Holotype. Northwest Pacific • 1 specimen; near Mariana Trench, Southwest of Guam Island, seamount; 11°49.09'N, 140°6.93'E; depth 2713 m; 23 October 2019; Collecting event: stn. SC039; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in -80 °C; GenBank: OK043829; IDSSE-EEB-SW0106. Paratype. Northwest Pacific • 1 specimen; same data as for holotype; GenBank: OK043830; IDSSE-EEB-SW0107.

Disc sub-circular and deeply incised interradially to nearly 1/4 disc radius (Fig. 3A). Disc scales irregular, variable in size, bearing disc spines in center of disc (Fig. 3C). Radial shields completely separated by large single disc scale (Fig. 3G). Oral shield as wide as long, pentagonal with pointed proximal end, curved lateral margins along adoral shields, truncated distal edge with straight to slightly angular lateral margins (Fig. 3H). Surface of arm plates along entire arm rough with small spines (Fig. 3K–M).

Figure 3. 

Ophioplinthaca brachispina 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).

Disc diameter 12 mm, arm base width 3 mm (Fig. 3).

Disc. Disc sub-circular and deeply incised interradially to more than 1/3 disc diameter, creating five wedge-shaped lobes over each arm base in contrast to sunken center and interradii of disc (Fig. 3A, B). Disc scales irregular, variable in size, compact, and overlapping in center of disc (Fig. 3C). Most central disc scales bear disc spines/stumps (Fig. D–F). Disc scales increasingly enlarged from disc center to periphery, interradially and between radial shields (Fig. 3D–F). Disc spines in disc center 0.2 to 0.3 mm high, cylindrical to conical, pointed thorny or bifurcated tip. Disc spines at distal end of wedge-shaped lobes 0.1–0.2 mm high, conical, thorny, with pointed tip (Fig. 3D–F). Radial shields large, naked, roughly triangular, ~ 1/3 disc diameter in length, twice as long as wide, triangular proximal end, and smooth, truncated or slightly convex distal end. Radial shields on three of five lobes proximally separated, but distal ends connected. Radial shields on other two lobes completely separated by large single disc scale (Fig. 3A, G). Ventral disc covered by smaller scales than those on radial shields, and overlapped without bearing spines (Fig. 3B). Genital slits conspicuous and extending from oral shield to periphery of disc (Fig. 3H). Oral shield as wide as long, pentagonal with pointed proximal end, curved lateral margins along adoral shields, truncated distal edge with straight to slightly angular lateral margins (Fig. 3H). Madreporite similar to other oral shields, but with hydropore at lateral edge (Fig. 3B). Adoral shield 2.5 × as long as wide, with straight or slightly curved lateral margin, but near first ventral arm plate straight, and pair of shields proximally connected (Fig. 3H). Adoral shields enclose proximal edges of oral shield, and slightly separate oral shield from arm by connecting to lateral arm plate of first arm segment (Fig. 3H, I). Jaw triangular, large, and longer than wide, bearing one slightly blunt, wide, and large ventralmost tooth and three or four spiniform lateral oral papillae (Fig. 3H). Proximalmost one or two lateral oral papillae spine-like pointed, rugose, and distalmost lateral oral papillae with shorter and rounded base with more or less pointed tip (Fig. 3H). One adoral shield spine, situated at lateral margin of adoral shield in mouth angle, slightly similar to distalmost lateral oral papilla, but with blunt tip (Fig. 3I). Cluster of small granules visible between distal end of jaw and proximal end of first ventral arm plate (Fig. 3I). Usually, cluster of granules covered by adoral shield spine (Fig. 3H).

Arms. Five moniliform arms with rough plates. Dorsal arm plates longer than wide, slightly separated, straight to slightly convex distal end, triangular proximal end, with curved lateral margins on first few proximal arm segments, but as long as wide, fan-shaped, and widely separated on middle to distal half of arm (Fig. 3J, K). Dorsal arm plate with dense rough surface and short spines (Fig. 3K, M). First ventral arm plate rectangular to slightly trapezoid, as wide as long, straight proximal end, and distal end without rough surface (Fig. 3I). Second ventral arm plate trapezoid to slightly pentagonal, as wide as long, triangular proximal end, straight distal end, concave and diverging lateral edges, and contiguous with first ventral arm plate (Fig. 3I). The following ventral arm plates two or three times as wide as long, with obtuse proximal end, slightly wavy proximolateral margins, curved lateral angles, straight distal end, and widely separated (Fig. 3L). All ventral arm plates except first one with dense rough surface (Fig. 3I, L). Lateral arm plates meeting above and below, with dense rough surface and short spines (Fig. 3K–M). Up to five arm spines (Fig. 3M). Three or two dorsal arm spines, three arm segments in length, thorny, lateral margins with row of tall sharp thorns, apex truncated or bluntly rounded (Fig. 3K–M). Two ventral arm spines, one to two arm segments in length, pointed, thorny, rugose. Proximal arm segments bear five arm spines, distalwards decreasing to four beyond middle section of the arm (Fig. 3K–M). First tentacle pore covered by two oval, rough tentacle scales (Fig. 3I). The following tentacle pore covered by scale half as long as ventral arm plate, blunt to pointed tip with thorny surface (Fig. 3L). Tentacle scales on middle to distal half of arm decreasing in size, small, more pointed, leaf-like, with thorns.

Color. In live specimen, orange-brown disc, and arm spines, but arms pale brown (Fig. 3).

Arm spine articulations well developed and placed at slight angle to distal edge of lateral arm plate (Fig. 4A). Volute-shaped perforated lobe forms dorsal and distal part of articulation, but reduced in dorsalmost one (Fig. 4A). Arm spine articulating structures with large muscle opening and small nerve opening in second articulation, decreasing significantly in size ventralwards (Fig. 3A). Ventral half of lateral arm plate surface covered by conspicuous thorns, inner side with depression, a continuous ridge, and a prominent knob close to ventral edge forming vertebral articulations, shaped like a broad, nose-shaped beak (Fig. 4A, B). Dorsal arm spine laterally compressed, thorny, and several longitudinal rows of perforations with widely spaced tall thorns (Fig. 4C). Entire ventral arm spine surface covered with slightly longer thorns, with blunt apex (Fig. 4D). Disc spines 0.2–0.3 mm high, cylindrical, pointed thorny or bifurcated tip (Fig. 4E). Dorsal arm plate triangular, as long as wide, with rugose surface (Fig. 4F). Vertebrae with streptospondylous articulating structures, short, broad podial basin at proximal end and narrow small distal end (Fig. 4G–K). Dorsal end of vertebrae distally triangular and proximally flattened with longitudinal groove along midline (Fig. 4J). Ventral side of vertebrae with broad ambulacral groove (Fig. 4I–K).

