Paratelecrinus amenouzume, Messing, Charles G., 2013

Messing, Charles G., 2013, A revision of the genus Atelecrinus PH Carpenter (Echinodermata: Crinoidea), Zootaxa 3681 (1), pp. 1-43 : 29-31

Paratelecrinus amenouzume , new species

Figure 12

Atelecrinus wyvilli: Kogo 1998:139 –140, fig. 116.

Holotype. OMNH K499 [IV 2209], R/V Soyo sta. B4, 32º21.5’N, 141º05.0’E, 3580–3960 m, 24 Nov 1974, beam trawl, T. Okutani, coll.

Diagnosis. A species of Paratelecrinus with centrodorsal having cirrus sockets in 10 columns (two per radial area) and distinct narrow interradial ridges ending abruptly two-thirds of the way to the apex; basals with no interradial swelling; IBr2 proportionately more elongated than in other Paratelecrinus species, with articulation between Ibr1 and Iax2 very shallow V-shaped with weak synarthrial swelling.

Description of the holotype. Centrodorsal conical with a small flattened, excavated apex, and narrow interradial ridges ending abruptly two-thirds of the way to the apex; basal diameter 4.5 mm; HD 1.2. Base of centrodorsal shallow V-shaped midradially, with a smaller V-shaped indentation interradially. Proximal sockets projecting so that centrodorsal base appears wider than basal ring. Cirri LXX, none retained, in 10 distinct columns (2 per radial area); 7 functional sockets per column, almost reaching apex; no obsolete sockets.

Externally visible portion of basals narrow, shallow chevron-shaped, of almost uniform height, with slightly raised margins and no interradial swelling; distinct rhombic, ligament-filled space present between small interradial indentation of centrodorsal base and center of basal ossicle. Four basals appear to be divided in two, with the suture just to the right (3 cases) or left (1 case) of the ossicle mid-line; one basal appears to be divided in three with the sutures separating a small central piece from two longer lateral pieces. Radials short, shallow Vshaped; WL 3.3; radial profile 80º. IBr2 constricted in the middle with weak narrow synarthrial swelling. Ibr1 trapezoidal with converging lateral margins and shallow V-shaped distal margin; WL 1.5. Iax2 longer than maximum width, shield-shaped with diverging concave lateral margins; LW 1.3. One ray lost distal to Ibr1; axils on rays flanking missing ray both bearing a probolus Adidas TM. Four remaining rays broken distal to IIbr3; longest remaining arm (reconstructed from fragments) ~ 63 mm long; IIbr1 squarish but with slightly converging lateral margins and very shallow V-shaped distal margin; WL 1.4. IIbr2 larger, with diverging lateral margins, weak proximal synarthrial swelling, and a low flat exterior thickening on some rays; WL 1.2. IIbr3+4 longer interiorly, 2.3 mm across; WL 1.0; interior lateral margin of IIbr3 flattened. Proximal brachials weakly wedge-shaped, with distinct lateral articular swellings; WL 1.3–1.4; brachials becoming shorter and more strongly wedge-shaped distally. Syzygies at 3+4, 6+7, 9+10 and subsequently at intervals of 1–3 muscular articulations; sequences of at least several syzygial pairs separated by single muscular articulations on at least two arms; one arm with 3+4, 6+7, 8+9, 11+12; another with 3+4, 6+7, 10+11. First pinnule on IIbr11, IIbr12 or IIbr14.

Etymology. This species is named after Ame-no-uzume-no-kami (or Ame-no-uzume-no-mikoto), Japanese Shinto goddess of revelry and dawn, who lured the frightened sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami from her cave by dancing comically and naked on a tub. The Kojiki, the eighth century “Record of Ancient Matters” chronicle, refers to her as the Heavenly Alarming Female. The proportions of the brachitaxes of this species closely approach those of the “classic ideal” woman’s torso, as exemplified by the Aphrodite of Milos (Venus de Milo).

Remarks. This specimen was originally described as Atelecrinus wyvilli ( Kogo 1998) . It differs from other species of Paratelecrinus in having distinctively shaped and proportionally more elongated proximal ray ossicles (except for the short radials) despite its large size, and distinct narrow, almost sharp, interradial ridges on the centrodorsal.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Paratelecrinus amenouzume new species, holotype, OMNH K 499 [IV 2209]. Centrodorsal and ray bases in lateral view. Scale bar: 2 mm.