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 the reassignment of Brissopsis persica to Metalia

Brissalius vannoordenburgi gen. nov., sp. nov. occurs at depths of 200 meters off Siquijor Island in the Philippines and is typical of the family Brissopsidae in having specialised aboral tube feet in ambulacra III within the peripetalous fasciole used for funnel building. It is distinct from species of Brissopsis and Metalia in having a shield-shaped subanal fasciole in conjunction with confluent posterior petals. This species has a particularly diverse array of highly localised pedicellariae, with three distinct forms of globiferous pedicellaria (simple fistulate, fanged fistulate and fanged open-bladed), three forms of straight bladed tridentate (narrow-valved, spatulate and terminal-toothed) as well as typical spatangoid rostrate, ophicephalous and triphyllous pedicellariae. Brissopsis persica is the only species in the genus that has a shield-shaped subanal fasciole. However, this species has divergent posterior petals, simple (non-lobed) anterior aboral tube feet, enlarged tubercles along the anterior ambulacrum, no anal fasciole, and lacks both globiferous and ophicephalous pedicellariae. These findings demonstrate that this Brissopsis persica does not belong in Brissopsis but should be placed in Metalia.