Abstract
Fossils assigned to the predominantly deep-sea asteroid family Benthopectinidae Verrill, 1894 are described and their affinities reappraised. Detailed comparative morphology of ambulacrals, adambulacrals and marginal ossicles has revealed that only some extinct taxa fall within the morphological range of the modern representatives of the family. These include Jurapecten hessi Gale, 2011, J. infrajurensis sp. nov. (both Jurassic), J. dhondtae sp. nov. (Upper Cretaceous) and Nearchaster spinosus (Blake, 1973) comb. nov. (Lower Oligocene). A new Late Cretaceous genus, Punkaster gen. nov. (P. spinifera gen. et sp. nov. and P. ruegenensis gen. et sp. nov.), appears to be a highly derived benthopectinid. A possible benthopectinid is described from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) of China. Other described records are distantly related to, but convergent in gross morphology with, benthopectinids. Thus, Plesiastropecten hallovensis Peyer, 1944 is here referred to the Jurassic spinulosidan family Plumasteridae Gale, 2011 and Xandarosaster hessi Blake, 1984 is interpreted as Spinulosida Perrier, 1884 incertae sedis. The mid-Cretaceous Alkaidia sumralli Blake & Reid, 1998 is reassigned to the Forcipulatida (Zorocallina). The “fossil benthopectinid” of Spencer & Wright in Moore (1966) is shown to belong to the goniopectinid genus Chrispaulia Gale, 2005, of which two new Cretaceous species are described, C. wrightorum sp. nov. and C. spinosa sp. nov. Finally, we consider Henricia? venturana Durham & Roberts, 1948 to be an indeterminate asteroid.
Highlights
Benthopectinids form a small but well-characterised family of predominantly deep-sea asteroids, of very widespread distribution in the deeper bathyal and abyssal regions of the world’s oceans
75 species are currently considered valid (Clark & Downey 1992; Mah 2020a) and, the taxonomy of benthopectinids has been described in considerable detail, their biology is poorly known
The present study is based on fossil material contained in several North American and European museums
Summary
Benthopectinids form a small but well-characterised family of predominantly deep-sea asteroids, of very widespread distribution in the deeper bathyal and abyssal regions of the world’s oceans. Genera are recognised (Clark 1981; Clark & Downey 1992), of which only two, Pontaster Sladen, 1885 and Cheiraster Studer, 1883, extend onto the continental shelves, and only at high northern latitudes. 75 species are currently considered valid (Clark & Downey 1992; Mah 2020a) and, the taxonomy of benthopectinids has been described in considerable detail, their biology is poorly known. Gage et al (1982) described the reproductive biology of three Atlantic species and concluded that they underwent direct development from large yolky eggs. In-situ deep-sea photographs (Mah 2020b) show a partially buried specimen of Cheiraster cf echinulatus (Perrier, 1875) with superomarginal spines projecting above the substrate. Mah (2020b) recorded other (unnamed) benthopectinids sitting on open substrates
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