Aquilonastra iranica

Aquilonastra iranica (Mortensen 1940): 65, pl. 1, figs 1–4 [As Asterina cephea var. iranica] Material examined: 22 specimens (ZMSBUK-1651/1 - ZMSBUK-1651/22) Largest sampled specimen in this study: R: 23mm, r: 11mm. Description: (Figs. 29–31) Five (occasionally four or six) equal or relatively subequal short arms (R /r ~2:1), arms broader towards the disc, tapering to a rounded end distally; actinal surface flattened, abactinal surface somewhat convex with an acute lateral angle; abactinal plates small, covered in no more than 12 short, thick, conical spinelets; gonopores apparent in fresh specimens, located between abactinal plates; pedicellaria present, small, found in proximal abactinal interradii; supero-marginals and infero-marginals present but small, not forming prominent boundary to the body margin; supero-marginals smaller than infero-marginals, bearing ~6 spinelets. Infero-marginals with ~12 thicker spinelets at R = 23mm; Actinal plates arranged in distinctive, narrow rows, containing a flattened series of up to 6 spinlets arrange in a row on the largest plates; tube feet cylindrical with central disc; colour in live specimens highly variable, base generally greyish with reddish, blue-grey, brown and green or occasionally violet spots. Colour in alcohol white or creamy with no distinctive patterning. Observations: Found on hard substrates or amongst reef/shell rubble and gravel, mainly under rocks. Intertidal area to 7m; Recorded in the present study from Khor-e Musa, Oliye Jonubi (a small village next to Dayyer), Bushehr, Nayband Bay, Seyraf, Shirinoo, Kangan, Parsian, Bostaneh, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar Abbas. Also observed at Qeshm, Hengam, Hormuz, Larak, Abu Moussa, Kish, Lavan, Farur, Khark and Kharku Islands. Previously reported from the Persian Gulf: (Mortensen 1940 [As Asterina cephea var iranica]; Clark & Bowen 1949; Clark & Rowe 1971 (pt); Basson et al. 1977; Price 1982a; Price 1982b; Price 1983 (pt) [As Asterina burtoni]; OʼLoughlin & Rowe 2006; George 2012; Pourvali et al. 2014; O’Loughlin & Bribiesca-Contreras 2015; Pourvali 2015; Adeli et al. 2022 [As Aquilonastra iranica]); present study.