Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the continental shelf off Angola and Namibia
Author
Glück, Franziska U.
Author
Stöhr, Sabine
Author
Bochert, Ralf
Author
Zettler, Michael L.
text
Zootaxa
2012
3475
1
20
journal article
44454
10.5281/zenodo.282230
bb15ffdf-3104-4e60-932b-77e650707a27
1175-5326
282230
Ophiothrix congensis
Koehler, 1911
Fig. 6A, B
West African records.
Koehler 1911
: 21; 1914: 208;
Cadenat 1938
: 358;
A. M. Clark 1955
: 48;
Longhurst 1958
: 99;
Cherbonnier 1962
: 15; 1963: 186;
Madsen 1970
: 217;
Alva & Vadon 1989
: 833.
Material examined.
St. 66: dredge sampling,
9°33.702´S
,
13°06.018´E
;
1 specimen
,
6.5 mm
. Depth:
20 m
.
This species appeared just once.
Diagnosis.
Unfortunately half of the disc has been damaged and arms are broken. But it is clearly visible that disc scales as well as the radials are densely covered with uniform spinelets, which also extend to the ventral side. Arms carry erect and free arm spines that are quite long, glassy and thorny. There is a cluster of spines at the apex of the jaw but no lateral oral papillae.
Distribution.
Northern West Africa:
Guinea
and southwards, southern West Africa: just to the south of
Luanda
,
Angola
(9°S) and northwards. It occurs from the intertidal zone to
65 m
.