Ophiocoma (Breviturma) brevipes Peters, 1851

Stöhr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 68, pp. 1-26 : 10-13

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) brevipes Peters, 1851

Figs 2D , 4 A-E, 5A, D, G, J, M, P

Ophiocoma brevipes Peters, 1851: 466 .

Ophiocoma brevispinosa Smith, 1876: 40 .

Ophiopeza danbyi Farquhar, 1897: 189 .

non Ophiocoma brevipes – Stöhr et al. 2008: 553.

Diagnosis

Species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. characterized by a light colour pattern, cream to white with some brown to grey markings; five arm spines from segment 4 or 5 on large specimens for more than 10 segments; disc granule densities up to about 250 mm-2. Maximum size at least 20 mm dd according to the examined material.

Type material examined

Syntype ZMB Ech 961

COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, 18° 39.942’ S 35° 31.774’ E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 12-13 mm dd (irregular disc), white dorsal and ventral, any pattern bleached, hardly visible. DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield longer than wide, ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment.

Syntype ZMB Ech 962

COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, 18° 39.942’ S 35° 31.774’ E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13 mm dd, white dorsal and ventral disc, dorsal arms with brown bands, ventral arms white, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, oral shield longer than wide, ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment.

Syntype ZMB Ech 963

COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, 18° 39.942’ S 35° 31.774’ E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13 mm dd, dorsally whitish-brown colour pattern, ventrally white, DAP W:L = 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield about as wide as long, ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment.

Syntypes ZMB 4660

COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, Querimba Islands, 12° 25.796’ S 40° 35.948’ E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851, 3 spms.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. Spm A, 17-18 mm dd, white overall, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield longer than wide; Spm B, 15 mm dd, white, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield wider than long; Spm C, 12 mm dd, white, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, oral shield longer than wide; all specimens ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment.

Other material examined

SMNH- 133230

COLLECTING DATA. La Réunion, Etang Salé, 21°16’17 S, 55°19’56 E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 24 Feb. 2009. 1 spm.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13 mm dd, dorsal disc grey-brown with a mosaic of irregular white spots ( Fig. 2D ), dorsal arms grey-brown with some dark spots, spines with dark longitudinal line, tips white, ventral disc white, grey-brown marbled, oral frame white, oral shields with dark brown spots, ventral arms white, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, two dorsal spines shorter than arm width,

2 nd (and third) ventral spine longest. Ventral interradii fully granulated. Granule density on light image 248-280 mm-2.

Dorsal disc granule diameter 42-50 µm, granule density 240-248 mm-2, on SEM image ( Fig. 4A, C ); third spine about 1 mm long, proximal DAPs about 1.5 mm wide ( Fig. 4B ). Oral shield as wide as long; 6-8 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest ( Fig. 4D ). Few granules on distal ends of oral shields. Two tentacle scales ( Fig. 4E ). Oral plates, adradial distal part with strong folds, abradial face with large muscle flange with horizontal striations, 2.4 mm wide, 2.0 mm high ( Fig. 5A ). Dental plate short, externally with two large tooth foramina in dorsal half, dorsalmost foramen oval, wider than long, other foramen almost round, internally each foramen divided by a wide septum, dorsalmost one into 2 long parallel slits, other one to 2 short oval holes; on external ventral half of dental plate two raised horizontal ridges, at edge a cluster of tiny depressions ( Fig. 5D ). Radial shield angular, internally with distal large round condyle ( Fig. 5G ). Adradial genital plate long, flat, thin, thickened at distal end, with condyle and pit; abradial genital plate thin, blade-like, curved distally ( Fig. 5J ). Proximal vertebrae 2.0 mm wide and 1.7 mm high ( Fig. 5M ).

URUN 2013-11188

COLLECTING DATA. La Réunion, Saint Pierre, 21°20’27 S, 55°27’31 E. 1 spm.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 19.7 mm dd. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Granule density 176-188 mm-2.

