Peronella lesueuri (L. Agassiz 1841 )

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 : 31

Peronella lesueuri (L. Agassiz 1841)

FIGURE 21A–C

Comments

Petals on collected specimens differed from those in other references documenting Peronella . Specimens herein were wider and shorter relative to the more elongate petals illustrated in Liao & Clark (1995). Identification of this species was made based on the thickened rim of the test as well as the plate patterns on the oral surface adjacent to the ambulacral channels emanating from the mouth (e.g. Figs. 21B–C ).

Liao & Clark (1995) report a huge specimen of this species from off the Ninepin Islands in southeast Hong Kong, measuring 16.0 X 14.9 (WxL) cm at 10 m depth. This was comparable to a specimen reported by Mortensen (1943) which measured 16.8 X 13.6 cm (no locality cited). Chao (2000) has reported this species from western Taiwan in 20- 40 m.

Color in life of this species is bright red, ranging from “old rose” to “Indian red” on the aboral surface with a pale green oral surface with bright green sutures.

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 37 m.

Outside Hong Kong, southern China, ranging from the Gulf of Tonkin and Hainan Island to Fujian Province and Taiwan. Throughout the Indo-Pacific, west coast of India to S. China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia & central Pacific and northern Australia. 0 to 90 m.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Peronella lesurei dried test. A. Aboral surface. B. Oral surface. C. Lateral view.