Fromia pacifica H.L. Clark 1921

Mah, Christopher L., Kogure, Yoichi, Fujita, Toshihiko & Higashiji, Takuo, 2024, New Taxa and Occurrences of Mesophotic and Deep-sea Goniasteridae (Valvatida, Asteroidea) from Okinawa and adjacent regions, Zootaxa 5403 (1), pp. 1-41 : 22-23

Fromia pacifica H.L. Clark 1921

FIGURE 9A–E

Fromia pacifica H.L. Clark 1921: 42 ; Jangoux 1986: 130; Marsh & Fromont 2022: 239

Diagnosis

Body strongly stellate (R/r=4.0–7.7), arms elongate, triangular, interradial arcs acute ( Fig. 9A, D ). Abactinal plates strongly convex, granules forming continuous covering of abactinal and marginal plates ( Fig. 9B ). Arms narrow at base, three plates from superomarginal to superomarginal at base, these series extending to arm tips ( Fig. 9A, B ). Granules proximally homogeneous, widely spaced, round, distally with centrally enlarged, sometimes pointed to conical tips. Marginal plates quadrate, uniform along series, gradually decreasing in size distally ( Fig. 9C ). Furrow spines 3, subambulacrals in two series, each with 2 thick spines ( Fig. 9E ).

In specimens herein, papulae absent inter marginally, but 2 to 6 papulae present in each interradius, between and at corners of marginal and actinal plates.

Comments

Marsh & Fromont (2020) presented a brief overview of this species, including data that it feeds on epibenthic biofilm with its stomach everted onto the substratum.

Colors in this species vary over its range. Marsh & Fromont (2020) illustrated this species with a solid red abactinal surface. Okinawan specimens photographed by one of the authors (TH) show a deep red disk with white plate surfaces on both the abactinal and marginal surfaces with red boundaries.

Occurrence

Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 0–53 (new occurrence)

Australia, including Houtman Abrolhos and Northwest Shelf, Western Australia to Swain reefs on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. Also Indonesia, Philippines (new occurrence), Samoa, New Caledonia, and Hawaii, 3– 90 m. (new depth occurrence)

Material Examined

USNM E46011 1 km WNW of Onna Village ( Horseshoe Cliffs ), Ryukyu Islands , Okinawa, 26.5, 127.848, 53 m, Coll, R.F, Bolland, 5 Nov. 1984, 1 dry spec. R=3.1 r=0.4.

USNM E46012 1 km WNW of Onna Village ( Horseshoe Cliffs ), Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, 26.5, 127.848, 52 m, Coll, R.F, Bolland, 5 Nov. 1984, 1 dry spec. R=2.3 r=0.5 (longest arm).

USNM E48929 1 km WNW of Onna Village ( Horseshoe Cliffs ), Ryukyu Islands , Okinawa, 26.5, 127.848, 58 m, Coll, R.F, Bolland, 6 Feb 1981, 1 dry spec. R=2.4 r=0.5.

USNM 1093802 1.3 km ENE of Maeki-Zaki, Seragaki Beach , Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands . 26.5, 127.848, 49 m. Coll. R.F. Bolland 15 July 1990. 1 dry spec. R=3.0 r=0.5.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Fromia pacifica USNM 1093802 A. Abactinal surface. B. Abactinal surface detail. C. Lateral view. D. Actinal surface. E. Oral region on actinal surface. Scale bar: A, D=5.0 mm; B–C, E=1.0 mm.