Macrophiothrix cf. paucispina

Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of Réunion (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, Zootaxa 4098 (2), pp. 273-297 : 280-281

Macrophiothrix cf. paucispina HOGGETT, 1991

(REU-3722, Fig. 3 a)

Material. 1 spm, St. 7

Remarks. Another species with trapeziform arm plates, but unlike in M. belli the disc granules are mostly trifid rather than multifid and the radial shields display low granules at similar density to the disc stumps, characteristics that match the description of M. paucispina ( Hoggett 1991) . Abundance: 1.

Distribution. M. paucispina has been recorded only from Australian waters ( Hoggett 1991); comparison with the type or topotypical material is needed to verify this range extension. This is a new Macrophiothrix species record for Réunion and the Mascarene Islands.

a) Macrophiothrix paucispina (after ethanol preservation); b) Macrophiothrix propinqua ; c) Macrophiothix cf. robillardi ; d) Ophiocoma brevipes ; e) Ophiocoma doederleini morphotype 1; f) Ophiocoma doederleini morphotype 2; g) Ophiocoma doederleini morphotype 3; h) Ophiocoma dentata ; i) Ophiocoma krohi

Figures

FIGURE 3. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.