Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from seamounts in the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean): first account, with descriptions of new species

• For the first time, brittle stars were collected on two seamounts in the Andaman Back-arc Basin. Of the six species, two were new to science and are described herein asOphioleuce longispinumsp. nov. andOphiophyllum minimumsp. nov., in the family Ophiuridae, subfamilies Ophioleucinae and Ophiurinae, respectively. Skeletal details were studied and documented by scanning electron microscopy. Morphological similarities between related species are discussed in detail.Ophioleuce longispinumsp. nov. is particularly interesting, because it combines characters typical for its genus with those otherwise only known fromOphiophyllum, such as a limpet-like disc, a fringe of marginal disc papillae or spines, and a paddle-like modified lower arm spine. The remaining species,Astrophiuracf.tiki,Ophiactis perplexa,Ophiolimna antarcticaand an unidentifiedOphiura, are new records for the Andaman Sea.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Zoologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Zoology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Diversity of life

Livets mångfald

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)