Biodiversity Journal , 2018, 9 (2): 143–148 DOI: 10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2018.9.2.143.148

New data on the Forbes, 1839 (Asteroidea Lu - idiidae) from the gulf of Oman and first record of Luidia mac - ulata Müller et Troschel, 1842 in this region

Yaser Fatemi 1* & Ruhallah Fatemi 2

1Young Researchers and Elite Club, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran 2Physiology Research Center (PRC), Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran *Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT As a part of the research program about of the Gulf of Oman, Luidia maculata Müller et Troschel, 1842 , and L. hardwicki Gray, 1840 (Asteroidea Luidiidae) were col - lected from the sandy shores of Chabahar Bay along the north part of the gulf during the period from 2015 to 2016. Here, L. maculata is recorded for the first time from the Gulf of Oman and Iranian waters. Luidia hardwicki has been previously reported from this area. Details concerning the identification and distribution range of these species are provided.

KEY WORDS Gulf of Oman; Iran; Chabahar Bay; echinoderms; Luidia maculata ; L. hardwicki .

Received 25.04.2018; accepted 02.06.2018; printed 30.06.2018; published online 05.07.2018

INTRODUCTION thus Müller et Troschel, 1842, A. hemprichi Müller et Troschel, 1842, A. indicus Döderlein, 1888, Luidia Forbes, 1839 (Asteroidea Luidiidae) , with Aquilonastra burtonii Gray, 1840, and L. hardwicki 50 known species and its wide distribution in the Gray, 1840 have been reported from Iranian waters tropical and subtropical waters is the only valid genus of the gulf of Oman (Khaleghi, 2010; Esfandiar - of Luidiidae Sladen, 1889, the smallest family in the pour, 2014; Panahloo, 2015). asteroidean (Clark & Mcknight, 2000; Mah & Blake, The intertidal benthic fauna of the Iranian coasts 2012; Kim et al., 2017). They live on the muddy or along the Gulf of Oman were studied as a part of a sandy sediments of substrates (Sloan, 1980). research project covering the coastal waters of Jask, Members of the Luidiidae Family are identified Chabahar Bay, and Gwatr Bay. As result, L. macu - by having five to nine flat and straplike arms and lata and L. hardwicki were collected at low tide by the presence of Superambulacral plates and pax - from the sandy shores of Chabahar Bay. Luidia illate abactinal surface. In the Luidiidae Family, the hardwicki has been previously reported from the lateral side of the body, distinguished by just an in - Cabahar Bay (Esfandiarpour, 2014). Because of feromarginal plate and supero-marginals plates, are presence of L. maculata in the adjacent waters of not distinguishable from the paxillae (Clark & the gulf of Oman (Mortensen, 1940; Clark & Rowe, Rowe, 1971). 1971; Liu, 2008; Price, 1983), observation of this Asteroidean specimens have been less studied species in this region was predictable. This is the in the gulf of Oman. To date, 6 asteroid species: As - first record of L. maculata from the Gulf of Oman tropecten phragmorus Fisher, 1913, A. polyacan - and also Iranian waters. 144 YASER FATEMI & R UHALLAH FATEMI

