Ophiomusium australe H. L. Clark, 1928

Baker, Alan N., 2016, An illustrated catalogue of type specimens of the bathyal brittlestar genera Ophiomusium Lyman and Ophiosphalma H. L. Clark (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), Zootaxa 4097 (1), pp. 1-40 : 8

Ophiomusium australe H. L. Clark, 1928 .

Figures 6 a, b

Ophiomusium australe H. L. Clark, 1928 ; Baker, 1979; O’Hara, 1990. Ophiomusium aporum H. L. Clark, 1928 ; Baker, 1979.

Holotype SAM K256, Spencer or St Vincent Gulfs, South Australia, depth unknown.

Main Features: This species was originally described by Clark as a variety (now = subspecies) of O. simplex Lyman 1878 . However, in 1979 I examined the type and concluded that australe was a valid species, and synonymized O. aporum with it ( Baker 1979). The disc plates are smooth and overlapping, and the radial shields are separated by 3 plates decreasing in size towards the arm. At the interradial margin of the disc are two overlapping tumid plates. The oral shields, post-oral plate and the two tumid marginal plates make up the ventral surface. There are two exposed tentacle pores, each with a scale. The genital slits are short—one lateral plate long. There are two triangular ventral arm plates and gradually diminishing dorsal plates on each arm. The lateral arm plates carry 2 small spines.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Ophiomusium australe SAM K 256: a, b, dorsal and ventral disc sectors; c, basal arm segments FIGURE 7. Ophiomusium canaliculatum USNM E 00035: a, b, dorsal and ventral disc sectors.