The Echinoid Directory

Contributed by Simon Coppard, October 2006

Coelopleurus (Keraiophorus) maillardi (Michelin, 1862, p. 2)

Diagnostic Features	The test is pentagonal with distinctly raised ambulacra aborally. The interambulacra have broad naked median regions that are brown or purple with a lilac zigzag line that starts form the genital plates and continues just below the ambitus. The adradial edges of the naked regions are lighter in colour, and have straight-edged, red borders. Primary spines are curved and banded purple and green down the entire length of their dorsal surface (including through the spine's collar). The collar has many longitudinal ridges on the ventral suface, and a few on the dorsal surface, but no granules between ridges. Secondary spines are pointed, tapering distally (not club-shaped). Ophicephalous pedicellariae are abundant both orally and aborally. Those on the aboral surface have very constricted valves with distal and proximal regions of equal length; orally the valves are unconstricted.
Distribution	Recent, South Africa, Philippines
Classification and/or Status	Arbacioida, Arbaciidae, Coelopleurus.
Remarks	This species differs form all other Recent Coelopleurus in having primary spines that are banded purple and green down the entire length of the dorsal surface, by having a pentagonal test with distinctly raised ambulacra and by having aboral ophicephalous pedicellariae with very constricted valves. Mortensen, T. 1935. A Monograph of the Echinoidea. II. Bothriocidaroida, Melonechinoida, Lepidocentroida, and Stirodonta. C. A. Reitzel & Oxford Univ. Press, Copenhagen & London, 647 pp.