Ophiothrix trindadensis Tommasi, 1970

Santana, Alisson, Manso, Cynthia L. C., Almeida, Ana C. S. & Alves, Orane F. S., 2020, Taxonomic review of Ophiothrix Müller & Troschel, 1840 (Echinodermata Ophiuroidea) from Brazil, with the description of four new species, Zootaxa 4808 (1), pp. 51-78 : 57-58

Ophiothrix trindadensis Tommasi, 1970

( Figs. 5 )

Ophiothrix trindadensis Tommasi, 1970: 61–62 , figs. 60–61. [Espírito Santo, Brazil]

Ophiothrix trindadensis: Alitto et al. 2019: 13–18 , figs. 7–8. [Espírito Santo, Brazil]

? Ophiothrix trindadensis: Lima & Fernandes 2009: 60 . [Pernambuco, Brazil] Material examined. MZUSP 01452 , Ilha Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 20°30’S, 29°18’W, 14 m, coll. XI/2014 by J.B. Mendonça.

Type locality. Trindade Island , Espírito Santo, Brazil

Diagnosis (modified from Alitto et al. 2019). Disc (interradial regions) covered by short spines; radial shields triangular, with uniform coverage of short spines; dorsal arm plates fan-triangular, with a prominent medial ridge; ventral arm plates heart-shaped, with proximal edge straight and concave distally.

Remarks. A complete description for this species was recently provided with the designation of a neotype and characterization of juvenile specimens ( Alitto et al. 2019). Alitto et al. (2019) stated that diagnostic characters of O. trindadensis include the morphology and coverage of the disc (pentagonal and with small spines; see Fig. 7A from Alitto et al. 2019), morphology of the dorsal arm plates (fan-triangular and with a medial ridge; see Fig. 7F from Alitto et al. 2019), and number and morphology of arm spines (8–11 long, vitreous and denticulate spines; see Figs. 7F, G from Alitto et al. 2019). We analyzed specimens studied by Alitto et al. (2019) and other important character are related to the morphology of the ventral arm plates, that is cordiform in profile (see Fig. 7G from Alitto et al. 2019). The combination of these characters allows to distinguishes O. trindadensis from all congeners.

Besides Tommasi (1970) and Alitto et al. (2019), only Lima & Fernandes (2009) recorded O. trindadensis but they gave no description or illustrations. This report was based on a monograph entitled “ Ofiuróides (Echinoder- mata: Ophiuroidea) dos recifes de Suape e da área de influência do complexo industrial portuário ” ( Lima 2002), that was not formally published. Specimens analyzed by Lima (2002) have not been deposited in any zoological collection (Lima E.J.B., personal communication), thus preventing further studies to validate the occurrence of O. trindadensis in northeast Brazil

Distribution. Western Atlantic: Brazil (Espírito Santo) ( Tommasi 1970; Alitto et al. 2019).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Ophiothrix trindadensis: A, Dorsal view of the disc showing short spines; B, oral frame; C, dorsal arm plates; D, ventral arm plates (MZUSP 01425, neotype, Trindade Island, Brazil). Scale bars: A–D = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. SEM photographs of vertebrae, lateral arm plates and arm spines of Ophiothrix brasiliensis n. sp.: A, proximal surface; B, distal surface; C, dorsal surface; D, ventral surface; F, lateral arm plate; E, arm spine (UFBA 01731). Scale bars: A–F = 200 μm.