Ophiothrix fragilis (Abildgaard, 1789)

Stöhr, Sabine, Çinar, Melih Ertan & Dagli, Ertan, 2010, Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the southern coast of Turkey (eastern Mediterranean): new records and revision of Amphiodia obtecta Mortensen, 1940, Zootaxa 2483, pp. 45-57 : 54

Ophiothrix fragilis (Abildgaard, 1789)

Material examined. ESFM-ECH/ 2005-15, 22.9.2005, Anamur, K27, 0–3 m, on Sarcotragus sp., 4 specimens; ESFM-ECH/ 2005-16, 28.9.2005, Phaselis, K36, 0–3 m, on rocks, 2 specimens; ESFM-ECH/ 2005-17, 3.10.2005, Kas, K45, 0-3 m, on Sarcotragus sp., 2 specimens; ESFM-ECH/ 2005-18, 7.10.2005, Göcek, K53, 0–2 m, on rocks, 2 specimens.

Remarks. This species is morphologically highly variable, which has led to an ongoing debate on whether this is a single species or several. Currently, in the Mediterranean a second species, O. quinquemaculata ( Delle Chiaje, 1828) , is supposed to exist. However, Baric & Sturmbauer (1999) showed that there are two distinct mt-DNA lineages that each contains individuals from both morphological species. They suggested that O. fragilis and O. quinquemaculata are not different species, but ecotypes of the same species. Instead there may be a Mediterranean and a North Atlantic lineage, which may turn out to be distinct species ( Baric & Sturmbauer 1999). Both nominal species have never been formally synonymised, pending a much needed revision of the whole genus. Our specimens fall within the morphological and ecological range of O. fragilis .

Distribution. Ophiothrix fragilis is a common species of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.