Nidorellia armata (Gray 1840)

In Panama this species has been collected from Taboguilla Island (depth 5 m), Taboga Island (USNM E 33332), Pedro Gonzales Island, Perlas Archipelago (USNM E 37207; Centroid Latitude: 8.3783, Centroid Longitude: -79.1033), Balboa Island, Panama Bay (USNM 39002, depth 6 m), Bona Island Panama Bay (USNM E 37328, depth 9 m), Paitilla Point, Panama Bay (USNM E 26727) and Perico Island, Panama Bay (USNM E 32007), Gulf of Panama, eastern Pacific.

Panama, eastern Pacif

Döderlein, L. (1936). Die Asteriden der Siboga-Exped. III. Die unterfamile Oreasterinae. Siboga-Expedition, 46(2): 295-369, pls. 21-32.

World Asteroidea Database

LSID urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:254919

Goniodiscus armata Lutken, 1859
Goniodiscus conifer Möbius, 1859 (A synonym accoridng to Sladen (1889).)
Goniodiscus michelini Perrier, 1869
Goniodiscus stella Verill, 1870
Nidorellia michelini (Perrier, 1869) (A synonym according to Doderlein (1936))
Oreaster armatus Müller & Troschel, 1842
Pentaceros armatus Gray, 1840

Nidorellia armata (Cray)

Pentaceros (Nidorellia) armata Gray, 1840:277; 1866:7, pl. 14: fig. 1–3.

Oreaster armatus (Gray).—Mueller and Troschcl, 1842:52.—Lutkcn, 1864:148.—Bell, 1884:79.—von Martens, 1865:433.

Goniodiscus armatus (Gray).—Lutken, 1859:75.

Goniodiscus conifer Mobius, 1859:10, pl. 3: fig. 5–6.

Nidorellia armata (Gray).—Verrill, 1867:280.—Perrier, 1876:67.—Viguier, 1878:193.—Leipoldt, 1895:634.—H. L. Clark, 1910:332, pl. 4: fig. 2.—Doderlein, 1916:418; 1936:316, pl. 21: fig. 1–6a.—Boone, 1926:3, pl. 1; 1933:73, fig. 2.—Ziesenhenne, 1937:216.—H. L. Clark, 1940:333.—Steinbeck and Ricketts, 1941:381, pl. 10: fig. 1, pl. 11: fig. 2.—Ely, 1945:15.—Caso, 1943:9, 66, pl. 22: fig. 1–2, pl. 23: figs. 1–2; 1953:221; 1961:63, figs. 22–23.—H. L. Clark, 1958:95.—Caso, 1962:63, figs. 22–24.

Nirodella armata (Gray).—Stanek, 1955:48.

Nidorellia armata is represented in this collection by one specimen, quite large and heavy (R 10 cm, r 6.5 cm, dry weight 177 grams). The marginals, particularly the distal ones, are tremendously swollen and most bear 1 or 2 stout spines or low tubercles. The much smaller principal plates of the abactinal surface usually bear 1 or 2 low tubercles. The papular areas of the abactinal surface are covered with pedicellariae of the split granule type. This is a common shallow water species of the eastern tropical Pacific, known from lower California to Peru and the Hawaiian Islands.

OPHTOIASTERTOAE

Nidorellia armata, also known as the chocolate chip star (leading to easy confusion with Protoreaster nodosus), is a species of starfish from warmer parts of the East Pacific, where it ranges from the Gulf of California to northwest Peru, including the Galápagos. It is the only species in the genus Nidorellia. N. armata can be found in tropical waters clinging on corals and rocky reefs; and are sometimes kept as pets in home marine aquariums.