Figure 4. 

Ophioplinthaca brachispina 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).

One specimen from same location as holotype, but badly damaged due to rough handling. Therefore, only small disc part with arms present. Possibly smaller than holotype according to size of arms (arm base width 1.5–2 mm). Arm characters similar to holotype, but spines slightly thinner, and denser compared to holotype (Fig. 5A–D).

Figure 5. 

Ophioplinthaca brachispina 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).

2713 m depth, Northwest Pacific, near Mariana trench, Southwest of Guam Island.

Species name derived from a combination of two Latin words, brachium (arm), spina (spine) referring to the unique rough arm surface with spines.

Deep interradial incisions into the disc, which are lined distally by enlarged disc scales are the main delimiting character of the genus Ophioplinthaca from other genera within the family Ophiacanthidae. Ophioplinthaca brachispina sp. nov. showed similar morphological characters to many other Ophioplinthaca species. However, O. brachispina sp. nov. can easily be distinguished from congeners by the rough thorny surface on the arm plates and additionally by the number of arm spines, disc spines, and tentacle scale (Table 3). Ophioplinthaca brachispina sp. nov. is the only Ophioplinthaca species with a rough surface with thorns on the whole arm.

Some species share morphological characters with the new species. Ophioplinthaca globata Koehler, 1922 is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having similar disc spine shape, arm spine shape, radial shields separated proximally and connected distally, number of lateral oral papillae, and separated ventral and dorsal arm plates, but differs by number of arm spines (up to six), the disc spines being scattered across the disc, radial shields separated by disc scales, characters of the oral shield, and a smooth surface on the arm plates along the entire arm. Ophioplinthaca hastata Koehler, 1922 is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having a slightly similar shape of the disc spines, separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, and similar tentacle scales on the distal end of the arm, but differs by number of arm spines (up to seven) and shape of dorsal arm spines, size of radial shields, characters of oral parts, and smooth arm surface. Ophioplinthaca athena A.H. Clark, 1949 is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having similar disc spines with thorny tip, similar number of arm spines, separated radial shields, number of lateral oral papillae, but differs by large radial shields, thorny and leaf-like tentacle scales, separated dorsal and ventral arm plates. Ophioplinthaca amezianeae O’Hara & Stöhr, 2006 is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having similar thorny tentacle scales, separated radial shields, separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, number of lateral oral papillae, but differs by number of arm spines, tall and thorny disc spines, and spiniform lateral oral papillae. Ophioplinthaca bythiaspis (H. L. Clark, 1911) is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having separated radial shields and number of lateral oral papillae, but differs by oval tentacle scales, conical disc spines, number of arm spines and contiguous dorsal arm plates. Ophioplinthaca grenadensis John & A. M. Clark, 1954 is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having similar number of arm spines, separated radial shields, number of lateral oral papillae, and separated arm plates but differs by leaf-like thornless tentacle scales, long and thick disc spines. Ophioplinthaca plicata (Lyman, 1878) is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having similar disc and arm spines, and number of lateral oral papillae, but differs by continues dorsal arm plates, pointed tentacle scale with rounded base, and contiguous radial shields. Ophioplinthaca rudis (Koehler, 1897) is similar to O. brachispina sp. nov. by having similar thorny leaf-like tentacle scales, similar number of arm spines, separated radial shields, separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, but differs by number of lateral oral papillae, tall and thorny disc spines, and spiniform lateral oral papillae.

One of the most distinguishing characters to delimit the new species from almost all species in the genus Ophioplinthaca is the presence of spines with rough surface on lateral, ventral, and dorsal arm plates. The paratype (relatively smaller than the holotype) has thinner and denser spines on the arm. Although, some Ophioplinthaca species have a rough surface on dorsal arm plates or the distal margin covered with minute spines (Ophioplinthaca plicata and Ophioplinthaca incisa; (O’Hara 2010), this is the first record of a species with spines on the entire arm in the genus Ophioplinthaca.

Northwest Pacific • 1 specimen; near Mariana Trench, Southwest of Guam Island, seamount; 12°36.44'N, 140°51.73'E; depth 2779 m; 23 September 2019; Collecting event: stn. SC038; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in -80 °C; GenBank: OK043831; IDSSE-EEB-SW0108.

Disc diameter 9 mm, arm base width 2 mm (Fig. 6).

Disc. Disc sub-pentagonal, incised interradially to nearly 1/5 disc radius, creating five wedge-shaped lobes over each arm base in contrast to sunken center and interradii of disc (Fig. 6A, B). Disc scales polygonal to rounded, somewhat similar in size, overlapping at center (Fig. 6C). Most disc scales bear one or two spines (Fig. 6C). Disc spines at center 0.25–0.3 mm high, smooth, or finely rugose, cylindrical single base with two or three sub-thorns, which bend into opposite directions (Fig. 6D, E). Some disc spines at center 0.2–0.3 mm high, smooth, or finely rugose, cylindrical with large, blunt tip (Fig. 6D, E). Disc spines around radial shields and periphery of disc 0.2 mm high, smooth, or finely rugose cylindrical, with blunt rounded tip (Fig. 6E–G). Disc scales interradially slightly increasing in size distalwards, and between radial shields, with one to four spines (Fig. 6G, H). Radial shields naked, ~ ¼ disc diameter in length, 1.5–2 × as long as wide, with acute proximal end, and wide, slightly convex distal end (Fig. 6G). Radial shields connected, but at proximal end separated by disc scales, and surrounded by disc spines (Fig. 6G). Ventral disc covered by small disc scales similar to interradial dorsal scales, bearing spines similar to periphery of disc (Fig. 6H–J). Genital slits conspicuous and extending from oral shield to periphery of disc (Fig. 6H–J). Madreporite arrowhead-shaped, as wide as long, pentagonal with pointed proximal end, lobed distal edge with thickened lateral margins (Fig. 6B). Oral shields twice as wide as long, diamond-shaped with obtuse proximal end, concave lateral margins along the adoral shields, distal edge with central lobe (Fig. 6I). Adoral shield 3 × as long as wide, slightly curved, proximal edge concave, distal edge convex, but near first ventral arm plate straight, and pair of shields proximally connected (Fig. 6I). Adoral shields enclose proximal edges of oral shield, and partly separate oral shield from arm by connecting to lateral arm plate of first arm segment (Fig. 6I, J). Jaw large, triangular, longer than wide (Fig. 6I). One slightly pointed, and large ventralmost tooth, longer and thicker than the four to five long, spiniform lateral oral papillae (Fig. 6I). One round, scale-like small adoral shield spine located at lateral margin of adoral shield at edge of second tentacle pore, in some jaw angles (Fig. 6I).

