Echinaster luzonicus ( Gray 1840 )

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 : 47-48

Echinaster luzonicus ( Gray 1840)

FIGURE 36

Comments

The observed individuals display the coloration, soft surface texture, and arm shape of Echinaster luzonicus , but display only five rays, rather than the six, which are typically associated with this species. Liao & Clark (1995) have indicated that individuals with five arms and other characters typical of E. luzonicus have been described from Chinese waters.

Marsh & Fromont (2020) provided a brief summary of this species, which feeds on biofilm and encrusting sponges and occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific from southern Japan and China, south to Palmyra and New Caledonia and east to Indonesia and Australia.

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 10–20 m.

Outside Hong Kong. Southern China, Fujian Province, Macclesfield Bank , Ryukyu Islands , Philippines, Palau, New Caledonia, east to Palmyra Island , Indonesia, northern and western Australia , Maldives, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean , 0–60 m.

Figures

FIGURE 36. Echinaster luzonicus In situ observation of five rayed individual. Photographer: Sam King Fung Yiu.