What are these circular spots on these Ariane V SRB nozzles?

Question

This Space Shuttle Almanac tweet says:

Pics 1-4 of todays @Arianespace #ArianeV VA249 launch carrying the #EDRSC & #Intelsat39 comsats from Kourou

and includes the cool (hot) image below.

1. what are the (presumably eight) circular spots on the external nozzle-like protrusions at the bottom of each of the (presumably solid rocket) boosters on either side of the main engine?
2. does this launch vehicle simply sit on these nozzle-like protrusions?
3. Is there a lock down mechanism somewhere?
4. what does one call these nozzle-like protrusions when one has one's space words handy?

I think that someone familliar with the Ariane V will know the answers to all four of these related items, so I've grouped them together rather than ask separately.

Answer 1

Meet the Ariane EAP (Étage d'Accélération à Poudre, "Solid Booster Stage"):

what are the (presumably eight) circular spots on the external nozzle-like protrusions at the bottom of each of the (presumably solid rocket) boosters on either side of the main engine?

They are the business ends of the fusées d'éloignement, or separation motors, which push the SRBs away from the core after they burn out. There are four, not 8, at the bottom of each booster, and four more at the top -- all pointed generally inboard to drive the SRB casing away, but not so directly inboard as to impinge exhaust plumes on the core.

what does one call these nozzle-like protrusions when one has one's space words handy?

Those are the jupes arrière, or aft (nozzle) skirts. The rocket nozzles themselves extend beyond the skirts, through holes in the structure.

does this launch vehicle simply sit on these nozzle-like protrusions?

I believe that's correct - the entire weight of the launcher is resting on those nice flat plates.

Is there a lock down mechanism somewhere?

I would have thought so, but @Hobbes' answer suggests not.

Your still image (from T+0:04) is from a remarkably high-quality video, but it unfortunately cuts away from that camera just before the EAPs fire at T+0:06 (but not before you can see a lovely blue hydrogen-combustion shock formation in the Vulcain's plume!). Later in the video you can see the booster separation, but the sep motors aren't really visible at that distance -- the residual plume from the boosters is much brighter.

Answer 2

Is there a lock down mechanism somewhere?

There doesn't seem to be.

Detail of the aft skirt:

Note the lack of attachment hardware.

The page on the launch table says:

A la nuance près que si Ariane 4 est attachée par quatre crochets, Ariane 5 ne l’est pas.

With the nuance that although Ariane 4 is attached by four brackets, Ariane 5 is not.

the countdown sequence doesn't list any either.