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).

Arms. Five slightly moniliform arms, with smooth plates. Dorsal arm plates fan-shaped, as long as wide, widely separated, with convex distal edge, triangular proximal edge, straight lateral margins. Proximal edge of dorsal arm plate changes from obtuse to sharp triangular along arm (Fig. 6K). First ventral arm plate square to slightly trapezoid, as wide as long, with straight proximal and distal ends. Second and third ventral arm plate trapezoid, twice as wide as long, with straight proximal edge, slightly wavy distal edges, concave and diverging lateral edges (Fig. 6J). Second ventral arm plate contiguous with first ventral arm plate; following ventral arm plates as wide as long, pentagonal, with blunt to pointed proximal end, straight proximolateral margins, slightly curved lateral angles, straight to slightly curved inwards at distal end, and widely separated (Fig. 6J, L). Lateral arm plates meeting above and below (Fig. 6K–M). Up to six arm spines: three dorsal arm spines, two and a half arm segments in length, thorny or rarely smooth, lateral margins with scattered sharp thorns, apex pointed (Fig. 6M); three ventral arm spines, one to one and a half arm segments in length, pointed, and thorny or rough surface (Fig. 6K–M). First tentacle pore covered with one or two leaf-like, pointed tentacle scales (Fig. 6J). Following tentacle pores covered with one tentacle scale, as long as ventral arm plate, leaf-like, with thorny pointed tip (Fig. 6L).

Color. In live specimen, pale orange-brown (Fig. 6).

Ossicle morphology. Arm spine articulations well developed, six in number, placed at slight angle to distal edge of lateral arm plate. A volute-shaped perforated lobe forms dorsal and distal parts of articulation (Fig. 7A). Arm spine articulation with large muscle opening and small nerve opening (Fig. 7A). Inner half of lateral arm plate with continuous ridge and prominent knob close to ventral edge forming vertebral articulation, shaped like a deep, nose-shaped beak (Fig. 7B). Dorsal arm spine thorny, with several longitudinal rows of perforations with widely spaced small thorns (Fig. 7C). Vertebrae with streptospondylous articulation, short, broad podial basin, and narrow small distal end (Fig. 7D–H). Dorsal end of vertebrae distally triangular and proximally flattened with longitudinal groove along midline (Fig. 7G). Ventral end of vertebrae with broad ambulacral groove, with lateral ambulacral canals (Fig. 7F, H).

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).

2779 m depth, Northwest Pacific, near Mariana trench, Southwest of Guam Island.

Ophioplinthaca sp. shares morphological characters with many other Ophioplinthaca species, but can easily be delimited by the number of arm spines, disc spine shape, radial shields, and tentacle scale characters (Table 3). One of the distinguishing characters of this species is its smooth sub-thorny disc spines. According to the literature, only three Ophioplinthaca species have disc spines with sub-thorns on a single base (Ophioplinthaca clothilde A.H. Clark, 1949, Ophioplinthaca grandisquama Chen, Na & Zhang, 2021a, and Ophioplinthaca manillae Guille, 1981), but the disc spines are covered with numerous spinules in these species.

The most similar species to Ophioplinthaca sp. is Ophioplinthaca clothilde sharing contiguous radial shields, similar number of arm spines (up to seven), number and shape of lateral oral papillae, similar tentacle scale, and separated ventral and dorsal arm plates, but differs in longer dorsal arm spines (up to four arm segments), disc spines with single cylindrical base ending in two or three crowns, or a stout disc spine with irregular crown of a dozen or more spinules, more or less ovoid radial shields with convex proximal side, slightly contiguous dorsal arm plates on proximal arm segments, and equal size of ventralmost tooth and lateral oral papillae. We refrain from naming our specimen, as these differences may suggest an undescribed species or fall within the insufficiently known variability of O. clothilde. This question may be answered, when more specimens have been collected, and molecular data are needed for O. clothilde.

Ophioplinthaca globata is similar to Ophioplinthaca sp. by having a similar number of arm spines (up to six), number of lateral oral papillae, and separated ventral and dorsal arm plate and shape, but differs by thorny disc spine and spine shape, separated radial shields and their shape, and tentacle scale longer than ventral arm plate. Ophioplinthaca laudator Koehler, 1930 shares with Ophioplinthaca sp. almost the same number of arm spines (up to seven), by size of radial shields, number and shape of lateral oral papillae, and separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, but differs in thorny disc spines, with two to three thorns or sub-thorns on their lateral surface, separated radial shields, and smooth arm spines. Ophioplinthaca grandisquama is similar to Ophioplinthaca sp. by having contiguous radial shields, closer number of arm spines (up to seven), and by the shape of arm and disc spines, but differs by tall (0.8 mm in high) long, thorny disc spines with two or three thorny sub-crowns, blunt tentacle scale, and contiguous ventral and dorsal arm plates. Ophioplinthaca manillae Guille, 1981 is similar to Ophioplinthaca sp. by having similar number and shape of arm spines, contiguous radial shields, shape of lateral oral papillae, and separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, but differs in an oval tentacle scale, and in height and shape of disc spines.

Northwest Pacific • 1 specimen; near Mariana Trench, Southwest of Guam Island, seamount; 11°40.33'N, 141°20.57'E; depth 3600 m; 27 November 2020; Collecting event: stn. SC040; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in -80 °C; GenBank: OK043832; IDSSE-EEB-SW0109.

Disc diameter 11.5 mm, arm base width 2.5 mm (Fig. 8).

