Fromia heffernani ( Livingstone 1931 )

Mah, Christopher L., 2017, Overview of the Ferdina - like Goniasteridae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) including a new subfamily, three new genera and fourteen new species, Zootaxa 4271 (1), pp. 1-72 : 8

Fromia heffernani ( Livingstone 1931) nov. comb.

Figure 1 A–E

Livingstone 1931: 306 (as Ferdina )

A.M. Clark 1967: 193; Marsh 1977: 255; Jangoux 1978: 294; Guille & Jangoux 1978: 55; Oguro 1983: 221; Jangoux 1986: 128; George & George 1987: 245 (Table 8), 248; Marsh 1993: 55, 60;

Rowe & Gates 1995: 80; Marsh 2000: 99 (Table 7); Lane et al. 2000: 473; Mooseleitner 2004: 245–247; Coleman 2007: 29, 30; Lane & Susetiano 2014: 55(Table 2) (as Celerina )

Synonymy of Celerina & taxonomic comments. A.M. Clark (1967: 193) coined Celerina to separate Ferdina heffernani as different from other species of the paraphyletic genus Ferdina . Celerina heffernani was originally assigned to Ferdina based on the single linear series of furrow spines and homogeneous granulation on the surface of the adambulacral plate ( Livingstone, 1931). However, a three-gene phylogenic survey of the Valvatida ( Mah & Foltz 2011) showed C. heffernani and Fromia monilis as members of the same clade within the Goniasteridae supporting the hypothesis that the monotypic Celerina is a synonym of Fromia . Numerous others, including Livingstone (1931), A.M. Clark (1967), Marsh (1977), and Marsh and Campbell (1991) have all observed the close resemblance between C. heffernani and Fromia monilis .

Several characters point to Celerina and Fromia as synonyms. One of the diagnostic characters of “ Ferdina ” group goniasterids is the presence of continuous, uniform granular tegument but lacking spination or other accessory features on the adambulacral plates. Marsh and Campbell (1991: 214) also point out that Celerina differs based on sharply pointed adambulacral spines and that it is “not at all covered by granulated skin.” Furthermore, several specimen lots, including USNM E45982 , CASIZ 113789, CASIZ 207329 and CASIZ 10446 all demonstrate short, pointed granules or spinelets on the surface of the adambulacral surface.This character is cited by A.M. Clark (1967: 194) in her description of Celerina heffernani . The presence of this latter character is inconsistent with the continuous, uniform granulated tegument present in other members of the Ferdina group members, further separating it from its original association with the other members and suggesting that it be best placed elsewhere, namely in the closely affiliated genus Fromia , with which it has shown “closest affinity” by Marsh and Campbell (1991).This is consistent with the synonymy as suggested by Mah and Foltz’s (2011) molecular tree. The alternating large and small superomarginal plate pattern, as described by A.M. Clark (1967) is also shared between the two genera ( Fig. 1 A, B).

Although the genera are synonyms, Fromia heffernani displays distinct character differences from Fromia monilis and should remain a distinct species, pending further review. Abactinal and marginal plate morphology were compared for Celerina versus Fromia and although many characters, such as the abactinal and marginal plate shape and arrangement, were similar if not identical, other characters, such as the adambulacral accessories, furrow spination, elongate arms and color patterns are different.

Occurrence. South China Sea , Malaysia, Rowley Shoals, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bali & Lembeh Strait, Sulawasi ( Indonesia), Great Barrier Reef , Queensland , Western Australia , Palau, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Christmas Island, Maldives. 0–39.6 m.

Material examined. Pacific Ocean. CASIZ 113789 ; Yuma Passage , located between Tagula and Yejna Islands, reef margin, wall and slope, Rawa Reef, Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea; 11°22.14’S, 153°20.99”E; 0– 27.4 m; Coll. G.C. Williams; 1 wet spec; R=3.4, r=0.5 . CASIZ 114445 ; South end of Bairakaseru Island on coral rock wall , Palau, 39.6 m; Coll. R. Van Syoc, 1 wet spec, R=3.4, r=0.7 . CASIZ 309046 ; Chuuk Atoll, Federated States of Micronesia, 7°25.15’N, 151°51.18’E; 2 wet specs, R=1.8, r=0.4; R=2.0, r=0.4 . CASIZ 207284 ; Odie’s Wall , Puerto Galera, Philippines, 13°31’21”N 120°56’ 32.64”E, 18.28. 3 m; Collected by K. Markello, 21 Apr 2015; 1 wet spec. R=3.6, r=0.4 (arms damaged, only 2 intact) . CASIZ 207329 ; Bethlehem dive site, Maricaban Island , Philippines, 1.5–2.1 m; Coll. R. Mooi, Hearst Philippine Expedition, 18 May 2011;1 wet spec., R=4.2, r=0.7 . USNM 45982 ; East of Ndie Island , New Caledonia, 2 m; Coll. Humes, 6 July 1971; 2 dry spec. R=5.0 r=1.0 (6 rayed), R=4.6 r=0.7. Indian Ocean. CASIZ 309068 ; North side of semicircle lagoon reef, N . Male Atoll, 4°14.55’N, 73°28’ 65’E, 2.0 m; Coll. Lori B. Bell, Coral Reef Research Foundation, 2 wet specs. R=4.2, r=1.1; R- 3.5, r=1.1 . CASIZ 309069 ; North reef, oceanside Vaadhoo Island, S . Male Atoll, Maldives; 4°7.74’N, 73°27.37’E, 14.0 m; Coll. Coral Reef Research Foundation; 1 wet spec., R=4.3, r=0.8.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Fromia heffernani (formerly Celerina). USNM E 45982. A. Abactinal surface. Scale bar = 5.0 mm. B. Abactinallateral view showing superomarginal (labelled SM) and inferomarginal (labelled IM) series. Scale bar = 5.0 mm. C. Actinal surface showing oral region. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. D. Furrow spines and adambulacral region showing spination on adambulacral plates. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. E. Oral surface. Scale bar = 5.0 mm.