Ophioplocus imbricatus (MÜLLER & TROSCHEL, 1842), Muller & Troschel, 1842

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 : 289

Ophioplocus imbricatus (MÜLLER & TROSCHEL, 1842) complex

(UF-6489, Fig. 5 f, KC759944 )

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

Remarks. The specimens are easily recognizable by the fragmented dorsal arm plates arranged in a symmetrical pattern. The radial shields are very small and elongate. They are grey/brown with darker lines. Little morphological variation was evident in specimens we studied across the distribution of this species. The only noticeable variation was in the dark lines on the disc that sometimes form a circle and give an impression of a soccer ball, and in the ventral side that can be more or less dark coloured. This species is common under rocks. COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in W Australia and the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). The species was described from Mauritius and Timor. Abundance: 3.

Distribution. Widespread in the IWP from East Africa to Hawaii ( Clark & Rowe 1971), previously reported from Réunion ( Guille & Ribes 1981; Stöhr et al. 2008) and Rodrigues ( Rowe & Richmond 2004).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Pictures of species encountered in Réunion Island waters. Pictures were taken of freshly collected specimens except when indicated. Photo credit: BIOTAS.