| The taxonomy of Luidiidae is researched in the present thesis, based on materialdeposited in the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Qingdao.The material were collected from all Chinese seas, mainly by the Western North YellowSea and Bohai Sea Comprehensive Survey (1957-1958), the National MarineComprehensive Survey (1958-1960), the China-Viet Nam Cooperative MarineComprehensive Survey of the Gulf of Tonkin (1959-1960, 1962). The traditionalmorphological method is used in species identification, and the modern taxonomicapproaches are used in distinguishing the siblingn and/or difficult identifying species.A key to distinguish the Chinese species of Luidiidae is provided, and the geographicalfeatures are discussed.Nine species are described in total in this thesis, including two new species, whichare with morphological photos and geographical distribution maps. The species arelisted as following:1. Luidia avicularia Fisher, 19132. L. difficilis, new species3. L. maculata Müller and Troschel, 18424. L. yesoensis Goto, 19145. L. quinaria von Martens, 18656. L. changi, new species7. L. orientalis Fisher, 19138. L. hardwicki Gray, 18409. L. longispina Sladen, 1889The brief descriptions of the two new species are given as following:Luidia difficilis, new species (Fig. 3, 4)Material examined. – Holotype – CN IOCAS-E 1108, Tonkin Gulf, the South ChinaSea, [19o32'N, 106o30'E], 32 m, sand, AT, 15 Apr.1962.Paratype – 1 example, CN IOCAS-E 1109, same locality and date as holotype.Diagnosis. – Arms 6. Large abactinal paxillae squarish or rectangular, with 3-20 finecentral granules and 10-20 peripheral spinelets. Most lateral spines are less than amillimeter in length, flattened and obliquely appressed on the inferomarginal plates.Adambulacral armature consists typically of 1 large furrow spine and 3 large spines onsurface of plate. Pedicellariae is absent at oral end of mouth-plates. Ventrolateralplates with large tricuspid pedicellariae.Description. – Arms 6. R= 79.2 mm;r= 9.7 mm;br= 10.5 mm;R/r =8.2. Diskrelatively small and arms slender. Marginal paxillae representing superomarginalssquarish or rectangular and similar to adjacent abactinal paxillae. Paxillae in 5longitudinal series on each side of arm;squarish or rectangular, with sides proximately0.6-0.8 mm wide and 0.9-1.0 mm long. At the arm base such series increased to 6.Side rows above mentioned form lateral borders of arms. Spherical surface of paxillaecovered with 3-20 fine central granules about 0.2mm high and 0.17mm wide, 10-20peripheral column spinelets and several intermediate spines between centrals andperipherals. Centrals short, rounded and granuliform, peripherals much more slenderand subequal to centrals in length. Adjacent to lateral paxillae series are 5 more series,somewhat irregular, little rounded and smaller. Near the tips of arms, paxillae stillsmaller and less regularly arranged. Arms fairly high at base, about 10 mm, and dischigher than arms.Inferomarginals relatively short and wide, and coincident with adambulacrals. About10 plates in 9.5 mm of arm-length, while their width is about 2.5 mm. Surface wellcovered with longitudinal rows of squamiform spines and a large number of muchsmaller spinelets. Abactinal row of spines larger, sometimes 1-2 spines subequal to thelateral one;actinal row of spines smaller. The largest spine situated on outer end of theplate is obliquely appressed on the plate and indistinct in dorsal view. Most are lessthan a millimeter in length, wide at base but gradually attenuate to an acute tip;close toit, but sometimes below, is a second spine of subequal size, and still further abactinallyare spinelets similar to those of the abactinal paxillae but larger and more pointed.Along the margin of inferomarginals is a series of small spinelets. The fasciolargrooves covered in the inner part with capillary spinelets. At and near interbrachialangle the spines and spinelets much more slender and acute.Adambulacrals coincident with inferomarginals and ventrolaterals and present awedgeshaped edge towards ambulacral furrow. Rarely one adambulacral platecoincident with 2 ventrolaterals and 2 inferomarginals. The armature consists typicallyof