimens
may reveal scales present in the skin of the disk.
OPHIOSYZYGUS, new genus.
Disk covered with skin in which are embedded, at least near margin,
numerous minute delicate scales, on which are borne larger calcare-
ous granules. Radial shields, upper arm plates, and tentacle scales
wanting. Arm spines few, with upper ones successively united to
each other by a broad, thin, horizontal membrane. Teeth reduced
to cluster of few, minute, rough spinelets at apex of jaw. Oral
papillaB small and few, but distinct, not like teeth.
a"0(f>w and ourufo^, signifying joined together, in reference to the uniting of the arm
spines by membrane.
276
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Type-species . OpTiiosyzygus disacanthus.
Although this genus is doubtless rather nearly related to OpTiiocy-
nodus, the disk structure being essentially the same in the two, the
difference in mouth parts is too marked to allow them to be united,
even if the remarkable web on the arm. spines of Ophiosyzygus be
ignored.
OPHIOSYZYGUS DISACANTHUS, new species, a
Disk 16 mm. in diameter; arms about 60 mm. long probably.
Disk covered with an apparently naked skin, which under a micro-
scope is seen to contain numerous thin scales, and bears scattered
calcareous granules. Radial shields wanting, but expanded ends of
genital plates are conspicuous through skin at base of each arm.
Upper arm plates wanting. Interbrachial spaces below naked.
Genital slits small. Oral shields small, about as long as wide. Adoral
FIG. 139. OPHIOSYZYGUS DISACANTHUS. X 3. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
plates large, much wider without than within where they meet.
Oral papillae, about three on a side, at distal end of mouth slit, small,
almost conical, acute. Teeth (tooth papillae ?) few, irregular in num-
ber, size, and position, spiniform with rough tips, clustered at apex of
j aw. Under arm plates longer than wide, somewhat tetragonal,
distinct at base of arm, but quickly becoming very thin and indistinct,
especially proximally. Side arm plates low but becoming very long
distally, each bearing on its swollen, distal end, two spines, of which
upper equals (at base of arm) two joints and lower is distinctly
shorter; spines, slender, acute. Upper spine on each joint connected
with adjoining upper spines by a thin, broad, horizontal membrane,
dlf, signifying twice and
of arm spines.
signifying spine, in reference to the number
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 277
which extends out well beyond middle of spine, thus forming a sort
of "fin" on each side of arm; each lower spine is connected with
upper spine of same joint by a narrow membrane; these little vertical
"fins" are much less conspicuous, however, than the horizontal one
above them. Tentacle pores very large but tentacle scales none.
Color (dried from alcohol) , disk brown, spotted with white calcareous
granules; arms nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 4934, off Kagoshima Gulf, lat. 30
58' 30" N.; long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, rocky, bottom
temperature 60.6 to 56, 1 specimen; station 4936, off Kagoshima
Gulf, lat. 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones,
bottom temperature 60.6, 1 specimen; station 5094, Uraga Strait,
lat. 35 4' 42" N.; long. 139 38' 20" E., 88 fathoms, black sand,
broken shells, bottom temperature 54.8, 1 specimen.
Type. Cut. No. 25671, U.S.N.M., from station 4934.
The disk of the type is badly damaged, while the arms are fairly
well preserved. The specimen from station 4936 has a pretty good
disk but the arms are in poor condition and fail to. show the webs.
The specimen from station 5094 is so badly damaged it is not certain
that it belongs to this species. Judging from the arm structure of
the type, it seems as though this species ought to be able to swim,
and it is quite possible that such is its regular mode of locomotion.
Observations on its habits would be most interesting.
OPHIOHYMEN, new genus.
Disk and arms covered with naked skin. Radial shields and upper
arm plates wanting. Mouth parts as in Ophiomyxa. Arm spines
connected vertically by membranes and upper ones also connected
horizontally.
Type-species. Ophiohymen gymnodiscus.
This genus is a curious connecting link between Ophiosyzygus,
which it resembles in disk and arm structure, and Ophiomyxa. which
it is like in its mouth parts.
OPHIOHYMEN GYMNODISCUS, new species.^
Disk 8 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk and arms
covered with a thick skin, extending also over interbrachial spaces
below, lower surface of arms and jaws and even to tips of oral papillae.
No radial shields, upper arm plates or tentacle scales. Upper ends of
genital plates scarcely visible at base of arms, from above, but genital
scales extending into interbrachial spaces, plainly visible from below
v #</>.'o and i/ir}v, signifying membrane in reference to membrane connecting arm
spines.
b Fo^of, signifying naked, and dlaKof, signifying disk, in reference to the perfectly
bare disk.
278
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
(fig. 140&). Outlines of under arm plates indistinct; apparently they
are wider' than long. Oral shields large, about as long as wide. Ado-
ral plates long and narrow, almost L-shaped; oral plates well devel-
oped. Genital slits long. Oral papillae about five on a side, most
proximal largest, rounded and finely serrate at tip. Teeth large, flat,
with rounded and serrate tips. Arm spines three, lowest slightly
longest equalling joint, and middle one usually shortest; each vertical
series of three are joined to each other by a membrane, reaching
nearly to their tips; in addition, all uppermost spines are joined to
each other by a narrow horizontal membrane, which reaches to or
beyond middle of spines. Color (dried from alcohol), dull purplish-
red, arms indistinctly banded with yellowish.
Locality Albatross station 4903, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 31' 10" N.;
long. 128 33' 20" E., 107 to 139 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells,
bottom temperature 52.9 (?), 1 specimen.
Type.C&t. No. 25537, U.S.N.M., from station 4903.
This specimen is badly damaged, most of the disk being gone, but
FIG. 140. OPHIOHYMEN GYMNODISCUS. X 6. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
its characters seem to be well shown nevertheless. Further material
is necessary to determine some points of structure, and observations
on living material can alone show what the functions of the arm
membranes are. It is easy to suppose they are natatorial.
OPHIOLEPTOPLAX, new genus."
Disk and arms covered by naked skin. Radial shields wanting.
Upper arm plates apparently present in form of very thin, transpar-
, signifying plate, in reference to the thin
a 0$to and h-mfc, signifying thin, and
transparent upper arm plates.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 279
ent scales. Oral papillae very few and small. Teeth reduced to a
small cluster at apex of jaw. No tentacle scales.
Type-species. OpJiioleptoplax megapora.
The specimen upon which this genus rests is probably immature,
but I can not refer it to any known species or genus. In its mouth
parts it is very near OpMosyzygus, but its arm structure is quite differ-
ent. Yet I am not satisfied that the supposed upper arm plates are
really homologous with the upper arm plates of other genera. They
are certainly not calcareous and they may be nothing but skin
thickenings on each joint. Their appearance in this specimen may
be an individual peculiarity.
FIG. 141. OPHIOLEPTOPLAX MEGAPORA. x 8. a, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; c, SIDE VIEW OF TWO
ARM JOINTS NEAR DISK.
OPHIOLEPTOPLAX MEGAPORA, new species.o
Disk 6 mm. in diameter; arms about 25 mm. long. Disk covered
with a thick, naked skin. Radial shields wanting, but upper ends
of genital plates are visible at base of each arm. Upper arm plates
represented by what appear to be very thin transparent noncalca-
reous scales, squarish in outline and rather wider than long; arm
bones plainly visible through them. Interbrachial spaces below
naked. Genital slits small. Oral shields very small, wider than long.
Adoral plates very large, much wider without than within. Oral
papillae, one to three on each side, minute, sharp conical spinelets.
Teeth (tooth papillae?) reduced to a small cluster at apex of jaw, of
very small, rough-pointed spinelets. Under arm plates longer than
, signifying big, and xopoc, signifying a pore, in reference to the large tenta-
cle pores.
280 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
wide, with deeply concave sides, on account of the huge tentacle pores,
which have no tentacle scales. Side arm plates low, each with three
subequal, cylindrical, blunt spines, a trifle longer than joint. Color
(dried from alcohol), disk brown; arms whitish.
Locality. Albatross station 4888, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 26' N. ; long.
129 27' 30" E., 71 fathoms, dark gray sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 59.7, 1 specimen.
Type. Cat. No. 25619, U.S.N.M., from station 4888.
This specimen is well preserved but I think it is immature and the
validity not only of the genus, but of the species as well, must remain
doubtful until further material is obtained.
Family ASTEOPHYTID^.
ASTEROPORPA HADRACANTHA, new species.a
Disk 7 mm. in diameter; arms about 35 mm. long. Disk covered
with small unequal granules, among which some at center are largest;
in type, six primary plates are very obvious, but these are not usually
distinguishable with ease. Radial shields concealed but forming
five conspicuous wedge-shaped divisions of disk, upon which double
parallel series, of smooth and hook-bearing granules alternate; gran-
ules between wedges smooth. Uppe^ surface of arms covered like
radial wedges by alternating series of smooth and hook-bearing
granules ; although the bands of smooth granules are really decidedly
wider than those of hook-bearing granules, the latter seem wider
because the most distal and most proximal row of smooth granules
form an elevated border to the hook-bearing bands which are thus set
above and made more conspicuous than the smooth ones. Inter-
brachial spaces below large, covered, as is all of oral surface, by a pave-
ment of granules. Genital slits small, oblique but approaching vertical.
Teeth and tooth papillae longer and more slender than oral papillae,
which are few, short, and pointed. Under surface of arms paved
with granules. First pair of tentacle pores of arm, small, unprotected ;
succeeding pores protected by a ridge carrying tentacle scales or
arm spines. Second pore has two or three such scales, third three
or four, and succeeding pores five or six such spinelets; they are
short and thick, lowest particularly so and about as thick as long,
thorny with glassy points at tip. Color (dried from alcohol), very
light brown or nearly white.
