New starfish (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) from the Cenomanian and Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) of Seine-Maritime (France) and a revision of Cretaceous stauranderasterid genera

Abstract

Exceptionally well-preserved asteroid specimens from the Cenomanian and Turonian coastal exposures in Seine-Maritime (north-west France) are described. These include a new genus, Crielaster (type species: C. annae sp. nov.), which is provisionally assigned to the family Chaetasteridae, a new species of the astropectinid genus Coulonia de Loriol, 1873 (C. fournoui sp. nov.), and a new species of stauranderasterid (Stauranderaster pustulosus sp. nov.). A superbly preserved specimen of Oreaster coronatus Forbes, 1848, showing the construction of the abactinal surface, provides evidence supporting subdivision of the genus Stauranderaster Spencer, 1907. Stauranderaster coronatus is here made the type species of Coronataster gen. nov., and Squamataster gen. nov. is erected, with Oreaster squamatus Forbes, 1848 as type species.