Ophiocoma cynthiae

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 : 283-284

Ophiocoma cynthiae BENAVIDES-SERRATO & O’HARA, 2008

(UF-6335, Fig. 4 a, KC759867 )

Material. 2 spms, St. 1; 9 spms, St. 3; 7 spms, St. 5; 5 spms, St. 8

Remarks. This species is the latest described from the ‘ O. erinaceus’ complex ( O’Hara et al. 2004). This complex was shown to include at least three forms: Ophiocoma erinaceus Müller and Troschel, 1842 , Ophiocoma schoenleinii Müller and Troschel, 1842 and O. cynthiae . Ophiocoma erinaceus is readily distinguishable from the other two by its bright red tube feet (white in alcohol), compared with the dark podia of O. cynthiae and O. schoenleinii . The latter two species can be distinguished by the lack of granules on the ventral disc surface (except for a few near the genital plates) and by the presence of two tentacle scales along the arm beyond the first couple of segments for O. cynthiae . In O. schoenleinii , the granules persist as a wedge near the ventral margin and only one wide tentacle scale is present beyond the first couple of segments (Benavides-Serrato & O’Hara 2008). COI sequence data show little genetic differentiation across the range of this species (Hoareau et al. 2013). Abundance: 3.

Distribution. This new record from the Mascarenes extends the range of this species, previously recorded from the Great Barrier Reef to Tonga (Benavides-Serrato & O’Hara 2008). It is much more abundant than O. erinaceus at Réunion. Previous studies in the Mascarenes likely misidentified this species as O. erinaceus .

a) Ophiocoma cynthiae ; b) Ophiocoma erinaceus ; c) Ophiocoma erinaceus oral side; d) Ophiocoma scolopendrina ; e) Ophiocoma pica ; f) Ophiocoma pusilla ; g) Ophiocomella sexradia ; h) Ophionereis porrecta complex sp. 1; i) Ophionereis porrecta complex sp. 2

Figures

FIGURE 4. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.