Aquilonastra richmondi

O’Loughlin, Mark & Mackenzie, Melanie, 2013, Asterinid seastars from the Mozambique Channel (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Asterinidae), Zootaxa 3613 (2), pp. 176-180 : 180

Aquilonastra richmondi O’Loughlin & Rowe, 2006

Aquilonastra richmondi O’Loughlin & Rowe, 2006: 279–281, figs 1, 4e, 6f, g, 10a.

Material examined. Indian Ocean, Scattered Is., Europa I., station 10 Bio 90, 22°21'S 40°23'E, under rock on reef flat, C. Conand, 10 Nov 2011, MNHN IE–2013–619 (in alcohol).

Distribution. Indian Ocean, Côtes d?Arabie, E Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, E South Africa, Sodwana Bay; under boulders and in crevices in rocks and live coral; 0–20 m (O’Loughlin & Rowe 2006).

Remarks. O’Loughlin & Rowe 2006 reported Aquilonastra richmondi for the east Africa coast as far south as Sodwana Bay, and for the west Indian Ocean and Madagascar. The occurrence on Europa Island is within this distribution range. Aquilonastra rowleyi O’Loughlin & Rowe, 2006 and Aquilonastra samyni O’Loughlin & Rowe, 2006 were also reported for specimens collected from Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu Natal. These three species, together with Aquilonastra chantalae sp. nov., are the only four species of Aquilonastra O’Loughlin, 2004 occurring in the south-west Indian Ocean