Henricia arcystata Fisher, 1917

Xiao, Ning, Liao, Yulin & Liu, Ruiyu, 2011, Records of the genus Henricia Gray, 1840 (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Echinasteridae) from Chinese waters, Zootaxa 3115, pp. 1-20 : 4-5

Henricia arcystata Fisher, 1917

Figures 3 A–F, 12 J

Henricia arcystata Fisher, 1917: 91 ; 1919: 439, pl. 118, figs 4, 5, pl. 119, fig. 4, pl. 120, fig. 2, pl. 132, fig. 4.

Material examined. South China Sea. One (R 42 – 33 mm, r 4.8 mm, R: r 8.8 – 6.9), MBM014385, CN 33 - 19, Stn. 6081, 18° 50 ʹN, 113 °00ʹE, 465m, gray medium sand, AT, coll. HUAN, 17 Feb 1959.

Distribution. South China Sea, Philippines, 465– 970 m.

Remarks. This species has not been previously recorded from South China Sea. It appears closely related to Henricia mutans (Koehler) . Fisher (1919) described this species and discussed differences between H. arcystata and H. mutans . This species differs in having conspicuous marginal plates ( Fig. 3 F) and usually three furrow spines ( Fig. 3 D) in a distinct vertical series.

However, Fisher (1919) suggested that it would not be surprising if H. arcystata were found to be a Philippine variant of the Andaman H. mutans (Koehler) . Our single specimen from the South China Sea agrees well with the description of Fisher (1919) except for the presence of more subadambulacral spines. We have not attempted an extended discussion of the affinities of these two species due to the limited material available.