Hemieuryale pustulata

Gondim, Anne Isabelley, Dias, Thelma Lúcia Pereira, Christoffersen, Martin Lindsey & Stöhr, Sabine, 2015, Redescription of Hemieuryale pustulata von Martens, 1867 (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) based on Brazilian specimens, with notes on systematics and habitat association, Zootaxa 3925 (3), pp. 341-360 : 344-356

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3925.3.2

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5DE2AE8E-F07D-4892-AF6F-417D3D6597E4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5676830

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/080DE33A-FF9B-B870-D2FC-B196FE07FA7F

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Hemieuryale pustulata
status

 

Hemieuryale pustulata von Martens, 1867

Figures 2 View FIGURE 2 A–F; 3A–G; 4A–J; 5A–E

Hemieuryale pustulata von Martens 1867: 179, 484–486, fig. 2a–c.― Lyman 1869: 313; 1883: 277.― Verrill 1899b: 363 –364.― H.L. Clark 1915: 192.— Matsumoto 1917: 140. ― A.H. Clark 1921: 52.― Fell 1960: 12.― Emson & Woodley 1987: 33.― Martynov 2010: 48, fig. 36a.― Alvarado 2011: 270.― Alvarado & Solís-Marín 2013: 624.

Type material. Museum of Natural History of Berlin (Museum für Naturkunde). Two syntypes, MZB 1739. (Examined on photographs, provided by C. Lüter).

Type locality. 18° N; 70° W, Antilles, Caribbean Sea.

Material examined. Continental shelf in front of Municipality off Macau, of Rio Grande do Norte, 100 m: 1 spm, 17 Oct 2010 [ UFPB. ECH.2159], 9 spms, 14 Sep 2012 [ UFPB. ECH.2171], 13 spms, 0 6 Nov 2010 [ UFPB. ECH.2169], 16 spms, 16 Feb 2011 [ UFPB. ECH.2172], 23 spms, 17 Oct 2010 [ UFPB. ECH.2173], 7 spms 0 4 Jul 2010 [ UFPB. ECH.2175], 120 m: 25 spms, 24 Sep 2011 [ UFPB. ECH.2170], continental shelf in front of Diogo Lopes, Macau, Rio Grande do Norte, 4º40’31,05”S 36º28’30,01”W, 130 m: 17 spms, 0 4 Jun 2012 [ UFPB. ECH.2167], 5 spms, 15 Mar 2012 [ UFPB. ECH.2168], 10 spms, 0 8 Dec 2012 [ UFPB. ECH.2174], 4º42’09,9”S 36º28’08,22”W, 100 m: 7 spms, 23 Sep 2010 [ UFPB. ECH.2163], 3 spms, 16 Aug 2012 [ UFPB. ECH.2164], 4 spms, 0 9 Mar 2010 [ UFPB. ECH.2166], 4º47’56,47”S 36º27’33,59”W, 130 m: 2 spms, 12 Dec 2011 [ UFPB. ECH.2162], 8 spms, 18 Aug 2011 [ UFPB. ECH.2165], 1 spm., 8 July 2010, [ UFPB. ECH.212176], 2 spms., 04º44,8945’S, 36º25,4571, Potiguar Basin, 23 May 2011 [ UFPB. ECH.2177], REVIZEE Central, col. N. Oc. Almirante Saldanha, 22º12’56”S, 250–500 m, calcareous bottom: 1 spm, 12 Jun 2002 [ EQMN 2955], REVIZEE Central, 22º22’56”S 37º35’15”W, 240–300 m, bottom of rhodoliths: 2 spms, 12 Jun 2002 [ EQMN 2953], Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande do Norte: 172 spms, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, without registration number.

Diagnosis. Same as for genus.

Redescription (UFPB.ECH.2175). Disc pentagonal (dd = 5.62 mm), covered by strongly calcified, imbricated scales, of variable size and shape ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, C, 3A, D). Radial shields large, approximately half length of dd, triangular, with tuberculous stereom, separated along their full length by a row of small plates that extend to arm ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C, E, 3A, E). Interradius covered by strongly calcified imbricated scales, slightly larger than those in center of disc. Central primary plate circular, flat and bulging ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, C, 3A, B). Scales of variable size and shape, some strongly swollen, others flattened, are found surrounding the central primary plate ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, C, 3A, B). Radial primary plates oval, strongly swollen on distal half ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, C, 3A, B), almost forming a tubercle between each radial shield pair. Ventral interradius short, with scales similar to dorsal ones in shapes and sizes ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D), but more flattened and less imbricated. Bursal slits short and broad ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, E, 3D, F), located on lateral margins of oral shields. Oral shields large and flabelliform ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3D, F), stereom weakly tuberculous, occupying most of the ventral disc. Madreporic oral shield with large pore offset near lateral edge, stereom not tuberculous ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3D, F). Adoral shields slightly smaller than oral shields, swollen with tuberculous stereom ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3D, F). Small triangular extraoral plate, present on all or only some jaws ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3D, F). Three to five lateral oral papillae ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3D, F), the distal one largest and operculous, proximalmost papillae pointed and slightly infradental, middle papillae intermediate in size, rounded. One triangular pointed apical papilla ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 D, 3D, F).