Localities. Albatross station 3727, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 34 fathoms, mud, coarse sand, broken shells, 2 specimens;
a 'Adpoc, signifying stout, and aKavOa, signifying spine, in reference to the short,
thick arm spines. As Orstedt and Liitken's original spelling, " Asteroporpa,"
is philologically correct, it ought to be used rather than the contracted form, " Astro-
porpa."
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK.
station 3730, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 34 to 37 fathoms,
mud, gravel, rocks, 1 specimen; station 3764, off Suno Saki, Honshu
Island, Japan, 44 to 50 fathoms, fine gravel, broken shells, 1 specimen ;
station 4936, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130 37' 30" E.,
103 fathoms, stones, bottom temperature 60.6, 1 specimen. Bathy-
metrical range, 34 to 103 fathoms. Five specimens.
Type Cat. No. 25727, U.S.N.M., from station 3764.
It is a matter of no little interest to find this genus occurring off
the coast of Japan, for it was previously known only from the West
Indies and Australia. The present species differs from those pre-
FlG. 142. ASTEROPORPA HADBACANTHA. X 7. d, FROM ABOVE; b, FROM BELOW; C, STDE VIEW OF THKEE
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
viously known in its very short and thick arm spines, the lowest one
on the basal part of the arm being particularly characteristic. It is
interesting to find that in the relative width of the alternate bands
of granules on the arm the Japanese species does not resemble the
Australian form. Comparison of fig. 142 with that of A. aus-
tralianus a shows how distinct the two species are.
ASTROCHELE L.EVIS, new species.6
Disk 20 mm. in diameter; arms about 100 mm. long, probably.
Disk high, convex, covered with a thick, uniform coat of flattened,
a Mem. Aust. Mus., vol. 4, pi. 54, fig. 2.
bLsevis, signifying smooth, in reference to the relatively low and flat disk granules.
282
BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
slightly convex granules. Radial shields completely covered, but
their presence indicated by five pairs of conspicuous ridges, extend-
ing from arm bases to center of disk. Margin of disk formed by a
calcareous thickening which bears large granules like those on radia
shields. None of the granules are conical or spine-bearing. Upper
surface of arm covered by alternating, but not clearly defined, bands
of smooth and hook-bearing granules ; smooth granules not crowded,
scattered; hook-bearing granules more regularly arranged in two
rather crowded series. Whole oral surface covered by granule-
bearing skin, with granules thickest on inter brachial spaces. Gen-
ital slits moderate, with a large genital scale along distal half of inner
margin. A single oral shield (madreporite) can be distinguished.
Adoral and oral plates usually skin covered. Teeth and tooth pa-
pillae rather numerous, longer and more spiniform than the few
scattered oral papillae. Under arm plates distinguishable on basal
FlG. 143. ASTEOCHELE L^EVIS. X 2.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; C, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
joints of arms in some specimens, but usually wholly concealed.
Basal tentacle pores of arm minute and unprotected; second pair
with two or three short, thick, flattened arm spines (tentacle scales ?)
which carry little glassy points at tip; succeeding pores with three
or four (sometimes five) such spinelets, of which innermost is largest,
borne on a low, thick ridge just proximal to pore. Color (dried from
alcohol), cream- white to deep yellow.
Localities. Albatross station 3317, Bering Sea, lat. 53 57' 40" N.;
long. 166 59' W., 165 fathoms, coarse sand, gravel, rocks, bottom
temperature 39.5, 1 specimen; station 3319, Bering Sea, lat. 53 40'
30" N.; long. 167 30' W, 59 fathoms, black sand, bottom tem-
perature 40.8, 8 specimens; station 3480, Bering Sea, lat. 52 6' N.;
long. 171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral, rocky, 5 specimens;
station 4771, Bering Sea, lat. 54 30' N.; long. 179 17' E., 426
fathoms, broken shells, 4 specimens; station 4781, Bering Sea, lat.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 283
52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, peb-
bles, bottom temperature 38.6, 4 specimens. Bathymetrical range,
59 to 482 fathoms. Temperature range, 40.8 to 38.6. Twenty-two
specimens.
Type. Cat,. No. 25716, U.S.N.M., from station 3319.
It is most interesting to find this genus, hitherto known onlyjrom
the western Atlantic, in the Pacific Ocean off Alaska. The Alaskan
species is very nearly allied to lymani from the Atlantic, but judging
from the material available to me it differs distinctly in the flat,
convex disk grains ; in lymani many of the disk grains are conical and
some are almost spine-like, especially on the radial shields and disk
margin. The teeth and tooth papillae of l&vis are more slender and
spiniform than they are in lymani, and the skin which covers the
whole animal is thicker and more full of granules in Isevis. None of
these differences is very radical and more abundant material may show
that the two forms are not really specifically distinct. The specimens
of Ise.vis before me range from 8 to 20 mm. in disk diameter.
OPHIOCREAS CEDIPUS.
Ophiocreas cedipus LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 6, 1879, p. 65.
Localities. Albatross station 4979, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 53'
N.; long. 137 42' E., 943 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, foraminif era,
bottom temperature 36.4, 1 specimen; station 5079, off Omai Saki
light, Japan, lat. 34 15' N.; long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms,
pebbles, bottom temperature 39.1, 2 specimens.
The specimen from station 4979 is small, about 9 mm. across the
disk, dirty whitish, and has low, blunt oral papillae. The specimens
from station 5079 are 5 and 20 mm., respectively, across the disk, and
are deep purplish brown ; the smaller has a few oral papillae in the
mouth angles, but the larger has none. None of the specimens has
any unusual swelling at base of arms, but aside from that fact the large
one answers very well to Lyman's description and figures. As the
swelling of the arm bases is probably associated with the full develop-
ment of the reproductive organs, it does not seem to me that its
presence or absence can be considered a specific character. It is
probably best, therefore, to consider the large specimen before me an
example of oedipus. In spite of its oral papillae the little specimen
from the same station seems to be undoubtedly identical, and there-
fore I can not regard the specimen from station 4979, in which oral
papillae are well developed, as a different species, even though its
color also is quite different. But it is possible, nevertheless, that more
abundant material would show this latter specimen to be specifically
distinct.
284 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
ASTROCERAS PERGAMENA.
Astroceras pergamena LYMAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 6, 1879, p. 62.
Localities. Albatross station 3716, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 65 to 125 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, rocks^ 17 specimens;
station 3729, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 34 fathoms, mud,
gravel, 1 specimen; station 3730, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 34 to 37 fathoms, mud, gravel, rocks, 5 specimens; station
3735, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 36 fathoms, coarse gray
volcanic sand, broken shells, 33 specimens; station 3755, off Suno
Saki, Honshu Island, Japan, 52 to 77 fathoms, gray sand, coral, 4
specimens; station 4893, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 32' N.; long. 128 32'
50" E., 95 to 106 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles, bottom
temperature 55.9, 3 specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat. 32
33' N.; long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells,
pebbles,' 2 specimens; station 4895, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 33' 10" N.;
long. 128 32' 10" E., 95 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, pebbles,
1 specimen; station 4936, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 54' 40" N.; long. 130
37' 30" E., 103 fathoms, stones, bottom temperature 60.6, 1 speci-
men; station 5070, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3" 25" N.; long. 138 47' 40"
E., 108 fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 57.6,
2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 34 to 125 fathoms. Tempera-
ture range, 60.6 to 55.9. Sixty-nine specimens.
This is a remarkably interesting series of specimens ranging in
disk diameter from 1 to 8 mm. The smallest specimens have no
tubercles on either radial shields or arms, but these appear most
irregularly with increasing size, those on the radial shields appearing
first, but some of those on the basal joints of the arm may appear
before all the radial shields have them; thus in a specimen 5 mm.
across the disk there are tubercles on the basal joints of all the arms
but only on four of, the radial shields. Another specimen 5 mm.
across has each of the radial shields provided with a tubercle, as in
Lyman's type, and similar ones are present on the two basal joints of
each arm. In the specimens 8 mm. across the disk, the tubercles are
present but not equally developed, on the basal six or seven joints of
each arm. On the disk and arms of the smallest specimens are
minute, round, calcareous granules, and on the arms these are arranged
in very regular transverse rows, corresponding to the upper arm
plates. As growth goes on and the large tubercles appear these
granules disappear, first from the disk and then from the base of the
arm, but even in the largest specimen they are abundant beyond the
basal part of the arm. Lyman does not refer to their presence in the
type-specimen, which was 19 mm. across the disk, so that it is prob-
able they ultimately all disappear.
Another most interesting fact revealed by the series before me is
that the young Astroceras has/ like many specimens of Amphiuridae,
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 285
six arms. The specimens under 5 mm. across the disk all have six
arms, except two which have seven, while those above that size have
only five. Furthermore, the six arms are not of equal size, but three
are large and three are small, often very small, indicating that repro-
duction by fission has taken place. None of the specimens reveals
how the six-armed young becomes the symmetrical five-armed adult,
but in two specimens the middle arm of the smaller trio is distinctly
smaller than its two neighbors, and it may be that this middle arm is
ultimately resorbed or lost by autotomy. The study of the actual
development of Astroceras, taking into account the plane of sym-
metry of both larva and adult, would prove most interesting and
important.
ASTERONYX LOVENI.
Asteronyx loveni MULLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. 119.
Localities. Albatross station 2860, off Washington, lat. 51 23' N. ;
long. 130 34' W., 876 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.5,
65 specimens; station 2861, off Washington, lat. 51 14' N.; long.
