Ophiura (Dictenophiura) carnea skoogi ( Koehler, 1923 )

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 : 15

Ophiura (Dictenophiura) carnea skoogi ( Koehler, 1923)

Fig. 6 E, F

West African records. Ophiura skoogi: Koehler 1923: 11 ; Dictenophiura skoogi: Mortensen 1936: 340 ; Dictenophiura carnea: Cherbonnier 1962: 19 ; Tommasi 1967: 547. Ophiura (Dictenophiura) carnea skoogi: Madsen 1970: 233 .

Material examined. St. 121: dredge sampling, 8°45.318´S, 13°12.888´E; 12 specimens, 2.5–3 mm. At 44 m depth.

Diagnosis. The most striking identifying character of this genus is the presence of distinct combs at the arm bases. These spine combs are separated by the first dorsal arm plate, which itself carries spines to each side opposite to the combs. Arm spines are short and closely appressed. Arms bear only a single tentacle scale distally, but more than three at the proximal pores. There is a single papilla at the apex of the jaw and three low block-like lateral papillae. The species is characterized by a longitudinal furrow on the almost vertical first dorsal arm plate, separating the radial shields distally. The three arm spines are widely separated. All arm plates are tumid.

Distribution. Ophiura (Dictenophiura) carnea has been found in the North-East Atlantic Ocean from the Faroes and the Trondheim Fjord to South-West Africa. This species has also been reported from the Mediterranean Sea. Northern West Africa: Dakar and southwards, southern West Africa: Porto Alexandre, Angola and northwards, from 44 to 110 m.

Figures

FIGURE 6. A, B, Ophiothrix congensis; A, dorsal aspect; B, ventral aspect. C, D, Ophiothrix fragilis C, dorsal aspect; D, ventral aspect. E, F, Ophiura (Dictenophiura) carnea skoogi; E, dorsal aspect; F, ventral aspect. G, H, Ophiura grubei; G, dorsal aspect; H, ventral aspect. Scale bars 1 mm.