Ophiactis luetkeni Martanner-Turneretscher, 1887

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 : 8-10

Ophiactis luetkeni Martanner-Turneretscher, 1887

Fig. 3 E, F

West African records. Ophiactis luetkeni: Marktanner-Turneretscher 1887: 298 ; A. M. Clark 1955: 34; Cherbonnier 1957: 166; 1962: 15; Madsen 1970: 210. Ophiactis africana: Koehler 1911: 17 ; 1914: 182; Cadenat 1938: 359. Amphiura capensis pars: Koehler 1914: 190 (the Senegal specimens).

Material examined. St. 87: dredge sampling, 7°14.184´S, 12°46.026´E; 1 specimen, 4 mm. St. 121: dredge sampling, 7°51.948´S, 12°58.452´E; 40 specimens, 1–5 mm. St. 66: dredge sampling, 9°33.702´S, 13°06.018´E; 2 specimens, 2–2.5 mm. St. BE13: dredge sampling, 15°17.562´S, 12°00.030´E; 1 specimen, 3 mm. St. BE08: grab sampling, 17°00.990´S, 11°27.048´E; 2 specimens, 4.5–5 mm. St. BE17: grab and dredge sampling, 17°18.946´S, 11°43.389´E; 14 specimens, 1.5–3 mm. St. BE30: grab and dredge sampling, 17°23.415´S, 11°43.432´E; 219 specimens, 1–6 mm. St. BE33: dredge sampling, 17°23.416´S, 11°42.226´E; 2 specimens, 1–2.5 mm. St. BE39: dredge sampling, 17°23.415´S, 11°36.126´E; 1 specimen, 3 mm. St. BE03: grab and dredge sampling, 17°57.636´S, 11°46.104´E; 47 specimens, 1–4 mm. St. BE02: grab and dredge sampling, 18°11.442´S, 11°50.478´E; 20 specimens, 2–4 mm. St. BE01: grab and dredge sampling, 18°23.118´S, 11°55.290´E; 1169 specimens, 1–6 mm. Depth: 26 to 67 m. This species was the most common of all ophiuroid species collected. At the southernmost sampled station it showed extremely high abundances compared to other stations.

Diagnosis. The jaw bears a single unpaired and squarish apical papilla. The latter is separated from a single lateral oral papilla by a wide gap. The dorsal side of the disc is completely covered with fine scales, sometimes bearing a number of marginal spinelets near the arms, but most of the specimens wholly without disc spines.

Distribution. Northern West Africa: Dakar and southwards, southern West Africa: Porto Namibia (18°S) and northwards (previously the southernmost boundary was Lobito, Angola). Ophiactis luetkeni occurs from shore level down to 67 m (previously only down to 60 m on the West African shoreline), also down to 120 m off Cape Verde.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A, B, Amphiura filiformis; A, dorsal aspect; B, ventral aspect. C, D, Ophiacantha angolensis; C, dorsal aspect; D, ventral aspect. E, F, Ophiactis luetkeni; E, dorsal aspect; F, ventral aspect. Scale bars 1 mm.