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Ophiocoma erinaceus M��LLER & TROSCHEL, 1842 (UF- 6525, Fig. 4 b,c, KU 594361) Material. 2 spms, St. 3; 1 spm, St. 7. Remarks. The specimens concur well with the diagnosis of this species. The colour is black on both sides, while the tube feet are red in life, turning whitish in ethanol. The dorsal arm spines are longer than other spines in large specimens and sometimes club-shaped. Juveniles lack granules on the disc and have cream lines on the radial shields; these were described as O. similanensis Bussarawit and Rowe, 1985; but later recognized as juveniles and synonymized (Price and Rowe 1996). Granules appear gradually with growth, and the cream lines disappear when DD> 11mm. COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are moderately divergent from populations in W Australia and the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). The type locality of the species is the Red Sea & Indian Ocean (Olbers & Samyn 2012), thus R��union specimens are attributable to the nominal form. Abundance: 1. Distribution. Found in shallow waters across the IWP to the Hawaiian Islands (Clark & Rowe 1971); previously recorded from R��union (Guille & Ribes 1981; St��hr et al. 2008), Mauritius (de Loriol 1893 a) and Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004). However old records are unreliable because of past confusion with the sibling species O. schoenleinii and O. cynthiae., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 284, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Bussarawit, S. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1985) A new species in the ophiocomid genus Ophiocoma (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the West coast of Thailand, Adaman Sea. Phuket Marine Biological center Research Bulletin, 35, 1 - 6.","Price, A. R. G. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1996) Indian Ocean echinoderms collected during the Sindbad Voyage (1980 - 81), 3 - Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea. Bulletin of the National History Museum London (Zoology), 62, 71 - 82.","Olbers, J. & Samyn, Y. (2012) The Ophiocoma species (Ophiurida: Ophiocomidae) of South Africa. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, 10, 137 - 154.","Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","Guille, A. & Ribes, S. (1981) Echinodermes associes aux Scleractiniaires d'un recif frangeant de l'ile de La Reunion (ocean Indien). Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle, 3, 1, 73 - 92.","Stohr, S., Conand, C. & Boissin, E. (2008) Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Reunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 153, 545 - 560. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.2008.00401. x","de Loriol, P. (1893 a) III. Ophiurides et Astrophytides. In: Geneve, Memoires de la societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve (Ed.), Catalogue raisonne des echinodermes recueillis par M. V. de Robillard a l'ile Maurice. Aubert- Schuchardt, Geneve, Vol. 32, 1 ere partie.","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105"]}

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) krohi Stöhr, Boissin & Hoareau, 2013. (UF- 6454, Fig. 3 i, KC 759802) Material. 2 spms, St. 1; 3 spms, St. 2; 15 spms, St. 3; 5 spms, St. 5; 19 spms, St. 8 Remarks. A species of Ophiocoma that was previously confused with O. dentata was recently described based on material from this survey (Stöhr et al., 2013). It can be distinguished from O. dentata by the number of arm spines: five (instead of four) spines on the 5 th and 6 th segments, followed by four (instead of three) and finally three spines on more distal segments. The two species also differ in the density of disc granulation. Specimens are usually smaller than other Ophiocoma (Breviturma), with a mean DD of about 8 mm; but do not correspond to juveniles of these three species, also observed during this survey. Although the colour pattern is highly variable, four forms can be roughly delineated: (1) mottled olive/brown disc and arms, (2) yellow/beige and brown, with darker lines outlining each arm plate, (3) uniformly black, and (4) black, with sparse white on disc and arms. These colour forms are not differentiated in mtDNA sequences and appear to be intraspecific variations rather than cryptic species. COI sequence data shows little genetic differentiation across the range of this species (Hoareau et al. 2013 as Ophiocoma sp. nov.). Abundance: 3. Distribution. Described from Réunion, Stöhr et al. (2013) noted that the species is widespread in the IWP, but did not provide specific localities. The UF collections hold material of O. krohi from the Mariana Islands, Wake Island, Society Islands, Samoa, Niue, Palau, Hawaii and Okinawa.

Ophioplocus imbricatus (MÜLLER & TROSCHEL, 1842) complex (UF- 6489, Fig. 5 f, KC 759944) Material. 2 spms, St. 1; 1 spm, St. 3; 2 spms, St. 4; 3 spms, St. 5; 3 spms, St. 8 Remarks. The specimens are easily recognizable by the fragmented dorsal arm plates arranged in a symmetrical pattern. The radial shields are very small and elongate. They are grey/brown with darker lines. Little morphological variation was evident in specimens we studied across the distribution of this species. The only noticeable variation was in the dark lines on the disc that sometimes form a circle and give an impression of a soccer ball, and in the ventral side that can be more or less dark coloured. This species is common under rocks. COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in W Australia and the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). The species was described from Mauritius and Timor. Abundance: 3. Distribution. Widespread in the IWP from East Africa to Hawaii (Clark & Rowe 1971), previously reported from Réunion (Guille & Ribes 1981; Stöhr et al. 2008) and Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004).

Genus Ophiolepis MÜLLER & TROSCHEL, 1842 The genus currently includes 24 species, eight in the Atlantic, six in the East Pacific and nine in the IWP.

Ophionereis porrecta LYMAN, 1860 complex sp. 1 (UF- 6437, Fig. 4 h, KC 760063) Material. 1 spm, St. 3; 9 spms, St. 5; 2 spms, St. 7 Remarks. Two colour forms of O. porrecta occur on R��union and they are genetically deeply divergent indicating that they represent two species. They are treated as sp. 1 and sp. 2 in the O. porrecta complex here. Species 1 shows little differentiation in COI sequence across the Indian Ocean from Madagascar to W Australia, but is deeply divergent from sister populations in the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). Specimens concur well with the description of the species: they have small radial shields, enlarged disc scales on the periphery, one supplementary arm plate on each side of the dorsal arm plates, genital papillae. O. porrecta can be differentiated from O. degeneri by its longer arm spines, the presence of larger marginal disc plates and smaller supplementary dorsal arm plates (St��hr 2011). The mottled brown colour of sp. 1 matches Lyman���s description well. The type locality of O. porrecta is unknown (Lyman 1860). Abundance: 2. Distribution. A widespread IWP species previously recorded from R��union (Guille & Ribes 1981; St��hr et al. 2008) and Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 286, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Lyman, T. (1860) Descriptions of new Ophiuridae, belonging to the Smithsonian Institution and to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, 7, 193 - 205. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 4822","Guille, A. & Ribes, S. (1981) Echinodermes associes aux Scleractiniaires d'un recif frangeant de l'ile de La Reunion (ocean Indien). Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle, 3, 1, 73 - 92.","Stohr, S., Conand, C. & Boissin, E. (2008) Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Reunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 153, 545 - 560. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.2008.00401. x","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105"]}

Ophiolepis superba H.L CLARK, 1915 (UF- 6544, Fig. 5 i, KU 594359) Material. 3 spms, St. 7 Remarks. A large harlequin-patterned Ophiolepis with alternating darker beige/pale brown with red/brown banding on the arms and dark star-like patch on the disc extending outwards in each interradius. This is a conspicuous and unmistakeable species because of its colour pattern, much larger than O. cincta complex, with supplementary plates on disc and arms not arranged as neatly as in O. cincta, and with radial shields, larger and more conspicuous than the disc plates. COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). The Indian Ocean population corresponds to the nominal species as the type locality is Ceylon. Abundance: 1. Distribution. Widespread across the IWP (Clark & Rowe 1971); previously reported from Mauritius (de Loriol 1893 a) and R��union (Vadon & Guille 1984)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 290, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","de Loriol, P. (1893 a) III. Ophiurides et Astrophytides. In: Geneve, Memoires de la societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve (Ed.), Catalogue raisonne des echinodermes recueillis par M. V. de Robillard a l'ile Maurice. Aubert- Schuchardt, Geneve, Vol. 32, 1 ere partie.","Vadon, C. & Guille, A. (1984) Les Ophiuridae (Ophiuroidea, Echinodermata) de la campagne MD 32 du ' Marion-Dufresne' autour de l'ile de La Reunion. Bulletin Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle, 4 e Series, 6, 583 - 615."]}

Ophiocoma cynthiae BENAVIDES-SERRATO & O���HARA, 2008 (UF- 6335, Fig. 4 a, KC 759867) Material. 2 spms, St. 1; 9 spms, St. 3; 7 spms, St. 5; 5 spms, St. 8 Remarks. This species is the latest described from the ��� O. erinaceus��� complex (O���Hara et al. 2004). This complex was shown to include at least three forms: Ophiocoma erinaceus M��ller and Troschel, 1842, Ophiocoma schoenleinii M��ller and Troschel, 1842 and O. cynthiae. Ophiocoma erinaceus is readily distinguishable from the other two by its bright red tube feet (white in alcohol), compared with the dark podia of O. cynthiae and O. schoenleinii. The latter two species can be distinguished by the lack of granules on the ventral disc surface (except for a few near the genital plates) and by the presence of two tentacle scales along the arm beyond the first couple of segments for O. cynthiae. In O. schoenleinii, the granules persist as a wedge near the ventral margin and only one wide tentacle scale is present beyond the first couple of segments (Benavides-Serrato & O���Hara 2008). COI sequence data show little genetic differentiation across the range of this species (Hoareau et al. 2013). Abundance: 3. Distribution. This new record from the Mascarenes extends the range of this species, previously recorded from the Great Barrier Reef to Tonga (Benavides-Serrato & O���Hara 2008). It is much more abundant than O. erinaceus at R��union. Previous studies in the Mascarenes likely misidentified this species as O. erinaceus. a) Ophiocoma cynthiae; b) Ophiocoma erinaceus; c) Ophiocoma erinaceus oral side; d) Ophiocoma scolopendrina; e) Ophiocoma pica; f) Ophiocoma pusilla; g) Ophiocomella sexradia; h) Ophionereis porrecta complex sp. 1; i) Ophionereis porrecta complex sp. 2, Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on pages 283-284, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["O'Hara T. D., Byrne M. & Cisternas P. A. (2004) The Ophiocoma erinaceus complex: another case of cryptic speciation in echinoderms. In: Heinzeller, T. & Nebelsick, J. H. (Eds), Echinoderms: Munchen. Proceedings of the 11 th International Echinoderm Conference, 6 - 10 October 2003. A. A. Balkema, pp. 537 - 542."]}

