Please help ID Brittle star

[GerritM]

Hello!
Who knows this brittle star?
Genus: Ophiarachna
Species: Ophiarachna cf. incrassata (??) or another?

He ist not reefsave.

regards
Gerrit

 

[LeslieH]

Outstanding photography, Gerrit! Do you know what part of the world it's from? What has it eaten in your tank?

 

[GerritM]

Outstanding photography, Gerrit!

Thanks.

Do you know what part of the world it's from?

No real idea. :sad2: I guess Indonesia (Indo-Pacific). I believe this to have heard. But I'm not sure.

What has it eaten in your tank?

He has in my tank my Ophiarachna megacantha eaten (legs). See photo.
But I could still save him and put him in my other tank.

Do you have a guess, what could it be?

Here are 2 videos of my Ophiarachna sp. (cf. incrassata):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd_Ym6iqkwU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_uUddrM-ss

 

[GerritM]

Here are two videos where he eats pieces of the arms / legs of my other britlle star.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-4EK_SmSU6w?fs=1&hl=de_DE"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-4EK_SmSU6w?fs=1&hl=de_DE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

and

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sJV9ZS3slA8?fs=1&hl=de_DE"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sJV9ZS3slA8?fs=1&hl=de_DE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[LeslieH]

I don't know what it is but I've sent your photos to our echinoderm curator, Dr. Gordon Hendler, to see if he does.

 

[GerritM]

OK, thanks. Let's see what he means.

regards
Gerrit

 

[LeslieH]

Hi Gerrit --

Here's Gordon's reply. the last few lines are very typical for a museum person! :-D

"The ophiuroid resembles Ophiarachna incrassata with respect to its overall appearance. However, individuals of O. incrassata are generally green and they have distinctive spotted pattern on the disk and banded spines on the arms. Without examining the photographer’s ophiuroid in detail, I could not say with certainty if it actually is an “albino” individual of O. incrassata. In this case, photographs are not sufficient for identification.

It is unfortunate that the animal’s origin is unknown, since it could be an undescribed species of Ophiarachna. I wonder if your correspondent would be willing to donate the ophiuroid to this museum at some point, or if s/he could indicate where another similar specimen can be purchased?"

 

[GerritM]

Moin Leslie!
Thanks for your feedback.:thumbsup:

"The ophiuroid resembles Ophiarachna incrassata with respect to its overall appearance. However, individuals of O. incrassata are generally green and they have distinctive spotted pattern on the disk and banded spines on the arms. Without examining the photographer's ophiuroid in detail, I could not say with certainty if it actually is an "œalbino" individual of O. incrassata. In this case, photographs are not sufficient for identification.

Also, I asked the importer to find this brittle star came from. His answer: This brittle star is definitely from Bali.
I personally do not believe that it is an albino of O. incrassata. The importer had round about 10-15 of these brittle stars, which I have seen. I had picked out the largest and most beautiful. :spin1:

It is unfortunate that the animal's origin is unknown, since it could be an undescribed species of Ophiarachna. I wonder if your correspondent would be willing to donate the ophiuroid to this museum at some point, or if s/he could indicate where another similar specimen can be purchased?"

Unfortunately, he had no more of those. The come very rarely to Europe. All were sold directly. First, i would like to keep my own. Assist him in determining images of other views (left, right, up, down, legs .....)? Then i would post photos online later, I'm just at work.

the last few lines are very typical for a museum person! :-D

But I understand that.

BTW: My suggestion for a new name is: Ophiarachna meinensis :lol2:

 

[LeslieH]

Also, I asked the importer to find this brittle star came from. His answer: This brittle star is definitely from Bali.
I personally do not believe that it is an albino of O. incrassata.

Unfortunately, he had no more of those. The come very rarely to Europe. All were sold directly. First, i would like to keep my own. Assist him in determining images of other views (left, right, up, down, legs .....)? Then i would post photos online later, I'm just at work.

But I understand that.

BTW: My suggestion for a new name is: Ophiarachna meinensis :lol2:

I don't think it's an albino either.

I'll let him know.

That would be a fine name. Although it would be meini, to show that it was named for a male human rather than meinensis which means from the locality of mein! :lol: But without a specimen (or several) to work with he can't do anything....:sad1:

 

[ReeferBill]

I.D. Brittle`Star ?

I.D. Brittle`Star ?

Gerrit ; I think it is in the same family as the green brittles that can ambush and eat fish at night time. Definitly not reef safe. happy Reefing!!!!