Astroglymma sculptum ( Döderlein 1896 )

Baker, Alan N., Okanishi, Masanori & Pawson, David L., 2018, Euryalid brittle stars from the International Indian Ocean Expedition 1963 - 64 (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Euryalida), Zootaxa 4392 (1), pp. 1-27 : 22-23

Astroglymma sculptum ( Döderlein 1896)

( Fig. 22 )

Astrophyton sculptum Döderlein, 1896: 299 , pl.18 fig. 29.

Astroglymma sculptum .— Döderlein, 1927: 47, pl. 1 fig. 3,4; pl. 5 fig. 13. Baker, 1980: 66, figs. 19, 28, 31; Liao & A. M. Clark, 1995: 170, fig. 74; Rowe & Gates, 1995: 365.

Astroglymma robillardi .— Mortensen, 1933a:34, pl. 3 figs. 1,2; pl. 4 fig. 1.

Material Examined. USNM 1072476 , Anton Bruun Cruise 8 Station 394B, off Durban, 29° 27’ S, 31° 31’ E, 68– 70 m, 29 September, 1964, 3 specimens plus arm fragments of a 4th . USNM 1072575 , Anton Bruun Cruise 8 Station 403E, off Mozambique, 19° 09’ S, 36° 55’ E, 88 m, 2 specimens, 9 October 1964 . USNM 1233996 , Anton Bruun Cruise 8 Station 394A, Off Durban, South Africa, 29° 26’ S, 31° 32’ E, 68 m, 25 September 1964, 1 specimen .

Remarks. Two specimens from Station 394B are very large (dd. 76 and dd. 81 mm) and are typical of the species ( Fig. 22A–B ). A medium-sized specimen (dd. 30 mm) is uniformly covered with fine pustules and occasional larger ones ( Fig. 22C–E ). The arms are bifurcated 16–17 times and carry girdle bands after the first branch. Otherwise the description matches that in Baker, (1980 p. 66) of material from the eastern Indian Ocean.

Distribution. Originally described from USFC Albatross material from the Philippines, this shallow water basket star is widely distributed in the Indo-Malaysian region, and in the east China Sea in 73–300m depth ( Baker, 1980), and its occurrence off Durban and further north off Mozambique, is not unexpected.

Figures

FIGURE 22. Astroglymma sculptum a larger (A–C) and a smaller (D–E) specimens of USNM 1072575. A, aboral view; B, oral view; C, aboral peripheral disc; D, aboral view; E, oral view.