Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) marginata Koehler, 1905

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) : -

Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) marginata Koehler

(Pl. VIII. Fig. a, b, c)

1905. Ophiothrix marginata : Koehler, R. Siboga Expeditie. 45b:79. Pl VIII, figs 7-9.

1966. Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) marginata : Clark, A. M. Ann. Mag.

nat . Hist. (13) 9: 647.

2019. Ophiothrix marginata : Stöhr, S.; O’Hara, T. & Thuy, B. (Eds.). WoRMS

Material: AM-1. Dt. 17.02.2018. One spec. KV-19 . Dt .

10.02.2018. One spec.

Description: Disc measures 5 and 6 mm in diameter. Radial shields 2 mm long, separated by a single series ofelongate disc scales. Disc plates circular at the center and elongate radially and interradially. Disc scales with long spines; radial shields bare, outer margin straight and wide. Arms 30 and 35 mm long. Upper arm plates wider than long, distal margin arched, a pale longitudinal line bordered on either side by dark lines. Arm spines thrice as long as the arm plate, middle arm spines clavate at the tip, lateral arm plates of segments from some distance from the disc with the lowest arm spines comb-like with teeth pointing towards the disc. Lower arm plates with a concave distal margin.In the specimen from AM-1the dark longitudinal lines of upper arm plates continuing on the disc between radial shields and interrupted on disc.

Distribution: Lakshadweep. Elsewhere: Off Aru Islands. This is the first report of the species after its description by Koehler (1905) from Siboga Stn. 273, East of Aru Islands in the East Indies. The species is newly recorded from Lakshadweep and is an addition to Indian Fauna.