Stereocidaris excavata Mortensen, 1932b
Illustrated guide to the echinoid (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) fauna of South Africa
Filander, Zoleka
Griffiths, Charles
Zootaxa
2017
4296
1
1
72
6ZRLD
Mortensen, 1932 b
Mortensen
1932
[151,653,393,419]
Echinoidea
Cidaridae
Stereocidaris
Animalia
Cidaroida
16
17
Echinodermata
species
excavata
Stereocidaris excavata Mortensen, 1932b. 151–154. Pl. II, Figs 1–5. Pl. IV, Fig. 2. Pl. XI, Fig. 1–2; Clark & Courtman-Stock, 1976: 217; Schultz, 2011: 1040.
Material examined.MBC-A023320; MBC-A077747; MBC-A077745; MBC-A077748; MBC-A077746; MBC- A077744. Identification.Similar to Stereocidaris capensis; but differs in sunken apical disc, which has centrally positioned and slightly raised gonopores. Primary spines slender, somewhat fluted, rugose, with about 12 finely serrate, low ridges; secondaries adpressed, chisel-like in shape. Denuded test creamish, with green tint.
Global maximum size.Maximum test diameter 69 mm. Global distribution.Endemic to the South coast region of South Africa, at 120–177 mdepth ( Mortensen 1932b; Clark & Courtman-Stock 1976; Schultz 2011).
Remarks. Both S. capensisand S. excavataare restricted to SouthAfrican waters; they may, however, be differentiated by their primary spines and apical discs. S. capensishas fusiform, stout primary spines with 20 longitudinal ridges and an elevated apical disc with distally arranged gonopores; whilst S. excavatahas fluted, slender primary spines with 12 low serrations and a distinctively sunken apical disc with centrally positioned, elevated gonopores.