Aquilonastra rowleyi, O, 2006

O, P. Mark, 2006, A systematic revision of the asterinid genus Aquilonastra O Loughlin, 2004 (Echinodermata: Asteroidea), Memoirs of Museum Victoria 63 (2), pp. 257-287 : 281-282

Aquilonastra rowleyi sp. nov.

Figures 1, 6i, 10b, c

Material examined. Holotype (dry). South Africa, KwaZulu Natal , Sodwana Bay, 11 m, Y. Samyn and I. Tallon, 10 Feb 2001, MRAC 1736 .

Diagnosis. Non-fissiparous Aquilonastra species; rays 5, not discrete or elongate, wide basally, narrowly to broadly rounded distally, R = 23 mm, r = 14 mm; form shallow concave interradially; pedicellariae present in proximal interradii, 2 valves differentiated with inner teeth, taller than adjacent spinelets; abactinal gonopores.

At R = 23 mm, lacking abactinal carinal series of plates, broad band of upper ray plates irregularly arranged, longitudinal and transverse series along sides of rays creating lattice-like appearance, plates with concave papular notch; single small papula per space; 6 longitudinal series of papulae along each side of mid-ray; secondary plates numerous on irregular upper ray; disc delineated by continuous curved dense band of spinelets on 5 wide radial plates, each with up to about 100 spinelets, 5 small interradial plates; spinelets glassy, elongate, thin, pencil-like; up to about 30 spinelets in short crescentiform band across projecting edge of each plate on proximal ray; irregular lumpiness more than glassy convexities on plates; superomarginal and inferomarginal plates subequal, in regular series; superomarginal plates with up to about 8 pencil-like spinelets; inferomarginal plates with up to about 16 spinelets, proximally subequal with superomarginal spinelets, distally longer and thicker.

Integument evident actinally; non-plated area in one proximal actinal interradius.

Spines per actinal plate up to: oral 10 long, thin; suboral 5 long, 5 short; furrow 7; subambulacral 7; actinal interradial 4, predominantly 3; interradial spines glassy, long, sacciform, in webbed combs.

Colour (live). No record.

Distribution. East African coast, KwaZulu Natal, Sodwana Bay, 11m.

Etymology. Named for Chris Rowley (Marine Biology Section, Museum Victoria), in appreciation of the photography and curatorial assistance that have been graciously provided in support of asterinid systematic research.

Remarks. The new species has many of the diagnostic characters of Aquilonastra , but is assigned with reservations because the numerous spinelets are pencil-like and not typical of Aquilonastra . They resemble those of Patiriella oliveri ( Benham, 1911) , Callopatiria granifera ( Gray, 1847) , and Aquilonastra scobinata (below). The rays are distinct, but the form is closer to subpentagonal than the discrete-rayed form of Aquilonastra . In an absence of adequate material we are unwilling to erect another asterinid genus. The tall pedicellariae with distinctive innertoothed valves are unique amongst asterinids.