Ophiacantha veterna Koehler 1907
- Dataset
- Biogeography and taxonomy of Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from the Îles Saint- Paul and Amsterdam in the southern Indian Ocean
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Echinodermata
- class
- Ophiuroidea
- order
- Ophiacanthida
- family
- Ophiacanthidae
- genus
- Ophiacantha
- species
- Ophiacantha veterna
description
Fig. 6 A – B
materials_examined
Material examined. MD 50 CP 7, MNHN IE. 2009.1562 (2). MD 50 CP 113, MNHN IE. 2009.1563 (1). Distribution. Arctic (1992 – 1995 m), NE Atlantic (1350 – 2669 m), E Atlantic (1004 – 1679 m), SPA (940 – 1680 m). Remarks. The MD 50 specimens are 6.5 – 7.0 mm dd, disc pentagonal or slightly indented interradially, with margin covered in small rugose granules and centre with small cylindrical spines with terminal thorns, radial shields raised and rib like with oval distal section exposed (Fig. 6 A), oral shields trapezoid to hemispherical, two times as wide as long, three to four conical to capitate rugose oral papillae (Fig. 6 B), DAPs fan to kite-shaped and separate, to eight arm spines with tiny thorns, upper to three segments long and one tiny spiniform thorny tentacle scale. They are morphologically consistent with material from the North Atlantic including the type description. Although Paterson (1985) considered this species to be a subspecies of Ophiacantha enopla Verrill, 1885, Martynov & Litvinova (2008) re-established O. veterna as a full species. Paterson’s (1985) record of this species from 101 m is a depth outlier that requires re-examination. All other records are from 1000 – 2700 m.