Abstract

OLBERS, Jennifer M.; SAMYN, Yves  and  GRIFFITHS, Charles L.. New or notable records of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from South Africa. Afr. nat. history (Online) [online]. 2015, vol.11, pp.83-116. ISSN 2305-7963.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2305-7963/2015/v11n1a3.

Ophiuroid research in South Africa has not kept pace with global taxonomie research with the last major taxonomie review of the group being published in 1976. This paper documents all new records of Ophiuroidea from South Africa since (and including) 1977. These records originate from specimens housed in five zoological collections, from photographic records and from reports published in the non-taxonomic literature. A short review of the history of ophiuroid taxonomy in South Africa is also given and for each new record, key references, distribution, ecology, additional notes and, where possible, photographs, are presented. This has resulted in an additional 24 species being recorded within the mainland Exclusive Economic Zone of South Africa, elevating the total known number of ophiuroid species reported in the region to 137.

Keywords : taxonomy; nomenclature; new record.

        · text in English     · English ( pdf )