Floriaster maya Downey, 1980

Mah, Christopher L., 2006, Phylogeny and biogeography of the deep-sea goniasterid Circeaster (Echinodermata, Asteroidea, Goniasteridae) including descriptions of six new species, Zoosystema 28 (4), pp. 917-954 : 926-927

Floriaster maya Downey, 1980

( Fig. 2E, F )

Floriaster maya Downey, 1980: 105 , figs 1, 2. — Clark & Downey 1992: 244, pl. 56G-H. — Clark 1993: 253.

HOLOTYPE. — Caribbean Sea. Southern end of Yucatan Channel , 20°45’N, 86°27’W, 933-1024 m, 6.VII.1970, 1 dry spec., R = 4.0 cm, r = 2.0 cm ( NMNH E18324 ).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Bahamas. Blake Plateau , North Atlantic Ocean, 28°06’N, 77°08’W, 1023-1153 m, 21.IX.1980, 2 dry specs, R = 3.9 cm, r = 2.0 cm ; R = 5.1 cm, r = 2.1 cm ( NMNH E38662). DISTRIBUTION. — Caribbean Sea. 933-1153 m .

DIAGNOSIS. — R/r ≈ 2.0-2.5. Abactinal plates round to polygonal in shape small, irregularly distributed

relative to Cladaster . Enlarged, round tubercles covering abactinal, actinal surfaces. Abactinal, actinal plates with coarse, angular peripheral granules. Marginal plates with tubercles and coarse, nubbin-like granules. Approximately 30 marginal plates present from interradius to interradius. Interradial arcs linear. Paddle-like pedicellariae on adambulacral plates; subambulacral spine, enlarged, blunt, abradial to pedicellariae. Furrow spines five to seven, compressed, angular in cross-section.

APOMORPHY LIST. — Nodes 24 to Floriaster maya : 1.5, single tubercle present; 1.8, tubercles present on distal arm surface.

Figures

FIG. 2. — A-D, Lydiaster johannae (MNHN EcAs 11724); A, abactinal surface; B, pedicellariae; C, abactinal arm surface; D, actinal surface; E, F, Floriaster maya (NMNH E38662); E, abactinal surface; F, actinal surface; G, H, Cladaster analogus (NMNH E38569); G, abactinal surface; H, actinal surface. Scale bars: A, C-E, G, 1.0 cm; B, F, H, 0.5 cm.