Brisingella verticellata (Sladen 1889)

Brisingella verticellata (Sladen, 1889)

Brisinga verticellata Sladen, 1889:604–606, pl. 59: figs. 9–11.—Verrill, 1894:283; 1895:211.—H.L. Clark, 1941:64–65.

Brisingella verticellata.—Fisher, 1917:427; 1919:524.

MERISTICS.—Arms = 8, R = 150–180 mm (estimated), r = 5–7.5 mm, R/r = 24–30/1, length of gonadal region = 30–40 mm, length of longest arm spine = 8 mm.

DIAGNOSIS.—[80.b] Madreporite of moderate size, not much raised; [100.a] madreporite flat, channeled; [110.d] abactinal disc plates of numerous small papilliform spinelets embedded in membrane; [120.c] abactinal disc plates imbricate, membrane very thin, easily torn; [130.b] abactinal disc plates armed with spines; [170] number of arms 8; [205.a] gonadal region of arm 30–40 mm long, only slightly inflated; [210.a] abactinal arm plates rod-like; [240.a] abactinal arm plates bearing small, robust, conical spinelets; [280.a] marginal plates small; [290.c] marginals tubercular; [320.b] adambulacral plates longer than high; [330.d] adambulacrals hourglass-shaped; [340.b] furrow margin slightly indented; [350] number of furrow spines 2; [360.a] furrow spines acute, glassy; [370.a,b] one furrow spine proximal, one distal; [380] number of subambulacral spines 1; [390.a] subambulacral spines short, robust, conical; [420.b] ambulacral plates small, delicate; [430.d] ambulacral plates T-shaped, head elongate, much larger than base, imbricating distad, but beneath upper distal projection separated by muscle; [470.a] tubefeet delicate; [480.c] mouth plates moderately large; [490.f] mouth plates slightly longer than broad, with prominent median keel; [500] number of preoral spines per mouth plate 1 or 2; [510.a] preoral spines acute; [520.a] preoral spines adoral; [530] number of lateral oral spines 2; [540.b] lateral oral spines blunt; [550.c] lateral oral spines distal; [560] number of suboral spines per mouth plate 0–2; [570.a] suboral spines acute; [580.a,b] one suboral spine immediately behind preoral spine, one near distal end of mouth plate; [620.a,b,c] pedicellariae on both surfaces of disc and arms, on arms in rows or bands; [630.a] all pedicellariae microscopic.

COLOR.—Ashy gray (in alcohol).

TYPE.—BM(NH) 90.5.7.1041 (holotype): Challenger Sta 46, off New Jersey, 40°17′N, 66°48′W, 2469 m.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype; 1 specimen, USNM 6619, Albatross Sta 2102, off Delaware Bay, 2211 m; 1 disc, USNM 7818, Albatross Sta 2205, S of Block Island, Rhode Island, 1962 m; 1 specimen, USNM 9016, Albatross Sta 2076, off Martha's Vineyard, 1657 m; 6 discs, 15 arm fragments, USNM 9064, Albatross Sta 2077, off Georges Bank, 2295 m; arm fragments, USNM 15543, Albatross Sta 2734, off Chesapeake Bay, 1538 m; arm fragments, USNM 15548, Albatross Sta 2732, off Chesapeake Bay, 2107 m; arm fragment, USNM 21486, Albatross Sta 2210, S of Block Island, Rhode Island, 1812 m; 3 arms, USNM 21487, Albatross Sta 2229, off Maryland, 2602 m; 5 arm fragments, USNM 21488, off Delaware, 2136 m; 4 arm fragments, USNM 21989, Albatross Sta 2725, off Chesapeake Bay, 2513 m; 3 specimens, USNM 21910, Albatross Sta 2076, off Georges Bank, 1657 m; 1 specimen, USNM E20949, Alaminos Cr. 68A13–8, Gulf of Mexico, 26°18′N, 96°08′W, 732 m; 1 specimen, USNM E20950, no data.

DISTRIBUTION.—Georges Bank to the Gulf of Mexico, 640–2570 m.