Bathyceramaster Mah, 2016

Mah, Christopher L., 2024, New genera and species of deep-sea Goniasteridae (Asteroidea) from the North Pacific, Zootaxa 5543 (4), pp. 451-500 : 457-458

Bathyceramaster Mah, 2016

Mah 2016: 105

Diagnosis (m odified from Mah, 2016).

Abactinal plates tabulate, low to moderate in height with fasciolar grooves, variably shallow to well-developed, plates lacking stellate bases. Abactinal, marginal, actinal surfaces covered by densely arranged polygonal to round granules. Bald patch on marginal plates present on a minority of taxa, absent on most. Body stellate, many species with well-developed arms (R/ r=1.8–4.0).

Taxonomic Comments

Bathyceramaster was recognized for Mediaster elegans Ludwig 1905 , which lacked the diagnostic stellate projections at the base of the abactinal tabulae. Six species are now recognized, occurring in deep-sea settings (approximately 680–3400 m) from the Atlantic and the Pacific. Bathyceramaster spp. shows a stellate to strongly stellate shape, tabulate plates with weak to strong fasciolar grooves, with granulation present on the abactinal and marginal plate surfaces. A key to Bathyceramaster species is presented by Mah, in review.