Spoladaster Fisher 1940

Mah, Christopher L. & Foltz, David W., 2014, New taxa and taxonomic revisions to the Poraniidae (Valvatacea; Asteroidea) with Comments on Feeding Biology, Zootaxa 3795 (3), pp. 327-372 : 361

Spoladaster Fisher 1940

Figure 10 A–D.

Cryaster H.L. Clark 1923: 292 (non Cryaster Koehler, 1906 )

Tylaster Mortensen 1933: 249 (non Tylaster Danielssen & Koren, 1881 )

Spoladaster Fisher 1940: 135 ; A.M. Clark 1976: 254–258; Hotchkiss & A.M. Clark 1976: 265; A.M. Clark 1984: 41.

Type species: Cryaster brachyactis H.L. Clark 1923 , by original designation

Diagnosis. (Following Clark 1984, Clark & Downey 1992). Body swollen and cushion-like, pentagonal in outline (R/r=1.2–1.6). Larger individuals (R/r=~1.5 at R>5.0) with more stellate body shape versus smaller with more pentagonal outlines. Body wall thickened. Short, pointed spinelets embedded in body wall surface. Abactinal plates minimal, reduced into body wall, especially in larger specimens. Papulae covers most of abactinal surface. Marginal plates best observed in smaller specimens (R=1.5–2.0) ( Fig. 10 C, D), embedded in thickened body tissue, obscured in larger specimens (R>~3.0) ( Fig. 10 A, B). Actinal plates imbricate, in transverse series but becoming minimized. If present, concealed by thickened body tissue in larger specimens (R>~3.0) ( Fig. 10 A, B). Furrow spines one to three (two to three in most). Subambulacral spines larger.

Included species: S. veneris Perrier 1879

Figures

FIGURE 10. Spoladaster veneris. A. MNHN IE- 2006 - 1234 Abactinal surface. B. Actinal surface of large specimen (R = 3.9, St. Paul Island, southern Indian Ocean). C. CASIZ 87573, smaller sized specimens (R = 1.6 Off South Africa), showing marginal and actinal plates. D. CASIZ 87573, small sized specimen (R = 1.7, off South Africa) showing marginal and actinal plates. Note R for each specimen to reference scale.