Neomorphaster margaritaceus (Perrier in Milne-Edwards, 1882 ), Clark & Downey, 1992

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 : 464

Neomorphaster margaritaceus (Perrier in Milne-Edwards, 1882)

FIGURE 1A–E

Pedicellaster margaritaceus Perrier in Milne-Edwards 1882: 46

Stichaster talismani Perrier 1885: 15

Neomorphaster eustichus Sladen 1889: 438 , pl. 66, figs. 3–4, pl 68, figs 9–10.

Calycaster monoecus Perrier 1891: 262 ; 1896: 28, pl.3, figs 2, 2a, pl. 3, figs 3, 3a.

Gastraster margaritaceus Perrier 1894: 103 , pl. 9, fig. 3; Mortensen 1927: 137; Fisher 1930: 207

Neomorphaster talismani Perrier 1894: 134 , pl. 10, fig. 2; Mortensen 1927: 134, fig. 76; Fisher 1930: 212; Harvey et al. 1988: 167

Neomorphaster parfaiti Koehler 1896: 44 (lapsus for N. talismani )

Neomorphaster forcipatus Verrill 1894: 269 ; 1895: 206; Clark & Downey 1992: 405

Neomorphaster margaritaceus Clark & Downey 1992: 406 ; Ringvold 1999: 471; Dilman 2013: 507; Garcia-Guillen et al. 2022: 4

Diagnosis

Papulae present, 1 to 5. Abactinal spinelets variably granuliform to clavate in shape. Abactinal and lateral surfaces covered with small crossed pedicellariae. Actinal spines spines, 1 or 2 per plate, those spines adjacent to furrow enlarged, thickened and weakly spatulate. Furrow spines, two per plate, thickened, elongate. Modified from characters summarized in Clark & Downey (1992).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neomorphaster margaritaceus (Stichasteridae) A. Southeast of the Azores, North Atlantic, 2098 m. B. Retriever Seamount, North Atlantic, feeding posture. C. USNM E18509, Bahamas, 614m showing papular pores. D. Oral plate showing pedicellariae. E. Gut contents showing foraminifera tests.