Dilman, A.B. (2005). Starfishes of the genus Myxaster (Echinodermata, asteroidea). Zoologieskij Zurnal 84(4):455-463 (in Russian)

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Publication

The rare starfishes Myxaster sol were collected during the work of Russian and French expeditions in the north-eastern Atlantic. The data on the variability of characteristics in some specimens (age characters, in particular) and on intraspecific variability showed that M. sol and M. medusa were close to each other, whereas M. perrieri differs in the number of arms, primary radial plates, and the shape of fascicles in primary radial spines. M. perrieri is suggested to be a synonym of Pythonaster atlantidis, which also occurs in the northern Atlantic. Based on the morphological analysis of three species of Myxaster, the importance of species diagnostic characters is reappraised. Some modifications to the diagnose were made. Myxaster is closely related to the genus Asthenactis and differs from it in the absence of actinolateral membrane and the number of spines on primary radial and oral plates. In addition, the Myxaster species differ in the length of adambulacral membrane. The new findings have expanded significantly the Myxaster range to the north.

North Atlantic

Abyssal, Deep-Sea
Systematics, Taxonomy

Asteroidea

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