MATERIAL AND METHODS spinelets. Adambulacral plate with 3 curved and flatted spines. Ludia maculata has a bold black mot - This study has been conducted along the Iranian tled coloration on the dorsal surface of the body; waters of the Gulf of Oman. Three locations were ventral side whitish. This pattern coloration retained selected as sampling sites: Qwatr Bay (25°08’N, in the preserved specimens. There are no large bi - 61°29’E), Chabahar Bay (25º19’N, 60º37’E), and valve pedicellariae near the mouth (Fig. 2). Jusk (25º35’N, 58º02’E) (Figure 1). Specimens ISTRIBUTION were collected from the sandy shores of Chabahr D . West Indian ocean, East Africa Bay at low tide by hand. Chabahar Bay is located and Madagascar, North Australia, China and South in the north part of the Gulf of Oman along the Japan (Clark & Rowe, 1971), Singapore (Vanden - Iranian waters. In order to keep the specimens alive Spiegel et al., 1998), Thailand (Putchakarn & Son - after the sampling, they've been transported to the chaeng, 2004), Red Sea (James & Pearse, 1969), laboratory. The samples imaging has been done by Arabian Sea (Parameswaran et al., 2017), Persian digital camera and light microscope. For long time Gulf (Mortensen, 1940; Price, 1983), and Pakistan preservation, 75% ethanol has been used. Speci - (Haque, 1969). mens were carefully examined and taxonomic REMARKS . Specimens were collected from the studies were performed by following the identifi - intertidal sandy-gravel shores of Chabahar Bay. In cation key of James & Pearse (1969), Clark & this research, a very rare form of L. maculata (with Rowe (1971), Price (1983), and VandenSpiegel et 6 arms) was found in the sampling site. This is the al. (1998). first report of L. maculata from the Gulf of Oman The examined materials is deposited at the Zo - and also Iranian waters. ology Museum of Chabahar Maritime University, Iran. Luidia hardwicki Gray, 1840 RESULTS EXAMINED MATERIAL . About 20 specimens of L. hardwicki (all of them with 5 arms) were found in Systematics the sandy shores of Chabahar Bay at low tide (2015 to 2016, legit Yaser Fatemi). Classis ASTEROIDEA de Blainville, 1830 Ordo Perrier, 1884 DESCRIPTION . A medium sized asteroid species Familia LUIDIIDAE Sladen, 1889 (R/r = 5.2) with moderately large, flat, and strap- Genus Luidia Forbes, 1839 like arms (five); Disc small and madreporite cov - ered by paxillae. Preserved specimens pinkish in Ludia maculata Müller et Troschel, 1842 color; there are no marked color pattern on the dor - sal surface body; abactinal paxillae with six to fif - EXAMINED MATERIAL . Two adult specimens of L. teen subequal, blunt-tipped, central spinelets, and maculata were collected in October 2015 and No - with thirteen to twenty-three more slender periph - vember 2016 from Chabahar Bay. 2015 specimen eral ones. Mid-arm paxillae are more irregular and with seven and 2016 specimen with six arms. smaller, and have fewer spinelets than the periph - eral ones. Large slender pedicellariae on the outer DESCRIPTION . Ludia maculata is a large species part of some adambulacral plates; a single slender (R/r = 7.7 to 8.1) with 6 to 7 (in this study) large, spine and numerious smaller spines encircled the flat, and strap-like arms. Disc small and inferomarginal plates. Large bivalve pedicellariae madreporite covered by paxillae. Abactinal paxillae located near the mouth (Figure 3). with eight to twenty short central spinelets and about twenty-five to thirty for more slender periph - DISTRIBUTION . West Indian Ocean, North Aus - eral spinelets. The paxillae that are located in mid- tralia, China, and South Japan, Red Sea (Clark & arm are more irregular and smaller and have fewer Rowe, 1971), Singapore (VandenSpiegel et al., spinelets than the lateral ones. Large inferomarginal 1998), Thailand (Putchakarn & Sonchaeng, 2004), plates with 3 to 5 short spines and numerous Arabian Sea (Parameswaran et al., 2017), Persian New data on the genus Luidia (Asteroidea Luidiidae) from the gulf of Oman and first record of Luidia maculata 145

Figure 1. Map of the sampling site.

Figure 2. Living specimen of Ludia maculata Müller & Troschel, 1842, in the sampling site, Chabahar, Iran, Gulf of Oman. Frontal view. Photo credit: Yaser Fatemi. 146 YASER FATEMI & R UHALLAH FATEMI

Gulf (Mortensen, 1940; Price, 1981), and the Gulf twenty-three more slender peripheral ones. Pinkish of Oman (Esfandiarpour, 2014). in color ……….....….. Luidia hardwicki Gray, 1840

REMARKS . Luidia hardwicki has been previously reported from the gulf of Oman by Esfandiarpour DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS (2014). Luidia maculata and L. hardwicki of the Luidi - idae family were collected from October 2015 to Key to the species of Luidia genus known from November 2016 by hand in the intertidal waters of the Gulf of Oman the Iranian costs of the Gulf of Oman. Luidia mac - ulata is an indo-pacific species that lives in sandy 1. Large specimens with 6 to 7 arms (up to 9); bold sediments of substrate. It can be easily distin - black mottled coloration on the dorsal surface of the guished from the related species by the number of body; up to twenty central spinelets can be seen for arms (usually 7 and very rarely 6) and the bold each abactinal paxillae and up to thirty for periph - black mottled coloration of the back (Price, 1983). eral ones; there are no large bivalved pedicellariae Luidia maculata previously reported from the in the adoral margin of oral plates…..…………… Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea (Mortensen, 1940; ...... Ludia maculata Müller et Troschel, 1842 Haque, 1969; Clark & Rowe, 1971; Price, 1983). Therefore, the presence of this species in the gulf 2. Specimens with five arms (rarely 6); without of Oman was predictable. Price (1983) reported L. marked color pattern on the dorsal surface of the maculata (7 specimens) from the subtidal sand and body; abactinal paxillae with six to fifteen subequal, grass beds at 5–11 m depth of Dammam Channel blunt-tipped, central spinelets, and with thirteen to and Tarut Bay (Persian Gulf). Mortensen (1940)

