Circeaster pullus Mah 2006

Circeaster pullus Mah, 2006 FIGURE 15A–F, 16A–D Circeaster pullus, 2006: 940, Figs. 6D–F, 8. Diagnosis R/r = 2.0–3.0. Abactinal arm plates bare, enlarged, at base of arm. Round, hemispherical granules on disk, marginal plate surface. Superomarginal plates abutted over arm midline. Enlarged subambulacral spine abradial to adambulacral pedicellaria, adjacent to actinal intermediate region. Bivalve pedicellariae present on actinal surface, adambulacral plates. Comments In situ observations of what was identified as C. pullus were made based on the identification of the abutted superomarginal plates along the arm. None of the video observations showed the furrow spines which was another of the primary characters which distinguished this species from C. sandrae. Two color variants were observed that were consistent with the morphological definition of Circeaster pullus, one a straw color with white highlights, with shorter, broader arms that was observed at relatively shallow depth (424–520 m) (Fig. 15A, B, E; 16A–C) and a dark orange variant with more elongate arms present in deeper waters (1605–2489 m) (Fig. 15C, D, F; 16D). The type series for C. pullus was collected from depths more consistent with the shallow, yellow variant. Full data on videos is listed in the Appendix. Occurrence Johnston Atoll, North Pacific, 467–2489 m. South Pacific Ocean, Tonga, New Caledonia, Marquesas Islands. 705–1000 m.