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Ophiotoma coriacea ? Lyman, 1883 Reports for the Azores: non Ophiopora bartletti (Lyman, 1883) —? $ Koehler 1909: 195 [misidentification]; García-Diez et al. 2005: 49 [based on Koehler 1909]; Ophiotoma coriacea Lyman, 1883 — Mortensen 1927a: 187–188, fig. 104; Paterson 1985: 57, fig. 23; Harvey et al. 1988: 169–170; Smirnov et al. 2014: 197. Type locality: off Cape Cod, USA (41°24’45”N, 65°35’30”W). See: Lyman (1883: 268–269, pl. 2, figs. 1–3); Mortensen (1933a: 37–39); Paterson (1985); Martynov (2010: 97–103, figs. 66F–H). Occurrence: North Atlantic; from off Cape Cod eastward to Iceland, south to the Bay of Biscay and?Azores (Paterson 1985). Depth: 1,605 –4,106 m (Paterson 1985, Harvey et al. 1988); AZO:? 3,465 m (Koehler 1909). Habitat: soft bottoms, from muddy sand to ooze (Koehler 1909, Farran 1913). Remarks: Koehler (1909) reported the Caribbean species Ophiotoma bartletti (= Ophiopora bartletti) from the Azores, based on a single incomplete and deformed specimen, collected by Princesse Alice (sta 745: 38°05’00”N, 23°50’15”W) at a depth of 3,465 m, much deeper than what is believed to be the normal depth for the Caribbean species. H.L. Clark (1915) considered that the Caribbean species O. bartletti was conspecific with the East Atlantic O. coriacea, an opinion that subsequent authors did not agree with (e.g., Koehler 1922; Mortensen 1933a). Paterson (1985) argued that since all that remains of the type material of the former species were fragments of the arms the synonymy could not be confirmed. We agree with Paterson (1985) that O. bartletti is restricted to the Caribbean and tentatively refer Koehler’s report of O. bartletti to the temperate species O. coriacea (see also Farran 1913), despite the fact that O. coriacea as such has not been reported from the Azores so far. Inclusion of this species in the Azorean echinoderm fauna should, nevertheless, be considered with caution, considering the poor state of the only known specimen recovered from the Azorean deep waters., Published as part of Madeira, Patrícia, Kroh, Andreas, Cordeiro, Ricardo, De, António M., Martins, Frias & Ávila, Sérgio P., 2019, The Echinoderm Fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic Ocean), pp. 1-231 in Zootaxa 4639 (1) on page 41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4639.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3342161, {"references":["Lyman, T. (1883) Report on the Ophiuroidea. Reports on the results of dredging, under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Caribbean Sea (1878 - 79), and on the east coast of the United States, during the summer of 1880, by the U. S. coast survey steamer \" Blake \", commander J. R. Bartlett, U. S. N., commanding. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zo ˆ logy at Harvard College, 10 (6), 227 - 287.","Koehler, R. (1909) Echinodermes provenant des campagnes du yacht Princesse-Alice (Asteries, Ophiures, Echinides et Crinoides). Resultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht par Albert Ier Prince Souverain de Monaco, 34, 1 - 317.","Garcia-Diez, C., Porteiro, F. M., Meirinho, A., Cardigos, F. & Tempera, F. (2005) Taxonomic review of selected invertebrate groups collected during the Campaigns of the Prince Albert I of Monaco in the Azorean waters. Arquipelago. Life and Marine Sciences, 22 A, 35 - 59.","Mortensen, T. (1927 a) Handbook of the echinoderms of the British Isles. Oxford University Press, viii + 471 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6841","Paterson, G. L. J. (1985) The deep-sea Ophiuroidea of the North Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology Series, 49 (1), 1 - 162.","Harvey, R., Gage, J. D., Billett, D. S. M., Clark, A. M. & Paterson, G. L. J. (1988) Echinoderms of the Rockall Trough and adjacent areas. 3. Additional records. Bulletin British Museum Natural History, Zoology, 54, 153 - 198.","Smirnov, I. S., Piepenburg, D., Ahearn, C. & Juterzenka, K. V. (2014) Deep-sea fauna of European seas: An annotated species check-list of benthic invertebrates living deeper than 2000 m in the seas bordering Europe. Ophiuroidea. Invertebrate Zoology, 11 (1), 192 - 209. https: // doi. org / 10.15298 / invertzool. 