Comaster multifidus (Müller)

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) : -

Comaster multifidus (Müller)

(Pl. II. Fig. a)

1841. Alecto multifida Müller, J. Über die Gattungen und Arten der Comatulen. Monatsberichte Königlich Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. 1841:179-189 (also Archiv für Naturgeschichte, Jahrg. 7, v. 1, Berlin, 1841, p. 139–148.

1971. Comaster multifidus : Clark, A.M. and Rowe, F.W.E. Monograph of Shallow-water Indo-west Pacific echinoderms, p. 16 (key), p. 6-7 (Distribution).

2007. Comaster multifidus : Sastry, D.R.K. Rec. zool. Surv. India. Occ. Paper No. 271: 7

Material: KA-54 . Dt. 15.02.2018. One spec. KP-20 . Dt .

20.02.2018. One spec.

Description: Arms 53 and more than 92, 120 and 150mm long respectively. Proximal pinnules form flexible combs. II Br with 2 or 4 ossicles, up to VBr series, of 4 ossicles. Pinnules on division series longest. P 1 on II Br segment, P 2 and subsequent pinnules much shorter than P 1 and flexible, I Br syzygy at 3+4 centrodorsal with subradial clefts. Cirri absent. Centrodorsal star shaped with no subradial cleft. Cirri rudimentary with 1 or 2 segments.

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