Ophidiaster armatus Koehler 1910

FIGURE 37A–B

Comments

Images of this species were only taken of the abactinal surface. Diagnostic furrow spine characters were not observed. However, the R/r ratio as well as the size of the individuals were most consistent with descriptions outlined by Liao & Clark (1995). In situ observations showed this species to be brown to light green with darker bands across the arms with dark papular areas.

Both four and six-rayed variants of this species were observed.A 6-rayed specimen was observed at the Ninepins Islands, Hong Kong (Fig. 37B)

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 10–20 m.

Outside Hong Kong, central Pacific, Southern China, Taiwan, Andaman Islands, Queensland and Are Islands. 5–40 m (Marsh & Fromont 2020).