Ophiomyxa tenuispina Mortensen, 1933

Fig. 25k–n

Ophiomyxa tenuispina Mortensen, 1933b: 304–306 . fig. 30, pl. 19(27). — Clark, A.M. & Courtman-Stock, 1976: 134, fig. 97, 99–100. — Olbers et al. 2019: 154–155, fig. 144–145.

STUDY MATERIAL. — MD208: stn WCAS11, Walters shoal, Zone Sommitale Nord Ouest, 33° 8.88´S, 43° 50.43´E, 125 m, 7/5/2017 to 8/5/2017: 1 (MNHN IE.2016.1344) (DNA code= IE.2016.1344) . — MD208: stn WR12, Walters shoal, Zone Sommitale Nord Ouest, 33° 9.158´S, 43° 51.4538´E, 43–47 m, 8/5/2017: 1 (MNHN IE.2016.1359) . — MD208: stn DW4894, Walters shoal, Pentes, 33° 8.19´S, 43° 50.3101´E to 33° 8.59´S, 43° 49.75´E, 199–261 m, 5/5/2017: 1 (MNHN IE.2016.1347) .

COMPARATIVE MATERIAL EXAMINED. Ophiomyxa tenuispina Mortensen, 1933b: ATIMO VATAE / DW3600, SW Cap Sainte Marie, 25° 59´S, 44° 42´E, 143 m, 13/5/2010, MNHN IE.2007.4344 (DNA code=IE.2007.4344).

Distribution. South Africa (174 m)

Remarks. The Walters Shoal specimens (to 18.5 mm dd) are (preserved) brownish-yellow, without obvious colour patterns. They have rounded oral papillae and upper teeth with a glassy serrated border, up to 5 arm spines (typically 4) that are swollen at the base and small thorns over the upper shaft and apex (Fig. 25i). The DAPs are fragmented into pieces that sit above the vertebrae. They are similar to the type drawings and description of O. tenuispina Mortensen, 1933b from South Africa, except the smaller (12 mm dd) type had only 4 arm spines.Another similar species is O. irregularis Koehler, 1922a from the Philippines (up to 15 mm dd) which also was reported to have only 4 arm spines. Additional DNA samples are required before we can successfully determine whether these form one or more species.