Disc. Sub-pentagonal and incised interradially to 1/8 disc radius, creating five wedge-shaped lobes over each arm base in contrast to sunken center and interradii of disc (Fig. 8A, B). Disc scales variable in size, overlapping, dense at center, and some scales bear spines (Fig. 8C). Scales increase in size distalwards from disc center to distal end of radial shields interradially (Fig. 8C–G). Disc spines at disc center 0.7–0.9 mm high, thick, with cylindrical to rounded base, tapering to a sharp point, or terminating in usually one or two small thorns, with additional irregular flanged thorns arising from lateral margins along the spine (Fig. 8D, E). Disc spines on disc periphery and around radial shields, slightly smaller than center spines (0.5–0.7 mm in height), cylindrical, finely rugose, with thorny blunt tip (Fig. 8F, G). Radial shields large, twice as long as wide, with acute proximal end, much wider convex distal end, and completely separated by disc scales (Fig. 8H). Ventral disc covered by smaller scales compared to dorsal scales and overlapped, without or rarely bearing spines (Fig. 8B, I). Genital slits conspicuous and extending from oral shield to periphery of disc (Fig. 8I). Madreporite arrowhead-shaped, as wide as long, triangular with pointed proximal end, convex distal edge with thickened lateral margins (Fig. 8I). Oral shield arrowhead-shaped, as wide as long, triangular with pointed proximal end, slightly concave lateral margins along adoral shields, lobed distal edge with rounded lateral margins (Fig. 8I). Adoral shield 3 × as long as wide, with straight lateral margin, and pair of shields proximally connected (Fig. 8I). Jaw longer than wide, and oral plates concealed by adoral shields (Fig. 8I). Jaw bearing one large, pointed ventralmost tooth with three pointed, rod-like lateral oral papillae, shorter than ventralmost tooth, finely rugose, with wide, rounded base, and pointed tip (Fig. 8I). One small, oval adoral shield spine at lateral margin of adoral shield at edge of second tentacle pore (Fig. 8I).

Figure 8. 

Ophioplinthaca amezianeae 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).

Arms. Five slightly moniliform arms, with smooth plates. Dorsal arm plates fan- to bell-shaped, with truncated proximal end on first dorsal arm plate, but following plates with obtuse proximal end, straight to slightly convex proximolateral margins, and convex distal margin (Fig. 8J, K). Dorsal arm plates at proximal end of arm barely separated, but distally widely separated (Fig. 8J, K). First ventral arm plate trapezoid, as wide as long, with sunken proximal end, distally connected to second ventral arm plate (Fig. 8I). Following ventral arm plates twice as wide as long, with obtuse proximal end, straight proximolateral margins, straight lateral angles, straight to slightly wavy distal end, and widely separated (Fig. 8L). Lateral arm plates meeting above and below. Up to five arm spines: two dorsal spines, three arm segments in length, slender, thorny, laterally compressed with row of tall sharp thorns (Fig. 8J–M); two ventral spines, two arm segments in length, thick, with blunt tip, rugose, and thorny surface (Fig. 8J, K). First tentacle pore covered by one or two tentacle scales with rounded base and pointed tip (Fig. 8I). Following tentacle scales with rounded base, spiniform, pointed tip and covered in irregular thorns, mostly on middle to distal half of arm (Fig. 8L).

Color. In live specimen, orange-brown dorsal disc, pale color on arms and ventral disc, arm spines orange, and disc spines red (Fig. 8).

Ossicle morphology. Arm spine articulations well developed, four in number, and placed at slight angle to distal edge of lateral arm plate. Volute-shaped perforated lobe forms dorsal and distal part of articulation (Fig. 9A); large muscle opening, small nerve opening (Fig. 9A). Proximal half of lateral arm plate internal surface with continuous ridge and prominent knob close to ventral edge forming vertebral articulation, shaped like a broad, nose-shaped beak (Fig. 9B). Ventral arm spine thorny, with blunt apex, several longitudinal rows of perforations and small thorns (Fig. 9C). Vertebrae with streptospondylous articulation, short, broad podial basin at proximal end, and narrow small distal end (Fig. 9D–H). Dorsal end of vertebrae distally triangular and proximally flattened with longitudinal groove along midline (Fig. 9D, E). Ventral end of vertebrae with broad ambulacral groove with lateral ambulacral canals (Fig. 9F–H).

Figure 9. 

Ophioplinthaca amezianeae 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).

1618–3600 m depth, Southwest of Guam Island, Northwest Pacific, New Caledonia, New Zealand.

Ophioplinthaca amezianeae was described by O’Hara and Stöhr (2006), and recorded from deep waters in the South Pacific region. It can easily be delimited from most species in the genus Ophioplinthaca by disc spine, radial shield, and tentacle scale characters (Table 3).

Ophioplinthaca amezianeae from the present study is similar to the holotype description, but it differs slightly in the disc spine shape and number of arm spines on the lateral arm plate. However, the number of arm spines differs between individuals (6–10 arm spines) according to the description of paratype variations of O. amezianeae (O’Hara and Stöhr 2006). The disc spines of our specimen are slightly thicker than in the holotype, but their shape and irregular flanged thorns arising from lateral margins along the spine are similar to the holotype description. The holotype is significantly larger than our specimen (14.5 mm disc diameter), and Ophioplinthaca species usually show high intraspecific morphological variation. Therefore, a slight difference in disc spine thickness can be considered as intraspecific morphological variation within O. amezianeae.

Northwest Pacific • 1 specimen; near Mariana Trench, Southwest of Guam Island, seamount; 12°8.83'N, 139°0.37'E; depth 1987 m; 27 November 2020; Collecting event: stn. SC041; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in -80 °C; GenBank: OK043833; IDSSE-EEB-SW0110.

Disc diameter 12.5 mm, arm base width 1.5 mm (Fig. 9).

Disc. Sub-circular and incised interradially, creating five wedge-shaped lobes over each arm base in contrast to sunken center and interradii of disc (Fig. 10A, B). Disc scales small, irregular, overlapping, and some scales bear more than one stump (Fig. 10C–F). Scales increase in size distalwards from disc center to periphery interradially (Fig. 10D–F). Disc stumps in disc center with cylindrical base and few radiating spinules at truncated tip (Fig. 10D–F). Spines at disc periphery and around radial shields, slightly smaller, less cylindrical, more conical, smooth, with pointed tip (Fig. 10D, E). Radial shields large, 3 × as long as wide, acute proximal end, much wider and slightly convex distal end, pairs separated along proximal half, and barely connected distally (Fig. 10F). Ventral disc covered by small, overlapping disc scales without or rarely bearing conical granules (Fig. 10B, G). Genital slits conspicuous and extending from oral shield to periphery of disc (Fig. 10G). Madreporite arrowhead-shaped, as wide as long, triangular with pointed proximal end, lobed distal edge with thickened lateral margins. Other oral shields widely triangular, twice as wide as long, wide proximal angle, distal edge folded ventralwards with minute central lobe, and lateral angle connected to first lateral arm plate (Fig. 10H). Adoral shield 2 × as long as wide, with concave proximolateral margin, pair of shields proximally connected, and connected to first lateral and ventral arm plates (Fig. 10H). Jaw longer than wide, bearing one slightly blunt, flat, elongated, and large ventralmost tooth and four elongated, spiniform lateral oral papillae (Fig. 10H). Lateral oral papillae, finely rugose, equal in height to ventralmost tooth, with pointed tip (Fig. 10H). One small scale-like rounded adoral shield spine at lateral margin of adoral shield at edge of second tentacle pore (Fig. 10I).