Arms. Five arms, approximately 4 to 7 times disc diameter long, and thick ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, B). A mosaic of small plates on dorsal arm, variable in size and shape ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, E, 3C). Accessory dorsal arm plate swollen and rounded ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A, C, E, 3A, C, E). The first accessory dorsal arm plate is the largest and most swollen ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 E, 3A, E). Dorsal and accessory plates with simple stereom. Lateral arm plate visible dorsally and ventrally, with tuberculous stereom ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 A, C), pairs dorsally and ventrally widely separated. Isolated plate from proximal arm about as high as long, outer surface on distal two thirds strongly tuberculous, flatter, proximal band with simple stereom. Inner side of lateral plate with vertical ridge, almost for entire plate height, slightly slanting proximalwards, with round flat "knob" on lower proximal part; a single perforation almost in center of inner surface. Arm spine articulations two parallel ridges, of equal length, separated at both ends, nerve opening perforating, muscle opening shallow depression ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 C). Ventral arm plate axe-shaped, widest distally, with slightly convex distal edge, strongly concave lateral edges, obtuse proximal angle ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 F, 3G), tuberculous stereom. Consecutive plates just touching on proximalmost arm, further out separated. One oval, operculiform tentacle scale ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 F, 3G), longer than wide. Two thick round arm spines ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 F, 3G), slightly longer than half an arm segment, ventral spine shorter than dorsal, both with a crown of thorns at tip ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 E). Arm spines visible only on ventral side, absent on first two arm segments, two arm spines from third segment. Vertebrae streptospondylous ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 F, J).

Dental plate. Entire, non–perforated, with five shallow tooth sockets, three times longer than wide, widest ventrally with largest socket ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 C).

Oral plate. Approximately 1.5 times as long as high ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 A, B). Abradial muscular area small (approximately 300 µm in diameter), elliptical, positioned transversally ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 B). Adradial articular area slightly comma-shaped ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 A).

Genital plates and radial shields. Adradial genital plate small (approximately as long as 3 arm segments) ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 D), positioned laterally from second to fourth vertebrae. Abradial genital plate may be absent or is extremely reduced and possibly similar to a disc scale that we were unable to identify. Articulation surface of adradial genital plate is a long curved distal band ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 D). Articulation surface of radial shield formed by two circular depressions, the distal one larger and deeper, and a narrow band corresponding to the band on the genital plate ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 E). Radial shield slightly comma-shaped, convex abradial edge, almost straight adradial edge, distal end twice as wide as proximal end.

Variations. The observed variation with respect to general morphology was small in the studied specimens. A small extraoral triangular plate ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 F, 3D, F) is present in most specimens. However, in some specimens, this plate was found absent on one or several jaws, or was even completely absent. This variation was observed both in juvenile and adult individuals. The extraoral plates are sometimes large, corresponding to about 1/3 of the length of the oral shield. The jaw plates (oral and adoral shields) are flattened in some specimens, differing from the typical pattern for this species (swollen plates). One specimen had one of the pairs of adoral shields fused, forming a single, slightly pentagonal plate, approximately of the same size as the oral shield. The ventral arm plate is be fragmented into two in few specimens. The primary plates are sometimes flattened and well developed or not evident, in which case the center of the disc is occupied by small scales of variable size and shape. In only one individual we observed the presence of one or two swollen scales (almost circular) between the radial shields. We observed five individuals with four- and two with six-fold symmetry ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 A–H) in the 325 studied specimens.

Color. Hemieuryale pustulata has a color similar to that of its host Nicella guadalupensis ( Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860) , being reddish-brown ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 ). The color pattern may vary from uniformly reddish-brown, reddish brown with white spots, to almost completely white with reddish-brown areas ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 A–F). This spotted pattern is extremely variable. Von Martens (1867) observed this same color pattern in the type specimens ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 C, D, E). Individuals of H. pustulata found associated with the octocoral Verrucella Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 are reddish-brown or yellowish with white spots of variable shape and distribution ( Verrill 1899b). Frequently some of the plates of the oral region are white.