Genus Ophiarachnella Ljungman, 1872 Of the 23 recognized species of Ophiarachnella, 12 are recorded from shallow IWP waters (Clark & Rowe, 1971; St��hr et al. 2016). Three of these IWP species are peculiar in showing a number of naked dorsal plates in addition to the naked radial shields: O. sphenisci (Bell, 1894), O. infernalis (M��LLER ET TROSCHEL, 1842) and O. similis (Koehler, 1905). The remaining can be divided into two distinct groups: O. gorgonia (M��LLER ET TROSCHEL, 1842), O. parvispina HL Clark, 1925, O. ramsayi (Bell, 1888), and O. elegans (Bell, 1894) have eight to 12 oral papillae and lowest arm spines are hardly longer than other spines; while O. macracantha HL Clark, 1909, O. paucigranulata H.L. Clark, 1938, O. septemspinosa (M��LLER ET TROSCHEL, 1842), O. stabilis (Koehler, 1905) and O. snelliusi AH Clark, 1964 present only five to seven leaf-like oral papillae, have small circular radial shields and the lowest arm spines are distinctly longer than the rest, exceeding the length of the segment. Ophiarachnella gorgonia (M��LLER ET TROSCHEL, 1842) complex (UF- 6578, Fig. 5 c,d, KC 760012) Material. 2 spms, St. 2; 1 spm, St. 3; 2 spms, St. 7 Remarks. Specimens have eight to nine oral papillae, elongate radial shields, and large supplementary oral shields. These characters identify them as O. gorgonia. Several colour morphs co-occur on R��union: the two specimens from Cap La Houssaye (St. 2) are dark grey, while those from Pointe des Aigrettes (St. 3) and St-Leu (St. 7) are banded with three or four white segments alternating with three or four dark grey segments. One specimen from St-Leu also displays some pink/red on the disc. These colour patterns differ from the well known green and white colour pattern exhibited by this species elsewhere, including Madagascar (personal observation), Mayotte (Comoros; personal observation), Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond, 2004), Mauritius (de Loriol 1893 a) and throughout the IWP region (Clark & Rowe 1971). However, there is no other obvious differentiation compared to other O. gorgonia specimens. The dorsal and ventral disc and arm plates have the same size, shape or arrangement in both dark and green specimens. These R��union morphotypes were, however, recently confirmed to represent a cryptic species, genetically closely related to the more general green morphotype found elsewhere (Hoareau et al. 2013). The type locality of O. gorgonia is unknown. Abundance: 2. Distribution. Ophiarachnella gorgonia as presently understood is widespread across the IWP from East Africa to the West Pacific, but is absent from southeastern Polynesia (Devaney 1974). Hoareau et al. (2013) found substantial genetic differentiation across this range. Previously recorded from the Mascarenes at Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004), this is the first record for R��union. Ophiarachnella septemspinosa (M��LLER ET TROSCHEL, 1842) (UF- 6636, Fig. 5 e) Material. 1 spm, St. 7 Remarks. The specimen shows the characteristic five to six leaf-like oral papillae. The radial shields are small and circular, distinctly darker than the rest of the disc. The arm spines are distinctly shorter than the segment, unlike in O. macracantha that displays longer middle and upper arm spines. The specimen is uniformly chocolate brown all over the body. In contrast some Pacific specimens (e.g. from Okinawa) display lighter segments on the arms that create a banding pattern. Abundance: 1. Distribution. This species ranges from the SWIO to the Philippines and China / Japan (Clark & Rowe 1971). The species was previously recorded from Mauritius (de Loriol 1893 a); this is the first record for R��union., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on pages 288-289, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","Stohr, S., O'Hara, T. & Thuy, B. (Eds) (2016) World Ophiuroidea database. Accessed at http: // www. marinespecies. org / ophiuroidea on 2016 - 01 - 04.","Koehler, R. (1905) Ophiures de l'expedition du Siboga. Part 2. Ophiures littorales. Siboga Expeditie, 45 b.","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105","de Loriol, P. (1893 a) III. Ophiurides et Astrophytides. In: Geneve, Memoires de la societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve (Ed.), Catalogue raisonne des echinodermes recueillis par M. V. de Robillard a l'ile Maurice. Aubert- Schuchardt, Geneve, Vol. 32, 1 ere partie.","Devaney, D. M. (1974) Shallow water Asterozoans of Southeastern Polynesia. II. Ophiuroidea. Micronesica, 10 (1), 105 - 204."]}

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) brevipes PETERS, 1851 (UF- 6451, Fig. 3 d, KC 759765) Material. 4 spms, St. 3; 5 spms, St. 5; 2 spms, St. 7; 1 spm, St. 8 Remarks. Distinguishable from the three other species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) by its light colour: white or pale beige, with darker lines on the disc and oral surface of arms; mouth plates are nearly white to light cream. Unlike in O. dentata and O. doederleini the longest arm spine of O. brevipes is less than the breadth of the arm plates (Devaney 1970). COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from W Pacific populations (Hoareau et al. 2013; Boissin et al. in revision). As the type locality of the species is in the SWIO (Mozambique), the specimens from R��union represent the nominal form. Abundance: 2. Distribution. Widespread in the IWP to Hawaii (Clark & Rowe 1971); including R��union (Guille & Ribes 1981), Mauritius (de Loriol 1893 a) and Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004). Ophiocoma (Breviturma) doederleini DE LORIOL, 1899 (UF- 6512, Fig. 3 e,f,g, KF 662924) Material. 4 spms, St. 3; 1 spm, St. 7 Remarks. A species of the Breviturma subgenus easily recognizable by its finely annulated arm spines. At R��union three morphotypes are distinguishable: (1) with a reticulated pattern on the disc (Fig. 2 -13), (2) with small white flecks on the disc (Fig. 2 -14), and (3) with a brown disc that bears dark spots encircled by a white line (Fig. 2 -12). COI sequence data did not show any differentiation between these morphotypes, however SWIO populations are deeply divergent from W Pacific populations (Boissin et al. in revision). R��union specimens pertain to the nominal form, as the species was described from Mauritius. Abundance: 1. Distribution. Widespread across the IWP (Devaney 1970); new record for R��union., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 282, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Devaney, D. M. (1970) Studies on ophiocomid brittlestars. I. A new genus (Clarkoma) of Ophiocominae with a reevaluation of the genus Ophiocoma. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 51, 1 - 41. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00810282.51","Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","Guille, A. & Ribes, S. (1981) Echinodermes associes aux Scleractiniaires d'un recif frangeant de l'ile de La Reunion (ocean Indien). Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle, 3, 1, 73 - 92.","de Loriol, P. (1893 a) III. Ophiurides et Astrophytides. In: Geneve, Memoires de la societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve (Ed.), Catalogue raisonne des echinodermes recueillis par M. V. de Robillard a l'ile Maurice. Aubert- Schuchardt, Geneve, Vol. 32, 1 ere partie.","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105"]}

Macrophiothrix longipeda (LAMARCK, 1816) (UF- 6441, Fig. 2 i, GU 480574) Material. 5 spms, St. 1; 1 spm, St. 2; 4 spms, St. 3; 5 spms, St. 5; 2 spms, St. 7 Remarks. A large ophiuroid with a yellow overall colouration and conspicuous black dots on the dorsal side of the disc and dorsal arm plates. The dorsal side of the disc bears short multifid granules (2- 3 x as high as wide) some of them blunt; the radial shields are covered with rugose granules. Arm plates are trapeziform and 2- 3 x broader than long. Seven arm spines are present on each side per segment. No spinelets are present on oral shields. Hoggett (2006) described a new species, M. caenosa, very similar to M. longipeda from which it can be distinguished by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) of the dental plates. Dental plates of M. longipeda are shorter and broader and without an obvious central constriction. We did not perform SEM analyses; however, our barcoding survey confirmed that our specimens belong to M. longipeda and not M. caenosa (Hoareau & Boissin 2010). COI sequence data indicates that SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in W Australia and the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). While additional research is required to define species in this complex, the specimens from R��union are likely to be the nominal form, as the species was described from neighbouring Mauritius. Abundance: 2. Distribution. M. longipeda is widely distributed in the IWP (Clark & Rowe 1971), and was previously recorded from Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004), Mauritius (type locality, de Loriol 1893 a), and R��union (Ribes & Guille 1981)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Hoggett, A. K. (2006) A new species of Macrophiothrix (Ophiuroidea: Ophiotrichidae) common in northern Australia. Zootaxa, 1326, 17 - 24.","Hoareau, T. B. & Boissin, E. (2010) Design of phylum-specific hybrid primers for DNA barcoding: addressing the need for efficient COI amplification in the Echinodermata. Molecular Ecology Resource s, 10, 960 - 967. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1755 - 0998.2010.02848. x","Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105","de Loriol, P. (1893 a) III. Ophiurides et Astrophytides. In: Geneve, Memoires de la societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve (Ed.), Catalogue raisonne des echinodermes recueillis par M. V. de Robillard a l'ile Maurice. Aubert- Schuchardt, Geneve, Vol. 32, 1 ere partie.","Guille, A. & Ribes, S. (1981) Echinodermes associes aux Scleractiniaires d'un recif frangeant de l'ile de La Reunion (ocean Indien). Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle, 3, 1, 73 - 92."]}

Neoplax ophiodes Bell, 1884 complex (UF 6535, Fig. 2 b,c, KU 594358) Material. 1 spm, St 7. Remarks. The genus Neoplax has elongated ventral arm spines, spiniform oral papillae, and short spines on the disk. It does not have the glassy, denticulate oral papillae of Ophiomyxa. The genus includes two species, this one described from the Seychelles and N. crassipes Koehler, 1922. The latter can be distinguished by the much larger ventralmost spines on the arm. The colour pattern of the specimen from Reunion is distinctive, differs from the unpatterned disk reported by Bell (1884), but is shared by a second specimen collected from Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia (UF 8517). The two specimens are also very similar in structural characters, but are differentiated at ~ 10 % in their COI sequences (Tim O���Hara, unpublished), suggesting that they may be part of a species complex. Both specimens were collected among coral rubble at 13���16 m depth on fore reefs. Abundance: 1. Distribution. Recorded from the Seychelles (Bell, 1884), Mauritius (Bell, 1909) and Reunion (Guille & Ribes, 1981), and now Queensland, Australia. a) Astroboa nuda in situ; b) Neoplax ophiodes; c) Neoplax ophiodes oral side; photo of preserved specimen d) Ophiactis savignyi; e) Ophiactis quadrispina; f) Ophiactis modesta; g) Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) trilineata; h) Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) trilineata; i) Macrophiothrix longipeda, Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on pages 276-277, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Bell, F. J. (1884) Echinodermata. Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the voyage of H. M. S. \" Alert \", 1881 - 2, 117 - 177, 509 - 512, pls 8 - 17 & 45.","Koehler, R. (1922) Ophiurans of the Philippine Seas and adjacent waters. Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum Bulletin, 100 (5), 1 - 486.","Bell, F. J. (1909) Report on the echinoderma (other than holothurians) collected by Mr. J. Stanley Gardiner in the western parts of the Indian Ocean. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 2 nd Series, Zoology 13, 17 - 22.","Guille, A. & Ribes, S. (1981) Echinodermes associes aux Scleractiniaires d'un recif frangeant de l'ile de La Reunion (ocean Indien). Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle, 3, 1, 73 - 92."]}

