Mediaster murrayi Macan 1938

Mah, Christopher L., 2018, New genera, species and occurrence records of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata) from the Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 4539 (1), pp. 1-116 : 58

Mediaster murrayi Macan 1938

Macan 1938: 470

Diagnosis. Body size stellate (R/r=2.4 to 2.8), Abactinal plates with granular cover composed of 20–30 truncate peripheral granules, six to 12 hemispherical central granules in one, two or three regular rows. Carinal plates wider than long. Superomarginals with lateral facing interradially, becoming more upwards facing distally. Marginal plates 42–48 per interradius (21–24 per side), granules on marginal plates pointed. “Two-valved” pedicellariae on abactinal surface, marginal and actinal plates. Furrow spines seven to nine with three coarse subambulacral spines.

Comments. Although no new records of this species are included herein, this species is included for comparisons with the other Mediaster species. This diagnosis is based on the description and only account of this species from the Zanzibar area by Macan (1938). Mediaster murrayi and M. roanae n. sp. are likely sister species and share several characters, including heterogeneously sized and shaped granules on the abactinal tabular surfaces, as well as similar furrow and subambulacral spine number and morphology.

Occurrence. Zanzibar area, 256–640 m.

Material Examined. None.