11.1.18","Mortensen, T. (1933 a) Ophiuroidea. The Danish Ingolf Expedition, 4 b (8), 1 - 121.","Martynov, A. (2010) Reassessment of the classification of the Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata), based on morphological characters. I. General character evaluation and delineation of the families Ophiomyxidae and Ophiacanthidae. Zootaxa, 2697 (1), 1 - 154. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 2697.1.1","Farran, G. P. (1913) The deep-water Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea of the West Coast of Ireland. Department of Agriculture and technical instruction for Ireland, fisheries branch, scientific investigations, 6, 1 - 66. [1912]","Clark, H. L. (1915) Catalogue of recent ophiurans. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zo ˆ logy at Harvard College, 25 (4), 165 - 376.","Koehler, R. (1922) Ophiurans of the Philippine Seas and adjacent waters. Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum Bulletin, 100 (5), 1 - 486."]}

Ophiotoma alberti (Koehler, 1896b) Reports for the Azores: Ophiotrema alberti $ Koehler, 1896b: 251–253, 1909: 196–198, pl. 28, figs. 1–2; Mortensen 1927a: 183; Gage et al. 1983: 288; Paterson 1985: 57–58, fig. 23; García-Diez et al. 2005: 49; Smirnov et al. 2014: 197. Type locality: Azores (38°09’00”N, 23°15’45”W). See: Paterson (1985); Martynov (2010: 97–103, figs. 66A–E, 67A–C, 68A–I). Occurrence: Northeast Atlantic; recorded from several scattered locations in the Atlantic, including the Reykjanes Ridge area (c. 58°30’N, 31°29’W; Martynov 2010) and Rockall Trough, south to the Bay of Biscay and the Azores (Paterson 1985); it was also recorded in the Southern Hemisphere (51°07’S, 9°31’W; Mortensen 1927a). Depth: 1,684 –4,354 m (Paterson 1985, Martynov 2010); AZO: 4,020 m (Koehler 1909). Habitat: soft substrates (Koehler 1906b). Remarks: Ophiotoma alberti was described by Koehler (1896b, 1909; as Ophiotrema alberti) based on two specimens collected by Princesse Alice in the Azores (sta 527: 38°09’N, 23°15’45”W, 4,020 m), the only material known so far from the archipelago., Published as part of Madeira, Patrícia, Kroh, Andreas, Cordeiro, Ricardo, De, António M., Martins, Frias & Ávila, Sérgio P., 2019, The Echinoderm Fauna of the Azores (NE Atlantic Ocean), pp. 1-231 in Zootaxa 4639 (1) on page 41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4639.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3342161, {"references":["Koehler, R. (1896 b) Note preliminaire sur les Ophiures des premieres campagnes de la \" Princesse Alice \". Memoires. Societe Zoologique de France, 9, 241 - 253.","Koehler, R. (1909) Echinodermes provenant des campagnes du yacht Princesse-Alice (Asteries, Ophiures, Echinides et Crinoides). Resultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht par Albert Ier Prince Souverain de Monaco, 34, 1 - 317.","Mortensen, T. (1927 a) Handbook of the echinoderms of the British Isles. Oxford University Press, viii + 471 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6841","Gage, J. D., Billett, D. S. M., Jensen, M. & 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. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 28002","Paterson, G. L. J. (1985) The deep-sea Ophiuroidea of the North Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology Series, 49 (1), 1 - 162.","Garcia-Diez, C., Porteiro, F. M., Meirinho, A., Cardigos, F. & Tempera, F. (2005) Taxonomic review of selected invertebrate groups collected during the Campaigns of the Prince Albert I of Monaco in the Azorean waters. Arquipelago. Life and Marine Sciences, 22 A, 35 - 59.","Smirnov, I. S., Piepenburg, D., Ahearn, C. & Juterzenka, K. V. (2014) Deep-sea fauna of European seas: An annotated species check-list of benthic invertebrates living deeper than 2000 m in the seas bordering Europe. Ophiuroidea. Invertebrate Zoology, 11 (1), 192 - 209. https: // doi. org / 10.15298 / invertzool. 11.1.18","Martynov, A. (2010) Reassessment of the classification of the Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata), based on morphological characters. I. General character evaluation and delineation of the families Ophiomyxidae and Ophiacanthidae. Zootaxa, 2697 (1), 1 - 154. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 2697.1.1","Koehler, R. (1906 b) Ophiures. Expeditions Scientifiques du Travailleur et du Talisman, 8, 245 - 311."]}

