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).