A molecular and morphological revision of genera of Asterinidae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

Abstract

A molecular phylogeny has inspired a reappraisal of the systematics of the Asterinidae. New morphological characters are defined and illustrated and used to diagnose all genera. A table of the distribution of morphological characters among genera and key for genera of Asterinidae are provided. New genera of Asterinidae are erected: Aquilonastra O'Loughlin, Indianastra O'Loughlin, Parvulastra O'Loughlin and Pseudopatiria O'Loughlin. Patiria is raised out of synonymy with Asterina. Allopatiria is a junior synonym of Asterina, Manasterina is a junior synonym of Disasterina, and Paxillasterina is a junior synonym of Asterinides. The genus Asterinopsis and the genus and species Desmopatiria flexilis are nomina nuda. Patiriella tangribensis is a nomen dubium. Genera reviewed are: Anseropoda, Asterina,

A systematic revision of the asterinid genus Aquilonastra O'Loughlin, 2004 (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

“…For all 25 species see Table 1 and Fig 1. Remarks. OʼLoughlin and Waters (2004) referred 12 species to the new genus Aquilonastra. They noted that A. heteractis had some characters that were exceptional to those shared by the other species of Aquilonastra.…”

“…The remaining 11 original species are retained here in Aquilonastra. Asterina lorioli Koehler, 1910 was incertae sedis in OʼLoughlin and Waters (2004). It is added here in the new combination Aquilonastra lorioli (Koehler, 1910).…”

“…A revision of Aquilonastra OʼLoughlin (in OʼLoughlin and Waters, 2004) was anticipated by OʼLoughlin and Rowe (2005), and its scope has grown through loans and donations of an abundant array of asterinid specimens and photos from the Indo-Pacifi c, Red Sea and Mediterranean regions.…”

“…A full generic diagnosis for Aquilonastra is given, and these morphological characters are not repeated in each species diagnosis. Terminology follows OʼLoughlin and Waters (2004).…”

“…Specimen registration number prefi xes are: AM J; MNHN EcA; NMV F; TM H; WAM Z. MAU is MNHN collection code for Mauritius. Photography for many fi gures was performed using a Leica MZ16 stereomicroscope, DC300 Leica digital camera, and "Auto-Montage" software for composition of images. Fujita, 2006: 270.-Byrne, 2006: 244, 245, 248, 250, 251. Diagnosis (emended from OʼLoughlin and Waters, 2004). Rays discrete, broad or narrow at base, tapering, rounded distally, interradial margin deeply incurved; fi ssiparous or non-fi ssiparous; fi ssiparous species with more than 1 inconspicuous madreporite, up to 9 rays, rays frequently unequal in length, form frequently asymmetrical; non-fi ssiparous species with 1 conspicuous madreporite, rarely 2, predominantly 5 rays, sometimes 6, form symmetrical, typically stellate; body fl at actinally, high convex abactinally; disc variably distinct in non-fi ssiparous species, sometimes delineated by 5 transversely elongate radial and 5 short interradial plates; abactinal plates predominantly irregular on upper rays, in longitudinal series on sides of rays, series not perpendicular to margin; papulate areas extensive, plates predominantly with single notch for papula in papulate areas, papulae predominantly single per space, large, in longitudinal series along sides of rays; abactinal plates with glassy convexities; abactinal spinelets small, glassy, subgranuliform to digitiform, columnar or conical or sacciform or splay-pointed sacciform, in bands or tufts, numerous (10-40 per proximal abactinal plate); superomarginal and inferomarginal plates in regular series; actinal plates in longitudinal, not oblique, series; suboral spines present; adradial actinal spines in complete series; superambulacral plates present; superactinal plates present.…”