Macrophiothrix propinqua (Lyman, 1861) (UF- 6556, Fig. 3 b, KU 594366) Material. 1 spm, St. 2; 3 spms, St. 4; 1 spm, St. 7 Remarks. Radial shields about three fifths as long as disc radius, bare. Both disc and arms bright reddish/ orange. Scales on the disc bear small flat white tubercles. There are 8-10 strips of interradial scales and one strip of scales that separates the radial shields. This species fits the former subgenus Keystonea, now synonymized with Macrophiothrix. Abundance: 1. Distribution. A widespread IWP species (Clark & Rowe, 1971; St��hr et al. 2016). Macrophiothrix robillardi ( DE LORIOL, 1893) (REU- 3614, Fig. 3 c) Material. 2 spms, St. 8 Remarks. These two specimens, contrary to those from the three previous species, do not present trapeziform dorsal arm plates. The disc bears elongate granules dorsally and the radial shields are bare. Some elongated granules are present at the distal edge of the radial shields and form a kind of crown, as also visible in the holotype of M. rugosa (synonymised with M. robillardi) (Hoggett 1991). The dorsal arm plates have a characteristic rugose aspect when not wet. The arm spines are not conspicuously thorny as in other Macrophiothrix species. The oral shields do not bear spinelets. The colour is variegated; the disc and the radial shields are blue/grey, with beige/pale yellow granules. The dorsal arm plates are darker (red/brown) every three to four segments. A yellow median line runs along the arms in living animals; Hoggett (1991) reported a white line in preserved specimens. Disc granules are denser in one of the two specimens at hand; a character that often distinguishes species in this genus (Hoggett 1991). Abundance: 1. Distribution. Known from Mauritius (type locality; de Loriol, 1893 a), Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004), Guam (Starmer 2003), Australia, China and Cook Islands (reviewed in Hoggett 1991). This is the first record for R��union., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on pages 281-282, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","Stohr, S., O'Hara, T. & Thuy, B. (Eds) (2016) World Ophiuroidea database. Accessed at http: // www. marinespecies. org / ophiuroidea on 2016 - 01 - 04.","Hoggett, A. K. (1991) The genus Macrophiothrix (Ophiuroidea: Ophiotrichidae) in Australian waters. Invertebrate Taxonomy, 4, 1077 - 1146. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1071 / IT 9901077","de Loriol, P. (1893 a) III. Ophiurides et Astrophytides. In: Geneve, Memoires de la societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve (Ed.), Catalogue raisonne des echinodermes recueillis par M. V. de Robillard a l'ile Maurice. Aubert- Schuchardt, Geneve, Vol. 32, 1 ere partie.","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105","Starmer, J. A. (2003) An annotated checklist of ophiuroids (Echinodermata) from Guam. Micronesica, 35 - 36, 547 - 562."]}

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) dentata M��LLER & TROSCHEL, 1842 complex (UF- 6460, Fig. 3 h, KU 594360) Material. 2 spms, St. 1; 7 spms, St. 5; 1 spm, St. 7; 5 spms, St. 8 Remarks. This species displays several distinct disc colour patterns across its range: the three patterns noted above for O. doederleini as well as a fourth one that is uniformly dark. However, all specimens encountered on Reunion had a uniformly dark brown/reddish disc. COI sequence data did not show any differentiation between these morphotypes, however SWIO populations are deeply divergent from populations in W Australia and the Pacific (Boissin et al. in revision). As the type locality is likely Sulawesi (Olbers & Samyn, 2012), we recognize this diversity by assigning these specimens to a species complex. Abundance: 2. Distribution. Widespread across the IWP to Hawaii (Clark & Rowe 1971). This is a first record for R��union Island, but the species was already known from the Mascarenes, from Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 283, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Olbers, J. & Samyn, Y. (2012) The Ophiocoma species (Ophiurida: Ophiocomidae) of South Africa. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, 10, 137 - 154.","Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105"]}

Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav, Bruggemann, J. Henrich (2016): Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of Réunion (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations. Zootaxa 4098 (2): 273-297, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4

Genus Ophiocomella A.H. Clark, 1939 Ophiocomella encompasses four recognised species, but only O. sexradia occurs in the IWP, the others live in the East Pacific and West Atlantic., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 285, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654

O phiopeza fallax PETERS, 1851 complex (UF- 6521, Fig. 5 a, KC 760045) Material. 2 spms, St. 3; 2 spms, St. 7 Remarks. The granules covering the disc and the radial shields indicate the specimens match the nominal subspecies, O. fallax fallax morphologically, rather than O. fallax arabica, which has some bare disc plates and bare radial shields. The disc is brownish-beige, with some pink or red patches and black dots. The third dorsal arm plate on each arm is dark red, as was noticed on specimens from Mauritius by de Loriol (1893 a). O. fallax can easily be distinguished from O. exilis by the shape of the dorsal arm plates (broad and rectangular in O. exilis and fan-shaped in O. fallax) and the number of spines (5 in O. exilis, up to 12 in O. fallax). O. kingi also has fewer arm spines (up to 8-9) and longer arms (> 5 x DD) (Devaney, 1974), compared with arms 3- 4 x DD in O. fallax. COI sequence data shows deep genetic differentiation between two lineages that are both attributable to O. f. fallax morphologically. Both occur in the SWIO, but only one has been encountered at R��union (Hoareau et al. 2013). Ophiopeza fallax clearly needs an overview with genetic data; for the present we recognize O. fallax as a potential species complex. Abundance: 1. Distribution. Widespread across the IWP from East Africa & Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Persian Gulf, East Indies to the Philippines. The species was already reported from Mauritius (de Loriol 1893 a) and R��union (Guille & Ribes 1981). a) Ophiopeza fallax; b) Ophiopeza spinosa; c) Ophiarachnella gorgonia; d) Ophiarachnella gorgonia oral side; e) Ophiarachnella septemspinosa; f) Ophioplocus imbricatus; g) Ophiolepis cincta complex sp. 1; h) Ophiolepis cincta complex sp. 2; i) Ophiolepis superba., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 287, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["de Loriol, P. (1893 a) III. Ophiurides et Astrophytides. In: Geneve, Memoires de la societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve (Ed.), Catalogue raisonne des echinodermes recueillis par M. V. de Robillard a l'ile Maurice. Aubert- Schuchardt, Geneve, Vol. 32, 1 ere partie.","Devaney, D. M. (1974) Shallow water Asterozoans of Southeastern Polynesia. II. Ophiuroidea. Micronesica, 10 (1), 105 - 204.","Guille, A. & Ribes, S. (1981) Echinodermes associes aux Scleractiniaires d'un recif frangeant de l'ile de La Reunion (ocean Indien). Bulletin du Museum national d'Histoire Naturelle, 3, 1, 73 - 92."]}

Ophiactis modesta BROCK, 1888 (UF- 6323, Fig. 2 f, GU 480580) Material. 3 spms, St. 5 Remarks. Another species of about the same size and overall aspect as O. savignyi, fissiparous with six arms, but displaying blue instead of green colouration. Like O. quadrispina it has only one distal oral papilla but is differentiated in having 5 arm spines, with the 2 nd longer than the segment length. Commonly found in sympatry with O. savignyi (Clark & Rowe 1971), with which it can be confused. Similarly to O. quadrispina, Cherbonnier & Guille (1978) synonymized this species with O. savignyi; but the morphotypes are clearly different and our recent DNA barcoding survey confirmed that they are distinct species (Hoareau & Boissin 2010). Guille (1981) and Price & Rowe (1996) also did not recognize the synonymy. Abundance: 1. Distribution. Widespread in the IWP from Mozambique (Balinsky 1957), Lakshadweep Islands, India and Sri Lanka (Price & Rowe 1996), to the South Pacific islands & Hawaii (Clark & Rowe 1971). This is the first record for R��union and the Mascarene Islands., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 279, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp.","Cherbonnier, G. & Guille, A. (1978) Echinodermes: Ophiurides. In: Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Eds.), Faune de Madagascar. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, pp. 1 - 272.","Hoareau, T. B. & Boissin, E. (2010) Design of phylum-specific hybrid primers for DNA barcoding: addressing the need for efficient COI amplification in the Echinodermata. Molecular Ecology Resource s, 10, 960 - 967. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1755 - 0998.2010.02848. x","Price, A. R. G. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1996) Indian Ocean echinoderms collected during the Sindbad Voyage (1980 - 81), 3 - Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea. Bulletin of the National History Museum London (Zoology), 62, 71 - 82.","Balinsky, J. B. (1957) The Ophiuroidea of Inhaca Island. Annals of the Natal Museum, 14, 1 - 33."]}

Ophiactis quadrispina HL CLARK 1915 (REU-0220- 1, Fig. 2 e, GU 480579) Material. 2 spms, St. 5 Remarks. This species is similar to O. savignyi in size and in having six arms, but differs in having only one, distal oral papilla. Dorsal arm plates are elliptical and broadly in contact, the length of the radial shields is about half the disc radius, the dorsal arm plates are wider than long, the adoral shields meet radially and separate the first and the second ventral arm plates. The colouration is not green such as O. savignyi, but yellowish-brown. Cherbonnier & Guille (1978) synonymized this species with O. savignyi. However, later, Guille (1981) recognized that the species was different from O. savignyi and Price & Rowe (1996) also did not recognize the synonymy. The morphotypes are clearly different and our recent DNA barcoding survey confirmed their status as distinct species (Hoareau & Boissin 2010). Abundance: 1. Distribution. This is a first record for the Indian Ocean, the Mascarenes and R��union. This species was previously only known from the Philippines (Clark & Rowe 1971)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on pages 278-279, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Cherbonnier, G. & Guille, A. (1978) Echinodermes: Ophiurides. In: Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Eds.), Faune de Madagascar. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, pp. 1 - 272.","Price, A. R. G. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1996) Indian Ocean echinoderms collected during the Sindbad Voyage (1980 - 81), 3 - Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea. Bulletin of the National History Museum London (Zoology), 62, 71 - 82.","Hoareau, T. B. & Boissin, E. (2010) Design of phylum-specific hybrid primers for DNA barcoding: addressing the need for efficient COI amplification in the Echinodermata. Molecular Ecology Resource s, 10, 960 - 967. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1755 - 0998.2010.02848. x","Clark, A. M. & Rowe, F. W. E. (1971) Monograph of shallow-water Indo-West Pacific echinoderms. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London, 234 pp."]}

Amphipholis squamata (DELLE CHIAJE, 1828) complex (UF- 6449, KU 594365) Material. 1 spm, St. 5; 27 spms, St. 8; 20 spms, St. 9 & 7 spms, St. 10 Remarks. Amphipholis is currently composed of 26 recognized species. A. squamata is a tiny organism (DDA. squamata was revealed to be a species complex comprising numerous cryptic lineages (Sponer 2002; Boissin et al. 2008 a). Specimens from R��union are cream coloured, sometimes with a pale brown disc, and belong to the tropical lineage E (Boissin 2008). They were collected from under rocks and among coral rubble, commonly along the arms of Ophiocoma species. This association has also been noticed at Mer Island (Torres Strait), Hawaii and French Polynesia (Devaney 1974). Abundance: 3. Distribution. A cosmopolitan species complex known from all oceans except polar ones, from shore to 1300 m (Gage et al. 1983). The species was already recorded from Rodrigues (Rowe & Richmond 2004) and R��union (St��hr et al. 2008)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on pages 277-278, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Devaney, D. M. (1974) Shallow water Asterozoans of Southeastern Polynesia. II. Ophiuroidea. Micronesica, 10 (1), 105 - 204.","Gage, J. D., Pearson, M., Clark, A. M., Paterson, G. L. J. & Tyler, P. A. (1983) Echinoderms of the Rockall Trough and adjacent areas. I. Crinoidea, Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology, 45, 263 - 308. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 28002","Rowe, F. W. E. & Richmond, M. D. (2004) A preliminary account of the shallow-water echinoderms of Rodrigues, Mauritius, western Indian Ocean. Journal of Natural History, 3273 - 3314. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 002229301695105","Stohr, S., Conand, C. & Boissin, E. (2008) Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Reunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 153, 545 - 560. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.2008.00401. x"]}