Ophiotoma charlottae sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BFA9592E-7CEA-4B12-B2F0-45E1E27B7EF6 Fig. 12: 8-10 Diagnosis Species of Ophiotoma with comparatively small LAPs displaying a large, nearly rectangular and strongly protruding ventral portion (third of a proximal LAP); four to five equal-sized spine articulations; outer surface with striation restricted to relatively narrow band close to spine articulations and composed of thin lamellae separated by single rows of small stereom pores; inner side with main, central bone-shaped ridge and second ridge on ventral portion of LAP; very large, single perforation bordering ventral tip of main ridge, occasionally dorsally accompanied by second vertically elongate ridge. Etymology Species named in honour of Charlotte Bruneau for introducing me to Alexandre Jardin’s wonderful L’île des gauchers. Type material Holotype GZG.INV.78545. Paratypes GZG.INV.78546 and GZG.INV.78547. Type locality and horizon Pointe du Chay near La Rochelle, France; Achilles Subzone, Cymodoce Zone, early Kimmeridgian, Late Jurassic. Additional material GZG.INV.78548 (3 dissociated LAPs). Description Holotype GZG.INV.78545 is a dissociated, small, proximal LAP; approximately 1.5 times higher than wide; slightly convex dorsal and distal edges; proximal edge gently concave with very slight central protrusion; no spurs discernible on proximal edge; small, poorly defined, shallow depression in the middle of the proximal edge; ventral third nearly rectangular, strongly protruding ventro-proximalwards; no constriction; distal portion of LAP neither bulging nor elevated; outer surface with fine, regular vertical striation composed of thin lamellae separated by single rows of small stereom pores; striation replaced by finely meshed stereom in proximal third of outer surface and on most of the ventral portion of the LAP. Four ear-shaped, equal-sized spine articulations in shallow notches of the distal edge, moderately deeply incising the vertical striation of the outer surface; slight dorsalward increase in size of gaps separating the spine articulations; dorsal and ventral lobes separated by a small knob; almost no gap between spine articulations and distal edge of LAP. Ventral edge of LAP with very large, slightly angular tentacle notch. Inner side of LAP with large but comparatively short, sharply defined, prominent, bone-shaped main ridge; dorsal portion of ridge oblique, with strongly widened dorsal tip; ventral portion with similarly widened ventral tip, well defined but not as sharply and prominently as dorsal tip; second less welldefined, less prominent but slightly wider, proximally bent ridge proximally bordering the inner side of the tentacle notch, in direct continuation of the ventral portion of the main ridge but separated from the latter; no spurs on the inner side of the distal edge of the LAP; inner side of the tentacle notch with coarsely meshed, horizontally stretched stereom, almost as wide as half of the total ventral LAP edge width. Single very large perforation distally bordering the tip of the ventral portion of the main ridge; second smaller, vertically elongate perforation above large one. Ventro-distal edge of ventral LAP portion with prominent ridge. Paratype supplements and variation GZG.INV.78546 is a proximal LAP; well in agreement with holotype. Vertical striation on outer surface extending to a slightly larger area close to spine articulations and on dorsal edge of ventral portion of LAP. Five spine articulations, of equal size and nearly equi-distant. Inner side very well in agreement with that of holotype. Vertically elongate perforation lacking. GZG.INV.78547 is a median LAP; nearly as high as wide; well in agreement with holotype; ventral quarter of LAP strongly protruding ventro-proximalwards; shallow, poorly defined depression in the centre of the proximal edge slightly larger. Five equal-sized, nearly equi-distant spine articulations shallowly incising the vertical striation of the outer surface. Inner side with well-defined, bone-shaped