Neoferdina akala
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| Neoferdina akala | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Echinodermata |
| Class: | Asteroidea |
| Order: | Valvatida |
| Family: | Goniasteridae |
| Subfamily: | Ferdininae |
| Genus: | Neoferdina |
| Species: | N. akala |
| Binomial name | |
| Neoferdina akala Mah, 2026 | |
Neoferdina akala is a species of sea star in the family Goniasteridae found off New Caledonia.[1]
Taxonomy and systematics
This species invites immediate comparison with Bathyferdina aireyae, with which it shares numerous quadrate-shaped bald spots on each of the superomarginal plates, but N. akala displays bald convex plates on the abactinal surface and lacks the glassine embedded granules present in Bathyferdina. It displays the bald plates that diagnose Neoferdina, and shows several convex plates separating it from Neoferdina insolita, which displays only flat abactinal plates. It is most similar to Neoferdina antigorum, with which it shares distinct bald patches on most superomarginal and inferomarginal plates, but differs in showing a full series of bald patches on both marginal series (especially on interradial plates where they are absent in N. antigorum), having fewer convex bare plates, differing in color, and being much less stellate. Neoferdina longibrachia is also more stellate and lacks the proximal bare patches on the marginal plates. Neoferdina akala is the third species known from New Caledonia and, at a depth of 230–249 m, is the deepest known species in the genus.[1]