four spines. The first one, laterally compressed, curved, and hookshaped, lies wellwithin furrow;about 0.8 mm long and 0.3 mm wide at the base. The second one,largest, also lightly curved, but much more stout and somewhat triangular incross-section;about 1.2 mm long and 0.4 mm wide at the base. Then follows the thirdand fourth, straight and of proximately coniform with blunt tips, about two-thirds thelength of second one;the two in a line parallel to the furrow, and a notch present at thebase on the inner side facing furrow. On outer side of large spines may be 8 smallerspines varying in length and in shape. First and subsequent 2-7 adambulacrals withsomewhat different armature from the rest. The armature of first consists of about 7large spines;subsequent 2-7 adambulacrals with 1-2 furrow spines and 4-5 larger spineson the surface of plates.Mouth-plates somewhat narrow and long with an interspace covered over with amembrane. The most characteristic point in the armature of mouth-plates is theabsence of any pedicellariae at oral end of plates. About 12 large spines in a seriesalong main ridge of plate, much larger at the oral end. Secondary ridge of platebearing about 8 much smaller spines, which become smaller towards distal part of theplate. Facing first adambulacral plate about 10 spinelets are found at the outer side ofspines on the main ridge. Usually a series of about 9 subequal but much shorterspinelets on the side of each oral plate, deep in the mouth.Ventrolateral plates very small, and 2 or 3 plates situated in each interradial areabetween mouth plates and first inferomarginals. Each plate with about 8-20 slenderspinelets, which are similar to those on outer part of adambulacrals. Subsequently areseries of 3-4 pairs plates on each side, only a series of plates extending to the tip of arms,and becoming somewhat indistinct in distal part owing to their fusion withinferomarginals. Most plates have one large pedicellariae with 3 long and slender jaws,which are thicker and obtuser than peripheral spinelets. Similar pedicellariae have notbeen found elsewhere. On dry ray of paratype, with surface cleared, the plates atproximal base of ray large and triangular, bearing granule prominence at the top.Terminal plates relatively small, usually colourless. Madreporite completely hiddenfrom view by surrounding paxillae, which are similar to adjacent ones, so difficult todistinguish.Body colour.-Color in alcohol preserved specimens very similar to that of L. hexactisand L. maculata. Oral surface very light, proximally fawn;dorsal surface light buffblotched and marked with large irregular dark areas.Etymology.-From Latin difficilis, implying the species was difficult to align to anydescribed species of Luidia.Remarks.-This is a very well marked species for while it seems to belong toAlternata-group of D?derlein (1920). A comprehensive review and analysis on 7species of Luidia in the China seas (Chang, 1948;Chang et al., 1964;Liao & Clark,1995), 8 shallow-water Luidia species from the Indo-West Pacific (Clark & Rowe,1971), 10 species of Luidia from the South China Sea (Lane et al., 2000), and 5 speciesof Luidia of New Zealand (Clark & McKnight, 2000), indicate that Luidia difficilis, newspecies superficially resembles Luidia hexactis Clark, 1938, type locality near theMontgomery Reef. The possibility that it is simply a 6-rayed L. maculata Müller andTroschel, 1842, type locality Southern Japan, is debarred by the differences in thearmature of inferomarginals, adambulacrals and ventrolaterals. The characters of L.hexactis are according to the descriptions and illustrations of Clark (1938: 73-74, pl. 17:fig. 1) and Clark & Rowe (1971: 43);the characters of L. maculata are according to thedescriptions and illustrations of Sladen (1889: 327), Fisher (1919: 163, 168), D?derlein(1920: 262, pl. 18: figs. 4, 13, pl. 19: fig. 16, pl. 20: figs. 23, 24) and Hayashi (1973: 48,pl. 7: fig. 4), and based on the specimens as follows:Luidia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842: Material examined. –1 example, CN Q47B-9,[18o15'N, 109oE], muddy sand, AT, coll. Fan, 11 Apr. 1959;1 example, CN K51B-7, [20oN, 112oE],muddy sand, AT, coll. Ma, 