Fromia eusticha Fisher 1913

A new species of sea star, Fromia eusticha, has been described with distinct morphological traits, including a strongly stellate body, elongate arms, and unique plate arrangements. The species exhibits a high ratio of arm length to disc radius (R/r=4.4–4.8), acute interradial arcs, and a convex abactinal surface covered by granules. Actinal pedicellariae are most abundant around the oral region, with 1 to 8 bivalve types present. The study highlights morphological similarities between Fromia eusticha and another species, Fromia baruna sp. nov., emphasizing the importance of pedicellariae distribution in taxonomy. Distribution records confirm its occurrence across the Ogasawara Islands (Japan), Sulu Archipelago (Philippines), Bikini Atoll (Indonesia), and intertidal zones at depths ranging from 44 to 149 meters.

Mah, C. L. (2025). Fromia eusticha Fisher 1913. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.20317314