The Echinoid Directory

Contributed by Andreas Kroh, August 2010

Brissalius Coppard, 2008, p. 3.

Diagnostic Features	Test outline ovate with anterior sulcus Apical disc ethmolytic with 4 gonopores; central Petals small, compact, the anterior pair slowly flex outwards the posterior pair confluent for two-thrids of their length adapically, the last third flexing out Plastron amphisternous; labral plate with a narrow posterior prolongation reaching the end of the first adjoining ambulacral plate Peripetalous, anal and subanal fascioles all well developed. Subanal fasciole shield-shaped
Distribution	Recent; Philippines
Name gender	masculine
Type	Brissalius vannoordenburgi Coppard, 2008, by original designation. Holotype: NHM 2008.618 Natural History Museum, London. Paratype: NHM 2008.619 Natural History Museum, London.
Species Included	Only the type.
Classification and/or Status	Spatangoida, Micrasterina, Brissopsidae.
Remarks	Like Brissopsis (Kleinia) but with a shield-shaped subanal fasciole (Brissopsis has a bilobed fasciole). Differs from Metalia in the arrangement of petals, with those of Metalia radiating outwards, and those of Brissalius almost subparallel to the median axis. Coppard, S. E. 2008. A comparative analysis of the spatangoid echinoid genera Brissopsis and Metalia: a new genus and species of spatangoid (Echinodermata: Echinoidea: Brissopsidae) from the Philippines and reassignment of Brissopsis persica to Metalia. Zootaxa 1760, 1-23.