Cenometra bella ( Hartlaub, 1890 )

Obuchi, Masami, 2020, Shallow-water Comatulids (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulida) of the Ashizuri-Uwakai Sea, Shikoku Island, Southern Japan, Species Diversity 25, pp. 309-328 : 321

24. Cenometra bella ( Hartlaub, 1890)

[Japanese name: Kosaju-umishida]

Morphology. Centrodorsal hemispherical, 4.7 mm across; polar area 0.4 times of centrodorsal diameter. Cirri robust, XXVIII, up to 36 segments, 24 mm long, arranged in two rows; segments L/W up to 0.8; segments on distal half with two aboral process fused into transverse bar in distal 10 segments. Radials narrowly visible. IBr to IIIBr series composed of 2 ossicles, with flange-like lateral process. Arms 26, up to 120 mm long; first arm syzygy at br 3+4; distal intersyzygial intervals 6–9. Comparative pinnule length P 1 <P 2>P 3>P 4 =P 5; P 2 remarkably stout, horn-like, recurved, with segments finely spinose on distal end. Disk lost.

Posture. Fully exposed on rocky pinnacles or gorgonian perches, forming arcuate to radial fan.

Coloration in life. Arms light brown; pinnules yellow but dark at proximal part; cirri tan.

Distribution. Ashizuri-Uwakai Sea (this report) to Fiji, and to Myanmar (A. H. Clark 1947). Ogasawara Islands ( Gislén 1922) and Guam ( Kirkendale and Messing 2003).

Remarks. This species can be identified by the horn-like P 2 that is remarkably stouter than other pinnules.