Anthenoides epixanthus ( Fisher, 1906 )

Mah, Christopher L., 2021, The East Pacific / South Pacific Boundary: New taxa and occurrences from Rapa Nui (Easter Island), New Caledonia and adjacent regions, Zootaxa 4980 (3), pp. 401-450 : 416-418

Anthenoides epixanthus ( Fisher, 1906)

Figures 6–E

Fisher 1906: 1067; Hayashi 1952: 152; Liao & Clark 1989: 39; 1995: 90; H.E.S. Clark & McKnight 2001: 18.

Comments. This specimen was recognized based on the interradial paired plates, as well as marginal actinal and adambulacral plate morphology. The thin layer of tissue on this specimen was absent as were any granulation or spination. However, the pedicellariae which is relevant to identifying Anthenoides epixanthus was absent from the surface and no pedicellariae traces or pitting on the individual was observed. Arm shape and body thickness of this specimen was also diagnostic of A. epixanthus . Although collected in New Zealand, this represents one of the easternmost observations of this genus and species.

Mecho et al. (2019) observed several individuals of a red goniasterid, which, based on its arm and disk shape appears to be Anthenoides . Image quality did not permit species-level identification, but if the video observations are consistent with the collected specimen, these could be Anthenoides epixanthus .

Occurrence. Rapa Nui, Hawaiian Islands , Japan, New South Wales Australia, New Zealand. 100– 591 m.

Material examined. CASIZ 117633 . Seamount in fracture zone, near Rapa Nui, 25º56′S, 100º42′W, 591 m. Coll. 1 Aug. 1964, 1 wet spec. R =2.1, r=0.9.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Anthenoides epixanthus and Goniasteridae “C” (Rapa Nui): A. Abactinal surface. Scale bar equals 0.5 cm. B. Abactinal surface interradial paired plates. Scale bar equals 0. 25 cm. C. Actinal surface. Scale bar equals 0.5 cm. D. Actinal surface close-up, oral region. Scale bar equals 0.2 cm. E. Rapa Nui Goniasteridae “C” (similar to Ceramaster australis) feeding on fallen antipatharian. Image Courtesy A. Mecho.