Amphiophiura insolita ( Koehler, 1904 )

Stöhr, Sabine, 2011, New records and new species of Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, Zootaxa 3089, pp. 1-50 : 27

Amphiophiura insolita ( Koehler, 1904)

Fig. 11A–C

Ophioglypha insolita Koehler, 1904: 47 , pl. 7 figs 5–6, 8.

Amphiophiura insolita – Matsumoto 1915: 77; Koehler 1922: 362 –363, Pl. 84 figs 8, 9; Koehler 1930: 225.

Material. Sta. CP1646: 31 spms; sta. DW1648: 2 spms; sta. DW1650: 11 spms.

Description. Dorsal disk centre covered by small, round, imbricating scales with a central primary plate; radially a large round plate (possibly a primary plate) separates each pair of round radial shields. Interradially, a large pentagonal plate abutts a wide thick marginal plate. Dorsal arm plates hexagonal, twice as wide as long, on first segment triangular, distally separating radial shields. A single large pentagonal oral shield in each interradius directly abutts the dorsal marginal plate. Ventral interradius formed by this single large, distally bulging shield that also creates the ventral disk margin. Adoral shields longer than wide, restricted to proximal angle of oral shield. 7 block-like lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, proximalmost papilla longer, 2 distal papillae widened. Genital slits next to oral shield, abradial genital plates restricted to disk edge, forming arm comb. Ventral arm plates hexagonal, wider than long. Lateral plates of second arm segment (incorporated into disk) enlarged and bulging. Up to six pointed arm spines proximally (at 12 mm dd), increasing in length from dorsal to ventral, the ventralmost spine being shorter again. Longest spines about half a segment long. All plates with glass bead-like structure.

Remarks. This species may be conspecific with A. monaria ( A.H. Clark, 1949) , according to O'Hara (personal communication), but a more detailed study is needed to resolve their taxonomic status.

Figures

FIGURE 11. A – C, Amphiophiura insolita. A, dorsal aspect; B, ventral aspect; C, proximal lateral arm. D, Ophiopallas paradoxa, arm spines. Scale bars in millimetre.