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Type: Article
Published: 2009-02-11
Page range: 61–68
Abstract views: 144
PDF downloaded: 4

A new brooding feather star of the genus Dorometra (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulida: Antedonidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan

Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1W3-42 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8551, Japan
10-17 Ikedaminani-machi, Neyagawa-shi, Osaka, 572-0034, Japan
University Education Center, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa, 903-0213 Japan Marine Learning Center, 2-95-101 Miyagi, Chatan-cho, Okinawa, 904-0113, Japan
Echinodermata Comatulid Dorometra sesokonis new species external brooding hermaphroditism

Abstract

A new comatulid of the family Antedonidae, Dorometra sesokonis n. sp., is described from coral reefs of the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan. The new species is extremely small with ten short arms and a unique pinnulation in which some proximal pinnules are absent or poorly developed in most specimens. Additionally, cirrals and brachials of D. sesokonis are elongated and partly colorless. The combination of these morphological characters makes the new species appear like juvenile specimens, regardless of sexual maturity. This species also has remarkable reproductive habits, exhibiting both external brooding and hermaphroditism.

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