Volume 87, 1959
– 187 –
![Thumbnail: [Volume 87, 1959 page 187]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_87/thumbnails/rsnz_87_01_0217_0187_ac_02.gif)
Discussion
The distinctive characters of Anareaster and its relation to the other genera of Korethrasteridae may be illustrated by the following key, which is a logical extension of that already published by Fisher (1911, p. 341):
| 1 | (2) Abactinal plates polygonal or roundish in outline, the spines composing the paxilliform tufts naked and free | Korethraster |
| 2 | (1) Abactinal plates cruciform, forming meshes; the spines composing the paxilliform tufts united together | |
| 3 | (6) Paxillar spines enclosed in a sacculus enveloping the whole group. | |
| 4 | (5) Paxillar spines simple, enveloped in membranous sheaths which are united together in the centre of the group | Peribolaster |
| 5 | (4) Paxillar spines scoop-shaped and denticulate, forming hollow funnel-shaped fascicles | Remaster |
| 6 | (3) Paxillar spines fused together by their lateral margins to form an erect flaring cup which is roofed over within by a fibrous membrane | Anareaster |
It may be suggested that Anareaster can be regarded as a still more specialised derivative of Remaster and the cup-shaped paxillae may be regarded as a development of funnel-shaped fascicles of that genus. Both genera share with Korethraster the spatulate character of the spines, and both are Antarctic.
A fuller account, with half-tone photographic illustrations, will be given in the official report of the Echinoderms of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition.