Neoferdina annae, Mah, Christopher L., 2017

Mah, Christopher L., 2017, Overview of the Ferdina - like Goniasteridae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) including a new subfamily, three new genera and fourteen new species, Zootaxa 4271 (1), pp. 1-72 : 42-44

Neoferdina annae n. sp.

Figure 13 A–F

Etymology. This species is named for my colleague and friend Anna Sutton.

Diagnosis. This species is distinctive for having a nearly continuous granular tegument which covers all plate surfaces save for the paired bald circles on the paired penultimate superomarginals. Abactinal plates are flat and mostly homogeneous in size and shape with no large, convex plates as seen in most other Neoferdina species. Distalmost superomarginal plates are abutted at arm tip.

Taxonomic comments. This species is similar to Neoferdina insolita , in that it shares the absence of large, convex bald plates on the abactinal surface. It differs from nearly all other Neoferdina species in that there are no bald patches on the surfaces of the superomarginal or inferomarginal plates, save for the two superomarginals adjacent to the terminal.

Neoferdina annae n. sp. invites comparison with Paraferdina laccadivensis with which it shares several characters, including the flat, round shaped, and numerous abactinal plates and especially the granular tegument covering the surface, including all of the marginal plates, nearly all of which are lacking bare patches. Neoferdina annae n. sp. differs in that it possesses a single circular bare patch on each of two penultimate superomarginals, and elongate superomarginals in contrast to P. laccadivensis which displays no known bare patches on the superomarginals and which has more quadrate to elongate superomarginals. N. annae also displays a more stellate body shape with more triangular shaped arms that are more similar to those in Neoferdina than in Paraferdina . Given these character differences between N. annae and P laccadivensis , this species creates ambiguity at the taxonomic boundary between these two genera. Further phylogenetic testing is needed to properly establish the boundaries for these genera.

Occurrence. Balut Island, Philippines. approximately 100–150 m.

Description. Body stellate (R/r=3.36–4.25), arms triangular in shape with weakly curved interradial arcs ( Figs. 13 A, B). Body flattened.

Abactinal surface flattened, plates oval to circular to irregularly polygonal, ( Figs. 13 A, B). Plate surface flat to weakly convex, mostly homogeneous in size but with smaller more homogeneously sized plates adjacent to contact with superomarginal plates. Abactinal plates covered with continuous granular tegument extending onto marginal and actinal plate surfaces. Individual granules fine, 10–30, usually 20 along a 1.0 mm line. If granular tegument is removed, plate surfaces are smooth and reddish in color with no convexities or other structures. glassy nodules absent. Granules obscuring plate boundaries on abactinal surface, but darker in color between plates. Abactinal plates five or six along arm base, tapering out to a single series where superomarginals abut over midline. Carinal series with irregular plates variably smaller and oval shaped to three times as large and round in shape, alternating in series ( Fig. 13 B). Papulae distinct, ranging from four to eight surrounding each abactinal plate, primarily occurring along arm and basal arm regions on disk. Absent from interradial regions and central disk regions. Madreporite polygonal to round, sulci well developed. Pedicellariae absent.

Superomarginal plates 21–32 per interradius (arm tip to arm tip), inferomarginals 22–26 per interradius in the holotype ( Fig. 13 A), 34–36 in the paratype. Proximal marginal plates with 1:1 correspondence becoming more offset distally along the arms. Proximalmost superomarginals wide and quadrate in shape with subsequent plates becoming more elongate along arm becoming more quadrate adjacent to terminal plate. Superomarginal surface weakly convex to flat ( Figs 13 B,C). Some segments along arm smaller, irregular in shape (presumably from damage). Superomarginal contact with abactinal plates round and convex. Distalmost two to three superomarginals abutted over midline ( Fig. 13 D). Granular tegument on marginal plates continuous from abactinal plate surface save for one distinct round bald, dark colored patch on the surface of distalmost superomarginals, on the holotype patches are restricted to paired superomarginals adjacent to the terminal plate ( Figs. 13 D, F). Thus, each arm with paired dark spots on each arm tip. Inferomarginal plates broadly similar in overall size and shape distribution. Distalmost inferomarginals covered with coarser granules, several bearing thorny to spine-like tips. Single short granular spinelet present on two to three inferomarginals adjacent to the terminal. Inferomarginal adjacent to terminal plate also strongly convex. Terminal plates triangular in shape, with no granular tegument. No pedicellariae observed.

Actinal surface composed of five to six actinal intermediate series, four of which terminate along the arm at various points away from the disk ( Fig. 13 E). Two incomplete actinal intermediate plate series on disk. Individual actinal plates quadrate to polygonal in shape. Actinal surface covered by same continuous granular integument covering abactinal and marginal surface. No spines or other accessories present on actinal surface other than granular integument. Furrow spines, round and quadrate in cross-section, present in a single series along adambulacral furrow. Two to three (mostly three) short blunt spines per adambulacral plate. Granular integument extends up to base and half-way along spines. Oral plates with a large oral spine on each paired plate, each projecting into mouth. Thus, two oral spines project into the mouth per interradius. Each of these, approximately two to three times as thick as the furrow spines. No other accessories present on furrow spines other than the granular integument. Oral plates strongly convex or raised above plane of actinal intermediate plates.

Although color in life was unavailable, patterns remained evident on the holotype. Plates on the central disk were dark brown/orange with pink in the center. The dark brown coloration from the disk was present interradially on the disk between the primary circlet to the interradial superomarginals. Abactinal coloration was dark pink to brown. Actinal intermediate region and color from lateral to actinolateral regions was lighter but similar to that of the abactinal surface. The areas around the mouth and along the adambulacral furrows were yellow to white.

Material examined. Holotype: CASIZ 218854 ; Balut Island , Philippines, approximately 100 – 150 m.; Coll. taken with tangle net. 1 dry spec. R=3.7 r=1.1. Paratypes: CASIZ 218871 ; Balut Island , Philippines, approximately 100– 150 m .; Coll. taken with tangle net; 1 dry spec. R=5.1 r=1.2. CASIZ 219697 Balut Island , Philippines 200 m . Tangle net. R=4.5 r=1.3; CASIZ 219698 Balut Island , Philippines 200 m . Tangle net. R=4.5 r=1.0. 1 dry spec.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Neoferdina annae n. sp. Holotype, CASIZ 218854. Scale Bar = 3.5 mm. A. Abactinal surface. B. Abactinal disk plate detail. C. Abactinal-lateral view showing superomarginal / abactinal contact. D. Detail of arm tip showing superomarginal plates. E. Actinal surface. F. Arm tip showing paired bald patches on penultimate abutted superomarginal plates.