3 Jul. 1959;1 example, CN K124B-3, [20oN, 112o30'E], muddy sand, AT,coll. Qu, 8 Feb. 1960;1 example, CN N155B-27, [18oN, 109oE], sand, 32.5m, AT, coll. Liu, 12 Mar.1960;1 example, CN Q162B-68, [21o22'N, 109oE], sand, 12m, coll. Sun, 17 Feb. 1960;3 example,CN N207B-120, [18o15'N, 109o15'E], muddy sand, 24m, AT, coll. Shen, 14 May 1960;1 example,CN X215B-63, [20o22'N, 109o38'E], sand, 32m, 22 Apr. 1962;1 example, CN X277B-38, [19oN,106o30'E], sand, 43m, 11 Oct. 1962.Luidia changi, new species (Fig. 9, 10, 13, 14)Material examined. –Holotype -IOCAS-E1110, [34oN, 124o30'E], depth 79 m, soft mud, AT,coll. Baolin Zhang, 1 Nov.2000.Others –1 ex., CN 10-6, [40.31oN, 121.65oE], sand, 42m, 19 Oct.1958;1 ex., CN H196B-39,[37.78oN, 121.75oE], sandy mud, 23m, 14 Jan.1959;1 ex., CN 3-2, [35.06oN, 123.75oE], soft mud,77m, 20 Jan.1959;1 ex., CN 12-6, [39.5oN, 124oE], sandy mud, 22m, 22 Jan.1959;1 ex., CNH0013-17, [38.5oN, 122oE], soft mud, 53m, coll. Hu, 23 Jan.1959;4 ex., CN 22-5, [39oN, 124oE],sandy mud, 57m, 23 Jan.1959;3 ex., CN 23-7, [38.5oN, 122.75oE], mud, 56m, 25 Jan.1959;1ex.,CN 30-10, [38.73oN, 121.75oE], 26 Jan.1954;1ex., CN 28-61, [39oN, 122.13oE], 26 Jan.1959;1 ex.,CN 32-11, [35.6oN, 122.5oE], soft mud, 56m, coll. Hu, 26 Jan.1959;1ex., CN H0047-13, [35oN,122.5oE], 29 Jan.1959;1 ex., CN H64B-10, [35.5oN, 123.65oE], coll.Jiang, 13 Apr.1959;1 ex., CNH69B-13, [38oN, 123.75oE], sandy mud, 68m, coll. Hu, 14 Apr.1959;1ex., CN H71B-15, [39oN,124oE], 15 Apr.1959;1 ex., CN y170B-3, [39.25oN, 123oE], soft mud, 27m, coll. Chen, 18 Apr.1959;1 ex., CN y180B-13, [37.75oN, 121. 5oE], soft mud, 21m, coll. Huang, 23 Apr.1959;1 ex., CNy178A-1, [38.13oN, 121.5oE], soft mud, 45m, coll. Chen, 23 Apr.1959;1 ex., CN H01B-20, [34oN,123.75oE], 13 Apr.1959;1 ex., CN y186B-3, 25 Apr.1959;1 ex., CN y186B-3, [38.27oN, 121.25oE],25 Apr.1959;1 ex., CN H132B-17, [35.05oN, 122oE], soft mud, 45m, coll. Hu, 28 Apr.1959;2 ex.,CN 14-4, [39.72oN, 123.25oE], soft mud, 15m, 22 Jun.1959;1 ex., CN H154A-9, [36oN, 123.75oE],soft mud, 76m, coll. Jiang, 8 Jul.1959;6 ex., CN H162B-24, [39.75oN, 123.75oE], muddy sand, 15m,coll. Jiang, 9 Jul.1959;1 ex., CN H171B-19, [38oN, 122.75oE], soft mud, 54m, coll. Chen, 11Jul.1959;1ex., CN y262B-43, [37.25oN, 123oE], soft mud, 32m, 11 Jul.1959;1 ex., CN H177B-18,[37.5oN, 122.63oE], 36.5m, 12 Jul.1959;1 ex., CN 51-26, [38.75oN, 122.25oE];2 ex., CN H188B-1,[39oN, 122.5oE], 13 Jul.1959;1ex., CN H191B-2, [38.75oN, 122.75oE], soft mud, 49m, coll. Jiang,14 Jul.1959;2 ex., CN y291B-15, [35.3oN, 123oE], soft mud, 66m, 14 Jul.1959;1 ex., CN y287b-28,[36oN, 121.5oE], soft mud, 35m, coll. Hu, 14 Jul.1959;1ex., CN 6-6, [34.5oN, 122.5oE], 52m, 13Oct.1958;22ex., CN 16-13, sand, 18m, coll. Tang, 14 Oct.1959;3 ex., CN H272B-8, [38.25oN,123.25oE], muddy sand, 32m, coll. Huang, 18 Oct.1959;1 ex., CN y363B-15, [39.5oN, 123.5oE],sand, 35m, coll. Chen, 18 Oct.1959;1 ex., CN H274B-8, [38.05oN, 122.87oE], sandy mud, 37m, coll.Jiang, 19 Oct.1959;1 ex., CN H286A-8, [38.05oN, 122.25oE], soft mud, 48.8m, 20 Oct.1959;1 ex.,CN 16-20, [35.5oN, 121oE], 32m, 20 Oct.1959;10 ex., CN H181B-21, [38.25oN, 122.13oE], softmud, 22.7m, coll. Jiang, 26 Oct.1959;2 ex., CN y416B-25, [34.58oN, 121oE], muddy sand, 19m, coll.Chen, 30 Oct.1959;1 ex., CN y423B-41, [35oN, 121oE], muddy sand, 36m, coll. Hu, 31 Oct.1959;3ex., CN C91B-6, [33.4oN, 122.5oE], mud, 36m, 6 Dec.1959;1 ex., CN C71B-20, [33.5oN, 123oE],mud, 53m, 25 Dec.1959;1 ex., CN 30-8, [36oN, 122.5oE], 27 Oct.1959.Diagnosis. –Rays 5, rather long and slender, very flat;tapering sharply from base toextremity, very attenuate;R/r about 6-9. Abactinal paxillae with fine central andperipheral spines, most central spines hold a central spinule, pointed and transparent.Ventral surface of the inferomarginal plate with a series of 3-5 small, squamiformspinelets, and also many smaller spinelets. Adambulacral armature consists of 3-4spines and a large two-jawed pedicellaria. Mouth-plates with 2-4 pairs of stoutpedicellariae.Description. –Rays 5, up to R =112 mm, R:r about 6-9;body thin, moderately long,very flat, tapering sharply from base to extremity, very attenuate. Holotype, R=83.8mm, r=11.3 mm, R=7.4 r, breadth of a ray at the base 