URUN 2008-04774

COLLECTING DATA. Madagascar, station MGNW-9, Sakatia Island, 13°18’16 S 48°08’51 E. 1 spm.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13.08 mm dd. White with brown marbled pattern on dorsal and ventral disc, dorsal arms brown, oral frame and ventral arm white, few dark spots on oral and adoral shields. Granule density 148-168 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4.

URUN 2008-05819

COLLECTING DATA. Madagascar, station MGNW-9, Sakatia Island, 13°18’16 S, 48°08’51 E. 1 spm.

MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13.5 mm dd. White-brown to grey marbled disc, grey arms with faint dark median line, oral frame and ventral arms white, spines mostly white. Granule density 180-200 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4.

Remarks

Ophiocoma brevipes is clearly distinguished from the other species of Breviturma subgen. nov. by its consistently white and light brown to grey colour pattern, up to five arm spines far out on the arms, and dorsal disc granule densities up to 250 mm-2. According to Devaney (1970), five spines occur in some specimens from 3 mm dd.

Figures

Fig. 2. Colour variations in species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. A-C. Ophiocoma doederleini Rowe & Pawson, 1977. A. Reticulated specimen (UF5318). B. Close-up of annulated arm spines. C. Densely reticulated specimen (UF6518). D. Ophiocoma brevipes Peters, 1851 (SMNH- 133230). E-F. Ophiocoma dentata Müller & Troschel, 1842. E. Variegated specimen (SMNH-133232). F. Uniformly reddish brown specimen (URUN2009-11047). G-L. Ophiocoma krohi sp. nov. paratypes. G. With large patches (SMNH-Type-8533). H. Small irregular spots (MNHN-IE-4302). I. Star-shaped radiating pattern (SMNH-Type-8531). J. Densely mottled (MNHN-IE-4301). K. Uniformly dark brown (SMNH-Type-8536). L. Light brown, sparsely mottled (UF13938). For institution codes see main text.

Fig. 4. SEM images of three species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. A-E. Ophiocoma brevipes Peters, 1851 (SMNH-133230). A. Dorsal disc. B. Dorsal arms. C. Dorsal disc granules. D. Jaws. E. Ventral arm. F-I. Ophiocoma dentata Müller & Troschel, 1842 (SMNH-133232). F. Dorsal disc. G. Dorsal arm. H. Dorsal disc granules. I. Jaws. J. Ventral arm. K-N. Ophiocoma krohi sp. nov. paratype (SMNH-Type-8534). K. Dorsal disc. L. Dorsal arms. M. Dorsal disc granules. N. Jaws. O. Ventral arm. For institution codes see main text.

Fig. 5. SEM images of skeletal elements of Ophiocoma (Breviturma subgen. nov.) brevipes Peters, 1851 (SMNH-133230), O. (B.) dentata Müller & Troschel, 1842 (SMNH-133232) and O. krohi sp. nov. paratype (SMNH-Type-8535). A-C. Oral plates, abradial aspect at left, orientated with dorsal side up. A. O. brevipes. B. O. dentata. C. O. krohi sp. nov. D-F. Dental plates, external aspect left, internal aspect right, dorsal edge upwards. D. O. brevipes. E. O. dentata. F. O. krohi sp. nov. G-I. Radial shields, internal aspect, proximal edge upwards. G. O. brevipes. H. O. dentata. I. O. krohi sp. nov. J-L.Vertebrae from proximal part of arm, proximal aspect left, dorsal upwards. J. O. brevipes. K. O. dentata. L. O. krohi sp. nov. M-O. Genital plates, abradial plate left, adradial plate right, distal ends up (towards radial shields). M. O. brevipes. N. O. dentata. O. O. krohi sp. nov. P-R. Lateral arm plates from proximal arm, external aspect left, internal aspect right, distal end right. P. O. brevipes. Q. O. dentata. R. O. krohi sp. nov. For institution codes see main text.