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| Distribution map | F 80930. Family - Gorgonocephalidae. |
Description The disc is flat, 25 mm diameter. The radial shields are narrow, straight-sided, contiguous proximally, divergent distally; 7–9 times long as wide, and length 0.5 times d.d. The dorsal surface is covered by skin; primary plates not visible. The ventral interradial surface is with skin. The oral shields are covered in skin. The adoral shields are covered in skin. Bursal slits reduced or extend from the oral shield to the disc margin, not bordered by spines or papillae. The jaw is as wide as long or wider than long, with one or two (tending toward a cluster), rounded apical papilla, longer than wide. Oral papillae are present along each jaw angle in a series, pointed. The oral tentacle pore is located inside the jaw, with distal oral papilla similar to other oral papillae. The specimen has five arms, branched, moniliform, 5–7 times d.d. Dorsal arm plates not visible, covered by skin, without spines/granules; bands of hooklets. The second ventral arm plates are not visible. Ventral arm plates of the first free segments not visible, covered. Tentacle pores along the arm, with no scales. There are 0 arm spines on the first ventral segment, 2–3 on the first free segments. The spines are erect, restriced to the ventral surface, subequal, and 0.5–1 times as long as one arm segment, pointed, cylindrical. There are thorns (bifid), forming terminal points, on the tip. Spines also skin partially (at base) or completely covering spine.
Description exported from Delta key and to be finalised when DNA sampling completed. Note species description and image characters may vary slightly in animals of different size within the same species. Cite this publication as: "T O'Hara
(2010). ‘Ophiuroids from deep sea southern Australia. Museum Victoria. Version:
1.0 http://www.museumvictoria.com.au/stars" MUSEUMVICTORIA |