14.2 mm, and to the terminal plateonly 2 mm.There are 3-4 regular longitudinal series of compact, closely fitting, squarish paxillae ineither side of ray, those on mid-dorsal arm and central disc plates smaller, and have atendency to become irregular in form. Outermost series represents supermarginals,bearing 1-2 small but evident, low bivalved pedicellariae for a plate, they are numerousin proximal portion than in distal portion of ray. Larger paxillae bear on tabulum about10-20 central granules, most with transparent spinule on top, and 20-30 peripheralelongated spinelets, relatively smaller and thin.Inferomarginals bear each a robust lateral spine at outer end of the plate. Lateralspines relatively slender, compressed and with tapering tip. Ventral surface of the platewith a series of 3-5 small, squamiform spinelets, compressed, tapering, sometimespointed and relatively broader near lateral margin, whereas much smaller towards innerside. Additional similar spienlets may be present on inner side of this series, alsomuch smaller spinelets present on side of the plate. Some plates, especially near thebase of arms, one sometimes more two-jawed pedicellariae may be near the inner end ofplate, rarely smaller and thicker one may be near the base of lateral spines. Dorsalsurface of the plate, outer side of the lateral spine, covered with small spinelets similarto those of dorsal paxillae, but long and slender, most with tapering end. Fasciolargrooves wide and covered with capillary spinelets.Adambulacral plates opposite to inferomarginals in position. Adambulacral armatureconsists of 3-4 spines and a large two-jawed pedicellariae. The 3 spines arranged in atransverse row, innermost furrow spine being the shortest, compressed laterally andslightly curved. Second one at the furrow edge much robust, bluntly pointed, slightlycompressed laterally and slightly curved. Outermost one subequal in length to thesecond, but nearly straight. Mostly a large two-jawed pedicellaria sometimes two atthe adoral side of spine, subequal in length to the spine. When 4 spines present there,the fourth one short and slender. On the outer edge of plate ususlly two or three verydelicate, short, cilia-like spinelets.Mouth-plates comparatively small. Each plate bears two pairs of large forficiformpedicellariae at its innermost point, sometimes with another 1-2 pairs immediatelybelow. Marginal spines and actinal spines, subequal to one another in size, anddiminish as receding from the mouth;actinal spines forming a series parallel to themedian suture of mouth-plates.Interradial areas very small, containing only 2-4 small plates. A series of ventrolateralplates extends far along the ray. Ventrolaterals armed with a series of slender spinelets.Madreporite hidden by paxillae.Body colour.-In alcohol preserved specimens, with a very dark band, almost black insome specimens, along the median radial line, extending to the centre of the disk, insome specimens fading out gradually at the sides, in others terminating more abruptly.Etymology.-The specific name is given in honor of Prof. F. Y. Chang, Echinodermspecialist of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao.Remarks. -This species has been referred to Luidia on the basis of closemorphological similarity, and are confused with L. quinaria and L. yesoensis. Allspecimens of Luidia changi sp. nov. deposited in the Institute of Oceanology, ChineseAcademy of Sciences have been observed, showing evidence of its uniqueness in thecharacters of abactinal plates, abactinal spinelets and R:r of the body. The statisticalresults of R:r indicate it distinct, which represent its very long and much slender arms.Remove the soft tissue in sodium hypochlorite and study morphology of the abactinalplates, indicating that the quadrangular paxillae very thin, with flat tops, betweenimbricating large plates very small ossicles can be seen from actinal view. Afterexamination of the abactinal spinelets, find that the slightly elongated central spineletsconsistently have a large central transparent spinule, very pointed and projected, andperipheral spinelets also relatively pointed. |
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