Stellasteropsis colubrinus Macan 1938

Mah, Christopher L., 2018, New genera, species and occurrence records of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata) from the Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 4539 (1), pp. 1-116 : 93-94

Stellasteropsis colubrinus Macan 1938

Figure 36 D

Macan 1938: 395; Clark & Rowe 1971: 32, 48 (as Stellasteropsis colubrinus )

Diagnosis. This largely follows Macan’s (1938) description and is included herein for completeness and convenience.

Body strongly stellate (R/r=3.0), arms sharply triangular, tapering. Interradial arcs acute. Abactinal, marginal, actinal surfaces covered by continuous granule-invested integument. Abactinal plates abutting, polygonal in outline, no spines or tubercles present. Pedicellariae absent. Superomarginals strongly convex forming heterogeneous periphery. Distalmost four or five inferomarginal plates with tubercle on outer distal corner. Furrow spines four or five. Adambulacral plate surface covered by granules, no differentiated accessories or spines. Granules coarser than those present on actinal surface.

Comments. Stellasteropsis colubrinus reported by Chao from Taiwan [1990: 410, Figs 3B , 21 , 22 (in checklist)] were misidentified. Based on Chao’s images, these show the papular pore pattern and tubercles of juvenile oreasterids, most likely in the genus Pentaceraster .

The strongly stellate body shape, elongate arms, absence of abactinal spines or tubercles as well as the number of furrow spines suggests that that affinities of this species lie with the more southern Stellasteropsis fouadi , especially those individuals with smaller, narrower arms. However, this species shares the more pronounced superomarginal convexity and the inferomarginal tubercles with Stellasterospsis tuberculiferus suggesting an intermediate morphology between the two species.

Occurrence. Gulf of Aden, Arabian coast, 13.5-200 m

Figures

FIGURE 3. Astroceramus eleaumei n. sp. Holotype IE-2007-1067. R=6.3, r=1.7 cm. A. Abactinal surface. Scale=1.5 cm. B. Close up of arm tip showing abactinal plates. Scale=0.5 cm. C. Closeup of abactinal plates showing crystalline nodules. Scale=0.1 cm. D. Superomarginal plate surface showing pedicellariae. Scale=0.2 cm. E. Furrow spines and adambulacral spination. Scale=0.2 cm. F. Actinal surface. Scale=0.15 cm. G. Closeup of oral region. Scale=1.0 cm.

FIGURE 21. Mediaster mollis n. sp. Holotype IE-2013-17228. R=5.4, r=2.0 cm. A. Abactinal surface. Scale bar=2.0 cm. B. Closeup of abactinal plates displaying pedicellariae. C. Closeup of surface showing tabulae, surface, etc. Scale bar=0.5 cm. D. Superomarginal plate surface. Scale bar=0.5 cm. E. Actinal surface. F. Closeup of oral and furrow region. Scale bar=0.5 cm.

FIGURE 22. Mediaster roanae n. sp. Holotype IE-2007-1029. R=8.7, r=2.8 cm. A. Abactinal surface. Scale bar=3.0 cm. B. Closeup of abactinal surface. Scale bar=0.5 cm. C. Superomarginal, inferomarginal surfaces.Scale bar=0.2 cm. D. Actinal surface. Scale bar=3.0 cm. E. Furrow and adambulacral spination. Scale bar=0.2 cm.

FIGURE 36. A. Stellasteropsis pharanonum, abactinal surface. R=4.5, r=1.2 cm. scale bar=0.6 cm. B. Stellasteropsis fouadi, long armed form. C. Stellasteropsis tuberculiferus, BMNH Type 1937.6.18.242. R=4.4, r=1.6 cm. D. Stellasteropsis colubrinus BMNH Type 1937.6.18.241.