Luidia senegalensis (Lamarck 1816)

Luidia senegalensis (Lamarck)

Asterias senegalensis Lamarck, 1816:255.

Luidia senegalensis.–Muller and Troschel, 1842:78, pl. 5; fig. 4.–Perrier, 1876a:262; 1878:34, 66–67, 91, 96–97.–Rathbun, 1879:149.–Sladen, 1889:246, 742.–H. L. Clark, 1898a:5; 1919:54, 71; 1933:20.–Doderlein and Hartmeyer, 1910;151.–Doderlein, 1920:238, 249–250, figs. 9, 20.–A. H. Clark, 1939:442.–Engel, 1939:3, 7.–Bernasconi, 1943:5–6.–Tommasi, 1958:9–11, pl. 2: fig. 2; 1970:8, fig. 21.–Cherbonnier, 1959:170.–Durand, 1959:21–22, fig. 2.–Engel and Schroevers, 1960:5.–Ummels, 1963:94–95, pls. 10, 11.

Luidia marcgravii Lutken, 1859:43–46.–Verrill, 1867:343: 1915:208–209–Boone, 1933:76–77, pls. 33–36.

There are nine arms, and the abactinal surface is compact. The paxillae are square, in regular longitudinal and transverse rows, except in the midregion of the arms and disc, where they are small and irregular. The center of the paxilla is compactly covered with small granules, and the periphery bears numerous fine spinules. The inferomarginal plates bear one or two (two in larger specimens) rather short, acute marginal spines, thickened near the base, sometimes curved, not at all flattened, usually more or less appressed to the arm. Below, the inferomarginals are covered with short flattened spines and spinules. The adambulacral plates bear two flattened, curved furrow spines, one above the other, the inner furrow spine more slender than the outer one, and behind them are two stout spines, side by side. There are no actinal interradial plates, the very elongate inferomarginals in this region exetnding to the mouth. The jaws are narrow, projecting across the peristome, and armed with a tuft of stout spines. No pedicellariae were noted. The madreporite is concealed by paxillae.

Specimens in this collection are from 10–20 fathoms, from the northeast coast of South America. The species is known from Florida, the Antilles, and Senegal.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.–Oregon Stations: 2272 (4) [R=50 mm, r=9 mm; Rr=1:5]; 4472 (1) [R=? (all arms broken), r=20 mm; this specimen ingested a large Cardium, which caused the disc to appear much inflated].