Paragonaster Sladen 1889

Kobayashi, Itaru, Sonoyama, Takayuki, Hibino, Mai, Kawano, Mitsuhisa & Kohtsuka, Hisanori, 2024, Pseudarchasteridae (Asteroidea: Paxillosida) in Japanese waters, with description of a new species and range extension of three species, Journal of Natural History 58 (25 - 28), pp. 949-964 : 953

Genus Paragonaster Sladen 1889

[New Japanese name: Miyabi-momiji-hitode-zoku]

Paragonaster Sladen 1889, p. 310 ; Perrier 1894: 355; Fisher 1911: 163; Halpern 1972: 373; Downey 1973: 56

Type species. Paragonaster ctenipes Sladen 1889 .

Diagnosis. Disc broad, flat, interradial margin evenly curved, only one abactinal series – carinal abactinal series – extends to arm tip. Marginals block-like, broad, no unpaired interradial marginals.

Etymology of Japanese name. The Japanese name ‘miyabi’ means elegance. The characteristics of Paragonaster species, with their maple leaf-shaped bodies and steppingstone-like carinal series extending to the arm tip, evoke the elegance of traditional Japanese gardens. Furthermore, ‘momiji-hitode’ follows the Japanese name of the family Pseudarchasteridae .