129 50' W., 204 fathoms, bottom temperature 42.6, 3 specimens;
station 3069, off Washington, lat. 47 25' 30" N.; long. 125 42' W. 7
760 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 37.6, 3 specimens;
station 3075, off Washington, lat. 47 22' N.; long. 125 41' W., 859
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.6, 13 specimens; station
3112, off California, lat. 37 8' N.; long. 122 47' W., 296 fathoms, fine
gray sand, bottom temperature 41.8, 40 specimens; station 3126, off
California, lat. 36 49' 20" N.; long. 122 12' 30" W., 456 fathoms,
green mud, bottom temperature 42.8, 3 specimens; station 3128, off
California, lat. 36 41' 50" N.; long. 122 7' 30" W., 627 fathoms,
blue mud, bottom temperature 38.9, 4 specimens; station 3338, off
Alaska, lat. 54 19' N.; long. 159 40' W., 625 fathoms, green mud,
sand, bottom temperature, 37.3, 277 specimens; station 3489,
Bering Sea, lat. 57 N.; long. 173 14' W., 184 fathoms, green mud,
gray sand, bottom temperature 38.5, 4 specimens; station 3670, off
Monterey, CaL, lat. 36 43' N.; long. 122 12' W., 581 fathoms, green
mud, sand, bottom temperature 37.8, 1 specimen; station 3749, off
Suno Saki, Honshu Island, Japan, 83 to 158 fathoms, black sand,
shells, 16 specimens; station 3784, Bering Sea, lat. 54 32' N.; long.
178 31' E., 850 fathoms, green mud, fine gray sand, 1 specimen;
station 4781, Bering Sea, lat. 52 14' 30" N.; long. 174 13' E., 482
fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 38.6, 1 sped-'
men; station 4957, off southern Japan, lat. 32 36' N. ; long. 132 23' E.,
437 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom
temperature 39.8, 2 specimens; station 4959, off southern Japan, lat.
a The name has very commonly been contracted to "Astronyx," but as Mtiller and
Troschel's spelling is philologically correct it ought to be retained.
286 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
32 36' 30" N.; long. 132 23' 20" E., 405 to 578 fathoms, green-
brown mud, fine gray sand, foraminifera, bottom temperature 40.1 to
38.7, 1 specimen; station 4960, off southern Japan, lat. 32 34' N.;
long. 132 21' 45" E., 578 fathoms, green-brown mud, fine gray sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 38.7, 2 specimens; station 4969,
off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 40" N.; long. 135 33' E., 587 fathoms,
brown mud, sand, stones, bottom temperature 38.9, 13 specimens;
station 4970, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23' 30" N. ; long. 135 36' 30"
E., 500 to 649 fathoms, brown mud, black sand, shells, bottom tem-
perature 39.1, 1 specimen; station 4971, off eastern Japan, lat.
33 23' 30" N.; long. 135 34' E., 649 fathoms, brown-green mud,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 38.1, 10 specimens; station 4972,
off eastern Japan, lat. 33 25' 45" 1J. ; long. 135 33' E., 440 fathoms,
brown-green mud, foraminifera, bottom temperature 39.8, 3 speci-
mens; station 4976, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 22' 50" N.; long. 135
38' 30" E., 545 fathoms, brown mud, small stones, bottom tempera-
ture 38.7, 2 specimens; station 4977, off eastern Japan, lat. 33 23'
N. ; long. 135 37' 40" E., 544 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand, bottom
temperature 38.9, 4 specimens; station 4980, off eastern Japan, lat.
34 9' N.; long. 137 55' E., 507 fathoms, brown mud, fine sand,
foraminifera, bottom temperature 39, 4 specimens; station 5015,
Okhotsk Sea, lat. 46 44' N. ; long. 144 2' E., 510 fathoms, green mud,
bottom temperature 35.9, 2 specimens; station 5018, Okhotsk Sea,
lat. 46 41 ' 30" N.; long. 143 57' 40" E., 100 fathoms, brown mud,
black sand, pebbles, bottom temperature 30.4, 1 specimen; station
5029, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 22' 30" N.; long. 145 43' 30" E., 440
fathoms, black sand, gravel, bottom temperature 35.3, 10 specimens;
station 5048, off Kinka San Light, Japan, lat. 38 9' 24" N.; long.
141 52' 30" E., 129 fathoms, dark gray sand, broken shells, bottom
temperature 40.7, 1 specimen; station 5079, off Omai Saki, Japan,
lat. 34 15' N.: long. 138 E., 475 to 505 fathoms, pebbles, bottom
temperature 39.1, 1 specimen; station 5080, off Omai Saki, Japan,
lat. 34 10' 30" N.; long. 138 40' E., 505 fathoms, fine gray sand,
globigerina, bottom temperature 38.7, 5 specimens; station 5082, off
Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 5' N. ; long. 137 59' E., 662 fathoms, green
mud, fine sand, globigerina, bottom temperature 37.7, 2 specimens;
station 5083, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 4' 20" N.; long. 137 57'
30" E., 624 fathoms, fine gray sand, globigerina, bottom temperature
38.1, 1 specimen; station 5084, off Omai Saki, Japan, lat. 34 N.;
long. 137 49' 40" E., 918 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, globigerina,
bottom temperature 36.8, 2 specimens. Bathymetrical range, 83
to 918 fathoms. Temperature range, 42.8 to 30.4. Four hundred
and ninety-eight specimens.
This fine series of specimens, ranging in size from young ones only
5 mm. across the disk up to huge adults 45 mm. in disk diameter, has
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIUBANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 287
been compared with European and West Indian specimens, and no
differences, other than those of age and individual diversity, have
been found. I have also examined specimens of Liitken's and Mor-
tensen's three Panamic species (dispar, plana, and excavata) and
believe they are quite distinct. The north Pacific specimens of loveni
show great diversity in the relative size of the different arms, but, as
a rule, full-grown specimens have one or two of the arms much
broader than the others. Thus, a specimen 40 mm. across the disk
has the greatest width of each of the five arms, successively, as follows,
9, 6, 7i, 6i, and 5 mm. Lutken and Mortensen give this peculiarity
as the striking feature of dispar, but I think it is probably a charac-
teristic of sexually mature adults of any species in the genus. Its
degree of development varies greatly. Two extremes may be given
as follows:
Disk, 22 mm. across; arms successively 8, 3, 3, 5, and 3 mm. broad.
Disk, 30 mm. across; arms successively 5, 4, 4J, 3J, and 4 mm.
broad.
The geographical range of loveni is noteworthy, for, although it does
not appear to be an Arctic or subarctic form, it occurs in the north
Atlantic from the coast of Norway southwestward along the east
coast of the United States to St. Vincent in the Lesser Antilles; in the
north Pacific from Bering Sea, 57 N., to Timor on the south; and in
the Indian Ocean to the Laccadive Islands on the west. Yet it is
apparently wanting in the Panamic region and in the eastern Atlantic,
where it is replaced by allied species.
TRICHASTER PALMIFERUS.
Euryale palmiferum LAMARCK, Anim. s. Vert., vol. 2, 1816, p. 539.
Tricaster palmifer AGASSIZ, Me"m. Soc. Sci. Nat. Neuchatel, vol. 1, 1835, p. 193.
Trichaster palmiferus MULLER and TROSCHEL, Sys. Ast., 1842, p. xiv and 120.
Localities. Albatross station 4929, Colnett Strait, lat. 30 12' 30"
N.; long. 130 43' E., 84 fathoms, broken shells, coral, pebbles, bottom
temperature 74.8, 2 specimens; station 4931, Cohiett Strait, lat.
30 12' N.; long. 130 43' 40" E., 83 fathoms, broken shells, pebbles,
coral, bottom temperature 75.4, 1 specimen.
In the specimen from station 4931 each radial shield carries a small
conical tubercle at its distal end. Such tubercles are wanting in the
other specimens.
GORGONOCEPHALUS CARYI.
Astrophyton caryi LYMAN, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 7, 1860, p. 424.
Gorgonocephalns caryi LYMAX, Challenger Oph., 1881, p. 264.
Astrophyton stimpsonii VERRILL, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 12, 1869,
p. 388.
Gorgonocephalus japonicus DODERLEIN, Zool. Anz., vol. 25, 1902, p. 521.
Localities. Albatross station 2844, off Alaska, lat. 53 56' N.; long.