Genus Ophiopeza Peters, 1851 Four species and two additional subspecies of Ophiopeza are presently recognized: O. exilis Koehler, 1905; O. kingi Devaney, 1974 and O. spinosa (Ljungman, 1867), O. fallax fallax Peters, 1851, O. fallax arabica A.M. Clark, 1968, and the temperate O. cylindrica (Hutton, 1872) (St��hr et al. 2016)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 286, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Koehler, R. (1905) Ophiures de l'expedition du Siboga. Part 2. Ophiures littorales. Siboga Expeditie, 45 b.","Devaney, D. M. (1974) Shallow water Asterozoans of Southeastern Polynesia. II. Ophiuroidea. Micronesica, 10 (1), 105 - 204.","Stohr, S., O'Hara, T. & Thuy, B. (Eds) (2016) World Ophiuroidea database. Accessed at http: // www. marinespecies. org / ophiuroidea on 2016 - 01 - 04."]}

Macrophiothrix cf. belli (D��DERLEIN, 1896) (REU- 1503) Material. 1 spm, St. 12 Remarks. The specimen has trapeziform dorsal arm plates, a character shared by only seven species of Macrophiothrix (Hoggett 2006). The disc granules are tall and multifid, the radial shields are mostly bare; characters that match most closely with M. belli (Hoggett 1991; Hoggett 2006). Abundance: 1. Distribution. This species has previously been recorded only from the Great Barrier Reef; comparison with the type or topotypical material is needed to verify this range extension. This is a new Macrophiothrix species record for R��union and the Mascarene Islands., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 280, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Hoggett, A. K. (2006) A new species of Macrophiothrix (Ophiuroidea: Ophiotrichidae) common in northern Australia. Zootaxa, 1326, 17 - 24.","Hoggett, A. K. (1991) The genus Macrophiothrix (Ophiuroidea: Ophiotrichidae) in Australian waters. Invertebrate Taxonomy, 4, 1077 - 1146. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1071 / IT 9901077"]}

Macrophiothrix cf. paucispina HOGGETT, 1991 (REU- 3722, Fig. 3 a) Material. 1 spm, St. 7 Remarks. Another species with trapeziform arm plates, but unlike in M. belli the disc granules are mostly trifid rather than multifid and the radial shields display low granules at similar density to the disc stumps, characteristics that match the description of M. paucispina (Hoggett 1991). Abundance: 1. Distribution. M. paucispina has been recorded only from Australian waters (Hoggett 1991); comparison with the type or topotypical material is needed to verify this range extension. This is a new Macrophiothrix species record for R��union and the Mascarene Islands. a) Macrophiothrix paucispina (after ethanol preservation); b) Macrophiothrix propinqua; c) Macrophiothix cf. robillardi; d) Ophiocoma brevipes; e) Ophiocoma doederleini morphotype 1; f) Ophiocoma doederleini morphotype 2; g) Ophiocoma doederleini morphotype 3; h) Ophiocoma dentata; i) Ophiocoma krohi, Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on pages 280-281, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Hoggett, A. K. (1991) The genus Macrophiothrix (Ophiuroidea: Ophiotrichidae) in Australian waters. Invertebrate Taxonomy, 4, 1077 - 1146. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1071 / IT 9901077"]}

Genus Ophiocoma L. Agassiz, 1835 Ophiocoma is perhaps the most conspicuous and abundant genus of large ophiuroids on coral reefs. It can be subdivided into four groups (Devaney 1970): (1) SCOLOPENDRINA GROUP: easily recognisable by arm-spines alternating sequentially between three and four; (2) Subgenus Breviturma St��hr et al. 2013 (i.e. former BREVIPES GROUP): upper arm plates with broadly rounded margins, disc granules closely packed up to the oral shields; (3) PICA GROUP with angular arm plates; (4) PUMILA GROUP with elongated granules on disc and one tentacle scale on all but the first five proximal segments. Currently 23 Ophiocoma species are recognized (St��hr et al. 2016)., Published as part of Boissin, Emilie, Hoareau, Thierry B., Paulay, Gustav & Bruggemann, J. Henrich, 2016, Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of R��union (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations, pp. 273-297 in Zootaxa 4098 (2) on page 282, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/255654, {"references":["Devaney, D. M. (1970) Studies on ophiocomid brittlestars. I. A new genus (Clarkoma) of Ophiocominae with a reevaluation of the genus Ophiocoma. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 51, 1 - 41. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00810282.51","Stohr, S., Boissin, E. & Hoareau T. B. (2013) Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group, with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 68,1 - 26. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5852 / ejt. 2013.68","Stohr, S., O'Hara, T. & Thuy, B. (Eds) (2016) World Ophiuroidea database. Accessed at http: // www. marinespecies. org / ophiuroidea on 2016 - 01 - 04."]}

Despite their importance in marine biodiversity, invertebrates are far less studied than vertebrates. Given the current global biodiversity crisis and insufficient taxonomic resources, sustained efforts need to be undertaken to assess species diversity, especially in the highly threatened 'biodiversity hotspots'. Réunion is a young volcanic island lying in the Mascarene Islands (south-western Indian Ocean, SWIO), a marine biodiversity hotspot. A substantial sampling effort was conducted around Réunion Island to document shallow water reef-associated ophiuroid (brittle-stars) diversity, a class recognised as the most diverse among echinoderms. A total of 33 species were documented, increasing the known species richness of the island by 56%. Findings include 15 new records for Réunion, 11 for the Mascarene Islands and 8 for the Indian Ocean. The most diverse family was Ophiocomidae, a family of large, abundant and conspicuous tropical species. Even in this well studied family, a new species was revealed by this survey. Morphological variants together with DNA sequence variations within several species revealed cryptic species. We compared our results with the known fauna of other Mascarene Islands and discuss biogeographic implications for the region.

Subgenus Breviturma subgen. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DA 2 BAD 13-0 E 03-45 B 3-9D7 A- 78796329 BC 3 C Diagnosis Subgenus of Ophiocoma, previously known as brevipes group. Characterized by equal (non-alternating) numbers of arm spines; disc granules uniform in size, low and blunt; dorsal arm plates rounded, almost oval (in adult specimens, more rounded triangular in younger individuals); dental plate about twice as long as wide and thus the shortest in the genus, with tooth papillae region occupying 25 % of the dental plate length. Etymology The name Breviturma refers to the original name brevipes group, combined with turma = troop, here meaning group. Type species Ophiocoma brevipes Peters, 1851. Included species Ophiocoma doederleini, O. brevipes, O. dentata and O. krohi sp. nov.

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) dentata M��ller & Troschel, 1842 Figs 2E, F, 4 F-J, 5B, E, H, K, N, Q Ophiocoma dentata M��ller & Troschel, 1842: 99, pl. 7, figs 3-3a. Ophiocoma ternispina v. Martens, 1870: 252. Ophiocoma insularia Lyman, 1862: 80. Ophiocoma variegata Smith, 1876: 39. non Ophiocoma marmorata ��� Devaney 1970: 17. Diagnosis Species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. characterized by rarely possessing more than four arm spines and if present only at few segments; arm spines never annulated; variable in colour pattern (uniformly or marbled brown, reticulated of spotted); dorsal disc granule density less than 150 mm-2. Maximum size at least 28 mm dd (Devaney 1970). Type material examined Holotype ZMB Ech 931 Holotype of Ophiocoma dentata. COLLECTING DATA. Celebes (Sulawesi), 1�� 50.875��� S 120�� 31.675��� E (from atlas), collector Deppe. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 18-19 mm dd (irregular disc), granules on dorsal disc mostly rubbed off, light and dark brown pattern on dorsal disc, dorsal arms medium brown, ventral interradii fully granulated, white, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, oral shield longer than wide, ventralmost and 2 nd ventral spine longest, longer than an arm segment, dorsal spines thickened, ventral ones slender, not annulated. Holotype ZMB Ech 1815 Holotype of Ophiocoma ternispina. COLLECTING DATA. Indonesia, Flores-Sea, Larantuka, Flores, 8�� 21.4��� N 122�� 57.817��� E (from atlas), 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 16 mm dd, disc light brown, triangular brown spots and curved lines on DAPs, spines weakly annulated, DAP W:L 2:1, disc irregular round, ventral interradii completely granulated, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, (3)4, 4, 4, (4)3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3,3, 3 (numbers vary between arms), 2 nd ventral spine longest, slender spines, oral shield twice as long as wide. Syntype SMNH-Type-5244 Syntype of Ophiocoma insularia. COLLECTING DATA. Hawaii, 1860, 1 spm (originally donated to Stockholm by Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard). MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 17.6 mm dd, disc light brown marbled, arms light brown, dorsal and ventral side similar in colour, disc fully granulated dorsally and ventrally. No annulations on arm spines, spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5(4), 5(4), 5(4), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3 (two arms with only 4 spines). Oral shield oval. Granule density 96-120 mm-2. Syntypes MCZN 1668 Syntypes of Ophiocoma insularia. COLLECTING DATA. Hawaii, Maui, 1860, 7 spms. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13.3-16.6 mm dd, all dark brown to black on dorsal disc and arms, including spines, ventral side slightly lighter brown. Both middle spines about equal, longer than dorsal and ventral spines. (Photos provided by Adam Baldinger, MCZN). Syntypes MCZN 1666 Syntypes of Ophiocoma insularia. COLLECTING DATA. Hawaii, 1860, 2 spms. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 19.5 and 31.6 mm dd, dark brown disc and arms, with lighter abraded patches on dorsal disc, dark brown on ventral disc and arms; a note among the labels reads ���4-5 spines, 3 upper about equal���. (Photos provided by Adam Baldinger, MCZN). Other material examined SMNH- 133232 COLLECTING DATA. La R��union, Etang Sal��, 21��16���17��� S 55��19���56��� E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 24 Feb. 2009, 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 11 mm dd, dorsal disc with a brown multipointed star-shape, white centre spot with brown dots, interradii white with brown marbled pattern (Fig. 2E); dorsal arm white with rectangular dark brown outlines, spines brown at base, fading into white towards their tip. Ventral interradii brown and white marbled, fully granulated to oral shields, oral frame white, oral shields with 2 parallel longitudinal brown lines. Ventral arm white with median brown dots and short lines. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Granule density 216-224 mm-2. Dorsal disc granule diameter 49-54 ��m, granule density 120-144 mm-2, on SEM image (Fig. 4F, H); third spine on proximal segments 1 mm long, DAPs 1.4-1.6 mm wide Fig. 4G). Oral shields as wide as long; 5-6 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest (Fig. 4I). Few granules on proximal ends of oral plates. Oral plates, adradial distal part with strong folds, abradial face with large muscle flange with horizontal striations (Fig. 5B), 1.6 mm wide, 2.0 mm high. Dental plate short, externally with two large tooth foramina in dorsal half, dorsalmost foramen oval, wider than long, other foramen square; internally each foramen divided by a wide septum, dorsalmost one into two wide vertical oval slits (septum broken), other foramen into two short parallel holes (Fig. 5E). External ventral half of dental plate with smooth horizontal ridges, forming two wide ovals, the ventralmost one half the size of the other; a cluster of tiny depressions at ventral end of plate (Fig. 5E 1). Radial shield triangular with concave proximal edge, internally with distal round condyle (Fig. 5H), not as ball-like pronounced as in O. brevipes and O. krohi sp. nov. Adradial genital plate (Fig. 5K 1) long, flat, thin, thickened at distal end, with condyle and pit; abradial genital plate (Fig. 5K 2) thin, blade-like, curved distally. Proximal vertebrae 1.6 mm wide and 1.2 mm high (Fig. 5N). URUN 2009-11047 COLLECTING DATA. La R��union, Etang Sal��, 21��16���17��� S 55��19���56��� E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 24 Feb. 2009, 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 23.7 mm dd, dorsal disc uniformly reddish brown (Fig. 2F), dorsal arm dark brown, ventral disc and arms dark brown. Granule density 44-60 mm-2, granule diameter 70-90 ��m. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4 (5), 4 (5), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3 (5 spines on one side of one arm, once at segment 7 and once at segment 8). URUN 2007-00380 COLLECTING DATA. La R��union, La Saline Trou d���eau, 21��06���09��� S 55��14���24��� E, collector G. Paulay, 2007, 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 24.2 mm dd, dorsal disc brown, dorsal arms dark brown with widely spaced light markings, spine slighter brown, ventral disc brown, oral frame lighter, ventral arms brown. Granule density 52-68 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Remarks The types of O. insularia are clearly all conspecific. Their colouration and large size suggest that they are also conspecific with O. dentata. Ophiocoma dentata occurs in several colour morphs, from uniformly dark brown to brown marbled discs with banded arms, and reticulated or spotted forms that resemble O. doederleini. It can always be distinguished from the latter species by the absence of annulations on the arm spines, and shorter arm spines. In addition, only the largest individuals sometimes have more than four spines on few arm segments. The conspecificity of the various colour morphs is also confirmed by molecular data (Boissin & Hoareau, unpublished). Another species currently believed to be conspecific with O. dentata is O. variegata with type locality Rodriguez Island. According to the original description (Smith 1876), the type measured 28 mm dd and had only four arm spines, which agrees with O. dentata. Devaney (1970) synonymized O. marmorata with O. dentata, but as we discuss below, the holotype of O. marmorata is most likely not conspecific with O. dentata., Published as part of St��hr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, pp. 1-26 in European Journal of Taxonomy 68 on pages 13-17, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.68, http://zenodo.org/record/3827674, {"references":["Muller J. H. & Troschel F. H. 1842. System der Asteriden. F. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig.","Martens E. von 1870. Die Ophiuriden des indischen Oceans. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte 36: 244 - 262.","Lyman T. 1862. Descriptions of new Ophiuridae. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 8: 75 - 86.","Smith E. A. 1876. Descriptions of two new species of Ophiocoma. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 4 18: 39 - 40.","Devaney D. M. 1970. Studies on ophiocomid brittlestars. I. A new genus (Clarkcoma) of Ophiocominae with a reevaluation of the genus Ophiocoma. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 51, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00810282.51","Peters W. 1851. Ubersicht der an der Kuste von Mossambique eingesammelten Ophiuren, unter denen sich zwei neue Gattungen befinden. Bericht uber die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Koniglich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1851: 463 - 466."]}

