Paraferdina James 1973

James 1973: 556; Marsh & Price 1991: 65; Clark 1993: 350 (checklist)

Type species. Paraferdina laccadivensis James 1973.

Taxonomic Comments. Paraferdina displays characters which strongly support its placement within the Goniasteridae, including the flattened abactinal plate surface, the arms in angular cross-section, the strongly defined marginal plate periphery, composed of large, blocky plates and the multiple series of actinals in chevronshaped series. The presence of a single row of furrow spines, polygonal abactinal plates, the absence of subambulacral accessories and the presence of granular tegument on the body surface, including the adambulacral plate are shared between Paraferdina and the members of the Ferdininae.

Shared characters between P. laccadivensis, P. plakos n. sp. and P. sohariae that characterize Paraferdina include the complete granular tegument covering of both the abactinal and marginal plates surface. However, some species such as Neoferdina annae n. sp. and to a certain extent N. insolita, display very similar characters suggesting an overlapping boundary between Paraferdina and Neoferdina.

Diagnosis. Body strongly stellate (R/r=3.0–3.3), arms elongate, interradial arcs acute. Body, including abactinal, marginal and actinal surfaces covered by granular tegument. Abactinal plates polygonal, variably shaped and sized but with large, raised, polygonal plates present in P. plakos n. sp. and P. sohariae. Glassy granules absent from abactinal, marginal plate surface. Superomarginal plates enlarged and encroaching onto abactinal surface in P. plakos n. sp. and P. sohariae abutting distally in all three species. No bare patches on either abactinal or marginal plate surfaces. Actinal surface relatively small (fewer than four actinal series), with a single series of furrow spines, no subambulacral accessories (spines, etc.) on adambulacral plate surface.

Included species: P. laccadivensis James 1976, P. plakos n. sp., P. sohariae Marsh & Campbell 1991.