Comanthus scintillus, a new species of featherstar (Echinodermata: Crinoidea: Comatulida: Comatulidae) from Southern Japan

Abstract

A new species of comatulid crinoid, Comanthus scintillus n. sp., is described based on specimens from southern Japan. The general appearance is similar to congeners having a small centrodorsal with few cirri, such as Comanthus gisleni Rowe, Hoggett, Birtles, and Vail, 1986, and C. suavia Rowe, Hoggett, Birtles, and Vail, 1986. However, the new species is characterized by the distribution of the terminal combs to middle arms, lack of secondary teeth on the combs, and the presence of fringing spines on the segments of the distal pinnules. Live specimens of the new species show striking coloration in which the whole body is red with scattered small yellow spots, which also makes it easily distinguishable from congeners.