main ridge well in agreement with that of holotype; no second ridge on inner side of ventral portion of LAP discernible; inner side of tentacle notch with coarsely meshed, horizontally stretched stereom, nearly as wide as half of the total ventral LAP edge width. Single large perforation bordering ventral tip of main ridge; no second, elongate perforation. Ventrodistal edge of ventral LAP portion with poorly defined, slightly prominent knob. Remarks These LAPs display the highly distinctive characters of the LAPs of extant species of Ophiotoma, in particular the very large tentacle notches, the spine articulations in shallow depressions or notches of the non-bulging, non-elevated distal edge, the large and strongly protruding ventral portion, and the widened dorsal tip of the ridge on the inner side. The LAPs in question thus seem best accommodated in Ophiotoma, acknowledging, however, that the discovery of articulated specimens might reveal substantial differences in general skeleton morphology warranting separation at the generic level. The shape of the large, ventral portion of the LAPs, the large perforation and the distinctly bone-shaped ridge on the inner side, and the development and spatial extent of the vertical striation on the outer surface unmistakably characterise the above-described LAPs, which is why they are here described as a new species of Ophiotoma. Occurrence Early Kimmeridgian of France., Published as part of Thuy, Ben, 2013, Temporary expansion to shelf depths rather than an onshore-offshore trend: the shallow-water rise and demise of the modern deep-sea brittle star family Ophiacanthidae (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), pp. 1-242 in European Journal of Taxonomy 48 on pages 60-62, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.48, http://zenodo.org/record/3822836

Genus Ophiotoma Verrill, 1899 Type species Ophiotoma coriacea Lyman, 1883, by monotypy. Diagnosis LAPs devoid of constriction or strongly elevated or bulging distal portion; spine articulations free standing or in shallow notches of the slightly elevated distal edge; ventral portion of LAP very large, protruding ventro-proximalwards; tentacle notch large, inner side of tentacle notch in proximal LAPs at least as wide as one-third of the total ventral LAP edge width; outer surface commonly with vertical striation; no conspicuous spurs on outer proximal and inner distal edges; ridge on inner side of LAP generally with widened dorsal tip. Remarks The LAPs of extant species of Ophiotoma (Fig. 12: 1-3) are characterised by the lack of a constriction and of a bulging or strongly elevated distal portion, as well as a large, strongly protruding ventral portion bordering a large tentacle notch. The spine articulations are generally in shallow notches or depressions of the slightly elevated distal LAP edge, which differentiates them from the LAPs of Ophiologimus (see above). Superficial similarities exist to the LAPs of extant species of Ophiolimna Verrill, 1899 (see below). In these, however, the spine articulations are proximally slightly overlain by the coarse vertical striation of the outer surface and merged with the latter by a connecting ridge. The ophiacanthid fossil record includes only very few dissociated LAP types which convincingly match the diagnosis of Ophiotoma. Given their scarcity and limited currently known diversity, these fossil LAP types are here assigned to the extant genus Ophiotoma. The discovery of articulated specimens with the LAP types in question, however, are very likely to reveal differences in general skeletal morphology which imply distinction at the generic level. Irrespective of generic placement issues, the striking morphological similarities shared by the fossil LAPs and those of Ophiotoma strongly suggest close phylogenetic ties, which is the relevant aspect for the scope of the present study. The LAPs of Ophiotoma, especially the fossil ones, share an intriguing similarity with those assigned to extinct Dermocoma Hess, 1964 (see below), in particular on account of the strongly protruding ventral portion of the LAPs, the absence of a constriction and a bulging distal portion, the position of the spine articulations