Status of the Genera Ophiopeza and Ophiopsammus (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in Australian Waters, with the Description of a new Species L. L. Vail and F. W. E. ROWE Vail, L. L., & Rowe, F. W. E. Status of the genera Ophiopeza and Ophiopsammus (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in Australian waters, with the description of a new species. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 110(3), (1988) 1989: 267-288. A study of type and other material has resulted in a reappraisal of the generic limits of the ophiodermatid genera Ophiopeza Peters, 1851 and Ophiopsammus Liitken, 1869. By using disc scaling as a character of generic significance the species fallax arabica A. M. Clark, 1968, cylindrica Hutton, 1872a, and spinosa, Ljungman, 1867, have been retained in the genus Ophiopeza, type-species fallax fallax Peters, 1851, while the species aequalis Lyman, 1880, anchista H. L. Clark, 1911, assimilis Bell, 1888, and maculata Verrill, 1869 have been transferred to the genus Ophiopsammus, type-species yoldii Liitken, 1856. In addition, Ophiopsammus angusta sp. nov. is described from southeastern Australian waters. The following species have been synonymized: Ophiopeza arenosa (Lyman, 1879) and Ophiopeza gracilis (Mortensen, 1924) with Ophiopeza cylindrica; Ophiopeza dubiosa (de Loriol, 1893) with Ophiopeza spinosa; and Ophiopeza dyscnla (H. L. Clark, 1909) and Ophiopeza nigra (H. L. Clark, 1938) with Ophiopsammus assimilis. Ophiopsammus aequalis is recorded for the first time from Australia. Notes are given for a misidentified type speci-men oi anchista. A key to all the known species of Ophiopeza and Ophiopsammus is given, except for «xz7w Koehler, 1905. L. L. Vail, Northern Territory Museum, G.P.O. Box 4646, Darwin, Australia 5794, and F. W. E. Rowe, Division of Invertebrate Zoology (Echinoderms), Australian Museum, P.O. Box A285, Sydney South, Australia 2000; manuscript received 30 December 1986, accepted for publication 18 May 1988. Introduction The taxonomic status of Pectinura Forbes 1843, Ophiopeza Peters 1851, and Ophio-psammus Liitken 1869 has been most recently discussed by A. M. Clark (1968). Briefly, Pectinum was described by Forbes (1843) for vestita from a small specimen taken off southern Turkey. Ophiopeza was described by Peters (1851) for the species/aZ/ax which was collected off Mozambique. These two genera were separated on the presence of supplementary oral shields in Pectinura and their absence in Ophiopeza. Ophiopsammus was established by Liitken (1869) for his earlier described species Ophiopeza yoldii. This genus was distinguished by the absence of supplementary oral shields and the concealment of radial shields by disc granules. Lyman (1882) subsequently referred yoldii back to Ophiopeza although he gave no justification. He listed 12 species belonging to the genus Pectinum and five species to Ophiopeza. In a review, H. L. Clark (1909a) synonymized both Ophiopeza and Ophiopsammus with Pectinum on the grounds that the presence or absence of supplementary oral shields in these genera lacked sufficient taxonomic value. However, he stated that if his interpretation of Forbes' inadequate description of vestita was incorrect then Pectinum should probably replace Ophiamchnella Ljungman, 1871. Furthermore, Ophiopeza would become the available generic name for the 10 species he included in the genus Pectinum. Later in the same year, he described (H. L. Clark, 1909b) another species oi Pectinum, dyscrita, from off New South Wales. During his visits to Aus-tralia in 1913, 1929, and 1932, H. L. Clark collected only one specimen o{ Pectinum which he described as a new species, nigm (H. L. Clark, 1938) from Western Australia. In his 1946 review of the Australian echinoderm fauna, H. L. Clark recorded five species of PROC. LINN. Soc. N.S.W., 110(3), (1988) 1989
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