165 40' W., 54 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 42, 15
288 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
specimens; station 2847, off Alaska, lat. 55 1' N.; long. 160 12' W.,
48 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 42, 3 specimens;
station 2850, off Alaska, lat. 54 52' N. ; long. 159 46' W., 21 fathoms,
broken shells, bottom temperature 48.2, 1 specimen; station 2852,
off Alaska, lat. 55 15' N.; long. 159 37' W., 58 fathoms, black sand,
bottom temperature 41.8, 29 specimens; station 2853, off Alaska,
lat. 56 N.; long. 154 20' W., 159 fathoms, gray sand, bottom tem-
perature 41, 2 specimens; station 2854, off Alaska, lat. 56 55' N.;
long. 153 4' W., 60 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature 42.8,
2 specimens; station 2858, off Alaska, lat. 58 17' N.; long. 148 36'
W., 230 fathoms, blue mud, gravel, bottom temperature 39.8,
1 specimen; station 2870, off Washington, lat. 46 44' N.; long. 124
32' W., 58 fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 46.5, 13 specimens;
station 2873, off Washington, lat. 48 30' N.; long. 124 57' W., 40
fathoms, rocks, bottom temperature 47.8, 3 specimens; station 2874,
off Washington, lat. 48 30' N.; long. 124 57' W., 27 fathoms, rocks,
shells, bottom temperature 50.3, 2 specimens; station 2887, off
Oregon, lat. 43 58' N.; long. 124 57' W., 42 fathoms, clay and
pebbles, bottom temperature 47.1, 2 specimens; station 3047, off
Oregon, lat. 46 47' N.; long. 124 30' 15" W., 50 fathoms, fine gray
sand, bottom temperature 45.9, 4 specimens; station 3051, off Ore-
gon, lat. 43 59' 15" N.; long. 124 58' 30" W., 59 fathoms, coral,
broken shells, rocky, 1 specimen; station 3081, off Oregon, lat. 43
59' N.; long. 124 20' W., 61 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom tem-
perature 45.8, 1 specimen; station 3106, off California, lat. 37 21'
N. ; long. 122 51' W., 77 fathoms, fine gray sand, 2 specimens; station
3174, off California, lat. 38 15' 30" N.; long. 123 14' 15" W., 65
fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 49.5, 1 specimen; station
3213, off Alaska, lat. 54 10' N.; long. 162 57' 30" W., 41 fathoms,
black sand, 3 specimens; station 3214, off Alaska, lat. 54 13' N.; long.
163 6' W., 38 fathoms, gray sand, gravel, 1 specimen; station 3240,
Bering Sea, lat. 58 30' N.; long. 159 35' 30" W., 14J fathoms, fine
black sand, 9 specimens; station 3241, Bering Sea, lat. 58 38' 30" N.;
long. 159 33' 30"W., 14 fathoms, black mud, bottom temperature 38,
2 specimens; station 3250, Bering Sea, lat. 58 11' 30" N.; long.
163 2' 45" W., 17J fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 46.2,
4 specimens; station 3251, Bering Sea, lat. 57 35' 50" N.; long. 164
5' W., 25.5 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 37.5, 12
specimens; station 3252, Bering Sea, lat. 57 22' 20" N.; long. 164
24' 40" W., 29.5 fathoms, black mud, bottom temperature 44.8,
1 specimen; station 3254, Bering Sea, lat. 56 50' N.; long. 164 27'
50" W., 46 fathoms, green mud, sand, bottom temperature 36.2,
1 specimen; station 3272, Bering Sea, lat. 55 31' 40" N.; long. 163
7' W., 31 fathoms, black and red sand, bottom temperature 42,
2 specimens; station 3274, Bering Sea, lat. 55 34' 30" N.; long. 162
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIUBANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 289
31' 45" W., 19 fathoms, black sand, shells, 5 specimens; station
3276, Bering Sea, lat. 55 51' 15" N.; long. 162 3' W., 18 fathoms,
gravel, sand, rocks, bottom temperature 42, 2 specimens; station
3278, Bering Sea, lat. 56 12' 30" N.; long. 162 13' W., 47 fathoms,
fine gray sand, bottom temperature 38.8, 1 specimen; station 3280,
Bering Sea, lat. 56 27' N.; long. 162 8' W., 36 fathoms, fine-gray
sand, bottom temperature 41, 21 specimens; station 3281, Bering
Sea, lat. 56 14' N.; long. 161 41' 15" W., 36 fathoms, gray sand,
black specks, 7 specimens; station 3282, Bering sea, lat. 56 30' 45"
% N.; long. 161 50' 15" W., 53 fathoms, fine sand, green mud, bottom
temperature 38.2, 2 specimens; station 3284, Bering Sea, lat. 56
16' 50" N.; long. 160 53' W., 25 fathoms, fine gravel, bottom tem-
perature 43, 2 specimens; station 3285, Bering Sea, lat. 56 45' 45"
N.; long. 160 42' 45" W., 35 fathoms, gray sand, black specks,
bottom temperature 41, 3 specimens; station 3286, Bering Sea, lat.
56 39' 30" N.; long. 160 29' W., 37 fathoms, fine gray sand, shells,
gravel, bottom temperature 41.5, 1 specimen; station 3287, Bering
Sea, lat. 56 44' 30" N.; long. 159 16' W., 16 fathoms, black sand,
1 specimen; station 3294, Bering Sea, lat. 57 16' 45" N.; long. 159
3' 30" W., 30 fathoms, black gravel, bottom temperature 41, 1 speci-
men; station 3297, Bering Sea, lat. 57 38' N.; long. 159 7' 30" W.,
26 fathoms, gray sand, bottom temperature 41.5, 1 specimen
station 3301, Bering Sea, lat. 58 12' 45" N.; long. 160 37' 30" W.
17 fathoms, fine gray sand, 1 specimen; station 3304, Bering Sea,
lat. 58 2' 30" N.; long. 161 13' 45" W., 28 fathoms, fine gray sand,
1 specimen; station 3306, Bering Sea, lat. 57 24' 30" N.; long. 161
17' W., 33 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 38.9,
1 specimen; station 3321, Bering Sea, lat. 53 33' 30" N.; long. 167
15' 40" W., 54 fathoms, dark mud, bottom temperature 41.5,
1 specimen; station 3322, Bering Sea, lat. 53 28' 45" N.; long. 167
23' 50" W., 35 fathoms, black sand, bottom temperature 42.4,
1 specimen; station 3323, Bering Sea, lat. 53 26' N.; long. 167 31'
10" W., 51 fathoms, fine black sand, bottom temperature 42, 1 speci-
men; station 3326, Bering Sea, lat. 53 40' 25" N.; long. 167 41' 40"
W., 576 fathoms, mud, bottom temperature 37.5, 1 specimen; station
3331, Bering Sea, lat. 54 1' 40" N.; long. 166 48' 50" W., 350 fath-
oms, mud, 2 specimens; station 3443, off Washington, lat. 48 13'
30" N.; long. 123 11' 20" W., 97 fathoms, green mud, pebbles,
bottom temperature 46, 1 specimen; station 3449, off Washington,
lat. 48 29' 40" N.; long. 124 40' 10" W., 135 fathoms, gray sand,
ivel, 4 specimens; station 3452, off Washington, lat. 48 24' 40"
".; long. 124 29' 10" W., 125 fathoms, rocky, black gravel, bottom
temperature 44.5, 1 specimen; station 3454, off Washington, lat.
34916 Bull. 7511 19
290 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
48 27' 50" N.; long. 124 42' 40" W., 152 fathoms, gray sand,
rocky, bottom temperature 44.2, 3 specimens; station 3465, off
Washington, lat. 48 21' N.; long. 123 14' W., 48 fathoms, rocky,
bottom temperature 49.9, 4 specimens; station 3480, Bering Sea,
lat. 52 6' N.; long. 171 45' W., 283 fathoms, black sand, coral,
rocky, 2 specimens; station 3483, Bering sea, lat. 57 18' N.; long.
171 18' W., 56 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 36.8,
2 specimens; station 3484, Bering Sea, lat. 57 18' N.; long. 171
54' W., 60 fathoms, blue mud, bottom temperature 37.4, 1 specimen;
station 3504, Bering Sea, lat. 56 57' N.; long. 169 27' W., 34 fath-
oms, fine gray sand, black specks, bottom temperature 37.8, 1 speci-
men; station 3505, Bering Sea, lat. 57 9' N.; long. 168 17'., W.,44
fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 38.1, 1 specimen;
station 3507, Bering Sea, lat. 57 43' N. ; long. 164 42' W., 31 fathoms,
fine gray sand, bottom temperature 37.5, 1 specimen; station 3511,
Bering Sea, lat. 57 32' N.; long. 169 38' W., 39 fathoms, fine sand,
dark mud, bottom temperature 37.2, 2 specimens; station 3512,
Bering Sea, lat. 57 49' 30" N.; long. 169 27' W., 38 fathoms, fine
sand, green mud, bottom temperature 36.6, 1 specimen; station
3513, Bering Sea, lat. 58 27' N.; long. 169 1' W., 35 fathoms, fine
sand, green mud, 1 specimen; station 3514, Bering Sea, lat. 59 22'
N.; long. 168 21' W., 21 fathoms, fine gray sand, bottom tempera-
ture 40.8, 1 specimen; station 3522, Bering Sea, lat. 57 58' N.;
long. 170 9' W., 41 fathoms, coarse gray sand, gravel, bottom tem-
perature 35.7, 1 specimen; station 3523, Bering Sea, lat. 57 39' N.;
long. 170 2' W., 39 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom tempera-
ture 38, 1 specimen; station 3524, Bering Sea, lat. 57 24' N.; long.
169 56' W., 36 fathoms, gray sand, pebbles, bottom temperature
40.3, 1 specimen; station 3527, Bering Sea, lat. 57 '48' N.; long.
171 21' W., 52 fathoms, green mud, bottom temperature 38, 1 speci-
men; station 3528, Bering Sea, lat. 58 19' 30" N.; long. 172 2' W.,
55 fathoms, dark green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 35.9,
1 specimen; station 3536, Bering Sea, lat. 57 5' N.; long. 170 35'
W., 40 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 42.4,
1 specimen; station 3540, Bering Sea, lat. 56 27' N. ; long. 166 8' W.,
51 fathoms, green mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 36, 1 speci-
men; station 3541, Bering Sea, lat. 56 14' N.; long. 164 8', W.,49
fathoms, black mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 36.1, 1 specimen;
station 3542, Bering Sea, lat. 56 10' N.; long. 163 26' W., 49 fath-
oms, dark mud, fine sand, bottom temperature 39.2, 1 specimen;
station 3547, Bering Sea, lat. 54 16' N. ; long. 165 45' W., 51 fathoms,
fine black sand, bottom temperature 45, 1 specimen; station 3559,
Bering Sea, lat. 56 56' N. ; long. 169 52' W., 39 fathoms, gray sand,
broken shells, bottom temperature 42.5, 1 specimen; station 3676
(no records of this are preserved), 3 specimens; station 3707, off Ose
NOKTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 291
Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 63 to 75 fathoms, volcanic sand, ashes,
gravel, 6 specimens; station 4777, Bering Sea, lat. 52 11' N.; long.
