Solaster undetermined
Solaster sp. FIGURE 17A Description Arms seven, elongate and tapering, disc thick (Fig. 17A). Abactinal paxillae widely spaced in transverse rows proximally along arm. Distinct carinal groove present along each arm (Fig. 17A). Marginal series paxillate, approximately 50 to 60 per arm, but full count...
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| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | unknown |
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Zenodo
2024
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10928271 http://treatment.plazi.org/id/FD09D342481CFFC1FF77F8AFFD5045EF |
| Summary: | Solaster sp. FIGURE 17A Description Arms seven, elongate and tapering, disc thick (Fig. 17A). Abactinal paxillae widely spaced in transverse rows proximally along arm. Distinct carinal groove present along each arm (Fig. 17A). Marginal series paxillate, approximately 50 to 60 per arm, but full count unclear from image. Furrow spines approximately 2, per plate, subambulacral spines 3 to 4. Color was pink with dark highlights. Comments Identification of this individual to species was not possible owing to its unusual angle. Solaster notophrynus Downey 1971 has seven arms, but displays wider arms with more densely distributed paxillae. Solaster endeca displays a similar linear pattern along each arm radius, and has a consistent number of furrow and subambulacral spines. However, arm number on this individual is inconsistent (n=7) versus 10 in S. endec a and paxillar patterns differ from shallow-water forms. Solaster endeca is only known off the east North American coast to 549 m and displays a southern limit in the western Atlantic near Cape Cod, casting doubt on the possibility of being this species. This and the other solasterid observed (Fig. 17B) showed differing arm number, seven here and eight in Fig. 17B, but differs in having much more pronounced abactinal paxillae with fewer marginal paxillae and a reticulate pattern present across its abactinal surface similar to Crossaster or Laetmaster. Ecological Comments The individual was observed upside down within the canopy of dead coral, presumably feeding on prey. While there was abundant detritus, other solasterid species are predatory and it is likely that this one was as well, with a prey item out of sight. Image Observed Retriever Seamount, North Atlantic, 39.838493, -66.229423, 1933 m. EX2104_IMG_20210727T154853Z_ROVHD.jpg EX2104_IMG_20210727T154835Z_ROVHD.jpg EX2104_IMG_20210727T154821Z_ROVHD.jpg Published as part of Mah, Christopher L., 2024, Two New Taxa of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) and Noteworthy Observations of Deep-Sea Asteroidea by ... |
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