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) krohi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D662D2A3-330D-4693-8757-E6112C4BABC1 Figs 2 G-L, 4K-O, 5C, F, I, L, O, R, 6 Ophiocoma brevipes – Stöhr et al. 2008: 553. Ophiocoma sp. nov. – Hoareau et al. 2013: 2. Diagnosis Species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. with variegated to uniform dark brown colour pattern; arm spines may be weakly annulated, but not as clearly light and dark banded as in O. doederleini; up to four arm spines (in large specimens beyond segment 15), sometimes five at segments 6-9 (rarely 5-8); relatively coarse disc granulation. Maximum size about 16 mm dd. Etymology The species is named in honour of Dr. Andreas Kroh, Vienna, for his important contributions to echinoderm systematics. Type material Holotype La Réunion Island, St. Pierre, 21°20’27 S 55°27’31 E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 25 Mar. 2009, in ethanol (MNHN-IE-4300). Paratypes From same locality as holotype 8 spms: 1 spm, dissected, fragments on SEM stubs and arms in ethanol (SMNH-Type-8535); 1 spm gold coated and uncoated arms dry (SMNH-Type-8534); 2 spms in ethanol (SMNH-Type-8531, 8536); 1 spm in ethanol (UF 13938); 1 spm in ethanol (URUN 2009-11108); 2 spms in ethanol (MNHN-IE-4301, 4302). La Réunion, Cap Homard, 21°02’07” S 55°13’06” E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 23 Feb. 2009: 2 spms in ethanol (SMNH-Type-8532, 8533); 1 spm in ethanol (MNHN-IE-4303). Description Holotype 12.7 mm dd, radial shields completely obscured by granules, granule density 104 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3(2), 3(2), 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc with dark and lighter brown lines radiating from a dark central patch, some white spots at disc edge (Fig. 6A). Dorsal arms medium brown with dark and white transverse bands (Fig. 6B). Ventral disc dark brown mottled, ventral arms and oral frame lighter brown, oral shields dark. Ventral interradii completely, but sparsely granulated (Fig. 6D, E). Dorsal spines brown, ventral spines weakly annulated brown on white. DAPs oval, W:L 1.8:1, contiguous. Dorsalmost spine a little longer than a segment, middle spines about 2 segments long, ventralmost spine slightly shorter. Arm spines flattened, slightly tapered with truncated tips, dorsalmost spine wider than other spines. Oral shields trapezoid, distally almost as wide as long, proximally just over half as wide as long, lateral edges straight (except madreporite), proximal and distal edges convex (Fig. 6D). Madreporite larger than other oral shields, more rounded, all edges convex. At tip of jaw a cluster of 8-10 small, round tooth papillae. Along each jaw edge 4 rectangular, wider than high, oral papillae, and distally a smaller papilla at an angle to the others (Fig. 6E).Adoral shields uneven triangular, framing the lateral edges of the oral shield, not meeting proximally. Bursal slits extend from oral shield to disc edge. First ventral arm plate outside mouth-slit, small, winglike pentagonal, middle of distal edge notched. Following plates pentagonal, about as long as greatest width, with obtuse proximal angle, lateral edges notched, distal edge convex, contiguous (Fig. 6C). 2 oval scales at a slightly open angle at the lateral arm plate of each tentacle pore proximally; the inner scale decreases gradually and is absent on the distalmost segments. Tube feet expanded, smooth, with distal constrictions and terminal bulb. The paratypes are similar to the holotype in most characters, except as follows: SMNH-Type-8534 1 spm, 11 mm dd, dark brown radiating stripes on dorsal disc, interradii mottled light and dark brown, overall small white dots; dorsal arms dark brown with some lighter markings, spines white with diffuse brown pattern, some with annulations (not figured). Ventral interradii dark brown mottled with white, fully granulated; adoral shields and oral plates unevenly brown, oral shields dark brown with white edges, oral papillae white. Ventral arm plates and tentacle scales brown with white edges. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Granule density 132-136 mm-2 on light image. Dorsal disc granule diameter 57-73 µm, granule density 132-136 mm-2, on SEM image (Fig. 4K, M); third arm spine 1.3 mm long, DAP 1.2 mm wide (Fig. 4L). Oral shields as wide as long (Fig. 4N). 5 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest. Few granules on proximal ends of oral plates (Fig. 4N). SMNH-Type-8535 1 spm, 13 mm dd, dorsal disc dark brown, white spots on radial shields; dorsal arms banded dark and light brown; spines dark brown, on distal arm annulated (not figured). Granule diameter 57-74 µm, density 104 mm-2. Ventral interradii dark brown; adoral shields light brown with dark spots; oral shields dark brown with white edges; oral papillae white. Ventral arm plates brown with white edges and lighter areas. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Up to 5 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest. Few granules on distal ends of oral plates. Oral plates, adradial distal part with strong folds, abradial face with large muscle flange with horizontal striations that end in deep incisions in the distal edge; 1.9 mm wide, 2.3 mm high (Fig. 5C). Dental plate short, with two tooth foramina on external dorsal half, dorsalmost one oval, wider than long, other small, round; internally a wide septum divides each foramen into two pairs of vertical oval holes, upper ones larger than lower ones (Fig. 5F). Radial shield angular, with large round condyle at internal distal end (Fig. 5I). Adradial genital plate long, flat, thin, thickened at distal end, with deep pit; abradial genital plate thin, blade-like, curved distally (Fig 5L). Proximal vertebrae 2.0 mm wide and 1.5 mm high (Fig. 5Q). SMNH-Type-8531 1 spm, 6.8 mm dd, granule density 152 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc with central dark brown patch, with white central spot, dark brown radiating lines, medium brown interradial lines on light brown background, white spots at disc edge (Fig. 2I). Dorsal arms with transverse dark and lighter brown bands. Ventral disc light brown with irregular cream patches, oral frame and ventral arms lighter brown, oral shields dark. SMNH-Type-8532 1 spm, 9.6 mm dd, granule density 116-120 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc dark brown mottled, dorsal arms lighter brown with dark bands. Ventral disc light and dark brown mottled (not figured). Ventral arms and oral frame light brown, oral shields with dark patch. MNHN-IE-4303 1 spm, 8.1 mm dd, granule density 124 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc light brown mottled, dorsal arms light brown with dark bands. Ventral disc light and dark brown mottled, arms and oral frame crème, oral shields with dark patches. SMNH-Type-8533 1 spm, 10 mm dd, granule density 140-164 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc variegated white and brown, arms dark and lighter brown banded, spines annulated (Fig. 2G). SMNH-Type-8536 1 spm, 15.5 mm dd, granule density 64-96 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc uniformly dark brown, except on radial shields white granules (Fig. 2K). DAPs dark brown, all spines weakly annulated with irregular dark stripes on white. Oral frame white with dark marks on oral shields. Ventral arm plates dark brown with white borders. MNHN-IE-4302 1 spm, 13 mm dd, granule density 96-104 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Light brown disc with irregular dark spots or blotches. Dorsal arms medium brown with widely spaced dark brown transverse bands (Fig. 2H). Ventral disc medium and dark brown mottled, ventral arms and oral frame light brown to cream, oral shields with dark pattern. MNHN-IE-4301 1 spm, 11.8 mm dd, granule density 72-96 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5(4), 4, 4(5), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc dark brown mottled, dorsal arms dark brown with few white marks, spines dark brown (Fig. 2J). Oral frame cream white with light brown marks on oral shields, ventral arm plates brown. URUN 2009-11108 1 spm, 11.3 mm dd, granule density 112-120 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc with dark brown star-shaped pattern, interradii brown with irregular white spots, irregular white spots in centre of disc, white granules on radial shields (not figured). Dorsal arms mostly dark brown, some lighter patches, spines dark brown. Oral frame white, brown patches on oral shields. Ventral arm plates brown with white margins. UF13938 1 spm, 10.3 mm dd, granule density 112-116 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5(4), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc light brown with irregular dark patches and spots, dorsal arm light brown with widely spaced narrow dark brown bands (Fig. 2L). Spines light brown, weakly annulated. Oral frame white with light brown pattern on oral shields, ventral arm plates light brown with white margins. Remarks Ophiocoma krohi sp. nov. differs from O. brevipes and O. dentata in maximum size, granule size and density, and in colour pattern. Although quite variable in colour, it has never been observed with reticulated or spotted pattern as O. dentata and O. doederleini. We examined 12 specimens and half of them showed up to five arm spines on 2-4 segments, the other half had only four. Thus they all differ in spine number from O. brevipes, but some are similar to O. dentata in lacking a fifth spine, although they may have four spines farther out on the arm than O. dentata. The specimens reported by Stöhr et al. (2008) are most likely conspecific with O. krohi sp. nov. based on colour pattern, the presence of five spines and their small size. The species has a wide geographic distribution on coral reefs across the Indian and Pacific Oceans at depths of 0-30 m (Hoareau et al. 2013).