Figure 10. 

Ophioplinthaca athena 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).

Arms. Five slightly moniliform arms, with smooth plates. Dorsal arm plates twice as long as wide, with truncated proximal end in first dorsal arm plate (Fig. 10J), but following plates with triangular proximal end, slightly curved proximolateral margins, and convex to slightly wavy distal margins covered with minute spines (Fig. 10J, K). Dorsal arm plates at proximal to middle arm segments barely separated, but distally widely separated (Fig. 10J, K). First ventral arm plate trapezoid, as wide as long, with sunken proximal end, and distal end connected to second ventral arm plate (Fig. 10I). Following ventral arm plates twice as wide as long, with obtuse proximally, straight proximolateral margins, curved lateral angles, straight to slightly wavy distal end, distal margins covered with minute spines, and widely separated (Fig. 10L). Lateral arm plates meeting above and below (Fig. 10K–M). Up to five arm spines. Proximal arm segment bearing two dorsal and three ventral arm spines (Fig. 10M). Dorsalmost arm spines at proximal end two to two and a half arm segments in length, smooth or with few thorns at lateral edge (Fig. 10M). Next dorsal arm spine much longer, nearly four arm segments in length, smooth or with thorns at lateral margin (Fig. 10M). Ventral arm spines short, less conspicuous thorns, more rugose surface (Fig. 10L, M). First tentacle pore covered with two leaf-like tentacle scales with pointed tip (Fig. 10H, I). Following pores covered with leaf-like pointed tentacle scale with rounded base and tip covered in micro spinules (Fig. 10L).

Color. In live specimen, orange-brown dorsal disc, light color in arms and ventral disc, arm spines orange, disc spines and papillae red (Fig. 10).

Ossicle morphology. Arm spine articulations well developed, four in number, and placed at slight angle to distal edge of lateral arm plate. Volute-shaped perforated lobe forms dorsal and distal part of articulation, with large muscle opening and small nerve opening (Fig. 11A). Distal half of inner side of lateral arm plate with group of small, irregular perforations parallel to row of spine articulations; a continuous ridge and a prominent knob close to ventral edge form vertebral articulation, shaped like a broad, nose-shaped beak (Fig. 11B). Dorsal arm spine thorny, with several longitudinal rows of perforations and widely spaced tall thorns (Fig. 11C). Dorsal arm plate triangular with smooth surface (Fig. 11D). Vertebrae with streptospondylous articulation, short, broad podial basin at proximal end and narrow small distal end (Fig. 11E–I). Dorsal end of vertebrae distally triangular and proximally flattened with longitudinal groove along midline (Fig. 11E, F). Ventral end of vertebrae with broad ambulacral groove and lateral ambulacral canals (Fig. 11G–I).

Figure 11. 

Ophioplinthaca athena 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).

1866–2157 m depth, Southwest of Guam Island, Northwest Pacific, Kupuai, Hawaii Islands.

Ophioplinthaca athena was described by A. H Clark (1949), and recorded from deep waters in the Hawaiian Islands. Ophioplinthaca athena resembles O. papillosa, O. globata, O. hastata, O. plicata, O. carduus, O. semele, O. clothilde, and O. dipsacos in disc spine characters, but differs in arm spine, oral frame, and radial shield characters (Table 3).

Ophioplinthaca athena from the present study is similar to the holotype description, but it differs slightly by separated dorsal arm plates and the shape of the dorsal arm spines, although the latter varies within our individual. Therefore, the shape of the arm spines is not a suitable morphological character to delimit O. athena. The description of the holotype mentioned that dorsal arm plates were contiguous, but in our specimen, they are just separated along the arm, and there are no paratypes of O. athena. Therefore, this difference may be related to the size of the specimen (holotype 14.5 mm disc diameter; A. H. Clark 1949), and these small morphological differences can be considered as intraspecific variation within O. athena.

China • 1 specimen; South China Sea, near Xisha Islands archipelago, seamount; 16°47.79'N, 113°15.04'E; depth 602 m; 31 March 2020; Collecting event: stn. SC009; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in-80 °C; GenBank: OK043834 IDSSE-EEB-SW0111.

Japan • Holotype specimen; East China Sea, Osumi Islands, Kuchnioerabu Island; 30°22'N, 129°08.5'E; depth 660 m; 13 Aug 1906; Collecting event: stn. 4918; R/V Abatross, North Pacific Expedition leg; preserved dry; USNM 25622. • 1 paratype specimen; North Pacific Ocean, Wakayama, Honshu Island, Shiono Misaki; 33°25.17'N, 135°37.33'E; depth 446–463 m; 29 Aug 1906; Collecting event: stn. 4967; R/V Abatross, North Pacific Expedition leg.; preserved dry; USNM 26220. • 1 specimen; S off Daiozaki, Kumanonada; 34°05.12'N, 136°51.24'E to 34°05.05'N, 136°50.5'E; depth 475–494 m; 25 May 1994; Collecting event: stn. KN25; R/V Tansei-Maru KT-94-07 leg.; gear 3 m ORE beam trawl; preserved in ethanol; NSMT E-7943.

Disc diameter 20 mm, arm base width 4.5 mm (Fig. 12).

Disc. Sub-pentagonal and incised interradially, creating five wedge-shaped lobes over each arm base in contrast to sunken center and interradii of disc (Fig. 12A, B). Disc scales small, irregular, overlapping, some scales bear more than one low stout spine, these spread across entire disc except radial shields (Fig. 12C). Spines in disc center, 0.9–1.4 mm high, thick, with cylindrical to rounded base, tapering to sharp point, with truncated or pointed tip, and additional irregular flanged thorns arising from lateral margins along spine. Proximal end of disc spines, 0.8–0.9 mm high, thick, base cylindrical, with thorny pointed tip (Fig. 12D–G). Peripheral disc spines decreasing in size, conical, with smooth or slightly thorny pointed tip (Fig. 12F, G). Radial shields large, 2 × as long as wide, acute proximal end, much wider convex distal end, completely separated (Fig. 12H). Ventral disc covered by small, overlapping disc scales without spines (Fig. 12B, I). Genital slits conspicuous and extending from oral shield to periphery of disc (Fig. 12B, I). Oral shield wide fan-shaped, 2 × as wide as long, with rounded proximal end, concave lateral margins, convex to wavy distal edge, and lateral angle connected to first lateral arm plate (Fig. 12I). Madreporite as long as wide, proximal end with wide angle. Distal edge strongly convex (Fig. 12I). Adoral shield 2 × as long as wide, with straight lateral margin, pair of shields proximally connected (Fig. 12I). Adoral shields connected to first lateral and ventral arm plates (Fig. 12I). Jaw longer than wide, bearing four to five elongated, pointed leaf-like lateral oral papillae, cluster of up to three pointed tooth papillae, and small, 4–6 granules covered by adoral shield spines in some jaw slits (Fig. 12I). Two adoral shield spines, one larger, oval, scale-like flat, other one smaller, situated at lateral margin of adoral shield at second tentacle pore (Fig. 12I).