Figure 3. Preserved specimen of Luidia hardwicki Gray, 1840, in aboral view (left) and oral view (right). Chabahar, Iran, Gulf of Oman. Frontal view. Photo credit: Yaser Fatemi. New data on the genus Luidia (Asteroidea Luidiidae) from the gulf of Oman and first record of Luidia maculata 147

collected three specimens of L. maculata at 33 m low-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. British depth of northeast of Bahrain (Persian Gulf). Luidia Museum Press, 238 pp. maculata was reported for the first time in Pakistan Clark H.E.S. & Mcknight D.G., 2000. The marine fauna in the survey study of Haque (1969). of New Zealand: Echinodermata: Asteroidea (Sea Stars), Order Paxillosida. National Institute of Water Luidia harwicki is a common species of Luidi - and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) Biodiversity idae that has been recorded from the northwest of Memoires, 116: 14–135. the Indian Ocean (Mortensen, 1940; Clark & Rowe, Esfandiarpour F., 2014. Sea star (Echinodermata) species 1971; Esfandiarpour, 2014; Parameswaran et al., diversity and distribution in the south-east of Iran 2017). It can be easily observed on the sandy shores (Gulf of Oman). MSc, Chabahar Maritime Univer - of Chabahar Bay at low tide. sity, Chabahar, Iran. Chabahar Bay is semiclosed, with gentle slope Fatemi Y., Attaranfariman G. & Stara P., 2015. Sculp - and sandy beach that has favorable conditions for sitechinus iraniensis n. sp. (Clypeasteroida As - the survival of echinoderms. Both species cannot triclypeidae), from Chabahar Bay, southeast coast of be found in the Jusk and Gwatr Bay. It can be re - Iran. Biodiversity Journal, 7: 395–944. Haque M.M., 1969. Echinoderms of Pakistan coast. Zo - lated to the extreme waves in the coast of Jusk and ological survey of Pakistan 1: 27–38. to muddy sediment of mangrove forest of Gwatr James D.B. & Pearse J.S., 1969. Echinoderms from the Bay (Fatemi et al., 2015). Unlike the other studies, Gulf of Suez and the northern Red Sea. Journal of the L. maculata was collected in the intertidal zone of Marine Biological Association of India, 11: 78–125. Chabahar Bay at low tide. According to the litera - Khaleghi M., 2010. Echinoderms species of Chabahar ture, it can be said that L. maculata is a moderately Bay. MSc, Khoramshahr Marine Science and Tech - rare asteroid species in the northwest part of Indian nology University, Khoramshahr, Iran. Ocean. However, L. hardwicki is a common aster - Kim D., Kim M. & Shin S., 2017. A newly recorded oidae in this region. Sea Star of the genus Luidia (Asteroidea: Paxil - losida: Luidiidae) from the Korea Strait, Korea. An - This study represents the first record of L. mac - imal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity, 33: ulata in the Gulf of Oman and Iranian waters. Caba - 131–135. DOI: 10.5635/ASED.2017.33.2.061 har Bay is the northernmost records in the Indian Liu J.Y., 2008. Checklist of Marine Biota of China Seas. Ocean for the distribution range of L. maculata . China Science Press, 1267 pp. From the family of Luidiidae, L. prionota Fisher, Mah C.L. & Blake D.B., 2012. Global diversity and phy - 1913, has been recorded from the Persian Gulf, Red logeny of the Asteroidea (Echinodermata). PLoS Sea, and Arabian Sea (Mortensen, 1940; Clark & ONE, 7:e35644. DOI: 10.1371/journal. pone. Rowe, 1971). Thus, the presence of this species in 0035644 the Gulf of Oman can be predictable. Mortensen T.H., 1940. Echinoderms of the Iranian Gulf, More studies are required to find the L. prionota Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea. In: K. Jessen & R. Spirck (Eds.), Danish Scientific Investi - and other asteroidean species of the Gulf. gations in Iran, Part II. Copenhagen: Einar Munks - gaard, pp. 55–110. Panahloo N., 2015. Diet of three Sea star (Echinoder - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS mata: Asteroidea) from Chabahar coastal area. MSc, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran. The authors are deeply grateful to Andrew R.G. Parameswaran U.V., Sanjeevan V.N., Abdul Jaleel K.U., Price (School of Life Sciences, University of War - Jacob V., Gopal A., Vijayan A.K. & Sudhakar M., wick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK) and Mohammad 2017. An updated checklist of echinoderms of the Javad Malek-hosseini (Department of Biology, southeastern Arabian Sea. Marine Biodiversity, 22: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1–23. Price A.R.G., 1983. Echinoderms of Saudi Arabia. Echin - Ljubljana, Slovenia) for helpful comments on the oderms of the Arabian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. first version of the manuscript. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 5: 28–108. Putchakarn S. & Sonchaeng P., 2004. Fauna of Thailand: History and Inventory Reviews. Sci - REFERENCES enceAsia, 30: 417–428. Sloan N.A., 1980. The arm curling and terminal tube-foot Clark A.M. & Rowe F.E.W., 1971. Monograph of shal - responses of the asteroid Crossasterpapposus (L.). 148 YASER FATEMI & R UHALLAH FATEMI

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