Ophiura (Ophiuroglypha) irrorata ? (Lyman 1878

Ophiura (Ophiuroglypha) irrorata ? (Lyman, 1878) Reports for the Azores:

non Ophioglypha irrorata Lyman, 1878 — Koehler 1896b: 241 [misidentify O. concreta];

non Ophiura irrorata (Lyman, 1878) — Grieg 1932: 32 [based Koehler 1896b];

Ophiura irrorata (Lyman, 1878) —? $ Martynov & Litvinova 2008: 79–80, fig. 1C.

Type locality: off South Africa.

See: Lyman (1878: 73–74, pl. 4, figs. 106–108); Paterson (1985: 122–125, figs. 46–47).

Occurrence: cosmopolitan, in all oceans except Arctic; in the Atlantic from Cape Cod, eastwards from SW Iceland to NW Africa (Paterson 1985), including the Azores (Martynov & Litvinova 2008); reported elsewhere off South African deep waters (Lyman 1878).

Depth: 403– 7,340 m, most common at depths over 2,000 m (? AZO: 3,005–3,050 m; Martynov & Litvinova 2008).

Habitat: soft substrates (e.g., ooze; Lyman 1882).

Remarks: the first report of O. irrorata from the archipelago was made by Koehler (1896b, as Ophioglypha irrorata), later changed to O. mundata. The report of O. irrorata by Grieg (1932) from the Azores was either based on the first report by Koehler (1896b) or by Mortensen (1927a) who at the time believed both species were conspecific. More recently, Martynov & Litvinova (2008) identified a single specimen of O. irrorata in the north of the Azores (G.O. Sars, MAR–ECO cruise, sta 46/372: 42°46’N, 29°16’W, 3,005 –3,050 m). As Martynov & Litvinova disputed the subspecific status of O. concreta as a subspecies of O. irrorata, it is not clear whether the individual belonged to the O. irrorata sensu stricto or to O. concreta. Ophiura irrorata is cosmopolitan species and thus, likely to occur in the Azores deepwaters. However, taking into account the taxonomical background of this species, we considered its presence in the Azores as uncertain (see above remarks under O. concreta and O. mundata).