Figure 12. 

Ophioplinthaca cf. 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).

Arms. Dorsal arm plates pentagonal, wider than long, with truncated proximal end, weakly convex proximolateral margins, straight lateral margins, and convex to slightly wavy distal margins, on proximal to middle arm segments contiguous, but distally separated (Fig. 12K). First ventral arm plate nearly square, connected to second ventral arm plate (Fig. 12J). Following ventral arm plates twice as wide as long, with obtuse proximal end, straight proximolateral margins, slightly concave lateral edges, straight distal edge, and widely separated (Fig. 12L). Lateral arm plates meeting only below (Fig. 12K–M). Up to seven arm spines, three dorsal and four ventral; dorsal arm spines two to three arm segments in length, thick, with smooth or rugose surface and lateral thorns; ventral arm spines shorter, two arm segments in length, smooth, or slightly rugose, thick, with pointed tip (Fig. 12L). First tentacle pore covered by two or three thickened, oval, blunt tentacle scales (Fig. 12J). Subsequent seven to eight tentacle pores covered by single similar oval scale (Fig. 12J). Further tentacle pores covered by one small scale, with rounded base and spinules at tip (Fig. 12L).

Color. In live specimen, orange-brown dorsal disc, pale color in arms and ventral disc, arm spines orange, disc spines and papillae red (Fig. 12).

Ossicle morphology. Arm spine articulations well developed, five in number, and placed at slight angle to distal edge of lateral arm plate. Volute-shaped perforated lobe forms dorsal and distal part of articulation, with large muscle opening and small nerve opening, and decreasing in size ventralwards (Fig. 13A). Distal half of inner side of lateral arm plate with group of small, irregular perforations parallel to row of spine articulations; a continuous ridge and a prominent knob close to ventral edge form vertebral articulation, shaped like a broad, nose-shaped beak (Fig. 13B). Dorsal arm spine thorny, with several longitudinal rows of perforations and widely spaced small thorns (Fig. 13C). Ventral arm spine short, rough, thorny surface with truncated apex (Fig. 13D). Vertebrae with streptospondylous articulation, short, broad podial basin at proximal end and narrow small distal end (Fig. 13E–I). Dorsal end of vertebrae distally acute and proximally flattened with longitudinal groove along midline (Fig. 13E, F). Ventral end of vertebrae with broad ambulacral groove and lateral ambulacral canals (Fig. 13G–I).

Figure 13. 

Ophioplinthaca cf. 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).

462–663 m depth, South China Sea, East China Sea, Japan Sea.

Ophioplinthaca lithosora was described by H. L. Clark (1911) in the genus Ophiocamax Lyman, 1878, and is currently accepted in Ophioplinthaca (Stöhr et al. 2021). However, we could not find the taxonomic act that transferred it to Ophioplinthaca and assume that this decision may never have been formalized in a publication. We agree that it belongs in this genus on account of its deeply incised disc. Matsumoto (1917) considered O. lithosora in Ophiomitra Lyman, 1869, despite noticing the incised disc and enlarged marginal disc scales. These genera and Ophiocamax share indeed many other characters, but by molecular data they have not been found to be closely related and at least Ophiomitra may be polyphyletic (Christodoulou et al. 2019). Ophioplinthaca lithosora was previously recorded from the East China Sea and Japan Sea. It is easily recognized within the genus Ophioplinthaca by radial shield, oral frame, and tentacle scale characters (Table 3).

Ophioplinthaca cf. lithosora from the present study concurs with the holotype description in most respects, but it differs slightly by having contiguous dorsal arm plates, long spines in the center of the disc and few granules in the mouth angle at only some jaws. These granules are present at the second tentacle pore at the adoral shield at all jaw angles in the holotype, paratype and an additional specimen, all of which we examined from digital photographs. They are more obvious than in any other species of Ophioplinthaca and H. L. Clark (1911) included them in the series of oral papillae, which explains his high number of up to 15 lateral papillae at a single jaw edge. They may perhaps form a funnel around the tube foot. None of these specimens has long disc spines. However, the information about morphological variations within O. lithosora is still incomplete (H. L. Clark 1911), because it appears to be a rare species of which only few specimens are known. Therefore, these small morphological changes may represent intraspecific variation between O. lithosora specimens. We still cautiously refrain from fully associating our specimen with this species, due to the small differences between species in Ophioplinthaca.

Northwest Pacific • 1 specimen; near Mariana Trench, Southeast of Guam Island, seamount, 12°6.67'N, 141°37.27'E; depth 1160 m; 03 September 2019; Collecting event: stn. SC033; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in -80 °C; GenBank: OK043835, IDSSE-EEB-SW0113.

537–1987 m depth, southwest of Guam Island, Northwest Pacific, Hawaii Islands.

Ophioplinthaca semele was first described by A. H Clark (1949) in the genus Ophiomitra, then redescribed by Chen et al. (2021a), and that recent study included rich morphological information. Ophioplinthaca semele from the present study concurs largely with the holotype description and Chen et al. (2021a), but it differs slightly in the disc stumps at the periphery of the disc. According to the holotype description, the disc stumps had a thorny tip or three thorns in the disc center, but at the periphery these stumps were smooth. Our specimen has a crown of somewhat longer thorns, both in the center and periphery of the disc (Fig. 14A–H). Ophioplinthaca dipsacos (Lyman, 1878) is one of the species that most closely resemble Ophioplinthaca semele by having a similar number and shape of arm spines, radial shield characters, number of lateral oral papillae, similar disc spines, and separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, but it differs in the number of tentacle scales at the first to third tentacle pore, and in the shape of the tentacle scale (Table 3). Moreover, O. dipsacos was recorded from the Gulf of Mexico, far from the known distribution of O. semele (Lyman, 1878). Ophioplinthaca globata, O. lithosora, O. citata, and O. clothilde show a similar shape of the disc spines, but differ in size and other morphological characters (Table 3). Therefore, variations within species from our collection can be considered as intraspecific variation, rather than species delimiting characters.

Figure 14. 

