Floriaster maya Downey 1980

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 : 489

Floriaster maya Downey 1980

FIGURE 12B

Downey 1980: 105; Clark & Downey 1993: 244; Mah 2020: 226.

Diagnosis

Body stellate, R/r=2.1, arms short, triangular. Interradial arcs linear to weakly curved. Abactinal plates tumid, close-set, each surrounded by rough, indented granules, variably bare or with with granules, 1–3, enlarged, rounded. Superomarginal plates tumid, surface smooth, each with tubercles or pointed granules, 1–3 per plate. Actinal plates each with a pointed tubercular spine. Furrow spines 7, flattened with chisel–like tips. Single, large pedicellariae present behind furrow spines.

Comments

This represents the second observation of this species since being observed at the Berg Bits locality, off the southeastern United States ( Mah 2020).

Ecological Comments

The figured individual was observed perched vertically while adhered to, and presumably feeding upon a branched colonial organism, possibly an octocoral, hydroid, or a bryozoan ( Fig. 12B ). Prior in situ observation of this species showed it perched on dead Lophelia corals and isidid (bamboo coral) stalks, suggesting predation on the coral or post-mortem epizoic organisms.

Occurrence

Mona South Ridge, Berg Bits, off Southeastern United States, southern end of Yucatan Channel. 933–1156 m. New occurrence: Key West Scarp, 1112 m ( Fig. 12B ).

Image Observed

Key West Scarp, North Atlantic, 23.970054 -81.800216, 1112 m. EX2107_IMG_20211110T201003Z_ROVHD.jpg

Figures

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