Calliderma emma Gray, 1847

Mah, Christopher L., 2015, New species, corallivory, in situ video observations and overview of the Goniasteridae (Valvatida, Asteroidea) in the Hawaiian Region, Zootaxa 3926 (2), pp. 211-228 : 221-222

Calliderma emma Gray, 1847

Fig. 2 A

Calliderma emma Gray 1847: 193 ; 1866: 6, pl. 15; Perrier 1894: 337; Liao and Clark 1996: 93 Pentagonaster (Calliderma) emma Perrier 1875: 226 (1876: 41)

Calliderma spectabilis Fisher 1906: 1058 ; Chave and Malahoff 1998: 86; Liao and Clark 1996: 93; Mah 1998: 67

Taxonomic comments. Liao and Clark (1995) distinguished between Calliderma spectabilis Fisher 1906 and C. emma Gray 1847 on the basis of presence/absence of sharp spines on the radial abactinal plate regions (spines present on C. spectabilis ). Liao and Clark (1995) argued that differences between the two species were slight and that the radial abactinal spines in C. emma were artefactually absent, thus removing the most significance difference between the two species. Examination of C. emma / C. spectabilis specimens, further supports their hypothesis that the two species are synonyms. Liao and Clark’s (1995) synonymy is adopted herein.

In situ observations. Although not observed feeding, Calliderma occurs widely and is a subject of some fossil study (e.g., Villier et al. 2004) and as such, its living in situ life mode is considered herein. Calliderma emma [called C. spectabilis by Fisher (1906), see taxonomic note] is observed in many HURL images of the Hawaiian deep-sea benthos. All of the images observed show individuals on fine to coarse grained sediment in a diversity of current regimes (e.g., Fig. 4 A). None were observed on hard bottoms. Rays of this species were always splayed out on the bottoms with the arm tips upturned into the water. Only individual animals were observed in images reviewed with no other C. emma individuals present within the field of view. One image (M-211-036) showed C. emma in relatively close proximity (within 2 feet / 1 meter) distance to multiple aspidodiadematid echinoids but no interaction was evident ( Fig. 4 A).

Occurrence. Hawaiian Islands, China, (near Hainan Island), Gulf of Carpentaria, northern Australia. 138– 387 m.

Figures

FIGURE 2. In situ video observations of Goniasteridae. A. Astroceramus callimorphus hunched over prey. B. Astroceramus eldredgei n. sp. on substrate. C. A. eldredgei n. sp. feeding on Paragorgia? D. A. eldredgei n. sp. feeding on the blue plexaurid octocoral Astromuricea theophilasi E. A. eldredgei n. sp. the blue plexaurid octocoral Astromuricea theophilasi F. Calliaster pedicellaris feeding observation.

FIGURE 4. In situ video observations of other Goniasteridae. A. Calliderma emma in situ on sandy substrate B. C irceaster pullus feeding on isidid octorcoral. C. C. pullus with swollen disk, likely feeding on isidid octocoral. D. Hippasteria muscipula feeding on isidid ocotocrals, off Kona, HI. E. H. muscipula feeding on soft coral in Celebes Sea. F. Plinthaster ceramoidea feeding on Gerardia?