Ophiophthalmus normani ( Lyman, 1879 )

Granja-Fernández, Rebeca, Hendrickx, Michel E., Rangel-Solís, Pedro Diego & López-Pérez, Andrés, 2023, Deep-sea Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) collected during the TALUD cruises in western Mexico, Zootaxa 5259 (1), pp. 1-71 : 42-43

Ophiophthalmus normani ( Lyman, 1879)

Fig. 12A‒F

Ophiacantha normani Lyman, 1879: 58‒59 , pl. 15, figs. 414‒416.—Lütken & Mortensen 1899: 170‒171, pl. 16, figs. 1‒4.— H.L. Clark 1911: 215‒217.— Boolotian & Leighton 1966: 7‒10, fig. 31.— Lambert & Austin 2007: 80‒81, figs. 34‒35.

Ophiophthalmus normani . Koehler 1922: pl. 9, fig. 5‒6.— Kyte 1969a: 1738.— Hendler 2018: 212‒213, fig. 17.— Nethupul et al. 2022: 196.

Material examined. 2,254 individuals at 14 stations. TALUD VIII, Sta. 3, 5 ind. (ICML-EMU-11198) and 5 ind. (ICML-EMU-11202-A); Sta. 10, 1 ind. (ICML-EMU-11199-A); Sta. 16, 2 ind. (ICML-EMU-11199-B). TALUD IX, Sta. 21B, 1 ind. (ICML-EMU-11202-B). TALUD X, Sta. 9, 412 ind. (ICML-EMU-11196); Sta. 10, 2 ind. (ICML-EMU-9015), 9 ind. (ICML-EMU-11200), 7 ind. (ICML-EMU-11201), and 941 ind. (ICML-EMU-11219); Sta. 12, 11 ind. (ICML-EMU-11197). TALUD XIII, Sta. B, 1 ind. (ICML-EMU-11203-A); Sta. 34, 3 ind. (ICML-EMU-11203-B); Sta. 37, 1 ind. (ICML-EMU-13000). TALUD XVIB, Sta. 19, 2 ind. (ICML-EMU-11205); Sta. 22, 47 ind. (ICML-EMU-11204); Sta. 23, 22 ind. (ICML-EMU-11206); Sta. 27, 19 ind. (ICML-EMU-11207), 54 ind. (ICML-EMU-11208), 704 ind. (ICML-EMU-11223), and 5 ind. (ICML-EMU-11688).

Comparative material. Ophiacantha normani Lyman, 1879 , syntypes, 4 ind.: MCZ OPH-1971 (Supplementary file 2).

Description (ICML-EMU-11219). DD = 16 mm. Disc circular. Dorsal disc covered by scales and scattered granules. Primary plates not evident. RS oval, separated ( Fig. 12A ). Ventral interradii covered by scattered granules, longer than dorsal granules. Genital slits with numerous imbricated scales ( Fig. 12B ). OSh broader than long, slender, diamond-shaped with rounded edges. Madreporite with a rounded depression. AdSh longer than broad, slender, curved, separated from each other. Jaws bearing three papillae at each side; AdShSp elongated, pointed; 2AdShSp similar in shape to AdShSp; IPa similar to AdShSp and 2AdShSp but with widened base. vT pointed, wider than IPa ( Fig. 12C ). Arms gradually narrowing distally. DAP broader than long, fan-shaped, distal edge with a conspicuous row of pointed granules, meeting on the first segments and separated distally ( Fig. 12D ). VAP slightly broader than long, pentagonal with a distal notch, separated from each other. LAP with four ArSp, large (approximately three arm segments in length), smooth, dorsalmost the longest. Tentacle pores with one pointed TSc ( Fig. 12E ). Color pattern brown (ethanol preservation) ( Fig. 12A‒F ).

Habitat and distribution. Japan, the Okhotsk Sea, the Bering Sea, Alaska, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru ( Lyman 1879; Lambert & Austin 2007; Granja-Fernández et al. 2015; Granja-Fernández & Hooker 2020); 37‒ 3,000 m depth ( Lambert & Austin 2007), muddy substrates (Lütken & Mortensen 1899). The material examined was collected off western Baja California and in the Gulf of California; 465‒ 2,195 m depth.

Remarks. Ophiophthalmus normani is easily identifiable by its DAP with a conspicuous row of pointed granules on the distal edge, and its disc with scales and granules (except on the radial shields).

Figures

FIGURE 12. Ophiophthalmus normani (Lyman, 1879) (ICML-EMU-11219, DD = 16 mm). A, Dorsal disc; B, Ventral disc; C, Mouth; D, Dorsal arm; E, Ventral arm; F, Dorsal view. Ophiernus adspersus annectens Lütken & Mortensen, 1899 (ICML- EMU-11124, DD = 14 mm). G, Dorsal disc; H, Ventral disc; I, Mouth; J, Dorsal arm; K, Ventral arm; L, Dorsal view.