Beside these Star-fishes we have the pentagonal Hippasteria
(_Hippasteria phrygiana_ AG.), like a red star with rounded points,
found chiefly in deep water, though it is occasionally thrown up on
the beaches. It has but two rows of large tentacles, terminating in a
powerful sucking disk. The pedicellariæ on this Star-fish resemble
large two-pronged clasps, arranged principally along the lower side.
The pentagonal Star-fishes of our coast are in striking contrast to
the long-armed species we have just described; they are edged with
rows of large smooth plates, and do not possess the many prominent
spines so characteristic of the ordinary Star-fishes.
_Ctenodiscus_. (_Ctenodiscus crispatus_ D. & K.)
The Ctenodiscus (_Ctenodiscus crispatus_ D. & K., Fig. 147), an
inhabitant of more northern waters, but seeming also to be at home
here occasionally, is another pentagonal Star-fish. It lives in deep
water, and frequents muddy bottoms. The peculiar structure of their
ambulacra has probably some reference to this mode of living, for they
are entirely wanting in the sucking disks so characteristic of the
other members of this class, and their tentacles are pointed, as if to
enable them to work their way through the mud in which they make their
home. The pointed tentacles of this genus are characteristic of a
large group of Star-fishes, and it is an important fact, as showing
their lower standing, that this feature, as well as the pentagonal
outline, obtains in the earlier stages of growth of our more common
Star-fishes, while in their adult condition they assume the deeply
indented star-shaped outline, and have suckers at the extremities of
the tentacles.
[Illustration: Fig. 147. Ctenodiscus, seen from above; natural
size.]
_Solaster_. (_Solaster endeca_ FORBES.)
We find also among Star-fishes the same tendency to multiplication of
parts so common among the Polyps and Acalephs. Our Solaster (_Solaster
endeca_ Forbes), for instance, has no less than twelve arms; it
inhabits more northern latitudes, though sometimes found in our Bay;
on the coast of Maine it is quite common, and occurs in company with
another many-rayed species, the _Crossaster papposa_ M. & T. The color
of both of these Star-fishes is exceedingly varied; we find in the
Solaster as many different hues as in the Cribrella, which it
resembles in the structure of its spines, while in the Crossaster
bands of different tints of red and purple are arranged
concentrically, and the whole surface of the back is spotted with
brilliantly-tinged tiny wreaths of water-tubes, crowded round the base
of the different spines, which are somewhat similar to those of the
Astracanthion.
OPHIURANS.
_Ophiopholis_. (_Ophiopholis bellis_ LYM.)
[Illustration: Fig. 148. Ophiopholis, from above; natural size.]
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