Ophiocoma (Breviturma) dentata

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 : 283

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) dentata MÜLLER & TROSCHEL, 1842 complex

(UF-6460, Fig. 3 h, KU594360 )

Material. 2 spms, St. 1; 7 spms, St. 5; 1 spm, St. 7; 5 spms, St. 8

Remarks. This species displays several distinct disc colour patterns across its range: the three patterns noted above for O. doederleini as well as a fourth one that is uniformly dark. However, all specimens encountered on Reunion had a uniformly dark brown/reddish disc. COI sequence data did not show any differentiation between these morphotypes, however SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in W Australia and the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). As the type locality is likely Sulawesi ( Olbers & Samyn, 2012), we recognize this diversity by assigning these specimens to a species complex. Abundance: 2.

Distribution. Widespread across the IWP to Hawaii ( Clark & Rowe 1971). This is a first record for Réunion Island, but the species was already known from the Mascarenes, from Rodrigues ( Rowe & Richmond 2004).

Figures

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