Work

An exceptionally well-preserved starfish fauna (Asteroidea, Echinodermata) from the Early Miocene of southeastern France

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A new starfish fauna from the Late Burdigalian (Early Miocene) of the Apt basin (Rhodano-Provençal gulf, southeastern France) is described here. This new starfish fauna comes from accumulation levels of marine invertebrates, including exceptionally well-preserved pectinid bivalves and echinoderms. Among the echinoderms, the sea urchins are the most abundant, closely followed by the starfish. This is the first time the starfish fauna is being studied in detail. Here are described twelve additional specimens of Lacosteaster lauerorum Gale & Ward, 2024 (Solasteridae, Valvatida) with the first description of the abactinal face of the species, an undetermined species of Astropecten (Astropectinidae, Paxillosida), and two new genera and species: Cruciformaster pedicellarius gen. nov. et sp. nov . (Oreasteridae, Valvatida) and Menerbesaster bongrainae gen. nov. et sp. nov . (Echinasteridae, Spinulosida).

Source: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology

DOI: 10.3897/sjp.145.180374

Authors: Anaïs Travers, Marine Fau, Michel Roux, Pauline Coster, Bertrand Lefebvre

Institutions: Lyon 1 Université, University of Geneva, National Museum of Natural History, Natural History Museum of Geneva, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle

Language: English

Topic: Echinoderm biology and ecology

Subfield: Aquatic Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,340