Henricia vermilion Clark & Jewett, 2010, sp. nov.

Henricia vermilion sp. nov.

Figures 53–58

Henricia leviuscula (Stimpson) Fisher, 1911: 280, (pars), non Linckia leviuscula Stimpson, 1857.

Henricia leviuscula leviuscula (Stimpson) Lambert, 2000: 104 (pars), Linckia leviuscula Stimpson, 1857.

Type locality: Alaska, Aleutian Islands, Fox Islands, Unalaska Island, Sumner Bay (54º55 N, 166º36 W), intertidal.

Type material: Holotype, LACM 1993-211.001, 1 Paratype, LACM 1993-211.002, 1 Paratype, USNM 1125120 (all types, leg. R.N. Clark, 18 June, 1993.)

Diagnosis: Moderately large, R to 10 cm; disc somewhat inflated, rays fairly broad at base, long, tapering to slender points; abactinal plates small oblong shaped, fairly close placed, bearing 38–50 (on larger plates) pointed spinules, bearing numerous thorns; adambulacrals with 7–9 very thick, blunt spines, largest one at furrow edge, 1–2 slightly smaller ones behind, followed by 2 rows of 3 shorter spines. Color in life bright vermilion or scarlet.

Description: Moderately large, R to 9.7 cm (Holotype R = 5.4 cm), r to 1.2 cm R:r 5.8–8.0 (Figs. 53 & 54); disc small somewhat inflated, rays long, broad at base, tapering to slender tip. Abactinal plates (Fig. 55) small, fairly close-set, bearing 38–55 (on larger plates) fairly stout, tightly packed, strongly pointed spinules, bearing numerous thorns; papular area about as large as abactinal plates, each with 3–5 papulae; madreporite small, round, bearing irregular, broken spiny ridges, located about 1/2 way between anus and disc margin. Superomarginals about two or more times as large as abactinals, and bearing 32–38 spinules; intermarginals irregular, extending just 20–25% of R; inferomarginals about 1/3 larger than superomarginals, and bearing 38–45 spinules; actinal inter-radials about 1/2 as large as inferomarginals, and bearing 21–18 spinules. Adambulacrals (Fig. 56) with normally 7–9 (rarely 10) spines, a single short, deep furrow spine, 1 rarely 2 large, thick, blunt spines at the furrow edge, 2 similar, slightly shorter spines behind, followed by 2 rows of 2– 3 shorter spines. Oral plates (Fig. 57) with 3 or 4 fairly long, thick, blunt or somewhat pointed marginal spines, and 3–4 similar, slightly shorter sub-oral spines. Color in life (Fig. 58) uniformly red or orange-red.

Distribution: Type specimens are all from Unalaska Island, but it has been observed at Umnak, Akun and Avatanak Is., and possibly as far west as Attu Island, from the intertidal to depths of 16 m. Because of its similarity to other Henricia leviuscula -like forms, further investigation is needed to determine the distribution of Henricia vermilion.

Habitat: Intertidal and shallow subtidal, on cobbles and boulders encrusted with coralline red algae, and sponges. Frequently in kelp beds [Eualaria (Alaria) fistulosa and Nereocystis luetkeana].

Etymology: The name is the "old French" term for red.

Remarks: Henricia vermilion is the "common blood star" of the eastern Aleutian Islands and has been confused with the more southern H. leviuscula, but differs from that species in 1) more robust, inflated body; 2) much fewer adambulacral spines, 7–10 in H. vermilion, 15–17 in H. leviuscula; and 3) sharply pointed spines of the abactinal plates. It differs from H. uluudax by 1) more inflated body; 2) differently shaped abactinal plates; 3) much larger,thicker, pseudopaxillar spinules, which are pointed and bear numerous thorns in the present species, compared to just 3 long thorns in H. uluudax; and 4) much fewer adambulacral spines, 7–10 opposed to 19–24.