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) doederleini de Loriol, 1899 Figs 2 A-C, 3 Ophiocoma doederleini de Loriol, 1899: 30, pl. 3 fig. 2. Diagnosis Species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. characterized by strongly dark and light banded (annulated) arm spines; slender arm spines, the longest up to three segments long; up to five arm spines on few segments from segment 6; variable in dorsal disc colour pattern (reticulating or spotted); density of dorsal disc granules reaches more than 200 mm-2. Maximum size at least 26 mm according to the studied material. Material examined UF 5318 COLLECTING DATA. Polynesia, Moorea, 17��28���55��� S, 149��50���32��� W, fore reef between Cook���s and Opunohu Bays, outer reef slope, under rocks, partly in sand, 10-15 m, by hand, collectors C. McKeon, C. Meyer, G. Paulay, 19 Jul. 2006, 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13 mm dd. Granule density on light image 180-200 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3. Dorsal disc dark brown with irregular white patches, with a net-like reticulating darker brown pattern (Fig. 2A, B). Dorsal arms dark brown with widely spaced white bands with brown spots. Ventral disc white with brown spots. Oral frame white, oral shields with brown spots. Ventral arms with long white and brown bands, brown spots on the white bands. Arm spines strongly annulated with white and brown rings, long and slender, dorsalmost spine barely two segments long, middle spines longer than two segments. Dorsal disc granule diameter 47-51 ��m, granule density 224 mm-2 (Fig. 3A, C). Third spine on proximal segments 2.3 mm long; proximal DAPs 1.74-1.8 mm wide (Fig. 3B). Oral shields slightly wider than long; 5-6 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest (Fig. 3D). Dental plate short, externally with two large tooth foramina in dorsal half, dorsalmost foramen oval, wider than long, other foramen square (Fig. 3H); internally each foramen divided by a wide septum, dorsalmost one into two small holes, other foramen into two parallel slits (lower septum broken in Fig. 3H 2). External ventral half of dental plate with smooth horizontal ridges, forming two wide ovals, the ventralmost one half the size of the other; a cluster of tiny depressions at ventral end of plate. Radial plate shaped as a wide triangle, proximal edge concave, distal point with condyle, depressed at lateral edge (Fig. 3F), but not as ball-like as in O. brevipes and O. krohi sp. nov. Adradial genital plate long, flat, thin, thickened at distal end, with condyle and pit (Fig. 3I 1); abradial genital plate thin, blade-like, curved distally (Fig. 3I 2). Oral plates, adradial distal part with strong folds, abradial face with large muscle flange with horizontal striations, 2.5 mm wide, 2.0 mm high (Fig. 3G). Proximal vertebrae are 2.4 mm wide and 1.8 mm high (Fig. 3J). UF 6512 COLLECTING DATA. La R��union Island, Saint Gilles, Point des Aigrettes, 21��02���11��� S, 55��13���01��� E, fore reef, under rocks, 6-22 m dive, collectors H. Bruggemann, N. Hubert, F. Michonneau, G. Paulay, 12 Aug. 2007, 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 17 mm dd. Granule density 88-96 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, continued until the distal arm where the spines decrease to three. Brown dorsal disc with reticulating net pattern. Dorsal arms dark brown with widely spaced short white bands with dark markings. Ventral disc dark and light brown mottled. Oral frame white with few dark spots. Ventral arms dark brown with few short white bands. Spines white, strongly annulated with brown rings, long and slender, dorsalmost spine barely two segments long, middle spines longer than two segments. UF 6634 COLLECTING DATA. La R��union Island, Saint-Leu Sec Jaune, 21��12���20��� S, 55��16���58��� E, under rocks, 12- 15 m dive, collectors H. Bruggemann, N. Hubert, F. Michonneau, G. Paulay, 17 Aug 2007, 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 26 mm dd. Granule density 60-64 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4......3. Dorsal disc medium brown with dark mesh pattern (reticulated), dorsal arms dark brown with widely spaced lighter brown bands. Oral frame creamy white with brown spots and irregular markings, ventral disc light brown with dark reticulations, ventral arm medium brown with widely spaced cream markings. Spines white, strongly annulated with brown rings, long and slender, dorsalmost spine barely two segments long, longest middle spine almost as long as three segments. UF 6518 (only image available) COLLECTING DATA. La R��union Island, Saint Gilles, Point des Aigrettes, 21��02���11��� S, 55��13���01��� E, fore reef, under rocks, 6-22 m dive, collectors H. Bruggemann, N. Hubert, F. Michonneau, G. Paulay, 12 Aug. 2007, 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 12.5 mm dd. Colour pattern on dorsal disc consists of thicker, brown, reticulating lines, instead of a thin net-like pattern as in the other specimens; otherwise similar to the others (Fig. 2C). Remarks Ophiocoma doederleini occurs in several colour morphs, with various reticulated patterns (Fig. 2A, C) or spotted disc (Devaney 1970), which is confirmed by our molecular data (Boissin & Hoareau, unpublished). It can easily be distinguished from the other species of Breviturma subgen. nov. by its dark and light strongly annulated, more slender, and longer arm spines. It also has the widest dorsal arm plate of all species of Breviturma subgen. nov. The high granule density in the smallest specimen was surprising and may need further investigation. Maximum size at least 26 mm according to the studied material., Published as part of St��hr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, pp. 1-26 in European Journal of Taxonomy 68 on pages 7-10, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.68, http://zenodo.org/record/3827674, {"references":["Loriol P. de 1899. Notes pour servir a l'histoire des Echinodermes. Memoires de la Societe de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Geneve 33 (2): 1 - 34.","Rowe F. W. E. & Pawson D. L. 1977. A catalogue of echinoderm type-specimens in the Australian Museum, Sydney. Records of the Australian Museum 30 (14): 337 - 364. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.3853 / j. 0067 - 1975.30.1977.392","Peters W. 1851. Ubersicht der an der Kuste von Mossambique eingesammelten Ophiuren, unter denen sich zwei neue Gattungen befinden. Bericht uber die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Koniglich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1851: 463 - 466.","Muller J. H. & Troschel F. H. 1842. System der Asteriden. F. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig.","Devaney D. M. 1970. Studies on ophiocomid brittlestars. I. A new genus (Clarkcoma) of Ophiocominae with a reevaluation of the genus Ophiocoma. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 51, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00810282.51"]}