179 49' E., 43 to 52 fathoms, fine gravel, 3 specimens; station 4779,
Bering Sea, lat. 52 11' N.; long. 179 57' E., 54 to 56 fathoms,
broken shells, pebbles, sand, 4 specimens; station 4782, Bering Sea,
lat. 52 55' N.; long. 173 27' E., 57 to 59 fathoms, rock, gravel,
3 specimens; station 4784, off Attu Island, lat. 52 55' 40" N.; long.
173 26' E., 135 fathoms, coarse pebbles, 3 specimens; station 4787,
off Copper Island, lat. 54 50' 50" N.; long. 167 13' 30" E., 54 to 57
fathoms, green sand, 1 specimen; station 4788, off Copper Island,
lat. 54 50' 24" N.; long. 167 13' E., 56 to 57 fathoms, green sand,
1 specimen; station 4812, Sea of Japan, lat. 38 33' N.; long. 138
40' E., 176 to 200 fathoms, fine brown mud, bottom temperature
34.9, 1 specimen; station 4874, Korea Strait, lat. 34 38' N.; long.
130 3' E., 66 fathoms, green sand, broken shells, bottom tempera-
ture 59.7, 1 specimen; station 4892, Eastern Sea, lat. 32 27' 30" N. ;
long. 128 33' E., 181 fathoms, gray sand, broken shells, rocks, bottom
temperature 50.2, 1 specimen; station 4912, Eastern Sea, lat. 31
39' 40" N.; long. 129 20' E., 391 fathoms, gray globigerina ooze,
bottom temperature 41.9, 1 specimen; station 4935, Eastern Sea,
lat. 30 57' 20" N.; long. 130 35' 10" E., 103 fathoms, stones, bot-
tom temperature 60.6, 1 specimen, station 4983, Sea of Japan, lat.
43 1' 35" N. ; long. 140 10' 40" E., 428 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 32.7, 3 specimens; station 4985, Sea of Japan, lat. 43
5' 20" N.; long. 140 15' 15" E., 224 fathoms, green mud, bottom
temperature 33.1, 3 specimens; station 4986, Sea of Japan, lat. 43
1' 40" N".; long. 140 22, 40" E., 172 fathoms, fine black sand, black
mud, bottom temperature 33.9, 2 specimens; station 4987, Sea of
Japan, lat. 43*19' 20" N.; long. 140 17' E., 59 fathoms, rocky,
bottom temperature 44.8, 1 specimen; station 5005, off Saghalin,
lat. 46 4' 40" N. ; long. 142 27' 30" E., 42 to 43 fathoms, green mud,
fine gray sand, bottom temperature 30.7 ?, 2 specimens; station 5006,
off Saghalin, lat. 46 4' N.; long. 142 29' E., 42 to 43 fathoms, green
mud, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 36.1, 1 specimen; station
5007, off Saghalin, lat. 46 3' N.; long. 142 31' E., 42 fathoms, green
mud, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 34.8, 2 specimens; station
5008, off Saghalin, lat. 46 7' 50" N.; long. 142 37' 20" E., 40 fath-
oms, green mud, fine gray sand, bottom temperature 33.9, 1 speci-
men; station 5020, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 32' 45" N.; long. 145 7'
30" E., 73 fathoms, green mud, sand, pebbles, bottom temperature
30.9, 1 specimen; station 5021, Okhotsk Sea, lat. 48 32' 30" N.;
long. 145 8' 45" E., 73 fathoms, green mud, sand, pebbles, bottom
temperature 30.9, 3 specimens. Wrangel, Alaska, 1 specimen; Un-
alaska, 30 fathoms, 1 specimen; Ikatan Bay, Alaska, 1 specimen;
292 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Killisnoo, Alaska, 1 specimen; Straits of Fuca, 1 specimen; Alaska, 7
specimens; Const antine Harbor, 8 to 10 fathoms, 1 specimen; lat.
66 12' N.; long. 168 54' W., 1 fragment; Mechigme Bay, Siberia,
5 specimens; Arctic Ocean, 3 specimens; locality ?, 8 specimens.
Bathymetrical range, 8 to 576 fathoms. Temperature range, 60.6
to 30.7. Three hundred and four specimens.
This unusually fine series of "basket-fish," ranging in disk diameter
from 9 to 115 mm. (this being, I believe, the largest ophiuran on
record), has enabled me to determine the status of some of the many
species of Gorgonocephalus . There is, I think, no room for doubt
that G. stimpsonii and G. japonicus are both synonyms of G. caryi,
the last name having priority. There is much individual diversity in
the abundance and coarseness of the granules on the disk, as well as in
the number and length of the arm divisions. Thus a specimen from
off California has few long arm divisions and small granules confined
to the radial shields, while the Saghalin and many Alaskan speci-
mens have many short arm divisions and coarse, irregular granules
all over the disk. Specimens similar to the one from California are
in the collection, however, from Alaska and also from Japan, and
intergradations between the extremes are common. The specimen
from station 4935 (disk diameter 21 mm.) is notable for long, narrow
genital slits and the presence of only 2 arm spines on most of the
joints, and those two unusually long, though they do not equal the
joint. There, is more than a possibility that caryi is not specifically
distinct from eucnemis, but I have not had sufficient material of the
latter species to enable me to settle the point. My suspicions go even
further and lead me to think that agassizii, eucnemis, and caryi
may prove to be three names for a single species. Material from the
west coast of Greenland and the regions north of America would be
very desirable in settling the question. The geographical range of
caryi from California northward and northwestward to nearly 60
N. in Bering Sea, and thence southward and southwestward to below
31 N. in the Eastern Sea is remarkably extensive.
GORGONOCEPHALUS SAGAMINUS.
Gorgonocephalus sagaminus DODERLEIN, Zool. Anz., vol. 25, 1902, p. 321.
Localities. Albatross station 3707, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 63 to 75 fathoms, volcanic sand, ashes, gravel, 11 specimens;
station 3715, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 65 to 68 fathoms,
volcanic sand, shells, rocks, 1 specimen; station 3720, off Ose Zaki,
Honshu Island, Japan, 63 fathoms, volcanic sand, shells, 1 specimen;
station 3740, off Ose Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 65 fathoms, volcanic
sand, shells, pebbles, 3 specimens; station 4894, Eastern Sea, lat.
32 33' N.; long. 128 32' W" E., 95 fathoms, green sand, broken
shells, pebbles, 1 specimen; station 4986, Sea of Japan, lat. 43 1' 40"
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 293
N.; long. 140 22' 40" E., 172 fathoms, fine black sand, black mud,
bottom temperature 33.9, 1 specimen; station 4987, Sea of Japan,
lat. 43 19' 20" N.; long. 140 17' E., 59 fathoms, rocky, bottom
temperature 44.8, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 59 to 172
fathoms. Temperature range, 44.8 to 33.9. Nineteen specimens.
This is a beautiful and well-characterized species, easily recognized
by the very fine granulation and minute arm spines. The specimens
before me range in disk diameter from 9 to 50 mm. and vary in color
from very pale gray to yellowish-gray and fawn-color.
ASTROPHYTON CORNUTUM.
Gorgonocephalus cornutus KCEHLER, Ann. Sci. Nat., Zool. (8), vol. 4, 1898, p. 368.
Astrophyton coniferum DODERLEIN, Zool. Anz., vol. 25, 1902, p. 325.
Astrophyton cornutum KCEHLER, Siboga Oph. Litt., 1905, p. 127.
Localities. Albatross station 4929, Colnett Strait, lat. 30 12' 30"
N. ; long. 130 43' E., 84 fathoms, broken shells, coral, pebbles, bottom
temperature 74.8, 2 specimens; 4931, Colnett Strait, lat. 30 12' N.;
long. 130 43' 40" E., 83 fathoms, broken shells, pebbles, coral, bot-
tom temperature 75.4, 8 specimens.
These specimens vary in color from nearly white to light reddish-
brown. Although they are small (disk diameter, 9 to 13 mm.), there
seems to be no question as to their identity with Doderlein's species,
coniferum. As I can not find any tangible character by which they
can be distinguished from cornutum of Kcehler I am obliged to con-
sider the names as synonyms.
ASTROPHYTON PARDALIS.
Astrophyton pardalis DODERLEIN, Zool. Anz., vol. 25, 1902, p. 323.
Astrophyton globiferum DODERLEIN, Zool. Anz., vol. 25, 1902, p. 324.
Localities. Albatross station 3729, off Omai Zaki, Honshu Island,
Japan, 34 fathoms, mud, gravel, 2 specimens; station 3735, off Omai
Zaki, Honshu Island, Japan, 36 fathoms, coarse gray volcanic sand,
broken shells, 2 specimens; station 4781, near Agattu Island, lat.
