Evoplosoma scorpio Downey 1981

Mah, Christopher L., 2024, Two New Taxa of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) and Noteworthy Observations of Deep-Sea Asteroidea by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in the North and Tropical Atlantic, Zootaxa 5432 (4), pp. 461-508 : 488-489

Evoplosoma scorpio Downey 1981

FIGURE 12A

Downey, 1981, p. 561; Gage et al., 1983, p. 280; Clark & Downey, 1992, p. 242; Clark, 1993, p. 253; Mah et al., 2010, p. 281, Figure 6 .

Diagnosis

Body strongly stellate with elongate arms (R/r> 3.0). Abactinal, marginal and actinal plate surfaces covered by dense cover of granules which are spiny with angular tips, but polygonal in shape. Prominent, but short, stout conical spines irregularly present or absent on abactinal and actinal plate surfaces. Marginal plates with a single large, prominent spine on each. Furrow spines 5–7, approximately 60–66 marginal plates per interradius.

Comments

The figured individual was identified based on the abundance of conical spines present on the disc and arms, especially the single spine on each marginal plate ( Fig. 12A ). This represents a third apparent occurrence of this species within the distributed range established by prior occurrence records, between the Rockall Trough/European Basin and off the depths of Delaware in the western North Atlantic.

Occurrence

South-west Rockall Trough to northeastern European Basin (48.5°N, 10°W) extended herein to off Delaware 38°45′N, 72°40′W. 1600–2105 m.

New occurrence. Kurchatov Ridge, North Atlantic, 1725 m ( Fig. 11A ).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Bathyceramaster kelliottae n. sp. (Goniasteridae) A. Abactinal. B. Abactinal plates, closeup. C. In situ image. D. Abactinal-superomarginal edge. E. Actinal. F. Actinal view, oral region, large bivalve pedicellariae. G. Actinal viewadambulacral plates, large bivalve pedicellariae. Scale: A, E=10.0 mm, B,F,G=2.0 mm, D=3.0 mm,

FIGURE 11. Evoplosoma watlingi (Goniasteridae) A. Dumbell Seamount, 2396 m. B. Corner Rise 1 Seamount, 2450 m.

FIGURE 12. Corallivorous Goniasteridae. A. Evoplosoma scorpio (Goniasteridae), Kurchatov Ridge, 1725 m. B. Floriaster maya (Goniasteridae), Key West Scarp, 1112 m.