Ophiopallas Koehler, 1904

Stöhr, Sabine, 2024, Taxonomic analysis of the genital plates and associated structures in Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata), European Journal of Taxonomy 933, pp. 1-98 : 68-69

Genus Ophiopallas Koehler, 1904

Fig. 34

Type species

Ophiopallas paradoxa Koehler, 1904 .

Examined species

Ophiopallas paradoxa .

Oral GP

Minute, at laterodistal edges of OS, also connected to adoral shield, adradial surface flat, abradial side with longitudinal median keel-like ridge.

Adradial GP

Blade-like, ventrally convex, dorsally straight edge, pointed proximal end, scoop-shaped distal end, terminating in curved groove and single condyle, on adradial side proximal to articular structures a finer stereom patch, on abradial distal end sickle-shaped ridge articulating with abGP.

Abradial GP

Wide flat blade, as long as adGP, twice as wide, distal articular structure as concave notch.

Oral shields

Flat, with horizontal spurs dividing OS in proximal and distal halves. Madreporite flat, with central large opening.

Radial shield

Single low condyle bordered by short distal groove. Proximal to condyle a round, finely porous patch on a larger, coarsely meshed area.

Figures

Fig. 34. Ophioleucidae Matsumoto, 1915, Ophiopallas paradoxa Koehler, 1904, SEM, unless otherwise noted. A. Genital plates in situ, micro-CT. B. adGP, adradial aspect. C. adGP, abradial aspect. D. abGP, arrow connects articular structures to adGP. E. Radial shield, internal aspect. F. Oral GP (arrowheads) in situ, digital image. G. Madreporite, internal aspect (broken during bleaching). H. Oral shield, internal aspect. I. oGP, abradial aspect. J. oGP, adradial aspect. Scale bars: A–H= 0.5 mm; I–J =0.01 mm.