Ophiolebes comatulina Mcknight, 2003, n.sp.

• Main Author: Mcknight, Donald G.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Echinodermata; Ophiuroidea; Ophiurida; Ophiacanthidae; Ophiolebes; Ophiolebes comatulina; Island Bay; White Island; Combs; Bay of Plenty
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6276704; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6276704

Ophiolebes comatulina n.sp. Fig. 1: A, B. Material examined: NIWA Stns E 728 (2); E 731 (1). Depth Distribution: 602– 688 m. Geographic Distribution: This species is recorded from near White Island, Bay of Plenty (see locality map, p. 32). Description: Holotype specimen, Stn E 728: disc diameter about 5 mm, arms about 20 mm, vertically coiled. Disc inflated above, bulging interradially, and with very narrow depression extending inward from arm base, completely covered with small scales, each with 1–2 small tubercles, these tapering slightly and the truncate tip is finely thorny. Radial shields not evident, though scalation appears slightly denser in these regions. Ventral surface of disc with scales and only a few scattered tubercles. Genital clefts extend to margin and lack papillae or tubercles. Oral shields 4 ­sided, acutely pointed proximally and distally, lateral point of oral shield meeting first lateral armplate, one oral shield with a distal projection and a straight distal margin. Adoral shields small, meeting within, scarcely widened without, also meeting first lateral armplate proximal to oral shield. Oral plates with 1 pointed apical papilla and 3 pointed oral papillae, the outermost largest and the median smallest; the outer papilla lying just proximal to the second oral tentacle­pore. Dorsal armplates small, triangular, about as wide as long, slightly separated throughout; lateral armplates meeting narrowly above; at arm base 6 armspines, the uppermost longest, equal to at least 3 arm segments, the combs of opposite sides almost meeting on dorsal midline, and the other spines becoming shorter downwards; all spines pointed, tapering, finely rugose; beyond the middle spines are longest and uppermost is short; 5 short armspines (equal to 1 arm segment) at about mid­arm, all but the uppermost with a slight terminal hook and small teeth along distal margin; uppermost spine simply pointed. Ventral armplates in contact near armbase, those beyond slightly separated; plates slightly wider than long, ...