Lophaster asiaticus Hayashi, 1973

Lophaster asiaticus Hayashi, 1973a: 9; 1973b: 87

Diagnosis. A species of Lophaster distinguished by four or five long furrow spines, four serrate subambulacral spines and abactinal paxillae with 13 to 19 spinelets.

Comments. This was the first Lophaster species described from Japan. So, far it has only been described from the Sagami Bay region, including the Uraga Channel and nearby areas. Little is known regarding this species. Jimi et al. (2017) reported presence of the myzostomid endoparasite Asteriomyzostomum from Mie, Japan.

Occurrence. Sagami Bay region, including Uraga Channel and off Chiba, Japan, 200– 400 m.

Material Examined. Holotype. NSMT-Ast R: 98. Amadaiba, Sagami Bay, Japan, 200 m, Coll. 21 July 1956, 1 wet spec., R =3.7 r=1.0.

Other material: NSMT E-7155, off Iwai, Uraga Channel, Japan, ca. 200–400 m, Coll. Chogoro-maru 15 April 2004, 1 wet spec ., R =3.4 r=0.6; NSMT E-7158 off Miura Peninsula, Sagami Bay, Japan, 35˚13.45′N, 139˚32.0′E, 170–330 m, Coll. Sankyo-maru, St. 2, 21 February 2001, 1 wet spec ., R =5.8 r=1.9; NSMT E-7189, off Iwai, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 200–300 m, Coll. Chogoro-maru, 15 April 2004, 1 wet spec ., R =6.1 r=2.0; NSMT E-7190, off Iwai, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, 100–200 m, Coll. Chogoro-maru, 4 October 2004, 1 wet spec ., R =6.1 r=2.0; NSMT E-7183, SW of Suno-saki, Chiba, Japan 34º55.5′N 139º40.2′E to 34º55.4′N 139º40.5′E, 375– 275 m, Coll . R / V Shin’yo-maru, St. 9, 18 October 2003 , R = 3.1 r=0.6.