Solaster longoi Stampanato & Jangoux 1993

Synonymy of Solaster longoi Stampanato & Jangoux, 1993

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including the South Atlantic (Clark & Downey 1992), the Indian Ocean (Kerguelen, Prince Edwards & Marion Island, unpublished data) (Stampanato & Jangoux 2004), the South Pacific, including Chile and the Ross Sea (Mutschke & Mah 2009, data presented herein).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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.