52 14' 30" N. ; long. 174 13' E., 482 fathoms, fine gray sand, pebbles,
bottom temperature, 38.6, 1 specimen; station 4875, Korea Strait,
lat. 34 19' N.; long 130 9' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray sand, broken
shells, bottom temperature 62.1, 1 specimen; station 4877, Korea
Strait, lat. 34 20' 30" N.; long. 130 11' E., 59 fathoms, fine gray
sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 62.1, 1 specimen; station
4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N.; long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152
fathoms, rocky, bottom temperature 60.6 to 56, 1 specimen; station
5070, Suruga Gulf, lat. 35 3' 25" N. ; long. 138 47' 40" E., 108
fathoms, mud, sand, broken shells, bottom temperature 57.6, 1
specimen; Fusan, Korea, 1 specimen. Bathymetrical range, 34 to
482 fathoms. Temperature range, 62.1 to 38.6. Ten specimens.
294 BULLETIN 75, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Although these specimens vary in color from uniform very dark
brown, through yellow spotted with blackish, to uniform light gray
with the larger tubercles white, and in size from a disk diameter of
6 mm. to one of 65, I am utterly unable to differentiate them into
more than a single species. The specimen from station 4781 is only
6 mm. across the disk and is very dark purplish-brown; it is very
possibly not this species, but I know of no other to which it can be
referred. The specimen from station 3735, 11 mm. across the disk,
is undoubtedly pardalis as it answers to Doderlein's description in
every particular; the name is peculiarly appropriate to such a speci-
men. The specimen from station 4934 is similar but is much larger
(40 mm. disk diameter) and the colors are dimmer, so that the spotting
is much less noticeable. Moreover many, if not most, of the granules
have lost their acicular points and scattered all over the upper sur-
face of the arms are rounded, whitish tubercles; a few are present
also on the disk. The specimen from station 4875 (disk diameter,
21 mm.) differs only in that the ground color is gray, not at all
yellowish, with the spots dull purplish, and the granules are nearly
all rounded, very rarely with a point. The specimen from station
4877 (disk diameter, 53 mm.) is like the last mentioned, but there
are no spots or markings of any kind; the color is yellowish-gray,
with tubercles and large granules whitish. The specimen from Fusan
(65 mm.) is similar but the color is very pale brown. Finally,- the
specimen from station 5070 (53 mm.) is like the one from station 4877,
but is a little lighter gray and the granules are even more flat and
pavement-like; the white tubercles are still evident, however, par-
ticularly well out on the arms. The situation, therefore, is this : The
specimen from station 3735 is pardalis; the specimen from station
4934 is undoubtedly the adult of the same; but the specimen from
station 4877 can not be separated specifically from it; yet the speci-
men from station 5070, which appears to be A. globiferum, is un-
doubtedly conspecific with the one from station 4877. Therefore
globiferum appears to be a synonym of pardalis.
EURYALE ANOPLA, new species.a
Disk 34 mm. in diameter; arms about 170 mm. long, each with
eight or nine forks. Disk covered with a smooth skin. Radial shields
conspicuous, moderately broad and arched, meeting at center of disk
or nearly so ; each shield carries two to five low, blunt, inconspicuous
tubercles. Upper surface of arms, which are rather higher than
broad, covered with smooth, naked skin. Interbrachial spaces below
heavily granulated, except distally. Genital slits conspicuous. Sur-
a " Avon hoc, signifying not heavy-armed, in reference to the absence of large conical
tubercles and spines on the disk.
NORTH PACIFIC OPHIURANS IN NATIONAL MUSEUM CLARK. 295
face of oral frame and lower surface of arms covered with a smooth,
naked skin. Apex and sides of jaws more or less finely but irregularly
tuberculous. Teeth broad, truncate or bluntly pointed, about five
or six in each series. First pair of tentacles nearer mouth than they
are to margin of oral frame, without scales or spinules of any kind;
succeeding pairs protected by two subequal, finely thorny, very blunt,
club-shaped spines, not quite as long as a joint and half as thick as
long; on outer branches of arm, these spines become slender, and hook-
FlG. 144. EUEYALE ANOPLA. X 1.5. a, FROM ABOVE; 6, FROM BELOW; C, SIDE VIEW OF THREE ARM
JOINTS NEAR DISK.
bearing at tip. Color (dried from alcohol), dark brown, lighter at tips
of arms; oral frame and under side of arms dull yellow.
Locality. Albatross station 4934, Eastern Sea, lat. 30 58' 30" N".;
long. 130 32' E., 103 to 152 fathoms, bottom temperature 60.6 to
56, 1 specimen.
Type.Csit. No. 25590, U.S.N.M., from station 4934.'
This species is so well characterized by the nearly naked disk and
the perfectly smooth arms that it can not be mistaken for either of
the other species of the genus.
INDEX.
[The important reference to each genus and species is in heavy-faced type.]
Page.
acanthinobrachia, Ophiobyrsa 269, 270
acanthinotata, Ophiacantha 203
acanthinus, Amphioplus 168
Ophiophrixus 273
acontophora, Ophiomitra 15, 190
acrystata, Amphiura 10, 145, 147
aculeata, Asterias 128
Ophiopholis 4,
9, 12, 15, 19, 115, 116, 128, 131, 133, 196
aculeatus, Ophiambix 13, 114
adiaphora, Ophiacantha 8, 18, 199, 200, 202
adspersus, Ophiernus 10, 12, 15,95, 96
agassizii, Gorgonocephalus 292
alba, Ophiozona 36
albata, Ophioglypha 68
Amphilepis 15
papyracea 172
platytata 13,16,171
Amphilimna 169, 170, 173
pentacantha 10, 172
Amphiodia 20,158,162,166
ancistrota 20,161, 162
craterodmeta 8, 155, 156
digitula 20, 162, 169
euryaspis 9, 17, 20, 158, 159
macraspis 10, 20, 157, 165
occidental 11, 155
periercta 11,160, 161
psilochora 165
strongyloplax 10, 164
'urtica 11,154
Amphioplus 158, 162, 169, 170, 171, 173
acanthinus 168
hexacanthus 10, 170
megapomus 170
rhadinobrachius 167, 168
Amphipholis 184
pugetana 11,166
Amphiura 20, 147, 152, 166
acrystata 10, 145, 147
bellis 20,140
carchara 9, 15, 17, 142
diomedese 10, 15, 17, 18, 20, 140
ecnomiotata 148
euopla 144
gymnopora 154
leptodoma 143
micraspis 150
occidentalis 155, 161
psilopora 153, 154
pugetana 166
pycnostoma 151
sundevalli 12, 141
trachydisca 149
urtica 154, 156
Page.
Amphiuridse 114
anchilabra, Ophiacantha 14,204, 206
anchista, Pectinura 23, 25
ancistrota, Amphiodia 20, 161 , 162
anisacantha, Ophiomyxa 5,20,271,272
annectens, Ophiernus 95, 96
annulata, Ophionereis 174
anopla, Euryale 18,294
antarctica, Ophioconis 28, 30
Anthophiura 15, 92
axiologa 13,16,92,93
antipodum, Ophiopteris 257
armigerum, Ophiomusium 112
asaphes, Ophiolebes 8,239
Asterias aculeata 128
bidentata 195
Asteronyx 255
dispar 287
excavata 287
loveni 5, 9, 12, 16, 285, 287
plana 287
Asteroporpa 280
australianus 281
hadracantha 18,280
As troceras 284, 285
pergamena 5, 18, 284
Astrochele 18, 281
laevis 281, 283
lymani 283
Astronyx 285
Astroporpa 280
Astrophytidae 280
Astrophyton caryi 287
coniferum. 293
cornutum 293
globiferum 293, 294
pardalis 18, 293, 294
stimpsonii 287
atacta, Ophiura 14,85
atopostoma, Ophiacantha 18, 228
australianus, Asteroporpa 281
australis, Ophiomyxa 18, 20, 271 , 272
axiologa, Anthophiura 13, 16, 92, 93
bairdi, Ophiacantha 9, 12, 18, 230, 232
bakeri, Ophiopholis 10, 115, 116, 121 , 123, 128
bartletti, Ophiacantha 239
bathybia, Ophiacantha 8, 14, 15, 233
Ophiura 13,16,58,60
bellis, Amphiura 20,140
bidentata, Asterias 195
Ophiacantha 8, 12, 195, 214
bispinosa, Ophiozona 33,34
brachyactis, Ophiopholis 18, 115, 116, 117
Ophiura 8, 16, 87
297
298
INDEX.
