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| Ferdina mena Mah, 2017 |
Abstract
Recent assignment of some goniasterid-like Ophidiasteridae into the Goniasteridae has led to further re-evaluation of other ophidiasterids as possible goniasterids. This led to the discovery of new genera and species supported by a distinctive set of characteristics which support a new subfamily, the Ferdininae, a group originally outlined by Marsh and Price (1991) within the Goniasteridae. The historical Ophidiasteridae is paraphyletic and includes several nominal ophidiasterid genera (e.g., Fromia, Neoferdina, etc.). Newly described material has led to the inclusion of six genera,within this group, of which three, Bathyferdina n. gen., Eosaster n. gen., and Kanakaster n. gen., are newly described. Fourteen new species in five genera are described. This includes Bathyferdina aireyae n. gen., n. sp., Eosaster nadiae n. gen., n. sp., Ferdina mena n. sp., Kanakaster balutensis n. gen., n. sp., Kanakaster convexus n. gen., n. sp., Kanakaster discus n. gen., n. sp., Kanakaster larae n. gen., n. sp., Kanakaster plinthinos n. gen., n. sp., Kanakaster solidus n. gen., n. sp., Neoferdina annae n. sp., Neoferdina antigorum, n. sp., Neoferdina momo, n. sp., Neoferdina oni, n. sp., and Paraferdina plakos, n. sp. Identification keys, synopses, and description of these taxa are included.
Keywords: New species, mesophotic zone, Ophidiasteridae, New Caledonia, South Africa, Indian Ocean, Eosaster n. gen., Ferdina, Bathyferdina n. gen., Kanakaster n. gen., Neoferdina, Paraferdina, Echinodermata
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| In situ image of living Ferdina mena (not collected) Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
(image by Georgina Jones).
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Ferdina mena nov. sp.
Etymology. The species descriptor is taken from the Malagasy word mena for red, alluding to this species’ red
spots in each interradius.
Christopher L. Mah. 2017. Overview of the Ferdina-like Goniasteridae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) Including A New Subfamily, Three New Genera and Fourteen New Species. Zootaxa. 4271(1); 1–72. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4271.1.1
