Aquilonastra moosleitneri, 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 : 278-279

Aquilonastra moosleitneri sp. nov.

Figures 1, 9e

Asterina burtoni .—A.M. Clark and Davies, 1966: 599.—A.M. Clark, 1967b: 146, fig. 1B.— Jangoux and Aziz, 1984: 861, 872, 873 (part; non Asterina burtonii Gray, 1840 ).

Asterina burtoni burtoni .—A.M. Clark and Rowe, 1971: 68, fig. 17e.—A.M. Clark, 1993: 207–208 (non Asterina burtonii Gray, 1840 ). Asterina anomala .— Moosleitner, 1997: 12, fig. 22 (non Asterina anomala H.L. Clark, 1921 ).

Material examined. Holotype. Maldive Is., Male, Hulule, J. S Gardiner, 1899–1900, NHM 1902.3 .13.27 (alcohol) . Paratypes. Type locality and date, NHM 1902.3.13.28–33 (30).

Other material. Maldive Is., Eryadoo I., WAM Z6854 (1; photo in Moosleitner, 1997).

Diagnosis. Fissiparous Aquilonastra species; rays up to 7, predominantly 6, form frequently asymmetrical post-fissiparity, form of larger specimens sometimes symmetrical with 5 equal rays, most interradii with inconspicuous madreporite; rays narrow basally, tapering, narrow rounded distally; up to R = 9 mm, r = 4 mm; abactinal gonopores on largest pentaradiate specimens.

At R = 9 mm, lacking carinal plates; some secondary plates; 3 longitudinal series of papulae on sides of mid-ray; spinelets granuliform, short conical to columnar, rugose, blunt;up to about 10 spinelets over each plate,readily detached; superomarginal plates each with up to about 5 spinelets, inferomarginal plates each with up to about 10 larger spinelets.

Spines per actinal plate up to: oral 5, suboral 2, furrow 5, subambulacral 3, actinal interradial 3 (predominantly 3); interradial spines short, conical, pointed.

Colour (live). “Reddish, speckled with darker and lighter spots” ( Moosleitner, 1997).

Distribution. Maldive Is.

Etymology. Named for Horst Moosleitner, with gratitude for his assistance in providing photos and specimens for this work, and with appreciation of his work on the asteroids of the Maldives.

Remarks. Moosleitner (1997) noted that in the absence of a connecting growth series this small fissiparous species was probably a separate species from the non-fissiparous asterinid on the Maldives. We agree that there are two species. A.M. Clark (1967b) determined the small fissiparous asterinid from the Maldive Is as Asterina burtoni . The 31 specimens ( NHM 1902.3.13.27–33) are similar to Aquilonastra conandae in size, number of rays, and spinelet and spine form, but are similar to Aquilonastra burtonii in frequently having more than one interradial actinal spine per plate. The species size (up to R = 9 mm) is significantly smaller than A. burtonii (up to R = 18 mm).