Gymnolophus obscura (Ljungman)

Sastry, D. R. K., Marimuthu, N. & Rajan, Rajkumar, 2019, Echinodermata of Lakshadweep, Arabian Sea with the description of a new genus and a species, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 119 (4) : -

Gymnolophus obscura (Ljungman)

(Pl. VI. Fig. a,b)

1867. Ophiocnemis obscura : Ljungman, A. Öfversigt af Kgl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar 1866. 23(9): 333.

1969. Gymnolophus obscura : James, D.B. Bull. Cent. Mar. Fish. Res. Inst. No. 7: 55 .

1971. Gymnolophus obscura : Clark, A.M. and Rowe, F.W.E. Monograph of shallow water Indo-west pacific echinoderms, p. 117 (key), p. 82-83 (distribution).

1988. Gymnolophus obscura : James, D.B. Proc.Symp. Endangered

Marine Animals and Marine Parks, 1985. 1: 404.

Material: AG-5. Dt. 03.02.2018. One spec.

Description: The specimen measures 9mm in disc diameter, disc scales naked. Radial shields 4 mm long, high crest in the middle, highest at the distal end, gradually sloping towards centre of the disc. Arms 30 mm long, upper arm plates as long as broad proximally, a little wider further. Lower arm plates octagonal, longer than broad. Arm spines up to 5 proximally, appearing smooth with incipient triangular spikes, lowest arm spine very small with proximally curved and pointed spines at the tip. Only tooth papillae present, no lateral papillae. General colouration black with a longitudinal speckled marking on the arms prominent proximally.

Distribution: Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu. Elsewhere: Maldives, Bay of Bengal, East Indies, Philippine Islands and North Australia. The species is newly recorded from Lakshadweep and it is an addition to N.Z.C.