and the shape of the ridge on the inner side of the LAPs. The LAPs of Dermocoma tend to differ from those of Ophiotoma in displaying large and strongly protruding spurs on their outer proximal and inner distal edges. However, since both genera include species which deviate from this pattern, the latter cannot be taken as a rule. The only unambiguous character to distinguish the LAPs of Ophiotoma and Dermocoma is the size of the tentacle notch., Published as part of Thuy, Ben, 2013, Temporary expansion to shelf depths rather than an onshore-offshore trend: the shallow-water rise and demise of the modern deep-sea brittle star family Ophiacanthidae (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), pp. 1-242 in European Journal of Taxonomy 48 on pages 56-57, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.48, http://zenodo.org/record/3822836, {"references":["Hess H. 1964. Die Ophiuren des englischen Jura. Eclogae geologicae Helvetiae 57: 756 - 801."]}

Ophiotoma vadosa sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 698A06E5-BC2D-4729-8C41-15F2EBBFEB3E Fig. 12: 5-7 Diagnosis Species of Ophiotoma with relatively large LAPs displaying large, conspicuous, tongue-shaped and strongly protruding ventro-distal tip; two small, but comparatively well-developed spurs on the outer proximal and inner distal edges; up to six spine articulations displaying strong dorsalward increase in size and in the size of the gaps separating them; dorsal tip of the ridge on the inner side of the proximal LAPs only slightly enlarged. Etymology From vadosus, Latin for “shallow”, in reference to the relatively shallow (mid-shelf) water depth assumed for the palaeohabitat of the species. Type material Holotype GZG.INV.78541. Paratypes GZG.INV.78542 and GZG.INV.78543. Type locality and horizon Blockley, near Cheltenham, Great Britain; shell lenses in clayey matrix, Davoei Zone, early Pliensbachian, Early Jurassic. Additional material GZG.INV.78544 (20 dissociated LAPs) from Blockley, Great Britain; 175 dissociated LAPs from the late Pliensbachian of Seewen, Switzerland, the original material of Hess (1962). Description Holotype GZG.INV.78541 is a dissociated, large, proximal LAP; dorsal and distal edges slightly convex; proximal edge undulose, with small, well-defined, oval, prominent spur positioned in the centre of protruding part of proximal LAP edge; second slightly larger but much less well-defined spur in the middle of the ventral half of the proximal edge; ventral third to quarter of LAP strongly protruding ventro-proximalwards; ventro-distal tip of LAP large, strongly protruding, tongue shaped; distal portion of LAP neither bulging nor elevated; outer surface with well-developed, regular vertical striation composed of thin, distalwards slightly overlapping lamellae, replaced by finely meshed stereom on ventral portion of LAP and near proximal edge. Six ear-shaped spine articulations in notches of distal edge; strong dorsalward increase in size of spine articulations and of gaps separating them; no connecting ridge with striation of outer surface; dorsal and ventral lobes of spine articulations separated by very small incision proximally; large and ventrally strongly increasing gap between spine articulations and distal edge. Ventral edge with very large, deeply concave, conspicuous tentacle notch, exacerbated by strongly protruding ventro-distal tip of LAP. Inner side of LAP with large, sharply defined, prominent, bent ridge; dorsal tip of ridge only very slightly widened, pointing dorsalwards; ventral tip of ridge merged with ventral portion of LAP; inner side of distal edge of LAP with two spurs, dorsal one of which small, round, poorly defined, very slightly prominent but not protruding; ventral spur much larger, better defined, prominent, lenticular; inner side of tentacle notch slightly wider than one-third of the total ventral LAP edge width. Irregular vertical row of perforations, ventralmost of which dorsally bordering tentacle notch, moderately large; remaining perforations minute; row of perforations distally bordered by poorly defined, slightly prominent ridge. Paratype supplements and variation GZG.INV.78542 is a dissociated median LAP, nearly as high as wide; of