Kanakaster longibrachium
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| Kanakaster longibrachium | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Order: | Valvatida |
| Family: | Goniasteridae |
| Genus: | Kanakaster |
| Species: | K. longibrachium |
| Binomial name | |
| Kanakaster longibrachium Mah, 2026 | |
Kanakaster longibrachium is a species of sea star in the family Goniasteridae found off New Caledonia.[1]
The species epithet longibrachium is derived from the Latin longus and brachium for "long arm".[1]
Taxonomy and systematics
This species is placed in the genus Kanakaster due to its granulated dermis covering the body surface and the single serial row of two furrow spines per plate with no subambulacral spination, which are characteristic of the subfamily Ferdininae. It is distinguished primarily by its elongate arms and the presence of numerous abutted superomarginal plates over the arm radius. It joins the other three species of Kanakaster known from New Caledonia. In terms of total marginal plates (17–18 per interradius), it compares with K. convexus, K. solidus, and the Philippine K. balutensis, but none of these species shows the large number of abutted superomarginal plates or the elongate arm shape.[1]