Stöhr S et al. (2012), Global diversity of brittle stars (Echinodermat...

ECB-ART-42354

PLoS One 2012 Jan 01;73:e31940. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031940.

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Global diversity of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea).

Stöhr S , O'Hara TD , Thuy B .

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This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current status regarding the global diversity of the echinoderm class Ophiuroidea, focussing on taxonomy and distribution patterns, with brief introduction to their anatomy, biology, phylogeny, and palaeontological history. A glossary of terms is provided. Species names and taxonomic decisions have been extracted from the literature and compiled in The World Ophiuroidea Database, part of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Ophiuroidea, with 2064 known species, are the largest class of Echinodermata. A table presents 16 families with numbers of genera and species. The largest are Amphiuridae (467), Ophiuridae (344 species) and Ophiacanthidae (319 species). A biogeographic analysis for all world oceans and all accepted species was performed, based on published distribution records. Approximately similar numbers of species were recorded from the shelf (n = 1313) and bathyal depth strata (1297). The Indo-Pacific region had the highest species richness overall (825 species) and at all depths. Adjacent regions were also relatively species rich, including the North Pacific (398), South Pacific (355) and Indian (316) due to the presence of many Indo-Pacific species that partially extended into these regions. A secondary region of enhanced species richness was found in the West Atlantic (335). Regions of relatively low species richness include the Arctic (73 species), East Atlantic (118), South America (124) and Antarctic (126).

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Genes referenced: ass1 LOC105444561 LOC579609

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	Figure 1. Discovery rate of ophiuroid species since 1758.
	Figure 2. Diversity of brittle stars.A. Ophiolepis superba, a typical five-armed form with simple arms; B. Ophiacantha enopla veterna, a form with long serrated arm spines and spinelets covering the disc; C, Ophiactis tyleri, a six-armed fissiparous form; D. Euryale aspera, a basket star with branched arms. Scale bars in millimetres.
	Figure 3. Skeletal morphology of brittle stars shown on Amphiura chiajei.SEM images. A. dorsal disc and arms; B. arm dorsolaterally; C. isolated lateral arm plate with spine articulations; D, E. arm vertebrae dissected from the inside of the arm; D. distal face; E. proximal face; F. ventral aspect of disc and arms; G. detail of jaw; H. dental plate from tip of jaw; I, J. oral plates(half-jaws); I. abradial face; J. adradial face. AS, adoral shield; ASS, adoral shield spine (often described as oral tentacle scale); CPP, central primary plate, DAP, dorsal arm plate; M, madreporite, OS, oral shield, RPP, radial primary plate; RS, radial shield; SA, spine articulation; TS, tentacle scale; VAP, ventral arm plate. Scale bars in millimetres.
	Figure 4. Comparison of juvenile and adult morphology. Ophiopleura borealis. SEM images. A. early postlarva, lacking dorsal arm plates, interradial disc scales and radial shields, madreporite lateral; B. small (young) adult, scales partially obscured by thickened skin. LAP, lateral arm plate; TP, terminal plate. Scale bars in millimetres.
	Figure 5. Diversity of ophiuroid skeletal elements: jaws, dental and genital plates.A–E. oral plates (half-jaws), abradial face; A. Ophiura sarsii (Ophiuridae), strongly elongated; B. Ophiothrix fragilis (Ophiotrichidae), short jaw with branch-like ornamentation; C. Ophiocoma erinaceus (Ophiocomidae), short jaw with striations; D. Ophiacantha bidentata (Ophiacanthidae), weakly elongated; E, Ophioderma longicauda (Ophiodermatidae), strongly elongated. F–J. dental plates, external (proximal) face; F, O. sarsii, multiple openings per tooth; G. O. fragilis, different areas for tooth papillae and teeth; H. O. erinaceus, different areas for tooth papillae and teeth; I. O. bidentata; J, O. longicauda, dental plate consists of several pieces; K–U. genital plates. K–L. O. sarsii; K, genital plates articulating with radial shields; M–N. O. fragilis; O–P. O. erinaceus; Q–R. O. bidentata; S, O. longicauda; T–U. Amphiura chiajei (Amphiuridae). ad, adradial; ab, abradial; am, articulation to arm; m, muscle attachment area; RS, radial shield.; to, tooth socket; tp, tooth papillae area; Scale bars in millimetres.
	Figure 6. Diversity of ophiuroid skeletal elements: lateral arm plates and vertebrae.A–O. arm vertebrae; A–K. zygospondylous articulation. A–B. Ophiura sarsii (Ophiuridae); C–E. Ophiothrix fragilis (Ophiotrichidae), keeled type; F–G. Ophiocoma erinaceus (Ophiocomidae); H–I. Ophiacantha bidentata (Ophiacanthidae); J–K. Ophioderma longicauda (Ophiodermatidae); L–O. streptospondylous articulation, Gorgonocephalus eucnemis (Gorgonocephalidae); L–M. regular vertebrae; N. first vertebra of a new branch; O. last vertebra before a new branch (N and another similar vertebra articulate with O). P–Z. lateral arm plates. P–Q. O. sarsii; R–S. O. fragilis; T–U. O. erinaceus; V–W. O. bidentata; X–Y. O. longicauda; Z. G. eucnemis, dist, distal; ext, external; g, groove; int, internal; k, keel; m, muscle attachment area; prox, proximal; sa, spine articulation. Scale bars in millimetres.
	Figure 7. Global distribution of described species of Ophiuroidea, based on Table 2.

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Aizenberg, Calcitic microlenses as part of the photoreceptor system in brittlestars. 2001, Pubmed, Echinobase