Astroboa nuda

Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of Réunion (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, Zootaxa 4098 (2), pp. 273-297 : 276

Astroboa nuda (LYMAN, 1874)

(UF-6431, Fig. 2 a, KU594357 )

Material. 1 spm, St. 7 (night-time snorkelling)

Remarks. Astroboa currently includes nine species, three of which occur in shallow-water in the IWP ( Clark & Rowe 1971): A. tuberculosa , A. nuda and A. clavata . The specimen concurs well with characteristics of the species: the disc granules are smooth and the granulation is even, unlike A. tuberculosa that presents enlarged tubercles among the granules. The double belt of hooked granules on the branching arms is conspicuous and distinguishes this from A. clavata where the hooked granules are rendered inconspicuous because of the presence of flattened platelets. Abundance: 1.

Distribution. Reported from East Africa and Madagascar, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, East Indies, Philippines, China and South Japan ( Clark & Rowe 1971) and Australia ( Baker 1980). This is a first record for Réunion Island and Mascarene Islands.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.