Ophiactis amator Koehler, 1922

O’Hara, Timothy D. & Thuy, Ben, 2025, Seamount ophiuroids from the High Seas of the western Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 5718 (1), pp. 1-88 : 71-72

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5718.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A97521F7-2BF1-4840-8C22-03AF6B0AE2D2
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17891416
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3724530A-FF9D-A83C-FF1A-A6A95BB9FE9B
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Ophiactis amator Koehler, 1922
status

Treatment

Ophiactis amator Koehler, 1922 View in CoL

Ophiactis amator Koehler, 1922b: 34–36 View in CoL , pl. 81(1–6). — Rowe & Pawson, 1977: 349. — Rowe & Gates, 1995: 377–378.

Non Ophiactis amator View in CoL .— Bernasconi & d’Agostino, 1974: 129–130, pl. 11(3–4) [see Brogger & O’Hara, 2015].

STUDY MATERIAL. — MD208 : stn CP4915, Walters shoal, Plaine Sud, 33° 56.85´S, 44° 0.07´E to 33° 58.8´S, 43° 55.3999´E, 1865–2058 m, 12/5/2017: 2 ( MNHN IE.2016.1362) ( DNA code= IE.2016.1362) GoogleMaps .

COMPARATIVE MATERIAL EXAMINED. Ophiactis amator Koehler, 1922b : IN2015_C01/064, Great Australian Bight, OR 13 Area 05, 34° 4.438´S, 129° 10.924´E to 34° 3.557´S, 129° 8.6852´E, 2649–2805 m, 13/11/2015 GoogleMaps , MV F227385 ( DNA code=F227385). Talud Continental 3/45, Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon , 38° 1.913´S, 53° 39.268´W, 2934 m, 5/9/2013 GoogleMaps , CNP-INV ( DNA code=L45-2A). Talud Continental 3/55, Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon , 37° 52.154´S, 53° 51.582´W, 1712 m, 8/9/2013 GoogleMaps , CNP-INV ( DNA code=L55-1). TAN1007/114, Kermadec deep, 35° 29.76´S, 178° 31.23´E to 35° 29.53´S, 178° 30.59´E, 3036– 3034 m, 7/6/2010, NIWA 64929 ( DNA code= OAM1 ). TN228/J2-387-004, Z39 Seamount , Huon, 44° 23.345´S, 147° 16.277´E, 2004– 1990 m, 25/12/2008 GoogleMaps , MV F168705 ( DNA code=F168705) .

Distribution. S America ( 1712–3447 m), S Africa ( 2707–3036 m), S Australia ( 1688–4052 m), New Zealand ( 1473–3580 m), Walters Shoal ( 1865–2058 m).

Remarks. The specimens measure up to 6.5 mm dd, with relatively thin arms, and long spines and rounded plates on the disc. Genetic sequences from these animals cluster with other O. amator specimens from across the Southern Ocean from off Argentina to New Zealand. Mid bathyal specimens (e.g., NUI1666.2, 2400 m) from the North Atlantic cluster with O. abyssicola (see above).