Astropecten indicus ( Döderlein, 1888 )

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 : 210-212

Astropecten indicus ( Döderlein, 1888) : 828, Pl. XXXI, fig. 2a–d

Material examined: 13 specimens (ZMSBUK-1667/1 _ ZMSBUK-1667/13)

Largest sampled specimen in this study: R: 52mm, r: 15mm.

Description: ( Figs. 11–14 )

Five (occasionally six) arms, triangular in abactinal aspect, disk relatively reduced compared to Astropecten hemprichi ( R /r 3.5:1); Abactinal surface covered in small, tightly packed paxillae, those of the arm arranged in fine rows perpendicular to the axis of the ray; madreporite conspicuous, not covered by paxillae; body margin defined by supero-marginal plates each of which bear a small conical spine on the distal margin; infero-marginal plates with a relatively long spine extending to form a conspicuous fringe. No prominent secondary spines on infero-marginals, but occasionally one or two smaller spines present. Remainder of plate covered in numerous elongate granules; terminal disc in tube feet absent, feet instead tapering to distinctive point. Colour of abactinal surface in live specimens greyish to pale yellow with prominent dark bank along the axis of each arms extending to the centre of the disc.

Observations:

Astropecten indicus shares the same ecological niche within the Gulf as A. pugnax . Found in sandy and muddy areas from intertidal to 25 m. Recorded in the present study at Hendijan , Genaveh , Bushehr, Bandar Abbas and Strait of Hormuz. All specimens collected were sampled by shrimp trawler .

Previously reported from the Persian Gulf: ( Mortensen 1940; Clark & Rowe 1971; Basson et al. 1977; Price 1982a; Price 1983; George 2012; Adeli et al. 2022); present study.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Astropecten indicus, (ZMSBUK-1667/1), A. live specimen, B. magnified view of abactinal disk (scale; B: 2 mm).

FIGURE 12. Astropecten indicus, (ZMSBUK-1667/1), A. showing the madreporite and abactinal paxillae, B. proximal superomarginal plates (scales; A: 0.5 mm, B: 1 mm).

FIGURE 13. Astropecten indicus, (ZMSBUK-1667/1), showing the arm, supero marginal plates, note the darker line running along the axis of arm (scale; 2 mm).

FIGURE 14. Astropecten indicus, (ZMSBUK-1667/1), A. actinal disk showing detail of actinal plates, B: infero-marginal plates (scales; A: 2 mm, B: 1 mm).