Coelopleurus maculatus A. Agassiz & H.L. Clark 1907

Yiu, Sam King Fung & Mah, Christopher L., 2024, New Ecological Observations and Occurrence for Asteroidea and Echinoidea in Hong Kong, Zootaxa 5526 (1), pp. 1-69 : 13-14

Coelopleurus maculatus A. Agassiz & H.L. Clark 1907

FIGURE 4A–C

Comments

This species was identified based on the pointed, conical secondary spines present on the aboral surface and the banded primary spines.The bright red bands of the primary spines, the white spine base and the purple interambulacral regions also corresponds to the summary description of this species as outlined by Shigei (1986).

This represents the first occurrence of this species from Hong Kong harbor and from 15 m depth. This is the shallowest known collection of this species which had previously been known from much deeper waters, 70– 360m.

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 17 m.

Outside Hong Kong. Taiwan, Hawaiian Islands , Southern Japan, including Sagami Bay , Kagoshmna Bay , Korea Strait to the Mollucan Sea, Philippines and the Kei Islands. 70–360 m.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Coelopleurus maculatus A. In situ predation on Dendronephthya. B. Aboral view. C. Oral view. Photographer: Sam King Fung Yiu.