Atheraster sp.

Mah, Christopher L., 2022, New Genera, Species and Occurrences of Deep-Sea Asteroidea (Valvatacea, Forcipulatacea, Echinodermata) collected from the North Pacific Ocean by the CAPSTONE Expedition, Zootaxa 5164 (1), pp. 1-75 : 28

Atheraster sp.

FIGURE 8F–G

Comments. The species present in these observations appear to be similar in overall appearance to Atheraster symphonia n. sp. but varied in body shape, color, and surface spination. Individuals described here had shorter arms, were white in color and displayed a smooth abactinal body surface. These individuals also appeared to be smaller than those orange individuals with longer arms which corresponded with the holotype.

These observations might indicate smaller individuals of Atheraster arandae , A. symphonia or a different species.

Occurrence: Hawaiian Islands and Musicians Seamount region. 1635–2492 m.

Images Examined no feeding, Hawaiian Islands , 26.43138755, -177.8023717, 1963 m. EX1603 _IMG_20160310 T224842 Z_ ROVHD _ ASR.jpg

No apparent feeding. Sebelius seamount, Musicians Seamount region, 27.24659163, -160.6327513, 2492 m. EX1708 _IMG_20170910 T231617 Z_ ROVHD.jpg

Figures

FIGURE 8. In situ images. Heligmaster kanaloae n. gen. n. sp. A. Orange color morph. McCall Seamount, Hawaiian Islands. 2655 m. Imaged on vertical rock face. B. White color morph. South Midway Atoll region, 3917 m. Atheraster arandae C. Short armed morph. Salmon Bank, Hawaiian Islands. 2007 m. D. Long-armed morph. Salmon Bank, Hawaiian Islands, 1949 m. E. Rose Atoll, American Samoa, 2439 m. Atheraster sp. F. Bank Nine, Hawaiian Islands, 1635 m. G. Hawaiian Islands,