Solaster longoi Stampanato & Jangoux, 1993

Synonymy of Solaster longoi Stampanato & Jangoux, 1993 View in CoL

New specimens of apparent Solaster longoi Stampanato & Jangoux, 1993 showing further size variation, including specimens from R= 1.8 to 6.4 cm were examined indicating that it is a synonym of Solaster regularis . The type series of S. longoi show a size range of R= 1.9 to 4.1 cm with the holotype showing R= 3.3 cm. Specimens with R=1.8 to 2.5 showed several overlapping characters between S. longoi and S. regularis as outlined in Stampanato & Jangoux (1993) and A.M. Clark (1962) indicating that S. longo i are small individuals of S. regularis . Specimens from USNM 1121461 for example showed 1 or 2 actinal intermediate spines as well as 2–3 furrow spines as outlined for type specimens for S. longoi , but also displayed 4 furrow and transverse subambulacral spines. One individual, USNM 1137343 at R= 6.4 cm showed 3 to 6 inferomarginal spines distally ( S. longoi ) but 10–11 spines proximally ( S. regularis ) as well as 5 to 8 spinelets on the paxillae which shows further overlap between S. longoi and S. regularis . These characters are also consistent with the presence of 8 arms and the occurrence of S. regularis in the Ross Sea suggesting that S. longoi shows no clear morphological distinction from S. regularis .

Comments

A summary of new specimens and published records of Solaster regularis confirms that it possesses a widely occurring high-latitude, including circus-polar distribution, including the South Atlantic ( Clark & Downey 1992), the Indian Ocean (Kerguelen, Prince Edwards & Marion Island, unpublished data) ( Stampanato & Jangoux 2004), the South Pacific, including Chile and the Ross Sea ( Mutschke & Mah 2009, data presented herein). Specimen data also documents its known range from littoral to bathyal settings ( 2–2060 m).

This species has been found in association with methane seep, chemosynthetic bivalve faunas off the Chilean coast ( Sellanes et al. 2008).

Occurrence

South Pacific ( Chile), South Atlantic ( Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Falkland Islands), Straits of Magellan , Tierra Del Fuego , Bellinghausen Sea, South Shetland Islands , Burdwood Bank, from Enderby Land eastwards to Wilhelm II Land and from Coulman Island in the Ross Sea, Kerguelen Islands , Crozet Islands, Marion Island, Heard Island, 183–603 m. New Depth Range 2 –2060 m.

Material Examined

USNM E38601 , Edward VIII Peninsula , Marie Byrd Land , Ross Sea , Southern Ocean , −77.1517, −158.998, 344– 357 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin. 1 dry spec. R=1.3 r=0.5, 9 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM E 43863 , Near Cape Hallett, Moubray Bay , Victoria Land , Ross Sea, Antarctica. −72.0967, 172.253, 392 m. Coll. R/V Atka, 12 Jan. 1958. 1 dry spec. R=1.7 r=0.5, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM E13766 , Puerto Eden, Chile, South Pacific . Coll. P. Dayton, 19 Nov. 1972. 1 dry spec. R=8.7 r=2.6, 9 arms.

USNM 1084422 , West mouth of Strait of Magellan, Chile, South Pacific Ocean , −52.717, −74.525, 188–247 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 6 Jan. 1966. 1 dry spec. R=5.1 r=1.7, 9 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1120952 , Adjacent to the Ross Sea , Southern Ocean , Antarctica, −74.933, −174.233, 2022–2060 m. Coll. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 7 Feb. 1968. 1 dry spec. R=8.4 r=3.2, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1121116 , Staten Island , Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina, South Atlantic Ocean , −54.48, −63.83, 112 m. Coll. R/V Hero , 27 Oct. 1971. 1 dry spec. R=1.2 r=0.5, 9 arms.

USNM 1121461 , Ross Sea, Southern Ocean , Antarctica, −71.275, 171.517, 659–714 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 14 Jan. 1967. 2 dry specs. R=2.5 r=0.7, R=1.8 r=0.9, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1123106 , Clarence Island , Strait of Magellan, −53.842, −71.642, 256– 269 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 1 April 1966. 4 dry specs. R=2.1 r=0.4, R=2.1 r−=0.7, R=1.7 r=0.4. all with 9 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1123445 , 5 dry specs. R=6.3 r=1.7, R=7.5 r=1.5, R=9.5 r=2.5, R=7.4 r=2.0, R=4.4 r=1.5, R=3.1 r=0.9. Most with 9 arm, R=3.1, 8 arms.

USNM 1136587 , Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego , −53.325, −66.675, 79– 80 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 27 Sept. 1962. 1 dry spec. R=6.5 r=1.7, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1136648 , West of Ashland Island, South Shetland Islands , Southern Ocean , Antarctica. −61.417, −56.517, 300 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 13 March 1964. 1 dry spec. R=2.4 r=1.0, 9 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1137297 , N of Pennell Bank, Moubray , Victoria Land, Ross Sea , −72.442, 177.133, 1883–1890 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 12 Feb. 1968. 1 dry spec. R=6.5 r=2.6, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1137343 , Ross Sea , Southern Ocean, Antarctica, −75.392, −174.267, 1225–1240 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 16 Jan. 1968. 1 dry spec. R=6.4 r=2.4, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1137347 , Victoria Land, Ross Sea , Antarctica, −72.058, 172.367, 344–348 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 10 Jan. 1968. 1 dry spec. R=2.4 r=1.0, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1137298 , Dawson Island, Strait of Magellan , Chile, South Pacific, −53.8589, −70.4311, 2 to 9 m. Coll. R/V Hero , 18 May 1969. 1 dry spec. R=6.5 r=2.3. 9 arms, feeding on Anasterias . GoogleMaps

USNM 1522915 , Staten Island, Tierra del Fuego , Argentina, South Atlantic Ocean, −54.57, −64.5, 73–76 m. Coll. R/V Hero , 7 Nov. 1971. 1 dry spec. R=3.2 r=1.2, 9 arms.

USNM 1522916 , East of South Orkney Islands, Scotia Sea , Southern Ocean , Antarctica. −60.575, −40.733, 631–641 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 13 April 1964. 1 dry spec. R=3.1 r=0.8, 8 arms. GoogleMaps

USNM 1523672 , East of South Orkney Islands, Scotia Sea , Southern Ocean , Antarctica. −60.575, −40.733, 631–641 m. Coll. R/V Eltanin, 13 April 1964. 1 dry spec. R= 2.1 r=1.1, 8 arms GoogleMaps .