Ophiomyxa brevirima H.L. Clark, 1915

Mills, V. Sadie & O'Hara, Timothy D., 2013, Ophiuroids (Echinodermata; Ophiuroidea) of biogenic habitats on the continental shelf of New Zealand, Zootaxa 3613 (5), pp. 401-444 : 429

Ophiomyxa brevirima H.L. Clark, 1915

Ophiomyxa australis .—Farquhar, 1895: 199.—Benham, 1909: 101 [Non Ophiomyxa australis Lütken C F, 1869 ; see Mortensen, 1924a].

Ophiomyxa brevirima Clark, H.L., 1915a: 169 , pl. 1(3–4).—Mortensen, 1924: 110–114, fig. 4(1,3,4), 5, pl. 4(4–5).—Mortensen, 1936: 242–243.—Fell, 1952: 12.—Fell, 1953: 100.—Fell, 1958: 22.—Fell, 1960b: 67.—McKnight, 1967a: 304.—Fenwick & Horning, 1980: 440.—McKnight, 1993b: 193, 199.

Non Ophiomyxa brevirima .—Bell, 1917: 7 [= Astrobrachion constrictum (Farquhar H, 1900) ; see Mortensen, 1924].

Material Examined .. TAN1104/18, NIWA 72207 (2) Bay of Islands. TAN0906/2, NIWA 54392 (1). TAN0906/ 25, NIWA 77839 (1). TAN0906/93, NIWA 55598 (1). TAN0906/96, NIWA 77838 (1). TAN0906/134, NIWA 56146 (5). TAN0906/178, NIWA 77772 (1); NIWA 77832 (2); NIWA 57091 (1). TAN0906/236, NIWA 57423 (1). TAN0906/240, NIWA 77854 (3). East Coast North Island. TAN1108/179, NIWA 77770 (2). TAN1108/197, NIWA 77834 (1). Far North. TAN0906/154, NIWA 77837 (1). TAN0906/164, NIWA 56811 (4). Otago. TAN1108/148, NIWA 74954 (3). Three Kings Islands. TAN1105/35, NIWA 77835 (3). TAN1105/69, NIWA 77849 (1). West Coast North Island. TAN1105/74, NIWA 73602 (3). TAN1105/88, NIWA 73661 (6). TAN1105/ 104, NIWA 77833 (2). TAN1105/137, NIWA 77807 (1).

Diagnosis. Thin skin on disc and arms obscuring plates, disc usually torn. Oral papillae circular with glassy saw-like serration to proximal edge. Arm spines alternating 3–4, with 4th spine placed more dorsally on arm. Live colour greenish or yellowish brown with variable blotches of red or orange on disc. Arms variably banded red and greenish or yellowish brown in life, paler banding ventrally.

Description. See Mortensen (1925)

Distribution. New Zealand (1–1108 m).