Tamaria giffordensis McKnight, 2001

Mah, Christopher L., 2021, The East Pacific / South Pacific Boundary: New taxa and occurrences from Rapa Nui (Easter Island), New Caledonia and adjacent regions, Zootaxa 4980 (3), pp. 401-450 : 437

Tamaria giffordensis McKnight, 2001

Figure 15A–D

McKnight 1975: 56 (as Ophidiaster sp. ).

McKnight in Clark & McKnight 2001: 177.

Taxonomic comments. Specimens of this species examined below from New Caledonia display an R/r of up to 6.6, which differs from McKnight’s description showing a more stellate body form which was calculated in the description as R/r=5.08 and indicated as less than 4 in the diagnostic key. However, measurements of this species from McKnight’s other figures (2001: plate 89) shows a more consistent value of R/r=6.1.

Occurrence. Gifford and Nova Seamounts in the northern Tasman Sea. New Caledonia, Fiji. 260–470 m.

Material examined. New Caledonia: MNHN IE-2013-6698 . East coast New Caledonia, 20º51.2′S, 165º28.2′E, 450– 470 m. Coll. Bouchet & Richer, BATHUS 1 , CP 671, 14 March 1993. 2 dry specs. R =5.2, r=1.0; R =6.2, r=0.9. MNHN IE-2013-6699 . Southeast New Caledonia, 22º54′S, 167º35′E, 350–360 m, Coll. ORSTOM AZTEQUE St. Ch. 10, 15 Feb. 1990, 2 dry specs. R =4.8, r=0.8; R =5.3, r=1.0. MNHN IE-2013-6700 . New Caledonia, 19º04′S, 163º27′E, 260 m, Coll. C. Vadon et al. aboard N.O. Vauban, MUSORSTOM 4, DW 184, 18 Sept.1985. 1 dry spec. R =5.5, r=0.9. MNHN IE-2013-6701 . South New Caledonia. 23º3.4′S, 167º00′E, 350–400 m, Coll. Bouchet & Richer ORSTOM BATHUS 2 , CP 737 , 13 May 1993. 2 dry specs. R =7.0, r=1.3; R =3.9, r=0.8. MNHN IE-2013-6702 . South New Caledonia, 22º49.3′S, 166º44.7′E, 300–370 m, Coll. Bouchet & Richer ORSTOM, BATHUS 2 , DW 731 , 13 May 1993, 1 dry spec. R =4.4, r=0.7. MNHN IE-2013-6703 . East coast New Caledonia, 20º54′S, 165º53.4′E, 394–397 m, Coll. Bouchet & Richer ORSTOM, BATHUS 1 , CP 670 , 2 dry specs. R =7.2, r=1.2; R =6.6, r=1.0. MNHN IE-2013-6704 . Banc Aztèque , Southeast New Caledonia, 23º13′S, 168º05′E, 290–460 m, Coll. ORSTOM, AZTEQUE St. CH 01, 12 Feb. 1990, 3 dry specs., R =4.1, r=0.7; R =3.6, r=0.5; R =3.9, r=0.7. MNHN IE-2013-6705 . New Caledonia, 19°6′S, 163°30′E, 235 m, Coll. MUSORSTOM 4, DW 185, 2 dry specs. R =5.4, r=1.0; R =6.1, r=1.2. MNHN IE-2013-6706 . South New Caledonia, 23º41′S, 168º01′E, 240– 300 m. Coll. B. Richer, ORSTOM, BERYX 11 , DW 40 , 20 Oct. 1992, 2 dry specs., R =4.0, r=0.7; R =4.3, r=0.8. MNHN IE-2013-6719 . New Caledonia, no other data. Coll. NORFOLK 1 DW 1631. 1 wet spec. R =3.9, r=0.7. MNHN IE-2013-6732 . New Caledonia, 23°27′S, 167°50′E to 23°26′S, 167°50′E. Coll. NORFOLK 1 DW 1651 2 wet specs. R =4.9, r=1.0; R =4.6, r=0.7. Fiji: MNHN IE-2013-6707 . SE Viti Levu , Fiji, 17º49.5′S, 178º 49.4′E, 302– 310 m. Coll. Bouchet & Richer MUSORSTOM 10, CP 1355, 12 Aug. 1998. 1 dry spec. R =11.1, r=2.0 .

Figures

FIGURE 15. Tamaria giffordensis MNHN IE-2013-6703 (New Caledonia): A. Abactinal. Scale bar equals 0.5 cm. B. Abactinal close-up view. Scale bar equals 1.0 cm. C. Actinal. Scale bar equals 0.5 cm. D. Furrow spines close-up. Scale bar equals 0.3 cm.