Astrophiura Sladen, 1879

Stöhr, Sabine, 2024, Taxonomic analysis of the genital plates and associated structures in Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata), European Journal of Taxonomy 933, pp. 1-98 : 22

Genus Astrophiura Sladen, 1879

Fig. 6H

Type species

Astrophiura permira Sladen, 1879 .

Examined species

Astrophiura sp. , A. cf. tiki Litvinova & Smirnov, 1981 ( Stöhr et al. 2012b).

Oral GP

Absent.

Adradial GP

Bar-like, flat for most of its length, proximal end rounded, distal to midpoint a fin-like ventral process, distal end thicker, upwards curved, edge straight, depressed, no condyles.

Abradial GP

Not examined, possibly absent, since no genital slits were seen.

Oral shields

Madreporite large, pentagonal, externally domed, small hydropore near a lateral edge, inner side not examined. Other OS not identifiable, considered absent.

Radial shield

Inner side not examined.

Remarks

Astrophiura has a unique and specialized morphology, possibly affected by paedomorphosis.

Figures

Fig. 6. A–G. Ophiomusaidae O’Hara, Stöhr, Hugall, Thuy & Martynov, 2018, Ophiomusa lymani (Wyville-Thomson, 1873), SEM, unless otherwise noted. A–B. Micro-CT, adGP and abGP in situ. C. Oral shield, inner aspect.D. Madreporite, inner aspect.E. adGP, abradial view.F. abGP, adradial view. G. RS, inner aspect. H. Astrophiuridae Sladen, 1879, Astrophiura sp., adGP. Scale bars: A–G= 1 mm; H =0.1 mm.