Deep-water Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from off Chile in the Eastern South Pacific

Abstract

The ophiuroids collected during the Oceanographic Expedition PUCK (SONNE-156) in 2001, in the framework of the project "Interactions between productivity and environment along the Chilean continental shelf" were analyzed. Eight samples had ophiuroids; Fifteen species were distributed in the following families: Gorgonocephalidae (2), Asteronychidae (2), Ophiomyxidae (1), Ophiacanthidae (2), Ophiuridae (5), Amphiuridae (1), and Ophiolepididae (2). Four species were recorded for the first time from Chilean waters, i.e., Asteronyx loveni Müller & Troschel, Astrodia tenuispina Verrill, Ophiolimna bairdi (Lyman), and Ophiocten amitinum Lyman, and three are new, i.e., Ophiura (Ophiuroglypha) arntzi sp. nov., Amphiophiura gallardoi sp. nov., and Stegophiura wilhelmi sp. nov._______________________________________________________________________________ RESUMEN: Se analizan los ofiuroídeos colectados durante la expedición oceanográfica PUCK (SONNE-156) en 2001, en el marco del proyecto "Interacciones entre la productividad y el ambiente a lo largo de la plataforma continental chilena". Ocho muestras con ofiuroídeos contenían un total de 15 especies: Gorgonocephalidae (2), Asteronychidae (2), Ophiomyxidae (1), Ophiacanthidae (2), Ophiuridae (5), Amphiuridae (1), y Ophiolepididae (2). Cuatro especies fueron registradas por primera vez en Chile, i.e., Asteronyx loveni Müller & Troschel, Astrodia tenuispina Verrill, Ophiolimna bairdi (Lyman), y tres son nuevas especies, i.e., Ophiura (Ophiuroglypha) arntzi sp. nov., Amphiophiura gallardoi sp. nov., and Stegophiura wilhelmi sp. nov.