Description of the juveniles (up to 3 mm dd). (UFPB.ECH.2175) Disc pentagonal ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 A, C) (dd = 1.5 mm), inflated, covered with strongly calcified and juxtaposed scales ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 A, C). Radial shields large (approximately half length of dd), triangular ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 A, C), largely separated by a row of scales which extend to the arm. Primary plates well developed, central and radials circular ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 A, C). These are the largest plates found on the disc. Interradius occupied by 3 or 4 scales ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 C). Bursal slits short and broad. One triangular apical papilla on tip of jaw. Four lateral oral papillae. Oral shield fan-shaped. Adoral shield large, slightly smaller than oral shields. Extraoral plate absent. Dorsal arm plate replaced by a mosaic of small plates ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 D). Dorsal plate on distal arm small, triangular. Lateral arm plate large, and tuberculous. Ventral arm plate pentagonal, distal margin wider. One arm spine with a crown of thorns at tip. Arm spines absent on two first arms segments. One large and rectangular tentacle scale.

Main differences between juveniles and adults. In general, juveniles are very similar to adults. The difference is that juvenile specimens (≤ 3 mm dd) have flattened scales on the disc and the accessory dorsal arm plate has not differentiated ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 ). Usually juveniles are completely reddish-brown (as their octocoral host), the characteristic white spots observed in most adults being rare. Specimens larger than 2 mm dd already have accessory dorsal arm plates, but these are still not swollen. In these individuals only the first accessory dorsal arm plate becomes slightly hemispherical. Unfortunately, no postlarval stages were observed in this study.

Differentiation of the dorsal and accessory dorsal arm plates. In the beginning the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the arm are almost completely covered by the lateral arm plate ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 A). The lateral arm plate is large (corresponding to the full length of the arm segment) and they touch each other both dorsally and ventrally. Only in the distalmost portion do the two lateral arm plates become separate, forming a triangular opening in which the dorsal arm plate is inserted, forming a small triangular plate ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 A).Subsequently the dorsal arm plate fragments into three plates (pc, pl I, and pl II) ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 B). Plates I and II (pl I-II) will differentiate into the accessory dorsal arm plate. After the first fragmentation, the central plate (pc) divides into four plates (pc1, pc2, pc3, and pc4) ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 C). Subsequently the plates formed from the first divisions continue to subdivide, giving rise to several plates of irregular shape and size ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 D). As the central plate divides into several other plates, the accessory dorsal arm plate is displaced to more lateral areas, becoming swollen posteriorly. At the end of the process of plate fragmentation the dorsal arm plate is replaced by a mosaic of small plates ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 E, 11E). In the adult arm segments it becomes impossible (without further experimental manipulation and more sophisticated topological marking techniques) to determine the central plate from which the final plates originated.

Distribution. Caribbean Sea (The Bahama Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Belize, Saba Bank – Netherlands Antilles, and Panama), Colombia ( Emson & Woodley 1987; Alvarado 2011; Alvarado & Solís-Marín 2012), and Brazil ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ). In Brazil from Pará, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ). This study provides the first records for the Brazilian littoral.

Depth range. From 18 to 330 m (Smithsonian Database; Verrill 1899b).

Remarks. Von Martens (1867) described this species on the basis of two specimens collected in the Antilles with a dd of 5 mm ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ). According to Verrill (1899b), H. pustulata is common in waters of moderate depth throughout the West Indies (Caribbean Sea), wherever Verrucella (as Gorgonella Nielsen ) lives. Although this study represents the first record for Brazil, H. pustulata appears to be an abundant species across the littoral, at least in northeastern Brazil.

Insights on the ecology of Hemieuryale pustulata . Fifty-three gorgonians were observed, all belonging to the species Nicella guadalupensis . Their maximum length and width was 495 mm and 580 mm, respectively. Ophiuroids ( Hemieuryalidae ) were found on all collected gorgonians. A total of 251 specimens of Hemieuryale pustulata were recorded in association with these gorgonians, having a mean disc diameter of 2.91 mm (varying from 0.55 to 7.41 mm) ( Table 1 View TABLE 1 ). Some individuals are clearly juveniles, strongly camouflaged and difficult to perceive on the gorgonian. Only 2.15% (n = 7) of the analyzed individuals had scars, suggesting predation attempts. The largest and smallest specimens with regenerated parts measured had 4.53 mm and 1.35 mm in dd, respectively.

