Ophiopsila annulosa

Ophiopsila annulosa
	Entrance to Killary Harbour, Connemara, Galway, Ireland, 20m.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Stelleroidea
Subclass:	Ophiuroidea
Order:	Ophiurida
Suborder:	Gnathophiurina
Family:	Ophiocomidae
Genus:	Ophiopsila
Species:	O. annulosa
Binomial name
	Ophiopsila annulosa; (M. Sars, 1859)[1]
Synonyms
	Ophianoplus annulosus M. Sars, 1859;

Ophiopsila annulosa is a species of brittle stars belonging to the family Ophiocomidae.[2]

Distribution

This species was described from Naples, Italy. It occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic Ocean north to western Scotland.[3]

Etymology

annulosus = Latin: ringed

Description

A large brittle star with long banded arms which lives partially buried in gravel seabeds. The arms are banded with light and dark brown and there is a reticulate mottled pattern of brown on the disc. The arm spines are flattened and arranged in groups of 11-12. The tentacle scales are longer than those of Ophiopsila aranea and exceptionally large, supporting the tube feet when the animal is suspension feeding. The central body is 14mm in diameter with arms approximately 10 times the disc diameter.[4][5]

References

Sars, M. (1859). Bidrag til Kundskaben om Middelhavets Littoral-Fauna. Nyt Magazin för Naturvidenskaberne. 10, 57-155, 4 pls., page 23, Plate 1, fig 2-7.
Stöhr, S.; O’Hara, T. & Thuy, B. (Eds) (2018). World Ophiuroidea database. Ophiopsila annulosa (M. Sars, 1859). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2018-11-11.
GBIF, 2018. Ophiopsila annulosa Accessed 2018-11-11.
Picton, B.E., 1993. Echinoderms of the British Isles. Immel Publishing Ltd. London.
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Ophiopsila annulosa (M Sars, 1859). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. Accessed on 2018-11-11.

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[1] Sars, M. (1859). Bidrag til Kundskaben om Middelhavets Littoral-Fauna. Nyt Magazin för Naturvidenskaberne. 10, 57-155, 4 pls., page 23, Plate 1, fig 2-7.

[2] Stöhr, S.; O’Hara, T. & Thuy, B. (Eds) (2018). World Ophiuroidea database. Ophiopsila annulosa (M. Sars, 1859). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species on 2018-11-11.

[3] GBIF, 2018. Ophiopsila annulosa Accessed 2018-11-11.

[4] Picton, B.E., 1993. Echinoderms of the British Isles. Immel Publishing Ltd. London.

[5] Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Ophiopsila annulosa (M Sars, 1859). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. Accessed on 2018-11-11.