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. 2022 May 11:1099:155-202.
doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1099.76479. eCollection 2022.

Review of Ophioplinthaca Verrill, 1899 (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea, Ophiacanthidae), description of new species in Ophioplinthaca and Ophiophthalmus, and new records from the Northwest Pacific and the South China Sea

Hasitha Nethupul  1   2 , Sabine Stöhr  3 , Haibin Zhang  1
Affiliations

Review of Ophioplinthaca Verrill, 1899 (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea, Ophiacanthidae), description of new species in Ophioplinthaca and Ophiophthalmus, and new records from the Northwest Pacific and the South China Sea

Hasitha Nethupul et al. Zookeys. .

Abstract

The ophiuroid genus Ophioplinthaca is well characterized by the deep incisions in the disc. Prior to this study, it contained 32 accepted species, but species limits and geographic distributions were not well understood. The manned submersible vehicle 'Shenhaiyongshi' was used to collect ophiuroid specimens from the deep-sea seamounts and cold seeps in the South China Sea and Northwest Pacific at 602-3600 m depth, during 2018 to 2020. The genus Ophioplinthaca was reviewed using both morphological data and a phylogenetic analysis, based on COI sequences. The taxonomic status of the genus Ophiophthalmus Matsumoto, 1917, a junior homonym of Ophiophthalmus Fitzinger, 1843 (a reptile) was clarified by proving prevailing usage of the ophiuroid name. A total of eight species were identified, including two new species, described asOphioplinthacabrachispina sp. nov. and Ophiophthalmusserratus sp. nov., and two new records. The new species are characterized by unique features of the arm skeletons. Tabular keys to all Ophioplinthaca and Ophiophthalmus species are provided. Interspecific and intraspecific genetic distance of Ophioplinthaca species ranged from 2.32% to 19.72%, and from 0.26% to 0.90%, respectively. The data suggest that species of the genus Ophioplinthaca are more widely spread around the Northwest Pacific region deep-sea seamounts than previously known.