rectangular to trapezoid outline; dorsal and distal edges oblique, straight; proximal edge slightly undulose, with two small, poorly defined, slightly prominent and very slightly protruding spurs; ventral fifth of LAP protruding; outer surface with vertical striation becoming slightly irregular in ventral half of LAP; striation replaced by finely meshed stereom close to proximal edge of LAP. Four spine articulations in moderately deep notches of distal edge; very weak dorsalward increase in size of spine articulations and of gaps separating them; narrow but ventrally increasing gap between spine articulations and distal edge of LAP. Ventral edge of LAP convex with moderately large, weakly concave tentacle notch. Inner side with large, sharply defined ridge; dorsal tip of ridge slightly widened, ventral tip separated from ventral portion of LAP; inner side of distal edge of LAP with two small, moderately well-defined, slightly prominent spurs; inner side of tentacle notch slightly smaller than one-quarter of the total ventral edge of the LAP. Poorly defined, irregular perforation halfway between ridge and distal edge of LAP. GZG.INV.78543 is a dissociated distal LAP, approximately 1.5 times wider than high, of rectangular outline; well in agreement with other paratype; ventral portion of LAP hardly protruding. Inner side of LAP with sharply defined, prominent, bone-shaped ridge; dorsal and ventral tips of ridge strongly widened. Remarks These LAPs show a certain resemblance with LAPs assigned to Dermocoma (see below), in particular on account of the relatively deep notches holding the spine articulations and the spurs on the outer proximal and inner distal edges. These similarities, however, are superficial at most. In fact, the very large tentacle notches clearly preclude assignment to Dermocoma. Among the large-pored ophiacanthid lineages, greatest similarities are shared with the LAPs of extant Ophiotoma and the fossil LAP types assigned to that genus. Thus, in spite of the rather atypically well-developed spurs on the outer proximal and inner distal edges, the above-described LAPs are assigned to Ophiotoma. Within this genus, the LAPs in question are highly distinctive on account of the spurs and their very large, conspicuous, tongue-shaped ventro-distal tip, which is why they are described as a new species. Occurrence Early Pliensbachian of Great Britain and Late Pliensbachian of Switzerland., Published as part of Thuy, Ben, 2013, Temporary expansion to shelf depths rather than an onshore-offshore trend: the shallow-water rise and demise of the modern deep-sea brittle star family Ophiacanthidae (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), pp. 1-242 in European Journal of Taxonomy 48 on pages 59-60, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.48, http://zenodo.org/record/3822836, {"references":["Hess H. 1962. Mikropalaontologische Untersuchungen an Ophiuren II: Die Ophiuren aus dem Lias (Pliensbachien-Toarcien) von Seewen (Kt. Solothurn). Eclogae geologicae Helvetiae 55: 609 - 656."]}

Ophiotoma incredibilis sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 768EE8E5-D636-4D23-9640-6D22A392265B Fig. 13: 1-3 Diagnosis Species of Ophiotoma with large LAPs displaying a low height/width ratio; outer surface with welldeveloped vertical striation; up to four relatively small spine articulations in shallow notches of the non-elevated distal portion of the LAP; ridge on inner side devoid of thickened parts, composed of two separated parts: a long, oblique, nearly straight, dorso-proximally pointing dorsal one and a shorter ventro-proximally pointing ventral one. Etymology From incredibilis, Latin for “unbelievable”, referring to the surprisingly emotional reactions some colleagues showed when confronted with the discovery of the Blake Nose deep-sea ophiuroid assemblage. Type material Holotype GZG.INV.78549. Paratypes GZG.INV.78550 and GZG.INV.78551. Type locality and horizon Blake Nose, borehole ODP 171B 1049A 20x5, tropical northeast Atlantic; latest Aptian to earliest Albian, Hedbergella trochoidea to Microhedbergella rischi planktonic foraminiferal zones, Early Cretaceous. Additional material GZG.INV.78552 (26 dissociated LAPs). Description Holotype