Salmacis bicolor L. Agassiz

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 : 21

Salmacis bicolor L. Agassiz in L. Agassiz & Desor 1846

FIGURE 12A

Comments

This species was identified by its distinctive red banded spines ( Fig. 12A ) which characterize this species ( Liao & Clark 1995). There is individual variation in spine color, as described by Schultz (2015) for S. bicolor specimens that demonstrated spines banded in red, but with yellowish to violet and green.

Although widely recorded from throughout Asia , this is the first occurrence of Salmacis bicolor in Hong Kong. This individual was present on a rocky substrate bottom at Ninepin East Island in 17 m depth, a site displaying moderate current. It is otherwise widely distributed in the central Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Liao & Clark (1995) reported it was very common in southern China and ranged from Vietnam to southern Japan, living from the littoral zone to 120 m.

Numerous symbionts, including polychaetes, shrimps and ophiuroids were reported in association with Salamis bicolor from Vietnam ( Britayev et al. 2013).

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 17 m.

Outside Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia, and South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, including East Africa from Red Sea to Durban over Mauritius and Ceylon, 0–120m

Figures

FIGURE 12. Salmacis spp. A. S. bicolor. Red color variant. B. S. sphaeroides. In situ observation of S. sphaeroides. C. S. sphaeroides. Showing individuals scavenging on a dead fish. Photographer: A. Josy Lai; B. and C. Sam King Fung Yiu.