A new cryptic species of Asteronyx Müller and Troschel, 1842 (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), based on molecular phylogeny and morphology, from off Pacific Coast of Japan

The first phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of the cosmopolitan deep-sea species, Asteronyx loveni Müller and Troschel, 1842, were conducted, based on specimens collected from off the Pacific coast of Japan. Partial sequences of mitochondrial 16S (68 specimens) and COI (24 specimens) genes were analyzed. Phylogenetic trees and network analyses revealed three lineages and five sub-lineages of A. loveni. Genetic distance and AMOVA (analysis of molecular variance) analyses suggested that the lineages should be considered three cryptic species. Skin on the aboral disc is partly thickened and forms a mesh-like pattern, which has never been reported in previous descriptions of Asteronyx; this is provided as a new taxonomic character. Based on absence/presence of mesh-like skin, one of the three lineages was assigned to A. loveni and another was described as Asteronyx reticulata new species. This new species can be distinguished from congeners by having mesh-like skin and small genital slits at the innermost position on the interradial oral disc.