Ophiocoma scolopendrina (LAMARCK, 1816)

(REU-3652, Fig. 4 d, KC759913)

Material. 1 spm, St. 5; 7 spms, St. 8

Remarks. This species is strictly intertidal (Fontaine 1965) and has longer arms than other members of the ‘ SCOLOPENDRINA GROUP’. An abundant species on reef flats at Etang Salé, where they are found hidden under rocks. Only the arms are visible as they sweep the air-water interface using an unusual feeding mode: surface-film feeding at low tide (Oak & Scheibling 2006). This species is distinguishable from others of the ‘ SCOLOPENDRINA GROUP’ by its colouration: brown and variegated with a yellowish ventral side, whereas other species display a black/dark ventral side. COI sequence data shows little genetic differentiation across the range of this species (Hoareau et al. 2013). Abundance: 2.

Distribution. Common across the IWP (Clark & Rowe 1971); recently reported from Réunion (Stöhr et al. 2008) and already known from Mauritius (de Loriol 1893a).