Ophiothrix fragilis Abildgaard 1789

• Main Authors: Stöhr, Sabine, Çinar, Melih Ertan, Dagli, Ertan
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2010
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Echinodermata; Ophiuroidea; Ophiurida; Ophiotrichidae; Ophiothrix; Ophiothrix fragilis; North Atlantic; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5687435; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/038B87B3846F7A53FF48F3F4E0B8F9F0

Ophiothrix fragilis (Abildgaard, 1789) Material examined. ESFM-ECH/ 2005-15, 22.9.2005, Anamur, K27, 0–3 m, on Sarcotragus sp., 4 specimens; ESFM-ECH/ 2005-16, 28.9.2005, Phaselis, K36, 0–3 m, on rocks, 2 specimens; ESFM-ECH/ 2005-17, 3.10.2005, Kas, K45, 0-3 m, on Sarcotragus sp., 2 specimens; ESFM-ECH/ 2005-18, 7.10.2005, Göcek, K53, 0–2 m, on rocks, 2 specimens. Remarks. This species is morphologically highly variable, which has led to an ongoing debate on whether this is a single species or several. Currently, in the Mediterranean a second species, O . quinquemaculata (Delle Chiaje, 1828), is supposed to exist. However, Baric & Sturmbauer (1999) showed that there are two distinct mt-DNA lineages that each contains individuals from both morphological species. They suggested that O . fragilis and O . quinquemaculata are not different species, but ecotypes of the same species. Instead there may be a Mediterranean and a North Atlantic lineage, which may turn out to be distinct species (Baric & Sturmbauer 1999). Both nominal species have never been formally synonymised, pending a much needed revision of the whole genus. Our specimens fall within the morphological and ecological range of O . fragilis . Distribution. Ophiothrix fragilis is a common species of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Published as part of Stöhr, Sabine, Çinar, Melih Ertan & Dagli, Ertan, 2010, Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the southern coast of Turkey (eastern Mediterranean): new records and revision of Amphiodia obtecta Mortensen, 1940, pp. 45-57 in Zootaxa 2483 on page 54, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.195488