Marginaster pectinatus Perrier 1881

Mah, Christopher L., 2020, New species, occurrence records and observations of predation by deep-sea Asteroidea (Echinodermata) from the North Atlantic by NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 201-260 : 215

Marginaster pectinatus Perrier 1881

Figure 5B

This species was recognized based on its weakly stellate shape, marginal plate series and surface spination. This represents the first report of this species alive and apparently feeding on a hexactinellid sponge.

Some doubt has long been applied to the status of Marginaster , which has been considered as either a small adult poraniid or the juvenile form of an unknown adult poraniid (summary in Mah & Foltz 2012). The latter hypothesis has been difficult to confirm owing to the apparent absence of observed adult poraniid taxon co-occurring in the same region as Marginaster spp. Porania pulvillus has not previously been observed this far south and could suggest a possible taxon for testing the latter hypothesis to verify Marginaster ’s identity. Identification of this species has been made under the assumption of the former notion that Marginaster is an adult.

Images Observed

Cape Fear, Atlantic Ocean, 33.57342, -76.46504, 373 m

EX1806_IMG_20180624T195445Z_ROVHD.jpg

Figures

FIGURE 5. Poraniidae. A. Chondraster grandis on Acanthogorgia sp. “Unnamed canyon”,611 m. B. Marginaster pectinatus. Cape Fear, 373 m. C. Poraniomorpha abyssicola. Blake Ridge, 3403 m. D. and E. Chondraster grandis on Lophelia pertusa. Richardson Ridge, 781 m.