Page.
brachyaspis, Ophiactis 138, 140
brachygenys, Ophiactis 135
brachygnatha, Ophiolebes 8, 16, 240
brevipes, Ophiocoma 256
brevispina, Ophiolebes 20,247
brevispinum, Ophiocten 98,99
bullata, Ophiura 75
bythiaspis, Ophiomitra 14, 185, 192, 193
calyptolepis, Ophiura 67 , 68, 69, 70
cancellatum, Ophiomusium 15, 20, 106, 112
carchara, Amphiura 9, 15, 17, 142
cardiomorpha, Ophiomitra 179
caryi, Astrophyton 287
Gorgonocephalus ... 5, 9, 17, 18, 20, 21, 287 , 292
Ophiopholis 115, 132, 133
cataleimmoida, Ophiacantha 8, 20, 217 , 224, 228
charischema, Ophiocten 5, 18, 97 , 99
ciliaris, Ophiothrix 257
Ophiura 257
clasta, Ophiura 14, 64
Clemens, Ophioglypha. .*. 68
codonomorpha, Ophiomitra 14, 188
confragosa, Ophioglypha 65
coniferum, Astrophyton 293
convexa, Ophiura 75
cornutum, Astrophyton 293
cornutus, Gorgonocephalus 293
corynetes, Ophiocynodus 10, 274
craterodmeta, Amphiodia 8, 155, 156
cryptolepis, Ophiura 9, 69, 70
cylindrica, Pectinura 25
depression, Ophiocten 98
diaphora, Ophiolebes 20, 245 , 246, 247
diastata, Ophioconis 27,28
dictydisca, Ophiocrasis 175, 177
digitula, Amphiodia 20,162,169
diomedeae, Amphiura 10, 15, 17, 18, 20, 140
diplasia, Ophiacantha 10,209
diploa, Ophiacantha 207,208
disacantha, Ophiopenia 8,102
disacanthus, Ophiosyzygus 18,276
discycla, Ophiomitra 181, 183, 181
dispar, Asteronyx 287
divisa, Ophioglypha 65
duplex, Ophiacantha 207,208
dyscrita, Ophiactis 18,137
eburneum, Ophiomusium 112
echinata, Ophiocoma 22
ecnomiotata, Amphiura 148
elevata, Ophiozona 5, 31 , 33, 34
enneactis, Ophiacantha 211
erinacea, Ophiocoma 257
erinaceus, Ophiocoma 257
esmarki, Ophioplocus 31
eucnemis, Gorgonocephalus 292
euopla, Amphiura 144
euphylactea, Ophiacantha 225
Euryale anopla 18, 294
palmiferum 287
euryaspis, Amphiodia 9, 17, 20, 158, 159
eurybrachiplax, Ophionereis 10, 178
eurypoma, Ophiacantha 13, 16, 223
eusteira, Ophiothrix 265
excavata, Asteronyx 287
Page.
fastigatus, Ophiochiton 133
flagellata, Ophioglypha 60
Ophiura 8,9, 10, 16, 18, 19,60
glabrum, Ophiomusium 114
globiferum, Astrophyton 293, 294
glyptodisca, Ophiura 91,92
gorgonia, Ophiarachna 25
Ophiarachnella 25
Gorgonocephalus t 292
agassizii 292
caryi 5,9, 17, 18, 20, 21, 287 , 292
cornutus 293
eucnemis 292
j aponicus 287, 292
sagaminus 20,21,292
stimpsonii 292
grandis, Ophioglypha 62,63
granulosa, Ophiacantha 18,215
gratiosa, Ophiacantha 209
grisea, Ophioplinthus 21
gymnochora, Ophiactis , 139
gymnopora, Amphiura , ... 154
gymnodiscus, Ophiohymen 277
habrotata, Ophiomitra 5, 182
hadra, Ophiura 11,14,80
hadracantha, Asteroporpa 18, 280
Hemieuryale 21
pustulata 21
tuberculosa 21
Hemipholis 137
hexacanthus, Amphioplus 10, 170
hexactis, Ophiologimus 252
hylacantha, Ophiacantha 14, 227
hylodes, Ophiothrix 263, 265
imbecillis, Ophioglypha 62
Ophiura 62
imbricata, Ophiolepis 30
imbricatus, Ophioplocus 30, 31
infernalis, Ophiarachnella 27
inutilis, Ophiacantha 208, 209
involuta, Ophioglypha 62, 63
irrorata, Ophioglypha 62
Ophiura 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 62 , 63
japonica, Ophiopholis 123, 127
Ophiopholis aculeata var 15,
17,115,116,121,123,128
j aponicus, Gorgonocephalus 287, 292
Ophioplocus 30, 31
jejuna, Ophiogypha 67
jolliensis, Ophiomusium 9, 20, 111
kennerlyi, Ophiopholis 115, 132 133
Ophiopholis aculeata var 11,
115,116,128,132
kinbergi, Ophioglypha 37
Ophiura 37, 44,45,46,47,48,55
koreana, Ophiothrix. . . 5,12,17, 18, 257 , 260, 264, 265
laevis, Astrochele 281,283
lambda, Ophiacantha 231
laqueatum, Ophiomusium 18, 106
lepidota, Ophiacantha 14, 224
leptoctenia, Ophiura. . 4, 9, 15, 18, 19, 51 , 55, 58, 59, 60
leptodoma, Amphiura 143
leucorhabdota, Ophiacantha 18,221
INDEX.
299
Page.
leucosticta, Ophiacantha 14,235
levispina, Ophiacantha 20, 198
liodisca, Ophiophr ura 249
lithosora, Ophiocamax 187, 191 , 192
ljungmani, Ophioglypha
Ophiura 55,60
longipeda, Ophiothrix 263
Ophiura 263
longispina, Ophiopholis 10,
115,116,119, 121,122,123,128
Ophiozona 33, 36
longispinus, Ophiotrochus 14,94
lophobrachia, Ophiacantha 18, 232
loveni, Asteronyx 5,9,12,16,285, 287
lunare, Ophiomusium 18, 20, 107
liitkeni, Ophioglypha 45
Ophiomusium 18, 20, 107
Ophiura 5, 11 , 19, 44, 45, 46, 47, 55
lymani. Astrochele 283
Ophiomusium 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 63, 107
macrarthra, Ophiacantha 14,
macraspis, Amphiodia 10, 20, 157 , 165
macrobrachia, Ophiothrix 5, 18, 267
maculata, Ophioglypha 49
Ophiura 8, 18,49, 156
malignus, Ophiodoris 179
marmorata, Pectinura 25
medusa, Ophioplinthus
megalaspis, Ophiarachnella 5, 25, 27
megapoma, Ophiura 79
megapomus, Amphioplus 170
megapora, Ophioleptoplax 279
megatreta, Ophiacantha 14, 237 , 239
micracantha, Ophiura 18, 19, 47
micraspis, Amphiura 150
microphylax, Ophiomitra 18, 184
miliaria, Ophioconis 28, 30
mirabilis, Ophiolepis 117
Ophiopholis 8, 19, 115, 116, 117*, 119
mixta, Ophiomastix 256
monacantha, Ophioschiza 255
monostcecha, Ophiura 65, 67, 86
multispinum, Ophiomusium 10, 14, 113, 114
murrhina, Sigsbeia 21
nodosa, Ophiura 4, 12, 70, 131, 196
normani, Ophiacantha 4,
5, 9, 15, 17, 18, 20, 215, 219, 221, 224
nuda, Ophionereis 174
obstricta, Ophioceramis 250
obstrictus, Ophiurases , 5, 18, 250
occidentalis, Amphiodia 11, 155
Amphiura 155, 161
cedidisca, Ophiacantha 219, 224
cediplax, Ophiura 12, 16, 74, 75
oedipus, Ophiocreas 283
omoplata, Ophiacantha 4 16, 202
ooplax, Ophiocten 99
Ophiacantha... 2,3,15,18,19,20,21,28,185,195,213,
217, 221 , 222, 225, 228, 231, 236, 249, 250
acanthinotata 203
adiaphora 8,18,199, 200,202
anchilabra 14,204, 206
atopostoma 18,228
Page.
Ophiacantha bairdi 9,12,18,230,232
bartletti 239
bathybia 8, 14, 15,233
bidentata 8, 12, 195, 214
cataleimmoida 8, 20,217 , 224, 228
diplasia 10,209
diploa 207,208
duplex ....... 207 , 208
enneactis 211
euphylact ea 225
eurypoma 13,16, 223
granulosa 18,215
gratiosa 209
hylacantha 14,227
inutilis 208, 209
lambda 231
lepidota 14,224
leucorhabdota 18,221
leucosticta 14,235
levispina 20, 198
lophobrachia 18,232
macrarthra 14,18,236
megatreta 14,237, 239
normani 4,
5,9,15,17,18,20,215,219,221,224
cedidisca 219,224
omoplata 16,202
pentagona 5,
16,17,18,20,196, 198,200,201,205
prionota 13, 213
relicta 20,219,221
rhachophora 5, 8, 9, 18, 20,201
stimulea 229
trachybactra 206
vivipara 213
vorax 206
Ophiacanthidae 179, 191, 195
Ophiactis 3, 138, 139, 140
brachyaspis 138, 140
brachygenys 135
dyscrita 18,137
gymnochora 139
pteropoma 134
Ophialcaea 217
Ophiambix 15, 114
aculeatus 13, 114
Ophiarachna gorgonia 25
Ophiarachnella gorgonia 25
infernalis 27
megalaspis 5,25, 27
Ophiernus adspersus 10,12,15,95, 96
annectens 95, 96
Ophiobyrsa 271, 274
acanthinobrachia 269 , 270
synaptacantha 18,270, 271
Ophiocamax 195
lithosora 187,191, 192
polyploca 5, 18, 193
rugosa 195
Ophioceramis obstricta 250
Ophiochiton fastigatus 133
Ophiocnida 173
Ophiocoma 16, 22, 257
brev ipes 256
echinata 22
erinacea 257
300
INDEX.
Page
Ophiocoma erinaceus 257
papillosa 257
riisei 22
Ophiocomidae 6,256
Ophioconis 2,28,230,232
antarctica 28, 30
diastata 27, 28
miliaria 28, 30
papillata 28,30
Ophiocrasis 175
dictydisca 175, 177
Ophiocreas cedipus 283
Ophiocten brevispinum 98, 99
charischema 5, 18,97 , 99
depressum 98
ooplax 99
paciflcum 9, 14, 96
Ophiocynodus 274,276
corynetes 10, 274
Ophiodermatidae 6, 23
Ophiodoris malignus 179
pericalles 5, 18, 177
Ophioglypha 36
albata 68
clemens 67
confragosa 65
divisa 65
flagellata 60
grandis 62, 63
imbecillis 62
involuta 62, 63
irrorata 62
jejuna 67
kinbergi 37
ljungmani 55
liitkeni 45
maculata 49
orbiculata 62, 63
ponderosa 77
robusta 51
sculpta 73
sculptilis 77
sinensis 37
solida 91
sterea 75
tumulosa 62, 63
undata 91
variabilis 77
Ophiogymna 268
Ophiogyptis 250
Ophiohelidse 179, 191, 195
Ophiohymen 277
gymnodiscus 277
Ophiolebes 18, 20, 195, 207, 221, 240, 248
asaphes 8, 239
brachygnatha 8, 16, 240
brevispina 20, 247
diaphora 20, 245, 246, 247
pachybactra 242,244
paucispina 20, 246, 247, 248
scorteus 240
tylota 8, 20,243,244, 246
vestitus 242
Ophiolepididse 3, 30, 195
Ophiolepis imbricata 30
mirabills 117
sundevalli 141
Page.
