Ophiocoma (Breviturma) brevipes

Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of Réunion (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, Zootaxa 4098 (2), pp. 273-297 : 282

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) brevipes PETERS, 1851

(UF-6451, Fig. 3 d, KC759765 )

Material. 4 spms, St. 3; 5 spms, St. 5; 2 spms, St. 7; 1 spm, St. 8

Remarks. Distinguishable from the three other species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) by its light colour: white or pale beige, with darker lines on the disc and oral surface of arms; mouth plates are nearly white to light cream. Unlike in O. dentata and O. doederleini the longest arm spine of O. brevipes is less than the breadth of the arm plates ( Devaney 1970). COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from W Pacific populations (Hoareau et al. 2013; Boissin et al. in revision). As the type locality of the species is in the SWIO ( Mozambique), the specimens from Réunion represent the nominal form. Abundance: 2.

Distribution. Widespread in the IWP to Hawaii ( Clark & Rowe 1971); including Réunion ( Guille & Ribes 1981), Mauritius (de Loriol 1893a) and Rodrigues ( Rowe & Richmond 2004).

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) doederleini DE LORIOL, 1899 (UF-6512, Fig. 3 e,f,g, KF662924 )

Material. 4 spms, St. 3; 1 spm, St. 7

Remarks. A species of the Breviturma subgenus easily recognizable by its finely annulated arm spines. At Réunion three morphotypes are distinguishable: (1) with a reticulated pattern on the disc ( Fig. 2 -13), (2) with small white flecks on the disc ( Fig. 2 -14), and (3) with a brown disc that bears dark spots encircled by a white line ( Fig. 2 -12). COI sequence data did not show any differentiation between these morphotypes, however SWIO populations are deeply divergent from W Pacific populations (Boissin et al. in revision). Réunion specimens pertain to the nominal form, as the species was described from Mauritius. Abundance: 1.

Distribution. Widespread across the IWP ( Devaney 1970); new record for Réunion.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.

FIGURE 3. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.