Ophiosphalma variabile (Lütken & Mortensen, 1899), Lutken & Mortensen, 1899

Baker, Alan N., 2016, An illustrated catalogue of type specimens of the bathyal brittlestar genera Ophiomusium Lyman and Ophiosphalma H. L. Clark (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), Zootaxa 4097 (1), pp. 1-40 : 37

Ophiosphalma variabile (Lütken & Mortensen, 1899) .

Figures 61 a, b

Ophiomusium variabile Lütken & Mortensen 1899 , H. L.Clark, 1915. Ophiosphalma variabile Hendler, 1996 .

Syntypes (4) USNM 19502 Albatross station 3417, off Acapulco, Mexico, 902 m, (1) ZMUC OPH-397, Albatross station 3726.

Main Features: Disc indented interradially. Many small scales on disc dorsally and ventrally, a larger interradial plate dorsally. Large, smooth radial shields, separated in small specimens, contiguous in adults. Granules around bases of arms dorsally. Long genital slits, running to 4th lateral arm plate, and with papillae along the edge of the arm and abradial distal edge of the slit only. Rudimentary arm spines start at first free segment (5th). Three pairs of exposed tentacle pores each with a large scale. The separated radial shields in young specimens is contrary to the trend in Ophiosphalma— in all other species examined the reverse was the case. Juveniles identified as O. variable could be a separate species.

61. Ophiosphalma variabile USNM 19502: a, b, dorsal and ventral disc sectors.