Ophioleptoplax 278
megapora 279
Ophiologimus 252
hexactis 252
Ophiomastix mixta 256
Ophiomastus 92
Ophiomitra 2, 15, 19, 185, 188, 191, 195, 217
acontophora 15, 190
bythiaspis 14, 185, 192, 193
cardiomorpha 179
codonomorpha 14, 188
discycla 181 , 183, 184
habrotata 5, 182
microphylax 18, 184
polyacantha 18, 187
Ophiomusium 18, 19, 20, 92
armigerum 112
cancellation 15, 20, 106, 112
eburneum 112
glabrum 114
jolliensis 9, 20, 111
laqueatum 18, 106
lunare 18, 20, 107
liitkeni 18,20,107
lymani 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 63, 107
multispinum 10, 14, 113 , 114
sanctum 109
simplex 5, 18, 20, 109, 111
trychnum 20, 109 , 111
Ophiomyxa 18, 273, 274, 277
anisacantha 5, 20, 271 , 272
australis 18,20,271,272
Ophiomyxidae 6, 269
Ophionephthys 147
Ophionereis 175
annulata 174
eurybrachiplax 10, 178
nuda 174
porrecta 174, 177
schayeri 174
Ophiopenia 19, 102
disacantha 8, 102
tetracantha 104, 105
Ophiopholis 18, 19, 114, 115, 116
aculeata 4,9, 12, 15,
19,115,116,128,131,133,196
var. japonica 15,
17,115,116,121,123,128
var. kennerlyi 11,
115,116,128,132,133
var. typica 116
bakeri 10,115,116,121,123,128
brachyactis 18, 115, 116, 117
caryi 115, 132, 133
japonica 123, 127
kennerlyi 115, 132, 133
longispina 10,
115, 116, 119, 121, 122, 123, 128
mirabilis 8, 19, 115, 116, 117, 119
Ophiophrixus 272
acanthinus 273
Ophiophrura 249
liodisca 249
Ophioplinthus 21
21
21
INDEX.
301
Page.
Ophioplocus ................................. 16
esmarki .........................
imbricatus ...................... 30 > 31
japonicus ....................... 30 , 31
Ophiopora ................................... ^39
Ophiopteris antipodum ...................... J
papillosa ........................ 1
Ophiopyrgus ......... - .................... --
Ophioschiza .............................. 254 '
monacantha .................... 25&
Ophioscolex ....................... 114,252 253
Ophiostyracium ............................. *^
trachyacanthum ............ ^*>o
Ophiosyzygus ..................... 275,276,277279
disacanthus .................. 18, 2<b
Ophiotholia ................................. ^
Ophiothricidse .............................. 6 > 2&7
Ophiothrix ......... 16, 18, 19, 21, 36, 121, 260, 265, 268
ciliaris ........................... 257
eusteira ......................... 265
hylodes ....................... 263,265
koreana .... 5, 12, 17, 18, 257 , 260, 264, 265
longipeda ........................ 263
macrobrachia ................. 5, 18,267
panchyendyta ................ 264, 265
spiculata ........................ 10,262
Ophiotoma .................................. 252
Opliiotrochus ............................... 14 ' 15
longispinus .................... 14,94
panniculus .................... 95
18 ' 102
Ophiozona
alba
bispinosa ............. - ............ 33* 34
elevata ....................... 5,81,33,34
longispina
platydisca .........................
polyplax ...........................
projecta ...........................
Ophiura .................... 3,15,18,19,21,
atacta ............................. 14 > 85
bathybia ..................... 13,16,58,60
brachyactis ................. ..... 8, 16, 87
bullata ............................. 75
calyptolepis .................. 67,68,69,70
ciliaris 257
clasta
convexa
cryptolepis ....................... 9,69, 70
flagellata ............... 8,9,10,16,18,19,60
glyptodisca ........................ 91, 92
hadra ............................ 11,14,80
imbecillis
irrorata ............... 8,9,10,14,15,62,63
kinbergi ............. 37 , 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 55
leptoctenia ... 4, 9, 15, 18, 19, 51 , 55, 58, 59, 60
Ijungmani .......................... 55,
longipeda ........................... 263
liitkeni ............ 5, 11, 19, 44,45, 46, 47, 55
maculata ..................... 8,18,49,156
megapoma .................
micracantha ..................... 18, 19,47
monostcecha .................... 65, 6"
nodosa ................... 4,12,70,131,196
cediplax ...................... 12,16,74,75
penichra .......................... 8,12,84
pomphophora ................... 89,90,91
ponderosa .................. 9,77,80,81,85
Pectinura
Ophiura quadrispina 8, 18, 19, 55, 58, 60
sarsii 4,9,12,13,17,18,19,
37 , 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 55, 131, 196
sculp ta 5 > 73
sculptilis 12, 13, 77
sterea 7,75, 76,78,84,85,88
stiphra 12,18,82,84,85
stuwitzii .^ : ^ L1 . 2, 78
Ophiurases
obstrictus 5, 18, 250
orbiculata, Ophioglypha 62, 63
pachybactra, Ophiolebes 242 , 244
pacificum, Ophiocten 9,14,96
palmifer, Tricaster 287
palmiferum , Euryale 287
palmiferus, Trichaster 287
panchyendyta, Ophiothrix 264 , 265
panniculus, Ophiotrochus 95
papillata, Ophioconis 28,30
papillosa, Ophiocoma 257
Ophiopteris 10,257
papyracea, Amphilepis 172
pardalis, Astrophyton 18,293, 294
paucispina, Ophiolebes 20,246, 247, 248
anchista 23,25
cylindrica '. 25
marmorata 25
stearnsii
penichra, Ophiura 8, 12,84
pentacantha, Amphilimna 10, 172
pentagona, Ophiacantha 5
16,17,18,20,196, 198,200,201,205
pergamena, Astroceras 5, 18,284
pericalles, Ophiodoris 5, 18, 177
periercta, Amphiodia 11,160,161
plana, Asteronyx 287
platydisca, Ophiozona &*
platytata, Amphilepis 13, 16, 171
polyacantha, Ophiomitra 18, 187
polyplax, Ophiozona
polyploca, Ophiocamax 5, 18, 193
pomphophora, Ophiura 89, 90, 91
ponderosa, Ophioglypha 77
Ophiura 9,77.80,81,85
porrecta, Ophionereis 174 177
prionota, Ophiacantha 13,213
projecta, Ophiozona...
psilochora, Amphiodia
psilopora, Amphiura 1 3 < 154
pteropoma, Ophiactis
pugetana, Amphipholis 11,166
Amphiura 16 6
pustulata, Hemieuryale
pycnostoma, Amphiura I 51
quadrispina, Ophiura... 8,18,19,55,58,60
relicta, Ophiacantha 20, 219, 221
rhachophora, Ophiacantha 5,8,9,18,20,201
rhadinobrachius, Amphioplus 167 , 168
riisei, Ophiocoma
robusta, Ophioglypha
rugosa, Ophiocamax
sagaminus, Gorgonocephalus 20, 21,292
sanctum, Ophiomusium I 09
302
INDEX.
rage.
sarsii, Ophiura 4,9,12,
13, 17, 18, 19, 37 , 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 55, 131, 196
schayeri, Ophionereis 174
scorteus, Ophiolebes 240
sculpta, Ophioglypha 73
Ophiura 5, 73
sculptilis, Ophioglypha 77
Ophiura 12,13,77
Sigsbeia murrhina 21
simplex, Ophiomusium 5,18,20,109,111
sinensis, Ophioglypha. 37
solida, Ophioglypha 91
spiculata, Ophiothrix 10,262
stearnsii, Pectinura 25
sterea, Ophioglypha 75
Ophiura 7, 75 , 76, 78, 84, 85, 88
stimpsonii, Astrophyton 287
Gorgonocephalus 292
stimulea, Ophiacantha 229
stiphra, Ophiura 12, 18,82, 84,85
strongyloplax, Amphiodia 10, 164
stuwitzii, Ophiura 12, 73
sundevalli, Amphiura 12, 141
Page.
sundevalli, Ophiolepis 141
synaptacantha, Ophiobyrsa 18,270,271
tetracantha, Ophiopenia 104, 105
trachyacanthum, Ophiostyracium 253
trachybactra, Ophiacantha 206
trachydisca, Amphiura 149
Tricaster palmifer 287
Trichaster palmiferus 287
trychnum, Ophiomusium 20,109, 111
tuberculosa, Jlemieuryale 21
tumulosa, Ophioglypha. 62,63
tylota, Ophiolebes 8, 20,243, 244, 246
typica, Ophiopholis aculeata var 116
undata, Ophioglypha 91
urtica, Amphiodia 11, 154
Amphiura 154, 156
variabilis, Ophioglypha 77
vestitus, Ophiolebes 242
vivipara, Ophiacantha 213
vorax, Ophiacantha 206
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