Stephanometra indica (Smith)

Sastry, D. R. K., Marimuthu, N. & Rajan, Rajkumar, 2019, Echinodermata of Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea with the description of a new genus and a species, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 119 (4) : -

Stephanometra indica (Smith)

(Pl. II. Fig. c)

1876. Comatula indica : Smith, E.A. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 17(4): 406.

1890. Antedon spinipinna Hartlaub, C. Nachr. Ges. Gottingen , 5: 179. WoRMS

1971. Stephanometra indica : Clark. A.M. and Rowe, F.W.E. Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms, p. 24 (key), p. 8-9 (distribution).

1971. Stephanometra spinipinna : Clark. A.M. and Rowe, F.W.E. Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms,

p. 24 (key), p. 8-9 (distribution).

2007. Stephanometra indica : Sastry, D.R.K. Rec. zool. Surv. India, Occ. Paper No. 271: 14

Materials: KA-13 . Dt. 13.02.2018. One spec. KA-

31. Dt. 15.02.2018. One spec. KA-33 . Dt. 15.02.2018. One spec. KP-16 . Dt. 20.02.2018. One spec. KP-40 . Dt .

21.02.2018. One spec. KV-N18, 150 Dt. 03.12.2018. 4 specs. KV-N18. Dt. 03.12.2018. 1 spec. KV.Dt . 04.12.2018. Three specs. KV-16 . Dt . 08.02.2018. One spec. MCY. Dt.

28.11.2018. One spec. MCY-N18, Dt. 30.11.2018. One spec. MCY-N18, Dt. 30.11.2018. One spec. MCY-N18 Dt.

30.11.2018 One spec. KV-27 Dt. 05.12.2018. One spec.

Description: Arms 27-41, 130 mm long, first brachial syzygy at 3+4 and second well beyond 10. P 1 on 2nd segment, P 2 longest and spike-like. Pinnules on division series stout and longest. P 1, P 3 and the following pinnules smaller and flexible. P 1 slender more than 10 small segments and a little flexible. P 2 stout with about 10 large segments. P 3 onwards small, slender and flexible. Division series up to III Br. IIBr with 4 ossicles, others with 2 or 4 ossicles, alternating with arms or on both sides, III Br on outer side. Cirri 24-37, cirrus segments 18-21, distal segments with dorsal thickening in the middle. In some specimens some division series broken.

Distribution: Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu and Andamans. Elsewhere: East Indies, Philippine Islands and South Pacific Islands. The species is newly recorded from Lakshadweep.