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) krohi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D662D2A3-330D-4693-8757-E6112C4BABC1 Figs 2 G-L, 4K-O, 5C, F, I, L, O, R, 6 Ophiocoma brevipes ��� St��hr et al. 2008: 553. Ophiocoma sp. nov. ��� Hoareau et al. 2013: 2. Diagnosis Species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. with variegated to uniform dark brown colour pattern; arm spines may be weakly annulated, but not as clearly light and dark banded as in O. doederleini; up to four arm spines (in large specimens beyond segment 15), sometimes five at segments 6-9 (rarely 5-8); relatively coarse disc granulation. Maximum size about 16 mm dd. Etymology The species is named in honour of Dr. Andreas Kroh, Vienna, for his important contributions to echinoderm systematics. Type material Holotype La R��union Island, St. Pierre, 21��20���27 S 55��27���31 E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 25 Mar. 2009, in ethanol (MNHN-IE-4300). Paratypes From same locality as holotype 8 spms: 1 spm, dissected, fragments on SEM stubs and arms in ethanol (SMNH-Type-8535); 1 spm gold coated and uncoated arms dry (SMNH-Type-8534); 2 spms in ethanol (SMNH-Type-8531, 8536); 1 spm in ethanol (UF 13938); 1 spm in ethanol (URUN 2009-11108); 2 spms in ethanol (MNHN-IE-4301, 4302). La R��union, Cap Homard, 21��02���07��� S 55��13���06��� E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 23 Feb. 2009: 2 spms in ethanol (SMNH-Type-8532, 8533); 1 spm in ethanol (MNHN-IE-4303). Description Holotype 12.7 mm dd, radial shields completely obscured by granules, granule density 104 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3(2), 3(2), 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc with dark and lighter brown lines radiating from a dark central patch, some white spots at disc edge (Fig. 6A). Dorsal arms medium brown with dark and white transverse bands (Fig. 6B). Ventral disc dark brown mottled, ventral arms and oral frame lighter brown, oral shields dark. Ventral interradii completely, but sparsely granulated (Fig. 6D, E). Dorsal spines brown, ventral spines weakly annulated brown on white. DAPs oval, W:L 1.8:1, contiguous. Dorsalmost spine a little longer than a segment, middle spines about 2 segments long, ventralmost spine slightly shorter. Arm spines flattened, slightly tapered with truncated tips, dorsalmost spine wider than other spines. Oral shields trapezoid, distally almost as wide as long, proximally just over half as wide as long, lateral edges straight (except madreporite), proximal and distal edges convex (Fig. 6D). Madreporite larger than other oral shields, more rounded, all edges convex. At tip of jaw a cluster of 8-10 small, round tooth papillae. Along each jaw edge 4 rectangular, wider than high, oral papillae, and distally a smaller papilla at an angle to the others (Fig. 6E).Adoral shields uneven triangular, framing the lateral edges of the oral shield, not meeting proximally. Bursal slits extend from oral shield to disc edge. First ventral arm plate outside mouth-slit, small, winglike pentagonal, middle of distal edge notched. Following plates pentagonal, about as long as greatest width, with obtuse proximal angle, lateral edges notched, distal edge convex, contiguous (Fig. 6C). 2 oval scales at a slightly open angle at the lateral arm plate of each tentacle pore proximally; the inner scale decreases gradually and is absent on the distalmost segments. Tube feet expanded, smooth, with distal constrictions and terminal bulb. The paratypes are similar to the holotype in most characters, except as follows: SMNH-Type-8534 1 spm, 11 mm dd, dark brown radiating stripes on dorsal disc, interradii mottled light and dark brown, overall small white dots; dorsal arms dark brown with some lighter markings, spines white with diffuse brown pattern, some with annulations (not figured). Ventral interradii dark brown mottled with white, fully granulated; adoral shields and oral plates unevenly brown, oral shields dark brown with white edges, oral papillae white. Ventral arm plates and tentacle scales brown with white edges. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Granule density 132-136 mm-2 on light image. Dorsal disc granule diameter 57-73 ��m, granule density 132-136 mm-2, on SEM image (Fig. 4K, M); third arm spine 1.3 mm long, DAP 1.2 mm wide (Fig. 4L). Oral shields as wide as long (Fig. 4N). 5 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest. Few granules on proximal ends of oral plates (Fig. 4N). SMNH-Type-8535 1 spm, 13 mm dd, dorsal disc dark brown, white spots on radial shields; dorsal arms banded dark and light brown; spines dark brown, on distal arm annulated (not figured). Granule diameter 57-74 ��m, density 104 mm-2. Ventral interradii dark brown; adoral shields light brown with dark spots; oral shields dark brown with white edges; oral papillae white. Ventral arm plates brown with white edges and lighter areas. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Up to 5 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest. Few granules on distal ends of oral plates. Oral plates, adradial distal part with strong folds, abradial face with large muscle flange with horizontal striations that end in deep incisions in the distal edge; 1.9 mm wide, 2.3 mm high (Fig. 5C). Dental plate short, with two tooth foramina on external dorsal half, dorsalmost one oval, wider than long, other small, round; internally a wide septum divides each foramen into two pairs of vertical oval holes, upper ones larger than lower ones (Fig. 5F). Radial shield angular, with large round condyle at internal distal end (Fig. 5I). Adradial genital plate long, flat, thin, thickened at distal end, with deep pit; abradial genital plate thin, blade-like, curved distally (Fig 5L). Proximal vertebrae 2.0 mm wide and 1.5 mm high (Fig. 5Q). SMNH-Type-8531 1 spm, 6.8 mm dd, granule density 152 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc with central dark brown patch, with white central spot, dark brown radiating lines, medium brown interradial lines on light brown background, white spots at disc edge (Fig. 2I). Dorsal arms with transverse dark and lighter brown bands. Ventral disc light brown with irregular cream patches, oral frame and ventral arms lighter brown, oral shields dark. SMNH-Type-8532 1 spm, 9.6 mm dd, granule density 116-120 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc dark brown mottled, dorsal arms lighter brown with dark bands. Ventral disc light and dark brown mottled (not figured). Ventral arms and oral frame light brown, oral shields with dark patch. MNHN-IE-4303 1 spm, 8.1 mm dd, granule density 124 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc light brown mottled, dorsal arms light brown with dark bands. Ventral disc light and dark brown mottled, arms and oral frame cr��me, oral shields with dark patches. SMNH-Type-8533 1 spm, 10 mm dd, granule density 140-164 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc variegated white and brown, arms dark and lighter brown banded, spines annulated (Fig. 2G). SMNH-Type-8536 1 spm, 15.5 mm dd, granule density 64-96 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc uniformly dark brown, except on radial shields white granules (Fig. 2K). DAPs dark brown, all spines weakly annulated with irregular dark stripes on white. Oral frame white with dark marks on oral shields. Ventral arm plates dark brown with white borders. MNHN-IE-4302 1 spm, 13 mm dd, granule density 96-104 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Light brown disc with irregular dark spots or blotches. Dorsal arms medium brown with widely spaced dark brown transverse bands (Fig. 2H). Ventral disc medium and dark brown mottled, ventral arms and oral frame light brown to cream, oral shields with dark pattern. MNHN-IE-4301 1 spm, 11.8 mm dd, granule density 72-96 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5(4), 4, 4(5), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc dark brown mottled, dorsal arms dark brown with few white marks, spines dark brown (Fig. 2J). Oral frame cream white with light brown marks on oral shields, ventral arm plates brown. URUN 2009-11108 1 spm, 11.3 mm dd, granule density 112-120 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc with dark brown star-shaped pattern, interradii brown with irregular white spots, irregular white spots in centre of disc, white granules on radial shields (not figured). Dorsal arms mostly dark brown, some lighter patches, spines dark brown. Oral frame white, brown patches on oral shields. Ventral arm plates brown with white margins. UF13938 1 spm, 10.3 mm dd, granule density 112-116 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5(4), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3. Dorsal disc light brown with irregular dark patches and spots, dorsal arm light brown with widely spaced narrow dark brown bands (Fig. 2L). Spines light brown, weakly annulated. Oral frame white with light brown pattern on oral shields, ventral arm plates light brown with white margins. Remarks Ophiocoma krohi sp. nov. differs from O. brevipes and O. dentata in maximum size, granule size and density, and in colour pattern. Although quite variable in colour, it has never been observed with reticulated or spotted pattern as O. dentata and O. doederleini. We examined 12 specimens and half of them showed up to five arm spines on 2-4 segments, the other half had only four. Thus they all differ in spine number from O. brevipes, but some are similar to O. dentata in lacking a fifth spine, although they may have four spines farther out on the arm than O. dentata. The specimens reported by St��hr et al. (2008) are most likely conspecific with O. krohi sp. nov. based on colour pattern, the presence of five spines and their small size. The species has a wide geographic distribution on coral reefs across the Indian and Pacific Oceans at depths of 0-30 m (Hoareau et al. 2013)., Published as part of St��hr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, pp. 1-26 in European Journal of Taxonomy 68 on pages 17-20, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.68, http://zenodo.org/record/3827674, {"references":["Stohr S., Conand C. & Boissin E. 2008. Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Reunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 153 (3): 545 - 560. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.2008.00401. x","Hoareau T. B., Boissin E., Paulay G. & Bruggemann J. H. 2013. The Southwestern Indian Ocean as a potential marine evolutionary hotspot: perspectives from comparative phylogeography of reef brittlestars. Journal of Biogeography 40 (11): 2167 - 2197. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / jbi. 12155"]}

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) brevipes Peters, 1851 Figs 2D, 4 A-E, 5A, D, G, J, M, P Ophiocoma brevipes Peters, 1851: 466. Ophiocoma brevispinosa Smith, 1876: 40. Ophiopeza danbyi Farquhar, 1897: 189. non Ophiocoma brevipes ��� St��hr et al. 2008: 553. Diagnosis Species of Ophiocoma (Breviturma) subgen. nov. characterized by a light colour pattern, cream to white with some brown to grey markings; five arm spines from segment 4 or 5 on large specimens for more than 10 segments; disc granule densities up to about 250 mm-2. Maximum size at least 20 mm dd according to the examined material. Type material examined Syntype ZMB Ech 961 COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, 18�� 39.942��� S 35�� 31.774��� E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 12-13 mm dd (irregular disc), white dorsal and ventral, any pattern bleached, hardly visible. DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield longer than wide, ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment. Syntype ZMB Ech 962 COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, 18�� 39.942��� S 35�� 31.774��� E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13 mm dd, white dorsal and ventral disc, dorsal arms with brown bands, ventral arms white, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, oral shield longer than wide, ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment. Syntype ZMB Ech 963 COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, 18�� 39.942��� S 35�� 31.774��� E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13 mm dd, dorsally whitish-brown colour pattern, ventrally white, DAP W:L = 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield about as wide as long, ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment. Syntypes ZMB 4660 COLLECTING DATA. Mozambique, Querimba Islands, 12�� 25.796��� S 40�� 35.948��� E (from atlas), collector Peters, 1851, 3 spms. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. Spm A, 17-18 mm dd, white overall, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield longer than wide; Spm B, 15 mm dd, white, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, oral shield wider than long; Spm C, 12 mm dd, white, DAP W:L 2:1, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, oral shield longer than wide; all specimens ventral disc completely granulated, 2 nd ventral arm spine longest, longer than an arm segment. Other material examined SMNH- 133230 COLLECTING DATA. La R��union, Etang Sal��, 21��16���17 S, 55��19���56 E, collectors E. Boissin, T. Hoareau, 24 Feb. 2009. 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13 mm dd, dorsal disc grey-brown with a mosaic of irregular white spots (Fig. 2D), dorsal arms grey-brown with some dark spots, spines with dark longitudinal line, tips white, ventral disc white, grey-brown marbled, oral frame white, oral shields with dark brown spots, ventral arms white, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, two dorsal spines shorter than arm width, 2 nd (and third) ventral spine longest. Ventral interradii fully granulated. Granule density on light image 248-280 mm-2. Dorsal disc granule diameter 42-50 ��m, granule density 240-248 mm-2, on SEM image (Fig. 4A, C); third spine about 1 mm long, proximal DAPs about 1.5 mm wide (Fig. 4B). Oral shield as wide as long; 6-8 tooth papillae, 5 lateral oral papillae at each jaw edge, outer papilla widest (Fig. 4D). Few granules on distal ends of oral shields. Two tentacle scales (Fig. 4E). Oral plates, adradial distal part with strong folds, abradial face with large muscle flange with horizontal striations, 2.4 mm wide, 2.0 mm high (Fig. 5A). Dental plate short, externally with two large tooth foramina in dorsal half, dorsalmost foramen oval, wider than long, other foramen almost round, internally each foramen divided by a wide septum, dorsalmost one into 2 long parallel slits, other one to 2 short oval holes; on external ventral half of dental plate two raised horizontal ridges, at edge a cluster of tiny depressions (Fig. 5D). Radial shield angular, internally with distal large round condyle (Fig. 5G). Adradial genital plate long, flat, thin, thickened at distal end, with condyle and pit; abradial genital plate thin, blade-like, curved distally (Fig. 5J). Proximal vertebrae 2.0 mm wide and 1.7 mm high (Fig. 5M). URUN 2013-11188 COLLECTING DATA. La R��union, Saint Pierre, 21��20���27 S, 55��27���31 E. 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 19.7 mm dd. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Granule density 176-188 mm-2. URUN 2008-04774 COLLECTING DATA. Madagascar, station MGNW-9, Sakatia Island, 13��18���16 S 48��08���51 E. 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13.08 mm dd. White with brown marbled pattern on dorsal and ventral disc, dorsal arms brown, oral frame and ventral arm white, few dark spots on oral and adoral shields. Granule density 148-168 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. URUN 2008-05819 COLLECTING DATA. Madagascar, station MGNW-9, Sakatia Island, 13��18���16 S, 48��08���51 E. 1 spm. MORPHOLOGICAL DATA. 13.5 mm dd. White-brown to grey marbled disc, grey arms with faint dark median line, oral frame and ventral arms white, spines mostly white. Granule density 180-200 mm-2. Arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Remarks Ophiocoma brevipes is clearly distinguished from the other species of Breviturma subgen. nov. by its consistently white and light brown to grey colour pattern, up to five arm spines far out on the arms, and dorsal disc granule densities up to 250 mm-2. According to Devaney (1970), five spines occur in some specimens from 3 mm dd., Published as part of St��hr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, pp. 1-26 in European Journal of Taxonomy 68 on pages 10-13, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.68, http://zenodo.org/record/3827674, {"references":["Peters W. 1851. Ubersicht der an der Kuste von Mossambique eingesammelten Ophiuren, unter denen sich zwei neue Gattungen befinden. Bericht uber die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Koniglich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1851: 463 - 466.","Smith E. A. 1876. Descriptions of two new species of Ophiocoma. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 4 18: 39 - 40.","Farquhar H. 1897. A contribution to the history of N. Z. Echinoderms. Journal of the Linnean Society 26 (167): 186 - 198. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1897. tb 00402. x","Stohr S., Conand C. & Boissin E. 2008. Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Reunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 153 (3): 545 - 560. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.2008.00401. x","Muller J. H. & Troschel F. H. 1842. System der Asteriden. F. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig.","Devaney D. M. 1970. Studies on ophiocomid brittlestars. I. A new genus (Clarkcoma) of Ophiocominae with a reevaluation of the genus Ophiocoma. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 51, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00810282.51"]}

The taxonomy of the genus Ophiocoma was last revised by Devaney in 1970. Recent discoveries of new species and re-instatement of previously synonymized names suggest that we still do not fully understand the species limits in this genus. A recent biodiversity survey of the SW Indian Ocean shallow reefs strongly suggested an unrecognised species in the genus, closely related to O. brevipes/O. dentata. This study examined both the molecular phylogenetic relationships and the morphological characteristics of several species in the genus in order to characterise the unrecognised species. The focal species clusters with O. brevipes, O. dentata, O. doederleini within a monophyletic clade supported by molecular data for the first time. The name Breviturma subgen. nov. is proposed for this clade, previously known as brevipes group. Type material of nominal species that have been synonymized with O. dentata was examined and re-assessed. Ophiocoma marmorata proved not conspecific with O. dentata. A rarely used character, dorsal disc granule density, was tested and showed differences between the examined species at similar sizes. In combination with colour pattern, disc granule density, arm spine sequence and maximum disc size, the new species was delimited morphologically and described as Ophiocoma krohi sp. nov.

