Ophiothrix trilineata

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 : 279

Ophiothrix trilineata LÜTKEN, 1869 complex

(REU-0888, Fig. 2 g, h, GU 480577 )

Material. 1 spm, St. 2; 4 spms, St. 3; 1 spm, St. 5; 2 spms, St. 7

Remarks. The specimens concur well with the species diagnosis in possessing three light lines along the length of each arm: a yellow line and two blue lines separated by four black lines. The disc bears long and thin spines, with shorter spines along the edges. Two colour varieties are encountered at Réunion: a red and a yellow/ brownish one. Similarly, Cherbonnier & Guille (1978) recorded two main colour types in Madagascar: most of the specimens were blue, but several were pink to red. While this species is considered to have an Indo-Pacific-wide distribution, COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in the W Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). With the type locality in the W Pacific ( Samoa), Indian Ocean specimens are here assigned to the O. trilineata complex. Further research is required to elucidate species boundaries in this complex. Abundance: 1.

Distribution. Considered to be widespread in the IWP ( Clark & Rowe, 1971), previously recorded from Réunion ( Guille & Ribes, 1981) and Mauritius (de Loriol, 1893a).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.