GZG.INV.78549 is a dissociated, very large, proximal LAP; slightly wider than high; dorsal edge straight; distal edge convex; proximal edge irregularly concave, devoid of spurs; ventral third to quarter strongly protruding ventro-proximalwards; ventro-distal tip of LAP weakly protruding, tongue shaped; outer surface with well-developed, rather regular vertical striation composed of coarse, overlapping lamellae replaced by finely meshed stereom in very narrow band along the proximal edge of the LAP. Four relatively small, ear-shaped spine articulations in shallow notches of the non-elevated distal edge of LAP; very weak dorsalward increase in size of spine articulations and of gaps separating them; notches of spine articulations deeply incising vertical striation of outer surface; dorsal and ventral lobes of spine articulations proximally separated by very small notch; gap between spine articulations and distal edge of LAP narrow, with ventralward increase in width. Ventral edge of LAP with large, deeply concave tentacle notch. Inner side of LAP with two sharply defined, prominent, very slender ridges separated by poorly defined, very weakly prominent connection; dorsal ridge oblique, nearly straight except for ventrally pointing ventral tip; ventral ridge much shorter, nearly straight, ventro-proximally pointing; inner side of distal edge of LAP devoid of spurs; inner side of tentacle notch large, well defined, with coarsely meshed, horizontally elongate stereom, slightly narrower than one-third of the total ventral LAP edge width. No perforations or furrow discernible. Paratype supplements and variation GZG.INV.78550 is a dissociated median to proximal LAP; almost 1.5 times wider than high; dorsoproximal tip fragmentary; very well in agreement with holotype; vertical striation on outer surface slightly finer and slightly less regular. Three spine articulations similar to those observed on holotype but of equal size. Inner side well in agreement with holotype; ridges slightly better preserved, completely separate. Single small perforation dorsally bordering tentacle notch. GZG.INV.78551 is a dissociated distal LAP; twice higher than wide; dorsal edge slightly concave as a result of a very weak constriction; vertical striation on outer surface less well developed than in holotype. Three spine articulations similar to those observed on the holotype. Inner side of LAP with small, slender ridge composed of slightly bent, oblique, dorso-proximally pointing dorsal part and shorter ventro-proximally pointing ventral part separated from the dorsal one by a gently rounded kink; sharply defined, prominent, round knob distally bordering the ridge. Remarks These LAPs are characterised by a well-developed outer surface vertical striation, a strongly ventroproximally protruding ventral portion, and the absence of a strongly elevated or bulging distal portion. The genera Ophiologimus and Lapidaster gen. nov. can be excluded since the spine articulations are in shallow notches rather than freestanding. The LAPs of Dermocoma display a continuous spine articulation volute rather than dorsal and ventral lobes separated proximally by a small notch. Among the genera with LAPs displaying strongly protruding, generally large ventral portions, closets affinities are shared with Ophiotoma and Dermacantha gen. nov. The LAPs of the latter, although with similarly low height/width ratio, generally display spurs on the outer proximal and inner distal edges and a smaller tentacle notch. The above-described LAPs are thus assigned to Ophiotoma, acknowledging, however, that the height/width ration is atypically low and the tentacle notch unusually small. Nevertheless, assignment to Ophiotoma is favoured for now. Occurrence Latest Aptian to earliest Albian of the tropical northeast Atlantic., Published as part of Thuy, Ben, 2013, Temporary expansion to shelf depths rather than an onshore-offshore trend: the shallow-water rise and demise of the modern deep-sea brittle star family Ophiacanthidae (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea), pp. 1-242 in European Journal of Taxonomy 48 on pages 62-65, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.48, http://zenodo.org/record/3822836