Pentaceraster mammillatus ( Audouin, 1826 )

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 : 227

Pentaceraster mammillatus ( Audouin, 1826) : 209, pl. 5 [As Asterias mammilata ]

Material examined: 1 specimen (ZMSBUK-1691)

R: 145mm, r: 83mm.

Description: ( Figs. 35–37 )

Five arms, rounded at tips and with distinctly rounded interradial arcs; disc relatively large ( R /r <~1.75:1) with five large conical spines at the proximal end of each radial arm axis; A row of smaller, but still conspicuous stout tubercles running the length of each mid-arm axis; inter-axis abactinal plates with smaller tubercles arranges in a honeycomb pattern across the radial axis and with the region between tubercles filled with numerous small pores; single, conspicuous madreporite; Supero- and infero-marginal plates well developed and defining body margin, generally tuberculated with a single, prominent, stout granule in the centre of each plate; single row of large actinal plates running parallel to the infero-marginals with a larger distinctive granule on the distal margin; tube feet cylindrical with central disc; colour in live specimens grey blue with red or navy blue tubercles, towards the distal end of each arm, tubercles and body wall having the same colouration.

Observations:

Occurs among sandy rubble and on shell flats near coral reef, from 8m to 16m; Recorded at Qeshm, Hengam , Larak , Kish , Lavan , Khark and Kharku Islands .

Previously reported from the Persian Gulf: ( Mortensen 1940; Clark & Rowe 1971; Basson et al. 1977; Price 1982a; Khayat 2005; George 2012; Adeli et al. 2022); present study.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Aquilonastra sp., (ZMSBUK-1663/1), A. abactinal spinelets arrangement, B. showing superambulacral and superactinal plates (scales; A: 0.5 mm, B: 2 mm).

FIGURE 36. Pentaceraster mammillatus, A. live specimen, B. magnified view of abactinal disc (ZMSBUK-1691), (scale; B: 2 mm)

FIGURE 37. Pentaceraster mammillatus, (ZMSBUK-1691), A. supero-marginal (sp) right and infero-marginal (if) left plates, B. magnified view of abactinal of arm (scales; A&B: 2 mm)