Keywords: COI; SEM; cold seep; molecular phylogeny; morphology; seamounts; taxonomy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Collecting stations in this study A South China Sea (Xisha Islands and Haima cold seep) B Northwest Pacific region (Southwest of Guam island). Source: International Hydrographic Organization and Sieger 2012.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Maximum likelihood (ML) tree of Ophioplinthaca and Ophiophthalmus, based on partial COI sequences (bootstrap support values were generated with rapid bootstrapping algorithm for 1,000 replicates; red = new species).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Ophioplinthacabrachispina sp. nov., holotype (IDSSE-EEB-SW0106) A dorsal disc B ventral disc C center of the disc D–F disc spines G radial shield H оral frame I ventral side of the arm base J dorsal side of the arm base K dorsal arm L ventral arm M lateral arm. Abbreviations: ars arm spine, as adoral shield, ass adoral shield spine, dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, dp disc plate, gs genital slit, j jaw, lap lateral arm plate, m madreporite, os oral shield, rs radial shield, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C, G–M); 200 µm (D–F).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Ophioplinthacabrachispina sp. nov., paratype (IDSSE-EEB-SW0107) A, B lateral arm plate C dorsal arm spine D ventral arm spine E disc spine F dorsal arm plate G–K vertebrae G proximal view H distal view I ventral view, J dorsal view, K lateral view. Abbreviations: d dorsal, de depression, dist distal, dl dorsal lobe, lac lateral ambulacral canals, mo muscle opening, no nerve opening, pb podial basin, prox proximal, ri ridge, th thorns, v ventral, vl ventral lobe. Scale bars: 800 µm (A, C, F–G, I–K); 500 µm (B, E, H); 100 µm (D).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Ophioplinthacabrachispina sp. nov., paratype (IDSSE-EEB-SW0107) A dorsal arm B ventral arm C lateral arm D lateral arm plate (small thorns on the lateral arm plate surface shown in the orange rectangle). Abbreviations: dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, lap lateral arm plate, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 1 mm (A–C); 200 µm (D).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Ophioplinthaca sp. (IDSSE-EEB-SW0108) A dorsal disc B ventral disc C center of the disc D–F disc spines G radial shield H lateral disc I oral frame J ventral side of the arm base K dorsal arm L ventral arm M lateral arm. Abbreviations: as adoral shield, dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, dp disc plate, gs genital slit, j jaw, lap lateral arm plate, m madreporite, os oral shield, rs radial shield, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, M); 500 µm (C, E, G–L); 200 µm (D, F).
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Ophioplinthaca sp. (IDSSE-EEB-SW0108) A, B lateral arm plate C dorsal arm spine D–H vertebrae D proximal view E distal view F ventral view G dorsal view H lateral view. Abbreviations: d dorsal, de depression, dist distal, dl dorsal lobe, lac lateral ambulacral canals, mo muscle opening, no nerve opening, pb podial basin, prox proximal, ri ridge, th thorns, v ventral, vl ventral lobe, vs volute-shape. Scale bars: 800 µm (B); 500 µm (A, C–H).
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Ophioplinthacaamezianeae O’Hara & Stöhr, 2006 (IDSSE-EEB-SW0109) A dorsal disc B ventral disc C center of the disc D–G disc spines H radial shield I oral frame J dorsal side of the arm base K dorsal arm L ventral arm, M lateral arm. Abbreviations: as adoral shield, ass adoral shield spine, dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, dp disc plate, gs genital slit, j jaw, lap lateral arm plate, m madreporite, os oral shield, rs radial shield, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 1 mm (H, I, K, M); 500 µm (C, J, L); 200 µm (D–G).
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Ophioplinthacaamezianeae O’Hara & Stöhr, 2006 (IDSSE-EEB-SW0109) A, B lateral arm plate C ventral arm spine D–H vertebrae D proximal view E distal view F ventral view G dorsal view H lateral view. Abbreviations: d dorsal, de depression, dist distal, lac lateral ambulacral canals, mo muscle opening, no nerve opening, pb podial basin, prox proximal, ri ridge, th thorns, v ventral, vs volute-shape. Scale bars: 800 µm (A–E, G, H); 500 µm (F).
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Ophioplinthacaathena A. H. Clark, 1949 (IDSSE-EEB-SW0110) A dorsal disc B ventral disc C center of the disc D–E disc spines F radial shield G lateral disc H оral frame I ventral side of the arm base J dorsal side of the arm base K dorsal arm L ventral arm M lateral arm. Abbreviations: as adoral shield, ass adoral shield spine, dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, dp disc plate, gs genital slit, j jaw, lap lateral arm plate, m madreporite, os oral shield, rs radial shield, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 1 mm (C, F–K, M); 500 µm (L); 200 µm (D, E).
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Ophioplinthacaathena A. H. Clark, 1949 (IDSSE-EEB-SW0110) A, B lateral arm plate C dorsal arm spine D dorsal arm plate E–I vertebrae E proximal view F distal view G ventral view H dorsal view I lateral view. Abbreviations: d dorsal, de depression, dist distal, dl dorsal lobe, lac lateral ambulacral canals, mo muscle opening, no nerve opening, pb podial basin, prox proximal, ri ridge, th thorns, v ventral, vl ventral lobe, vs volute-shape. Scale bars: 800 µm (A–I).
Figure 12.
Figure 12.
Ophioplinthacacf.lithosora (H. L. Clark, 1911) (IDSSE-EEB-SW0111) A dorsal disc B ventral disc C center of the disc D–G disc spines H radial shield I оral frame J ventral side of the arm base K dorsal arm L ventral arm, M lateral arm. Abbreviations: ars arm spine, as adoral shield, ass adoral shield spine, dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, dp disc plate, gs genital slit, j jaw, lap lateral arm plate, m madreporite, os oral shield, rs radial shield, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 2 mm (A–C, K); 1 mm (H–J, L, M); 500 µm (D, E); 200 µm (F, G).
Figure 13.
Figure 13.
Ophioplinthacacf.lithosora (H. L. Clark, 1911) (IDSSE-EEB-SW0111) A, B lateral arm plate C dorsal arm spine D ventral arm spine E–I vertebrae E proximal view F distal view G ventral view H dorsal view I lateral view. Abbreviations: d dorsal, de depression, dist distal, dl dorsal lobe, lac lateral ambulacral canals, mo muscle opening, no nerve opening, pb podial basin, prox proximal, ri ridge, th thorns, v ventral, vl ventral lobe. Scale bars: 800 µm (A–I).
Figure 14.
Figure 14.
Ophioplinthacasemele (A. H Clark, 1949) (IDSSE-EEB-SW0113: A–H) A dorsal disc B ventral disc C center of the disc D radial shield E оral frame F ventral arm G dorsal arm H lateral arm; Ophioplinthacadefensor Koehler, 1930 (IDSSE-EEB-SW0112: I–Q) I dorsal disc J ventral disc K center of the disc L disc spine M оral frame N lateral disc O dorsal arm P ventral arm Q lateral arm. Abbreviations: as adoral shield, dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, gs genital slit, j jaw, lap lateral arm plate, m madreporite, os oral shield, rs radial shield, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 2 mm (I); 1 mm (A, B, F–H, J, N–P); 500 µm (C–E, K, M, Q); 200 µm (L).
Figure 15.
Figure 15.
Ophiophthalmusserratus sp. nov., holotype (IDSSE-EEB-SW0136) A dorsal disc B ventral disc C center of the disc D radial shield E оral frame dorsal side of the arm base G dorsal arm (proximal half) H dorsal arm (distal half) I ventral side of the arm base J ventral arm (proximal half) K ventral arm (distal half) L lateral arm base M lateral arm (proximal half) N lateral arm (distal half). Abbreviations: ars arm spine, as adoral shield, dap dorsal arm plate, das dorsal arm spine, gra granules, gs genital slit, j jaw, lap lateral arm plate, os oral shield, rs radial shield, ts tentacle scale, vap ventral arm plate, vas ventral arm spine. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 1 mm (D–F, J, L); 500 µm (C, G–I, K, M); 200 µm (N).
Figure 16.
Figure 16.
Ophiophthalmusserratus sp. nov., paratype (IDSSE-EEB-SW0137) A, B lateral arm plate C dorsal arm spine D ventral arm spine E–J vertebrae E–F proximal view G distal view H ventral view I dorsal view J lateral view. Abbreviations: d dorsal, de depression, dist distal, dl dorsal lobe, lac lateral ambulacral canals, mo muscle opening, no nerve opening, pb podial basin, prox proximal, v ventral, vl ventral lobe. Scale bars: 500 µm (A–C, E–J); 300 µm (D).
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