Description

Description (ICML-EMU- 11176). DD = 24 mm. Disc with constricted shape; a preservation artifact. Dorsal disc covered by fine scales, larger scales in disc margin and around RS. Primary plates rounded, very conspicuous, separated from each other by disc scales. RS triangular with rounded edges, separated by numerous scales (Fig. 13 A). Ventral interradii covered by imbricated scales (Fig. 13 B). OSh broader than long, triangular with rounded edges. Madreporite circular, larger than Osh. AdSh longer than broad, slender, distally triangular and wider, meeting in front of Osh. Jaws bearing 6 ‒ 7 papillae at each side, distalmost lanceolate and the largest, apical elongated. vT very pointed (Fig. 13 C). Arms fragile. DAP broader than long, trapezoidal, contiguous (Fig. 13 D). VAP broader than long, hexagonal, contiguous. DAP and VAP with a longitudinal middle keel along the arm. LAP with three ArSp, very elongated (approximately two arm segments in length), dorsalmost the longest. Tentacle pores with two TSc, adradial slender and elongated, abradial larger, rounded, flat (Fig. 13 E). Color pattern in dorsal and ventral side light brown (ethanol preservation) (Fig. 13 A ‒ F). Habitat and distribution. The material examined was collected off western Baja California, in the south of the Gulf of California, and off Jalisco; 772 ‒ 1,532 m depth.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Echinodermata

Class: Ophiuroidea

Order: Amphilepidida

Family: Ophionereididae

Genus: Ophiochiton

Species: Ophiochiton fastigatus Lyman, 1878