Gorgonian ( Nicella guadalupensis ) Ophiuroid ( Hemieuryale pustulata )

No H (mm) W (mm) dd (mm) of specimens Mean (±SD) Tsp ......continued on the next page Hemieuryale pustulata was present on 100% of the collected gorgonians, varying from one to 30 individuals on the same colony (mean of 5.9 individuals/gorgonian). Table 1 View TABLE 1 provides size data for the studied hemieuryalid individuals found on the analyzed gorgonians. In three colonies of N. guadalupensis , the presence of bivalves (family Pteriidae ) and another species of ophiuroid (an unidentified Ophiacanthidae ) were observed, in addition to H. pustulata . Comparing the studied gorgonians, we observed a significant difference in the abundance of H. pustulata among them (Pseudo-F1-52 = 1.1614; p = 0.0016). Pearson’s correlation showed a moderate relation between the number of individuals and the gorgonian area (p = 0.009; r = 0.351) ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 A). The majority of individuals were found on gorgonians with an area ranging from 0.004 and 0.2 m 2. However, there was no difference in the use of quadrants by individuals (Pseudo-F1-52 = 1.8849; p = 0.3271), indicating no clear pattern of distribution regarding the place of occupation in the habitat ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 B).

Regarding size, individuals did not differ among the quadrants (Pseudo-F1-52 = 1.088; p = 0.0327), suggesting the absence of distinct distribution patterns for juvenile and adult individuals across the host gorgonian. This result was similar to that found in another euryalid species, Astrobrachion constrictum ( Farquhar, 1900) ( Stewart & Mladenov, 1997) . There was no correlation between the size of individuals and the area of the gorgonians (p = 0.09; r = 0.235) ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 B).

TABLE 1. Data on the size (measured by disc diameter) and number of ophiuroid individuals found on each coral, collected on the continental shelf of Rio Grande do Norte State, northeastern Brazil. dd, disc diameter; H, height; No, running number; SD, standard deviation; Tsp, total number of specimens; W, width.

0 1 360 415 2.02–5.43 3.63 (±0.91) 14
0 2 360 360 1.59–4.45 2.78 (±1.09) 8
0 3 115 60 2.58–3.67 3.12 (±0.77) 2
0 4 155 130 1.35–4.49 2.92 (±2.22) 2
0 5 185 240 0.55–4.54 2.79 (±1.32) 8
0 6 290 230 2.31–4.68 3.81 (±0.72) 10
0 7 249 149 2.33–4.16 3.54 (±0.72) 5
0 8 290 240 2.12–4.47 3.20 (±0.68) 9
0 9 130 110 4.87 1
10 270 300 2.34–4.91 3.41 (±0.83) 12
11 130 110 1.80–3.97 2.65 (±1.15) 3
12 300 280 1.15–4.27 2.89 (±0.91) 13
13 270 280 3.46 1
14 260 200 2.75–4.28 3.46 (±0.77) 3
15 225 250 1.70–4.71 2.93 (±1.35) 4
16 120 85 1.27–4.90 3.08 (±2.56) 2
17 130 60 4.64 1
18 110 120 2.54–3.79 3.36 (±0.71) 3
19 97 110 2.63–3.53 3.08 (±0.63) 2
20 70 60 2.17 1
21 120 130 2.52–3.53 3.00 (±0.50) 3
22 95 65 2.92–3.40 3.16 (±0.33) 2
23 205 115 3.29 1
24 75 180 3.32–3.67 3.51 (±0.17) 3
25 107 580 1.68 1
26 150 160 0.96–5.74 3.35 (±3.37) 2
27 100 120 2.21–3.84 3.06 (±0.67) 5
28 160 260 1.88–4.77 3.40 (±0.88) 8
29 260 190 2.78–6.25 3.53 (±1.33) 6
30 260 180 3.53–4.44 3.98 (±0.64) 2
31 115 190 2.10–3.72 2.91 (±1.14) 2
32 300 325 1.14–4.34 2.91 (±1.22) 8
33 315 220 2.62–5.41 4.17 (±0.78) 9
34 190 185 3.55–4.36 4.04 (±0.43) 3
35 230 305 1.56–3.43 2.42 (±0.64) 10
36 310 110 3.21 1
37 160 95 2.51–4.15 3.31 (±0.82) 3
38 137 165 2.20–4.93 3.17 (±1.19) 5
39 190 180 2.59–3.85 3.20 (±0.53) 4
40 180 180 1.49–5.88 3.27 (±2.30) 3
MZB

Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense

UFPB

Departamento de Sistematica e Ecologia

ECH

Elmira College

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Echinodermata

Class

Ophiuroidea

Order

Ophiurida

Family

Hemieuryalidae

Genus

Hemieuryale

Loc

Hemieuryale pustulata

Gondim, Anne Isabelley, Dias, Thelma Lúcia Pereira, Christoffersen, Martin Lindsey & Stöhr, Sabine 2015
2015
Loc

Hemieuryale pustulata

Alvarado 2013: 624
Alvarado 2011: 270
Martynov 2010: 48
Emson 1987: 33
Fell 1960: 12
Clark 1921: 52
Matsumoto 1917: 140
Clark 1915: 192
Verrill 1899: 363
Lyman 1869: 313
Martens 1867: 179
1867
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