Astropecten pugnax ( Koehler, 1910 )

Pourvali, Naser, Aliabadi, Mohammad-Ali Salari, Salamat, Negin, Hesni, Majid Askari, Ranjbar, Mohammad Sharif, Carter, Hugh & Price, Andrew. R. G., 2025, Systematics, distribution and ecology of sea stars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf and a revised identification key, Zootaxa 5647 (3), pp. 201-234 : 216-218

Astropecten pugnax ( Koehler, 1910) : 55, pl. IV, figs 4 and 7

Mortensen 1940, pp 62–63; Clark & Rowe, 1971, p 30, 45; Price 1983, pp 31, 41–42, fig. 9;

Material examined: 14 specimens (ZMSBUK-1671/1 - ZMSBUK-1671/14)

Largest specimen in this study: R: 55mm, r: 12mm.

Description: ( Figs. 22–24 )

Five or six long arms, quadrangular in cross section, with a relatively small disc ( R /r: ~4.5:1). Actinal and abactinal surface flattened; Abactinal surface covered in large paxillae with up to 35 evenly spaced granules towards the centre of the disc, slightly smaller towards the periphery; madreporite inconspicuous, often concealed within paxillae; body margin defined by supero-marginal plates which form a narrow band around the body edge. First most proximal supero-marginal plates with spine arising from the proximal surface, subsequent 4–5 most proximal supero-marginal plates spinless, remaining plates with small spine on abactinal surface towards the peripheral plate edge; infero-marginal plates with single, large pointed primary spine and an unequal series of smaller secondary spines below; terminal disc in tube feet absent, feet instead tapering to distinctive point; colour in live specimens uniformally pale yellowish to pale grayish, no distinctive pattern.

Observations:

Occurs on muddy substrates from 8m to 25m. Recorded in the present study from Hendijan, Genaveh and Bushehr. A single specimen was observed in the subtidal area at low tide at, Bandar Abbas , Strait of Hormuz.

Previously reported from the Persian Gulf: ( Koehler 1910; Mortensen, 1940; Clark & Bowen 1949; Clark & Rowe 1971; Basson et al. 1977; Price 1982a; Price 1983; George 2012); present study. Astropecten pugnax was the first species of asteroid to be described specifically from Persian Gulf material.

Order Valvatida Perrier, 1884

Family Acanthasteridae

Genus Acanthaster Gervais, 1841

Figures

FIGURE 22. Astropecten pugnax, A. live specimen in situ, showing 5 and 6 arms specimens (ZMSBUK-1671/1 & ZMSBUK- 1671/4), B. infero-marginal plates (ZMSBUK-1671/4), C. magnified view of paxillae (ZMSBUK-1671/4) (scales; B: 2 mm, C: 0.5 mm).

FIGURE 23. Astropecten pugnax, (ZMSBUK-1671/4), A. proximal supero-marginal plates, sowing the lack of initial erected spine from supero-margnal plates, B. magnified view of distal supero-marginal plates (scales; A: 2 mm, B: 1 mm).

FIGURE 24. Astropecten pugnax, (ZMSBUK-1671/4), detail of single arm, showing the arrangement of paxilae and superomarginal plates (scale; 2 mm).