Ophiopallas paradoxa Koehler, 1904

Stöhr, Sabine, 2011, New records and new species of Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, Zootaxa 3089, pp. 1-50 : 28

Ophiopallas paradoxa Koehler, 1904

Figure 11 D

Material. CP1646: 15 spms.

Remarks. A character of the genus Ophiopallas is the presence of minute, comb-like accessory arm spines. These were described in detail by Madsen (1983). Accessory arm spines are also found in two other genera of Ophioleucinae . In Ophiernus they are bristle-like, but in Ophiopyren they look identical to those of Ophiopallas ( Madsen 1983) . Ophiopyren is currently a monospecific genus, since all other species previously placed in it have been transferred to other genera. Madsen (1983) maintained the genus as separated from Ophiopallas by its shorter genital slits that do not extend onto the dorsal disk and its longer arm spines. The length of genital slits has been shown to be a character of low taxonomic value in Ophioplinthus ( Martynov & Litvinova 2008) and its value for generic delimitation in these species should be re-analysed. Instead, the accessory arm spines may suggest a close relationship between Ophiopyren and Ophiopallas or even congeneric status.

Figures

FIGURE 11. A – C, Amphiophiura insolita. A, dorsal aspect; B, ventral aspect; C, proximal lateral arm. D, Ophiopallas paradoxa, arm spines. Scale bars in millimetre.