Ophiarachnella sp. 4
©Anne Hoggett: Ophiarachnella sp. 4 from under rubble on the northern side of Lizard Island. Disc diameter is 9-10 mm, arm length about 5 cm.
©Anne Hoggett: Ophiarachnella sp. 4 from under rubble on the northern side of Lizard Island. Disc diameter is 9-10 mm, arm length about 5 cm. Note small, naked radial shields.
©Anne Hoggett: Oral side of Ophiarachnella sp. 4 from under rubble on the northern side of Lizard Island.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Ophiuroidea
Order
Ophiurida
Family
Ophiodermatidae
Genus
Ophiarachnella
Species
Ophiarachnella sp. 4
Colours
Distinguishing features
Disc diameter of single Lizard island specimen almost 1 cm, arms about 5 cm long. Distinctive colour pattern as shown. Small, almost circular, naked radial shields. Disc granulation extends onto oral side and dorsal arm bases. About 5 broad-based oral papillae on each side of jaw. Photos do not show whether there is a supplementary oral shield or not. Upper arm spines are short and flaring, lowermost one much longer. Photos appear to show 5 arms spines in each series but there may be six. Arm spines are not banded, which is a distinguishing feature of Ophiarachnella snelliusi (Clark and Rowe, 1971).
This appears to be the species illustrated in Coleman (2007, page 66) as Ophiarachnella sp.
Size
- Up to 1 cm (disc diameter) - applies to Lizard Island specimen
- Up to 5.3 cm (arm length) - applies to Lizard island specimen
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
