Astroceramus Fisher 1906

Mah, Christopher L., 2015, New species, corallivory, in situ video observations and overview of the Goniasteridae (Valvatida, Asteroidea) in the Hawaiian Region, Zootaxa 3926 (2), pp. 211-228 : 217

Astroceramus Fisher 1906

Figures 2 A–E

Fisher 1906: 1056; 1911: 172 (key); 1919: 309; Döderlein 1924: 60; Macan 1938: 388; H.L. Clark 1941: 45; Halpern 1970: 140; Clark and Downey 1992: 230; McKnight 2006: 88; Kogure & Tachikawa 2009: 81.

Comments. Astroceramus is a widely occurring goniasterid genus, which currently includes eight species (briefly summarized by Kogure & Tachikawa 2009); seven species in the Indo-Pacific and one in the tropical Atlantic, which all occur between 229–1086 m depths (A.M. Clark 1993; McKnight 2006). Astroceramus is present in museum collections from multiple localities throughout the Indo-Pacific (Mah 2014 unpublished data) and presents a much larger systematic picture than is evident from the known species. Although I provide an overview of both species in the Hawaiian region and brief comparisons with other Indo-Pacific species, it is beyond the scope of the treatment herein to fully present a review of Astroceramus until this other material can be further reconciled.

Figures

FIGURE 2. In situ video observations of Goniasteridae. A. Astroceramus callimorphus hunched over prey. B. Astroceramus eldredgei n. sp. on substrate. C. A. eldredgei n. sp. feeding on Paragorgia? D. A. eldredgei n. sp. feeding on the blue plexaurid octocoral Astromuricea theophilasi E. A. eldredgei n. sp. the blue plexaurid octocoral Astromuricea theophilasi F. Calliaster pedicellaris feeding observation.