Ophioplinthaca semele (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; Ophioplinthaca defensor 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).

Northwest Pacific • 1 specimen; near Mariana Trench, Southwest of Guam Island, seamount; 12°8.83'N, 139°0.37'E; depth 1987 m; 27 November 2020; Collecting event: stn. SC041; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in -80°C; GenBank: OK043836; IDSSE-EEB-SW0112.

385–2000 m depth, Southwest of Guam Island, Caiwei Guyot, Weijia Guyot, Batiza Guyot, Northwest Pacific, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Tasman Sea.

Ophioplinthaca defensor was first described by Koehler (1930) based on a single specimen. However, Na et al. (2021) provided rich details of morphological variation from juvenile to adult O. defensor, and the specimen from our collection concurs with their intraspecific morphological variations (Fig. 14I–Q).

Ophiacantha cataleimmoida H. L. Clark, 1911

Included species:

Ophiophthalmus normani (Lyman, 1879)

Ophiophthalmus relictus (Koehler, 1904)

Ophiophthalmus hylacanthus (H. L. Clark, 1911)

Adapted from Matsumoto (1917), H. L. Clark (1911), Lyman (1879), Paterson (1985), and Koehler (1904, 1922). Disc rounded to sub-pentagonal, and covered by irregular overlapping disc scales with sparse to coarse minute granules. Radial shields ovoid, naked, and widely separated by disc scales with granules. Three or four spiniform lateral oral papillae, with one ventralmost tooth at jaw apex. Dorsal arm plates contiguous at arm base then separated. Ventral arm plates pentagonal to tetragonal, and separated. Four to seven arm spines at each lateral arm plate. Arm spines smooth to rugose, one to three arm segments in length, thick, with blunt tip. Mostly single, large, flat, oval tentacle scale.

100–2194 m depth, North Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa. Substrate of mud, fine grey sand, Foraminifera, and small stones (Olbers et al. 2019).

Ophiophthalmus was created by Matsumoto (1917) for species, which at the time were included in the genera Ophiomitra, Ophiomitrella, and Ophiacantha. However, Paterson (1985) noted that the ophiuroid genus Ophiophthalmus is a junior homonym of a reptilian genus described by Fitzinger (1843). Some later works (Olbers et al. 2019; Okanishi et al. 2021) used the name Ophiophthalmus in quotation marks, indicating its invalid status, while other works (Suppl. material 1) seem to have been oblivious to the issue, causing confusion and taxonomic instability. Article 23.9.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (International Commission of Nomenclature 2000), states that “prevailing usage of a name must be maintained when the senior homonym has been used as a taxon’s presumed valid name, in at least 25 works, published by at least ten authors in the immediately preceding 50 years and encompassing a span of not less than ten years”. In the present case, the 50-year period extends from 1971 to 2021 and 25 publications by more than ten authors have been found in this period (Suppl. material 1).

Both names are available, because they have been published with either a description or mention of a type species, and they satisfy articles 10, 11, and 12 of the Code. Fitzinger (1843) proposed the reptile’s name Ophiophthalmus as a replacement name for Lialis Gray, 1834 with the same type species L. burtonis Gray, 1835, immediately making Ophiophthalmus Fitzinger, 1843 a junior synonym of Lialis (Shea 2021). Fitzinger’s contemporary colleagues and later researchers rejected his proposed name change, and Ophiophthalmus was thus never used for a reptile and cannot be used in the future, because it lacks a type species separate from Lialis. Instead, prevailing usage of the name Ophiophthalmus Matsumoto, 1917 has been shown here and it must be maintained.

Ophiophthalmus belongs to one of the largest and diverse ophiuroid families, Ophiacanthidae in the order Ophiacanthida, and is delineated from most other genera by having minute granular coverage of the disc, smooth and somewhat finely serrated arm spines, ovoid radial shields, and by characters of the arm plates (Koehler 1904, 1922; H. L. Clark 1911; Matsumoto 1917; Paterson 1985; Liao 2004; Martynov et al. 2015; Olbers et al. 2019). Currently, Ophiophthalmus includes four species: O. cataleimmoidus, O. hylacanthus, O. normani, and O. relictus. The genus Ophiomitra is closely resembles Ophiophthalmus by having ovoid, separated radial shields, and smooth, long arm spines, but differs in a thorny tip on granules or stumps, 10–16 oral papillae at the jaw, up to nine arm spines (Lyman 1869; Lütken and Mortensen 1899; H. L. Clark 1911; Matsumoto 1917; Koehler 1922; Olbers et al. 2019). Matsumoto (1917b) suggested that contiguous dorsal arm plates on the arm base, and the proximal arm spines not arranged in a fan shape can be used to distinguish Ophiophthalmus from Ophiomitrella, whereas Koehler (1922) distinguished these from each other by naked radial shields and overlapping disc scales, but Paterson (1985) observed that these characters are not consistent among all species within these genera. However, H. L. Clark (1911) mentioned that Ophiophthalmus species were remarkably consistent in some specific characters (he examined more than 4,000 specimens). Recent molecular studies suggested that Ophiomitrella may be polyphyletic in the family Ophiacanthidae, and species from this genus need to be revised (Christodoulou et al. 2019).

Holotype. China • 1 specimen; South China Sea, Haima cold seep; 16°42.45'N, 110°25.68'E; depth 1378 m; 05 February 2021; Collecting event: stn. SC036; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in 95% ethanol; GenBank: OK043837; IDSSE-EEB-SW0136. Paratypes. China • 5 specimens; South China Sea, Haima cold seep; 16°42.45'N, 110°25.68'E; depth 1378 m; 05 February 2021; Collecting event: stn. SC036; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in 95% ethanol; GenBank: OK043838; IDSSE-EEB-SW0137 to IDSSE-EEB-SW0141. • 9 specimens; South China Sea, Haima cold seep; 16°44.02'N, 110°27.61'E; depth 1388 m; 01 May 2018; Collecting event: stn. SC036; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in 95% ethanol; IDSSE-EEB-SW0114 to IDSSE-EEB-SW0122. • 13 specimens; South China Sea, Haima cold seep; 16°43.75'N, 110°28.34'E; depth 1378 m; 05 February 2021; Collecting event: stn. SC037; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in 95% ethanol; IDSSE-EEB-SW0123 to IDSSE-EEB-SW0135. • 2 specimens; South China Sea, Haima cold seep; 16°34.13'N, 110°42.55'E; depth 1408 m; 07 February 2021; Collecting event: stn. SC042; Shenhaiyongshi msv leg; preserved in 95% ethanol; IDSSE-EEB-SW0142, IDSSE-EEB-SW0143.

