Meridiastra

Meridiastra is a genus of star fish in the family Asterinidae.[2][3] The genus is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans,[4] with most records from the waters around Australia.[3] They occur in shallow waters down to a depth of about 59 m (194 ft). Meridiastra are morphologically similar to the Atlantic genus Asterina. They are also phylogenetically close and possibly sister genera.[4]

Meridiastra
Meridiastra atyphoida – the type species
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Asterinidae
Genus: Meridiastra
O'Loughlin, 2002[1]
Type species
Asterina atyphoida
H.L. Clark, 1916
Species

11 species (see text)

Etymology

The generic name is derived from the Latin meridies (=south) and astrum (=star), in reference to the southern Australian and Pacific distribution of the genus[1] (at the time of description – the genus now includes also species occurring on the northern hemisphere (Mexico, Panama)[4]).

Description

Meridiastra are sea stars with five to eight rays (arms). They range from very small (Meridiastra rapa: radius 6 mm (0.24 in)) to medium-sized (Meridiastra gunnii: radius 56 mm (2.2 in)). The interradial margin is straight to incurved; when the rays are distinct, they have narrowly rounded to pointed tips.[4] One species, Meridiastra fissura, is fissiparous.[1][4]

Species

There are 11 recognized species:[2]

  • Meridiastra atyphoida (H.L. Clark, 1916)
  • Meridiastra calcar (Lamarck, 1816)
  • Meridiastra fissura O'Loughlin, 2002
  • Meridiastra gunnii (Gray, 1840)
  • Meridiastra medius (O'Loughlin, Waters & Roy, 2003)
  • Meridiastra modesta (Verrill, 1867)
  • Meridiastra mortenseni (O'Loughlin, Waters & Roy, 2002)
  • Meridiastra nigranota O'Loughlin, 2002
  • Meridiastra occidens (O'Loughlin, Waters & Roy, 2003)
  • Meridiastra oriens (O'Loughlin, Waters & Roy, 2003)
  • Meridiastra rapa O'Loughlin, 2002

References
  1. O'Loughlin, P. M. (2002). "New genus and species of southern Australian and Pacific Asterinidae (Echinodermata, Asteroidea)". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 59 (2): 277–296. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2002.59.2.
  2. Mah CL, ed. (2023). "Meridiastra O'Loughlin, 2002". World Asteroidea database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  3. "Meridiastra O'Loughlin, 2002". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  4. O’Loughlin, P. Mark & Waters, Jonathan M. (2004). "A molecular and morphological revision of genera of Asterinidae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 61 (1): 1–40. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.2004.61.1.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.