PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM iiiue</|pf?fV^V Ckl^l hy the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM Vol. 86 Washington : 1939 No. 3059 A XEW SEA STAR OF THE GENUS PORAXIOPSIS FROM JAPAN Bv Walter K. Fisher The new species of Poraniopsis (Echinasteridae) described herein M-as known to me 30 years ago. Tt was found in a jar containing; fishes dredged off Honslin, Japan, by the Albatross in 1906. The genus is an isolated one AA-ith a rather curious distribution. First, there is the present Japanese species, the extent of Avhose range is unknown. P. hi-fiata (Fisher) has been dredged from off Oregon to San Diego, Calif., in 26 to 159 fathoms. P. inilafa fexilis Fisher is a deeper-water race (344 to 600 fathoms) from California, and probably extends to the Gulf of Panama, 458 fathoms. The latter record is based on Aleceandraster mjirus Ludwig, 1905, vrhich is doubtfully distinct. Poranwpfh mira (Ludwig) is untenable on accoinit of Poraniopsis mira (de Loriol) described a year prior as LahiUea mira. In the Magellanic region is found P. eehinaster Perrier. type of the genus, its range extending to Gough Island south of Tristan da Cunha, 50 to 70 fathoms. I have examined a s]7ecimen from this locality and it is P. eehitiaster rather than P. capensie. H. L. Clark, from Cape Colony. 160 to 230 fathoms. Finally, there is P. mira (de Loriol) from the Gulf of San Mathias. Argentina, very distinct from P. eclimmter. ^ 1 er.i i — -^fl 460
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