Ophidiaster armatus Koehler 1910

Yiu, Sam King Fung & Mah, Christopher L., 2024, New Ecological Observations and Occurrence for Asteroidea and Echinoidea in Hong Kong, Zootaxa 5526 (1), pp. 1-69 : 50

Ophidiaster armatus Koehler 1910

FIGURE 37A–B

Comments

Images of this species were only taken of the abactinal surface. Diagnostic furrow spine characters were not observed. However, the R/r ratio as well as the size of the individuals were most consistent with descriptions outlined by Liao & Clark (1995). In situ observations showed this species to be brown to light green with darker bands across the arms with dark papular areas.

Both four and six-rayed variants of this species were observed.A 6-rayed specimen was observed at the Ninepins Islands, Hong Kong ( Fig. 37B )

Occurrence/Distribution

Hong Kong, 10–20 m.

Outside Hong Kong, central Pacific, Southern China, Taiwan, Andaman Islands, Queensland and Are Islands. 5–40 m ( Marsh & Fromont 2020).

Figures

FIGURE 37. Linckia and Ophidiaster armatus A. In situ observation, O. armatus abactinal surface. B. Six rayed variant of O. armatus from Ninepin Islands, Hong Kong. C. In situ observation of L. laevigata. Photographer: A and C: Sam King Fung Yiu; B: Max Leung.