Disc circular to sub-pentagonal, covered by dense smooth granules. Radial shields ovoid, naked, and widely separated (Fig. 15A). One pointed ventralmost tooth and three slightly smaller, spiniform, finely rugose, pointed lateral oral papillae (Fig. 15E). Dorsal arm plates triangular to fan-shaped, contiguous on proximal part of arm, then separated. Five finely serrated, arm spines with blunt tip, and one slightly elongated, blunt tipped tentacle scale (Fig. 15F–I).

Figure 15. 

Ophiophthalmus serratus 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).

Disc diameter 9.5 mm, arm base width 1.65 mm, and arm length 45–50 mm (Fig. 15).

Disc. Disc circular to sub-pentagonal, raised above arm base, and covered by overlapping irregular scales, bearing rounded to cylindrical stumps with blunt tip, and smooth granules (Fig. 15A–C). Granules densely covering the surface, except radial shields, and small area in the center of the disc (Fig. 15C, D). Radial shields, ovoid, small, slightly longer than wide, naked, and widely separated (Fig. 15D). Distal edge of dorsal arm plate on arm base covered by row of few small granules, but only on two arms (Fig. 15F). Ventral disc also covered by overlapping scales with granules, but fewer granules near oral shields (Fig. 15E). Genital slits large, conspicuous, and extending from oral shield to periphery of disc (Fig. 15E). Oral shield triangular, twice as wide as long (madreporite almost as long as wide), distal end with median lobe, proximal edges straight to slightly concave, and lateral angle connected to first lateral arm plate (Fig. 15E). Adoral shields 3 × as long as wide, with straight lateral margins, and pair of shields barely connected proximally (Fig. 15E). Adoral shields connected to first lateral and ventral arm plates (Fig. 15E). Jaw large, as wide as long, with one pointed ventralmost tooth and three elongated, separated, pointed, finely rugose lateral oral papillae, slightly smaller than ventralmost tooth (Fig. 15E).

Arms. Dorsal arm plates triangular to fan-shaped, twice as wide as long, distal edge slightly convex, contiguous at proximal end of arm, then separated (Fig. 15F–H). Ventral arm plate on first arm segment small, triangular, pointed distally, and slightly curved inwards proximally (Fig. 15I). Second to third ventral arm plates slightly pentagonal, wider than long, straight proximal margins, and obtuse or wavy distal edge (Fig. 15I). Following plates, as wide as long, straight lateral and proximal margins, and straight to wavy distal edge (Fig. 15J). Ventral arm plates separated along arm, including first plate (Fig. 15I–K). Lateral arm plates meeting below and above, except on dorsal arm base (Fig. 15G–N). Five finely serrated arm spines, with blunt tip in proximal to middle regions of arm, then reduced to four at distal half of arm (Fig. 15H, K, N). Dorsal arm spines one and a half to two arm segments in length (Fig. 15F, L, M). Ventral arm spines shorter, one or one and a half arm segments in length (Fig. 15J, L, M). Dorsalmost arm spine longest, next two arm spines slightly shorter, but both similar in length, and last two ventral arm spines shortest, also equal in length (Fig. 15L, M). Arm spines increasingly finely serrated to thorny, and shorter at distal end of arm (Fig. 15K, N). One slightly elongated, blunt tipped tentacle scale, nearly as long as ventral arm plate (Fig. 15I, J).

Color. In ethanol, whole specimen pale brown-white. (Fig. 15).

IDSSE-EEB-SW0137: Arm spine articulations well developed, five in number, and placed at slight angle to distal edge of lateral arm plate. Volute-shaped perforated lobe forms dorsal and distal part of articulation, but turns into two unequal subparallel curved lobes ventralwards; large muscle opening and small nerve opening (Fig. 16A). Proximal half of inner side of lateral arm plate with depression (Fig. 16B). Arm spines thorny, finely serrated with blunt apex (Fig. 16C, D). Vertebrae with streptospondylous articulation, short, broad podial basin at proximal end (Fig. 16E–J). Dorsal side of vertebrae distally triangular and proximally flattened with shallow longitudinal groove along midline (Fig. 16E–G). Ventral end of vertebrae with broad ambulacral groove with pair of lateral ambulacral canals, oral bridge absent (Fig. 16H–J).

Figure 16. 

Ophiophthalmus serratus 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).

Here, we examined 29 paratypes, ranging in disc diameter from 4 mm to 17 mm, and found only few notable variations among them. Large specimens had five arm spines at proximal to middle regions of the arm, then reduced to four arm spines at distal end, but small specimens showed five arm spines only at arm base, then reduced to four along the distal half of the arm. However, the finely serrated surface of the arm spine was similar in both small and large specimens. The number of lateral oral papillae differed from three to four, but most specimens had three papillae. Most specimens had dense granular coverage of the disc except larger specimens (16–17 mm). Color ranges from creamy white to dark among specimens from our collection. The above mentioned variations depend mainly on the size of the disc, and specimens with similar disc diameter showed similar morphological characters.

1378–1408 m in depth, Haima cold seep, South China Sea.

The species name was derived from the Latin word serratus (saw like, serrate), alluding to the surface of the arm spine.

All specimens of Ophiophthalmus serratus sp. nov. were collected from a methane cold seep in the South China Sea. Ophiophthalmus serratus sp. nov. showed similar morphological characters to three congeners, except O. hylacanthus. Ophiophthalmus normani resembles O. serratus sp. nov. in having similar radial shield and arm plate characters, and granule coverage on the disc, but differs in number of arm spines (up to four), peg-like lateral oral papillae, smooth and slender arm spines, spaced granular coverage, arrangement of arm spines at lateral arm plate, and large oval tentacle scales (Lyman 1879; H. L. Clark 1911; Koehler 1922; Liao 2004). Ophiophthalmus cataleimmoidus is similar to O. serratus sp. nov. by having similar radial shield and arm plate characters, and granular coverage on the disc, but differs in number of arm spines (up to six or seven), smooth arm spines, and shape of the tentacle scales (H. L. Clark 1911; Liao 2004). Ophiophthalmus relictus is similar to O. serratus sp. nov. by having similar radial shield and arm plate characters, and granular coverage on the disc, but differs in pointed to conical granules, six rough, short, and stout arm spines, and pointed tentacle scales (Koehler 1904; H. L. Clark 1911). Ophiophthalmus hylacanthus is similar to O. serratus sp. nov. by having similar radial shield and oral frame characters, but differs significantly by rough spines on the disc, up to eight arm spines, short genital slits, and narrow, pointed tentacle scales (H. L. Clark, 1911).