ZS Issue

A New Species of the Genus Ophiomonas Djakonov (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Amphilepididae) from the Deep-Sea of Japan

Masanori Okanishi^*, Takumi Matsuo, Toshihiko Fujita

Masanori Okanishi

Misaki Marine Biological Station, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 1024 Koajiro, Misaki, Miura 238-0225, Japan.

mokanishi@tezuru-mozuru.com

Takumi Matsuo

National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba 305-0005, Japan

Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8654 Japan.

apo-taku3076@kahaku.go.jp

Toshihiko Fujita

National Museum of Nature and Science, 4-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba 305-0005, Japan

Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8654 Japan.

fujita@kahaku.go.jp

Communicated by James D. Reimer

A new species, Ophiomonas shinseimaruae, is described based on five specimens collected from deep water settings, southeast of Cape Erimo, Hokkaido, Japan. Ophiomonas shinseimaruae sp. n. is distinguished from other congeners based on the following characters: elongate semi-circular and separated radial shields; triangular oral shields; flat and broad tentacle scales on the second tentacle pore; octagonal dorsal arm plates, approximately three times wider than long on proximal portion of the arm; and three arm spines present proximally on the arm. This is the first record of the genus Ophiomonas from Japanese waters. The COI nucleotide sequence for Ophiomonas shinseimaruae sp. n. is provided.

Keywords

Brittle star, COI, DNA barcoding, Abyssal zone, Gnathophiurina, Taxonomy, Ophiomonas shinseimaruae sp. n.