First Record of the Family Myxasteridae (Asteroidea: Velatida) from Western North Pacific with Description of a New Species of Asthenactis

Abstract

We describe a new species of the rare and deep-sea family Myxasteridae from Japanese waters. This is the first record of this family in the western North Pacific. The new species, Asthenactis agni n. sp., differs from all congeners in having seven arms with an R/r ratio of 7.2, primary radial plates with convex distal edges, and two to three actinolateral spines that are up to 4.7 mm long.