Ophiopsila annulosa ( M. Sars, 1859 )

Glück, Franziska U., Stöhr, Sabine, Bochert, Ralf & Zettler, Michael L., 2012, Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the continental shelf off Angola and Namibia, Zootaxa 3475, pp. 1-20 : 10

Ophiopsila annulosa ( M. Sars, 1859)

Fig. 4 C, D

West African records. Koehler 1914: 206 (recorded on the basis of one arm and arm spines from off Sinoe, Liberia).

Material examined. St. 107: dredge sampling, 9°04.896´S, 12°56.964´E; 1 specimen, 7 mm. Depth: 36 m. This single specimen appeared just once and was the only ophiuroid at this station.

Diagnosis. This species is well in agreement with the original description. Unfortunately four of five arms are broken close to the disc. However, this is the first individual with complete disc and in comparatively good condition known from South-West Africa. As a characteristic feature the jaw bears a vertical cluster of spines at its apex accompanied by a continuous series of lateral oral papillae, which are quite big at the proximal end of the jaw and getting smaller towards the distal end. The inner tentacle scale is about twice as long as the arm joint; there are 10–12 arm spines.

Distribution. Ophiopsila annulosa has been found in the western Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic Ocean from Plymouth to Morocco. It probably exists also off Liberia. Its depth range is 10 to 100 m. It is the first time that this species was found as far south off West Africa as described here.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A, B, Ophiactis plana; A, dorsal aspect; B, ventral aspect. C, D, Ophiopsila annulosa; C, dorsal aspect; D, ventral aspect. E, F, Ophiopsila guineensis; E, dorsal aspect; F, ventral aspect. Scale bars 1 mm.