Henricia specimens were collected using a dual approach of trimix scuba diving and fishing nets. This inclusive collection encompasses the discovery of two species highlighted in this study and introduces and provides comprehensive descriptions for Henricia kinkasana and Henricia longispina aleutica. The descriptions offered in this study were derived from the thorough examinations of external morphological characteristics. The documentation provides detailed insight into key traits related to the abactinal and actinal skeletons and spines of these newly recorded species in Korea. This comprehensive examination contributes to our understanding of the distinct morphological characteristics defining each species within the genus Henricia.

Two newly recorded sea stars, Henricia densispina (Sladen, 1879) and H. reniossa asiatica Djakonov, 1958, collected from the East Sea of Korea using fishing nets, were described in this study. Morphologically, H. densispina is characterized by the shape (sub-triangular) similarity of the intermarginal plates to the superomarginal plates. Henricia reniossa asiatica Djakonov, 1958, has long and slender arms (R/r=7.2- 9.1); clustered abactinal paxillae with 3-13 abactinal spinelets; a denuded abactinal skeleton made up of crescentic, elongated cross-shaped, the presence of small ossicles that divided the papular areas; and an adambulacral armature comprised of 14-17 spinelets. This study provides the first occurrence of H. densispina and H. reniossa asiatica in the Korean fauna and a detailed morphological description of these species’ key characteristics is provided.

Henricia specimen was collected from the East Sea of Korea using fishing nets. The specimen was identified as Henricia hayashii (Djakonov 1961), belonging to the family Echinasteridae of the order Spinulosida. This species can be distinguished from other Henricia species by slender arms (R/r=7.4), constricted arm base, six to thirtyfive slender spinelets, open-meshed, reticulated abactinal skeleton comprising semitriangular, rod-like form, and small ossicles present inside the papular areas. This species superficially resembles H. reniossa in terms of its body size but differs in the shape and arrangement of the abactinal and actinal plates. To date, two genera of Echinasteridae, Aleutihenricia and Henricia, including a total of 14 species, have been reported in Korea. Herein, the morphological characteristics of H. hayashii are described, and photographs are provided.

Henricia specimens were collected using fishing nets from the East Sea of Korea. The specimens were identified as Henricia oculata Pennant, 1777, belonging to the family Echinasteridae of the order Spinulosida. This species can be distinguished from other Henricia species by broad arms (R/r=4-4.1), rough skin, a thick arm base, three to nine minute delicate abactinal spines, and inferomarginal plates reniform in shape. This species superficially resembles H. pachyderma in its body size and wide papular areas but differs mainly in the number of papulae and abactinal spines, and the shape and arrangement of the inferomarginal plates. To date, two genera of Echinasteridae, Aleutihenricia and Henricia, with a total of 13 species, have been reported in Korea. The morphological characteristics of H. oculata are described, and photographs are provided.

Sea stars were collected from the adjacent waters of Jukbyeon and Jumunjin, Korea, using fishing nets at depths of 70-100 m. The specimens were identified as Henricia perforata (O.F. Müller, 1776) in the family Echinasteridae and order Spinulosida, with worldwide species distribution. H. perforata can be distinguished from some morphologically related Henricia species by its long, slender, and pointed adambulacral spines. The abactinal skeleton of H. perforata has wide papular areas resembling those of H. pachyderma, but the former has more papulae (two to seven). Previously, two genera of Echinasteridae, Aleutihenricia and Henricia, with a total of 12 echinasterid species, have been reported in Korea. The morphological characteristics of H. perforata are described and photographs are provided.

An asteroid specimen that belongs to the genus Henricia was collected from the waters near Ongpo harbor, Jeju Island using fishing net on 24 January 2017. The specimen was identified as Henricia anomala Hayashi, 1973, which belongs to the family Echinasteridae and order Spinulosida. Henricia anomala was first described by Hayashi, 1973, who captured it from Sagami Bay at a depth of 110-116 m. This species can be distinguished from other Henricia species by short arms (R/r=4), abactinal spines lining the abactinal plates and bearing about two to five spinelets, closely meshed abactinal skeleton, composed of small rod-like and subtriangular plates, a narrow papular area containing one or two papulae, and adambulacral armature composed of five to seven bluntly pointed spinelets. This is the first report of Henricia anomala in Korea.

Some asteroid specimens were collected at a depth of 150 m near Moseulpo in Jeju Island, Korea using fishing nets on October 2014. The specimens were identified as Henricia pacifica Hayashi, 1940 belonging to the family Echinasteridae of order Spinulosida. In the Korean fauna, seven species of genus Henricia were reported of which two species, H. nipponica and H. ohshimai, were distributed in Jeju Island. The morphological characteristics of this species were re-described with illustrations.