Gomophia watsoni
©Lyle Vail and Anne Hoggett: Gomophia watsoni at night, between Palfrey Island and research station. Note the pointed purple tubercles.
©Anne
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Asteroidea
Order
Valvatida
Family
Ophidiasteridae
Genus
Gomophia
Species
Gomophia watsoni
Colours
Distinguishing features
A bright colour pattern comprising white/ cream, orange and purple is distinctive for the two species of Gomophia that are found at Lizard Island. Gomophia watsoni has prominent, conical tubercles on some plates on the upper side. In contrast, an undescribed species, Gomophia sp(p), has its enlarged plates gently swollen. Both species grow to maximum radius of about 150 mm. They are not common anywhere around the island group.
Gomophia watsoni appears to be more active at night than during the day.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
species: Gomophia mamillifera
has a similar colour pattern but the dorsal tubercles are rounded, not pointed, and they match the underlying colour rather than being always purple.
