Evoplosoma

Mah, Christopher L., 2020, New species, occurrence records and observations of predation by deep-sea Asteroidea (Echinodermata) from the North Atlantic by NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 201-260 : 224

Evoplosoma sp. 1

Figure 10E

This species is similar to the holotype and description of Evoplosoma virgo as presented by Downey (1982). The numerous polygonal plates with granules present on the central surface are more widely distributed in the observed specimen, but are densely packed on the holotype. No primary spines were observed on the abactinal surface. The observed species differs in having bare superomarginal plates and having a complete series of prominent spines located on each plate across the complex interradius. Evoplosoma virgo has superomarginal plates covered by a dense granules and lacks spines interradially, displaying spines only on the distalmost superomarginals along the arm. Similarly, Evoplosoma scorpio also has marginal plates covered by granules, ruling it out as a contender Evoplosoma sp. 1. This species is similar to Evoplosoma sp. 2 but lacks the abactinal spines present on the disk and arm surface. Body color was also different, as this species was a deep red-orange whereas Evoplosoma sp. 2 was a light yellow with darker orange arms.

Feeding Observation

This species was observed on a sedimented substrate with its arms holding up its body as its disk was suspended over what appeared to be a primnoid octocoral in the genus Callogorgia .

Images Examined

Blake Ridge, North Atlantic 32.01264, -75.26038, 3388 m

EX1806_IMG_20180615T162553Z_ROVHD.jpg

Figures

FIGURE 10. Evoplosoma nizinskiae & Evoplosoma spp. Small specimen, USNM 1550630 unless otherwise noted. A. Abactinal plates. Scale=1.0 mm. B. Furrow spination differences. Scale=1.0 mm. C. In situ feeding observation. R=1.8 cm. D. E. nizinskiae feeding observation West Florida Escarpment, Gulf of Mexico. 2181 m. E. Evoplosoma sp. 1, Blake Ridge, North Atlantic, 3388 m. F. Evoplosoma sp. 2, Mona Canyon East, Puerto Rico, 2393 m.