Aquilonastra iranica ( Mortensen 1940 )

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 : 222

Aquilonastra iranica ( Mortensen 1940) : 65, pl. 1, figs 1–4 [As Asterina cephea var. iranica ]

Material examined: 22 specimens (ZMSBUK-1651/1 - ZMSBUK-1651/22)

Largest sampled specimen in this study: R: 23mm, r: 11mm.

Description: ( Figs. 29–31 )

Five (occasionally four or six) equal or relatively subequal short arms ( R /r ~2:1), arms broader towards the disc, tapering to a rounded end distally; actinal surface flattened, abactinal surface somewhat convex with an acute lateral angle; abactinal plates small, covered in no more than 12 short, thick, conical spinelets; gonopores apparent in fresh specimens, located between abactinal plates; pedicellaria present, small, found in proximal abactinal interradii; supero-marginals and infero-marginals present but small, not forming prominent boundary to the body margin; supero-marginals smaller than infero-marginals, bearing ~6 spinelets. Infero-marginals with ~12 thicker spinelets at R = 23mm; Actinal plates arranged in distinctive, narrow rows, containing a flattened series of up to 6 spinlets arrange in a row on the largest plates; tube feet cylindrical with central disc; colour in live specimens highly variable, base generally greyish with reddish, blue-grey, brown and green or occasionally violet spots. Colour in alcohol white or creamy with no distinctive patterning.

Observations:

Found on hard substrates or amongst reef/shell rubble and gravel, mainly under rocks. Intertidal area to 7m; Recorded in the present study from Khor-e Musa, Oliye Jonubi (a small village next to Dayyer), Bushehr, Nayband Bay, Seyraf, Shirinoo, Kangan, Parsian, Bostaneh, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar Abbas. Also observed at Qeshm, Hengam, Hormuz, Larak, Abu Moussa, Kish, Lavan, Farur, Khark and Kharku Islands.

Previously reported from the Persian Gulf: ( Mortensen 1940 [As Asterina cephea var iranica ]; Clark & Bowen 1949; Clark & Rowe 1971 (pt); Basson et al. 1977; Price 1982a; Price 1982b; Price 1983 (pt) [As Asterina burtoni ]; OʼLoughlin & Rowe 2006; George 2012; Pourvali et al. 2014; O’Loughlin & Bribiesca-Contreras 2015; Pourvali 2015; Adeli et al. 2022 [As Aquilonastra iranica ]); present study.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Asteropsis carinifera, live specimen (photo by Dr. H. Rezai).

FIGURE 30. Aquilonastra iranica, live specimen, A. dorsal view, B. ventral view.

FIGURE 31. Aquilonastra iranica, (ZMSBUK-1651/12), A. magnified view of abactinal surface, B. magnified view of actnal surface (scales; A&B: 2 mm).