Ophiocoma pusilla

Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of Réunion (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, Zootaxa 4098 (2), pp. 273-297 : 285

Ophiocoma pusilla (BROCK, 1888) complex

(UF-6596, Fig. 4 f, KU594364 )

Material. 1 spm, St. 2; 1 spm, St. 5

Remarks. This small species (DD<1cm) is easily distinguished from other Ophiocoma by its angular dorsal arm plates and its thinner, hollow arm spines. COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in W Australia and the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). The type locality lies in the W Pacific ( Ambon, Olbers & Samyn 2012), thus we attribute these specimens to the species complex. Abundance: 1.

Distribution. An uncommon species that is nevertheless widespread from the Red Sea to the Pitcairn Islands across the IWP ( Clark & Rowe 1971, Devaney 1970); previously reported from Réunion ( Guille & Ribes 1981).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.