Anthenoides peircei Perrier 1881
Creators: name: Mah, Christopher L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Echinodermata
Asteroidea
Valvatida
Goniasteridae
Anthenoides
Anthenoides peircei

description: Anthenoides peircei Perrier1881
FIGURE 4A–C
Anthenoides peircei Perrier, 1881: 23; 1884: 168, 170, 247, pl. 8 fig. 1; Sladen, 1889: 326, 756pl; Perrier, 1894: 38; Verrill, 1915: 113, pl..3; fig. 2 pl. 10; figs. 1–1b, 2–2f; Fisher, 1911: 328, 331; Fisher, 1919: 328, 331, 332; H.L. Clark, 1941: 49; D. D. John & A.M. Clark, 1954: 139; A.H. Clark, 1954: 375; Halpern, 1970a: 272, figs. 29–30; Florez & Martinez de Rodriguez, 1971: 5; Downey, 1973: 48, pl. 17, figs. A–B; Walenkamp, 1976: 63, figs. 8c, 21, pl. 12, fig. 3, pl. 13, figs. 1–4, pl..14, figs. 1,3,4; pl. 15, fig. 2; Jangoux, 1978: 95; Walenkamp, 1979: 36, figs.11,13, pl. 9, figs. 1–4; Clark and Downey, 1992: 228, pl. 54E; Clark, A.M. 1993: 242.
Anthenoides brasiliensis Bernasconi, 1956: 33, pl. 1; 1958: 131, pl. 3, figs. 4–5; 1961: 24, pl. 2; 1963: 20, pol. 1, fig. 3, pl.2, fig4, pl. 5, fig. 1; 1964: 254 (as part of key); Clark, A.M. 1993: 242.
Nomenclatural Note
As outlined by Lawrence & Pomory in Mah (2023a), The species name is commonly misspelled « piercei » as has been observed in Clark & Downey (1992: 228) and Sladen (1889). The correct spelling « peircei » was named for a professor of astronomy and mathematics at Harvard.
Diagnosis
Body stellate, arms triangular, sharply tapering (Fig. 4A). Body surface covered by a distinct dermis, which obscures plates in some individuals. Abactinal plates flat, polygonal, in regular rows along radial regions (Fig. 4C). Papular pores large, single. Secondary plates present, numerous. Marginal plates blocklike with inferomarginal plates bevelled, projecting slightly beyond superomarginal plates. Up to 12 pairs of superomarginal plates abutted medially (Figs 4B–C). Granules close and abundant on actinal surface, absent or reduced on abactinal surface. Adambulacral plates narrow, each with furrow spines, 4 to 8, two conical subambulacral spines present. Pedicellariae bivalve, variably abundant on actinal surface. Modified from Clark & Downey (1992).
Comments
Clark and Downey ‘s (1992) designation of MCZ 480 as a holotype and Halpern’s (1970b) statement that the type material for this species as lost are incorrect. Perrier’s (1881, 1894) original description is based on a syntype series in the MNHN collections (MNHN-IE-2014-148) which remains extant.
In situ Observation
Figure 4A–C shows to the best of knowledge, the first published observations of this species in situ. The upturned arms have been observed on nearly all preserved specimens, but observed here on a living specimen, this suggests this is its natural posture with elongate tube feet extended. Actinal surface appears flush with or impressed into the sediment, which appears displaced (Fig. 4A), suggesting that this species may be a detritivore or an infaunal predator. Figure. 4C shows A. peircei elevated on a substrate covered by encrusting organisms upon which it is likely feeding.
Color of living individuals is tan to brown with dark orange or brown highlights present interradially, on arm tips and on irregular positions on the abactinal plates (Fig. 4B).
Mecho et al. (2019) presented in situ imagery of Anthenoides sp., from Rapa Nui, which were possibly Anthenoides epixanthus (Mah 2021). This species was variably a dark, solid orange color to white with dark orange highlights with white arm tips.
Occurrence
Central to South West Atlantic Ocean: Virginia, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Gulf of Mexico. Caribbean Sea. Mexico, Columbia, Antillean Islands from Yucatan to Venezuela. Puerto Rico, Cuba. Belize, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Surinam, Brazil. Uruguay: Cabo Polonio (to ~31˚’S). 55–844 m
Images Examined
Puerto Rico, 18.15403, -67.51924, 472 m. (Fig. 4A)
EX1502L3_IMG_20150415T160037Z_ROVHD_ASR.jpg
Lang Bank, Puerto Rico, 286 m. (Fig. 4B)
EX2206_IMG_20220829T195328Z_ROVHD.jpg
Lang Bank, Puerto Rico, 312 m. (Fig. 4C)
EX2206_IMG_20220829T192514Z_ROVHD.jpg
description: Published as part of Mah, Christopher L., 2024, Two New Taxa of Goniasteridae (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) and Noteworthy Observations of Deep-Sea Asteroidea by the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in the North and Tropical Atlantic, pp. 461-508 in Zootaxa 5432 (4) on pages 471-473, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5432.4.2, http://zenodo.org/record/10910698