Fromia milleporella ( Lamarck, 1816 )

Mah, Christopher L., 2018, New genera, species and occurrence records of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata) from the Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 4539 (1), pp. 1-116 : 38

Fromia milleporella ( Lamarck, 1816)

Figure 13 A–E

Lamarck 1816: 564 (as Asterias ) Müller & Troschel 1840: 103 (as Linckia ) Gray 1840: 286; de Loriol 1885: 44; Fisher 1919: 378; H.L. Clark 1921: 40; Hayashi 1938c: 205, Clark & Rowe 1971: 34;

Marsh 1977: 257; Liao 1980: 159; Jangoux 1986: 130–131; Liao & Clark 1995: 115; Rowe & Gates 1995: 82; Gosliner et

al 1996: 258 (as Fromia ) Michelin 1845: 22 (as Scytaster )

Diagnosis. A species of Fromia characterized by mound-like, abutting plates which are irregular to round in outline but largely homogeneous in size and shape ( Fig. 13A, B ). Abactinal, marginal, actinal surfaces all covered by continuous granulation. Marginal plates with lateral facing ( Fig. 13C ). Papulae present abactinal, lateral, actinal surfaces ( Fig. 13D ). Three, thick, blunt furrow spines, adjacent to mostly two blunt subambulacral spines ( Fig. 13D ). Adambulacral surface otherwise covered by granules consistent with those on actinal surface.

Comments. Clark and Rowe (1971) provided a comprehensive summary of this species’ occurrence across the Indo-Pacific region, apparently exclusive of the Hawaiian Islands. Gates and Rowe (1995) indicate the depth of Fromia milleporella in Australian waters from 0– 30 m. Accounts of this species from Madagascar show its bathymetric occurrence to 86 meters.

Occurrence. Southern China, southern Japan, Australia (Great Barrier Reef, Timor Sea, Tasman Sea, Norfolk Island), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Marshall and Society Islands, Palau, Fiji, New Caledonia, Maldives, Red Sea, South Africa, Mascarene Islands, Madagascar. 0–86 m

Material Examined. IE-2007-3985 . Madagascar, 24°35.9’S 47°32.1’E, 80– 86 m. Coll. N /O Nosy Be 11 , ATIMO VATAE, 2 May 2010. 1 wet spec. R=1.8 r=0.4 . IE-2007-3990 . Madagascar, 24°54.5’S 45°33.2’E, 65– 66 m. Coll. Coll. N /O Nosy Be 11 , ATIMO VATAE, 9 May 2010. 5 wet specs. R=2.7 r=0.6, R=2.7 r=0.65, R=1.5 r=0.3, R=1.4 r=0.4, R=2.1 r=0.55 . IE-2007-4009 North of Saint Luce , south Madagascar, 24° 37' 37.2036'' S; 47° 31' 7.7988'' E, 54– 56 m. Coll . ATIMO VATAE, DW 3531 . 1 wet spec. R=1.3 r=0.3 . IE-2007-5097 cave, Tozer Bank , south Madagascar, 25° 12' 44.8812'' S; 44° 8' 31.9776'' E, 20– 22m. Coll . ATIMO VATAE, 25 May 2010. 1 wet spec. R=3.8 r=0.9 .

Figures

FIGURE 13. Fromia milleporella Specimen IE-2007-5097. R=3.8, r=0.9 cm. A. Abactinal surface. scale bar=1.0 cm. B. Closeup of abactinal plates. scale bar=0.2 cm. C. Lateral view showing abactinal and marginal plates. Scale bar=0.2 cm. D. Actinal surface. Scale bar=1.0 cm. E. Closeup of actinal surface showing furrow and adambulacral spines. Scale bar =0.2 cm.