A NEW SPECIES OF OPHIUROIDEA FROM THE COAST OF KII PENINSURA, JAPAN

Abstract

No species belonging to the genus Ophiolepis of Ophiuroidea has hitherto been recorded from the coast of Japan, but only two species, O. cincta and O. annulosa, from the Okinawa Islands. Recently I received a littoral ophiurid specimen from Prof. H. UTINOMI, Seto Marine Biological Laboratory of Kyoto University. The specimen was collected in the vicinity of Seto by one of the students visited the laboratory for the marine biological course in August, 1967 and handed to Prof. UTINOMI for identification. As a result of the study, the specimen is considered to be a new species of the genus Ophiolepis. Before going further, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Prof H. UTINOMI for his kindness in offering this valuable specimen to me for examination, and to Dr. T. TOKIOKA, Seto Marine Biological Laboratory of Kyoto University, for his kind advices in preparation of the manuscript.