Ophiocoma marmorata Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1887 Ophiocoma marmorata Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1887: 303, pl. 12 figs 16, 17. non Ophiocoma dentata ��� Devaney 1970: 17. Material examined NHMW 3. Zool. Abt. Nr. 10.466 Collection Eichhorn 2873, 0- 7��N, 23- 25��W (= Tropical Atlantic). Lot of 5 spms, wrongly registered as ��� syntypes ���. One very obviously belongs to another species and was not examined more closely. Examined, photographed and data transmitted by A. Kroh, Vienna. Each spm is treated separately below. Description Holotype NHMW 10.466 a 8.7 mm dd, dorsally light orange colour pattern with darker spots on arms, ventrally cream coloured, spines white, not annulated, arm spine sequence (2)3, 3, 3, 3(4), 4, 4, 4, 3(4), 4, 3(4), 4(3), 3(4), 4(3), 3, 4, 3 (numbers vary between arms and alternate between segments), oral shield longer than wide. Granule density about 80 mm-2. Holotype status inferred from original description. NHMW 10.466b 6.3 mm dd, cream colour dorsal and ventral, no pattern, coarser granules than holotype, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 3(4), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Granule density 60 mm-2. NHMW 10466c 6.1 mm dd, cream colour dorsal and ventral, no pattern, coarser granules than holotype, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Granule density 48 mm-2. NHMW 10.466d 5.2 mm dd, cream colour dorsal and ventral, no pattern, coarser granules than holotype, arm spine sequence 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4(5), 4(5), 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4. Granule density 60 mm-2. Remarks The original description of O. marmorata mentions only a single specimen of 9 mm dd (Marktanner- Turneretscher 1887), which should be regarded as the holotype. The remaining three specimens cannot be regarded as type material since they are not mentioned in the description. The locality of O. marmorata is most likely incorrect as it lies in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean at great depth. Ophiocoma is a shallow water tropical genus, rarely reported below 100 m depth. Taking into account that the determination of coordinates, in particular longitude, was difficult and often inaccurate in the 19 th century, we think it possible that the correct locality may be the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, which is situated at 0.9��N, 29��W, assuming that the data are based on the Greenwich Meridian. Instead, the Ferro Meridian may have been used, which would put the locality at 40��40���- 42��40���W today, even closer to Brazil. The specimens were bought by director Eichhorn of Graz (Austria) from the trader Hugo Schilling in Hamburg in 1882, together with several other echinoderms, and transferred to the natural history museum in Vienna (A. Kroh, pers. comm.). The alternating spine sequence of the holotype of O. marmorata may be interpreted as an unusual variation, if we accept that it is conspecific with the three smaller specimens in the lot. This character is typical for species in the scolopendrina group though and therefore the holotype of O. marmorata may belong to one of the species in that group, possibly O. echinata (Lamarck, 1816) or O. wendtii M��ller & Troschel, 1842, which are the only two species of that group known from the Atlantic Ocean. The smaller specimens, however, may belong to a different species, possibly O. pumila L��tken, 1856, a member of the pumila group, which has a spine sequence similar to the smaller O. marmorata (NHMW 10.466b-d) and is known from the Atlantic. Devaney (1970) does not seem to have examined O. marmorata and did not know about the existence of five spines on one of the specimens in the lot. He also did not consider the significance of geographic distribution when he suggested that O. marmorata (an Atlantic species) may be conspecific with O. dentata (an Indo-Pacific species). Although the fifth arm spines in the small O. marmorata are in exactly the same position, arm segments 6 and 7, as in O. krohi sp. nov., the granules in these small specimens are high and pointed, different from those found in the species of Breviturma subgen. nov. Granules like that are known from the pumila group. The holotype of O. marmorata has low round granules, which also supports that it is a different species from the three smaller specimens. The taxonomic status of O. marmorata could not be completely resolved by this study and requires further investigation, but we strongly doubt that it is conspecific with O. dentata. We propose that the synonymy of O. dentata includes only O. ternispina, O. insularia and O. variegata. Remarks on species delimitations Prior to Devaney���s (1970) work, the three species previously recognized in the brevipes group were considered mere variations of a single species. Devaney (1970) was able to separate them by spine sequence, colour pattern and arm width. In addition to the annulated colour pattern of the arm spines, spine numbers seem to be a critical character to distinguish between O. dentata and O. doederleini. According to Devaney (1970), O. dentata has five arm spines only at disc diameters above 20 mm and spine numbers decrease to three on the middle arm (beyond segment 17 at 13-14 mm dd, beyond segment 25 at 24 mm dd), whereas four spines are found on far more distal arm segments in O. doederleini of similar disc sizes (to segment 32-38 at 13-14 mm dd, to segment 55 at 24 mm dd). In light of our findings (Table 1) we cannot exclude though that the specimens regarded as O. dentata by Devaney actually included individuals of O. krohi sp. nov.. All of his data must therefore be treated with caution. The type of O. dentata (18-19 mm dd) has up to four spines on the proximal arm segments, decreasing to three from segment 13, which contradicts Devaney���s (1970) observations. Our largest specimen of O. dentata has two occurrences of five spines among all ten sides of the arms, and three spines from segment 16. In the type material of O. brevipes, spine numbers appear to be uncorrelated with disc size; five spines are present from the fourth, fifth or sixth segment and for a variable number of segments before the number drops to four and finally three again on the distalmost part of the arm. The smallest type, at 12 mm dd, shows 12 segments with five spines, whereas the largest, at 17-18 mm dd shows only six segments with five spines; in both animals there are five spines from the sixth segment. Similarly, spine numbers vary between specimens on the types of the three nominal species currently regarded as conspecific with O. dentata. In O. krohi sp. nov., the smallest specimen has five spines on two segments, while the largest one has only up to four spines. These variations are common in the genus Ophiocoma as was observed already by Devaney (1970). We also found significant differences in granule density among species as shown in Fig. 7 (Kruskal-Wallis test, K=8.9055, d.f.=3, P =0.0306). Likewise, granule sizes and/or densities may be subject to growth changes as suggested by the inverse correlation observed between the granule density and the disc diameter in O. krohi sp. nov. (Spearman test, R =-0.8012, P =0.0006). The smallest O. krohi sp. nov. had 152 granules/mm 2, whereas the largest one had only 64-96 granules/ mm 2. Small O. dentata have three times higher granule densities as large ones, which suggests that granule numbers do not increase with growth. Somewhat contradictory are the data for O. brevipes, where specimens from La R��union have greater granule densities than similar size specimens from Madagascar. We decided to examine a rarely used character, granule density, that has occasionally been mentioned in species descriptions and revisions, but never been used in a systematic way to differentiate Ophiocoma species. Devaney (1970) used granule densities as a character in his key to the species of the scolopendrina group, but only for few of the species. Granule densities were compared between light images and SEM images of the same animal and the small observed differences can probably be attributed to uneven distribution of the granules on the disc, rather than to a real difference in accuracy between these methods. Our method of counting granules on digital images resulted in considerably higher numbers than what has been published before. However, published values are not always related to size and as we see in our results, the largest specimens have larger and fewer granules. It is also possible that counts on images are more accurate than counts under the dissecting microscope. In any case, since we used the same method for all specimens, the differences between them are valid and important. Devaney (1970) examined arm span on the 10 th free segment, ���composed of the length of the longest arm spines on each side of a segment, the breadth of the dorsal arm plate and the breadth of the lateral arm plates��� (cited from Devaney 1970), and found larger arm spans in O. doederleini than in O. dentata. However, his values overlap and vary uncorrelated to size, and we consider this a weak character that is difficult to assess., Published as part of St��hr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, pp. 1-26 in European Journal of Taxonomy 68 on pages 20-23, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.68, http://zenodo.org/record/3827674, {"references":["Marktanner-Turneretscher G. 1887. Beschreibung neuer Ophiuriden und Bemerkungen zu bekannten. Annalen des k. k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums 2, A. Holder, Wien. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 11717","Devaney D. M. 1970. Studies on ophiocomid brittlestars. I. A new genus (Clarkcoma) of Ophiocominae with a reevaluation of the genus Ophiocoma. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 51, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00810282.51","Muller J. H. & Troschel F. H. 1842. System der Asteriden. F. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig."]}

Genus Ophiocoma L. Agassiz, 1835 Diagnosis Typically large, conspicuous, shallow water tropical brittle stars. Dorsal disc completely covered with granules, extending onto the ventral side to varying degree. Strong, erect, smooth and generally solid (except O. pusilla Brock, 1888) arm spines. A cluster of tooth papillae on the lower part of the dental plate; large rectangular teeth.Adoral shields confined to lateral edges of oral shield, not meeting.Abradial muscle surface of oral plates well developed with a series of horizontal grooves and ridges. Lateral arm plates short, curved, with ventral notch for tentacle foot, spine articulations sigmoidal., Published as part of St��hr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, pp. 1-26 in European Journal of Taxonomy 68 on page 5, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.68, http://zenodo.org/record/3827674

Subgenus Breviturma subgen. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DA 2 BAD 13-0 E 03-45 B 3-9D7 A- 78796329 BC 3 C Diagnosis Subgenus of Ophiocoma, previously known as brevipes group. Characterized by equal (non-alternating) numbers of arm spines; disc granules uniform in size, low and blunt; dorsal arm plates rounded, almost oval (in adult specimens, more rounded triangular in younger individuals); dental plate about twice as long as wide and thus the shortest in the genus, with tooth papillae region occupying 25 % of the dental plate length. Etymology The name Breviturma refers to the original name brevipes group, combined with turma = troop, here meaning group. Type species Ophiocoma brevipes Peters, 1851. Included species Ophiocoma doederleini, O. brevipes, O. dentata and O. krohi sp. nov., Published as part of St��hr, Sabine, Boissin, Emilie & Hoareau, Thierry B., 2013, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus (Breviturma) and a new species, pp. 1-26 in European Journal of Taxonomy 68 on page 7, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.68, http://zenodo.org/record/3827674, {"references":["Peters W. 1851. Ubersicht der an der Kuste von Mossambique eingesammelten Ophiuren, unter denen sich zwei neue Gattungen befinden. Bericht uber die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Koniglich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1851: 463 - 466."]}