Asterinid seastars from the Mozambique Channel (Echinodermata: Asteroidea: Asterinidae).
A new fissiparous asterinid seastar Aquilonastra chantalae sp. nov. is described from Europa Island, one of the Scattered Islands (Les îles Éparses) in the Mozambique Channel. It is compared with the fissiparous asterinid Aquilonastra conandae O'Loughlin & Rowe from the Mascarene Islands. A table of distinguishing diagnostic characters is provided. The asterinid Aquilonastra richmondi O'Loughlin & Rowe is reported for Europa Island.
Marine Biology Section, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.; Email: pmoloughlin@edmundrice.org.
P Mark
PM
O'Loughlin
Marine Biology Section, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia; Email: mmackenzie@museumvictoria.gov.au.
Melanie
M
Mackenzie
D000818:Animals; D007195:Indian Ocean Islands; D013215:Starfish / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*