Anneissia intermedia (A. H. Clark, 1916 )

Obuchi, Masami, 2020, Shallow-water Comatulids (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulida) of the Ashizuri-Uwakai Sea, Shikoku Island, Southern Japan, Species Diversity 25, pp. 309-328 : 314

9. Anneissia intermedia (A. H. Clark, 1916) [Japanese name: Ashiboso-ohban-umishida]

Morphology. Centrodorsal hemispherical, 8.7–11.3 mm across; polar area concave, 0.4–0.5 times of centrodorsal diameter. Cirri XLVII –LV, up to 26 segments, 30.0 mm long, arranged in two to three rows; c7–10 longest, L/ W 1.2; distal ten segments with blunt aboral process . Radials invisible. IBr series composed of 2 ossicles, IIBr of 4(3+4), and IIIBr of mostly 2, rarely 4(3+4). Arms up to 48, 240 mm long; brachials shorter than broad with distal ends everted; first arm syzygy at br 3+4; distal intersyzygial intervals 4. Comparative pinnule length PD > P 1 >P 2>P 3>P 4 =P 5; PD to P 2 enlarged; segments broader than long; proximal segments with narrow keel on side toward arm tip . Terminal combs present as far as P 2–3, consisting of 13–30 segments; teeth single, non-confluent, knob-like; terminal segments fused to sharp tip. Disk large, five to six times as wide as centrodorsal, smooth.

Posture. Fully exposed on rocky pinnacles, forming arcuate fan to multilayered arrays.

Coloration in life. Two distinct patterns: one with orange arms and white pinnules, and the other wholly light yellow.

Distribution. Oki Island, Japan ( Kohtsuka and Kogo 2012) to Fujian, China (Liao and A. M. Clark 1995).

Remarks. Genus Anneissia Summers, Messing, and Rouse, 2014 was established by recent taxonomic revision ( Summers et al. 2014), and consists of large forms of former Oxycomanthus Rowe, Hoggett, Birtles, and Vail, 1986 having thick centrodorsal with robust cirri and terminal combs with non-confluent teeth. This species can be distinguished by having IIIBr series composed of 2 ossicles, from other congeners with IIIBr of 4(3+4).