Ophiernus vallincola Lyman, 1878

Ophiernus vallincola Lyman, 1878 View in CoL

Ophiernus vallincola Lyman, 1878: 122–123 View in CoL , pl. 6(170–172). — Lyman, 1882: 32–33, pl. 24(16–18), 38(6–9). — Clark, H.L., 1923: 365. — Clark, H.L., 1939: 134. — Clark, A.M. & Courtman-Stock, 1976: 185, fig. 201. — Madsen, 1977: 112–114, fig. 2. — Paterson, 1985: 98–99, fig. 40. — Guille & Vadon, 1986: 169. — Olbers et al. 2019: 185–186, fig. 178–179. — O’Hara, 2024b: 64, fig. 63

STUDY MATERIAL. — MD208 : stn CP4913, Walters shoal, Plaine Sud, 33° 48.82´S, 44° 5.9699´E to 33° 51.8´S, 44° 4.72´E, 1539–1615 m, 11/5/2017: 1 ( MNHN IE.2016.1379) ( DNA code= IE.2016.1379-2) GoogleMaps .

COMPARATIVE MATERIAL EXAMINED. Ophiernus alepidotus Madsen, 1977 : CCLME-1205/BT327, Bissau , 11° 31.08´N, 17° 24.27´W to 11° 32.08´N, 17° 24.22´W, 738– 730 m, 19/5/2012 GoogleMaps , Vigo 2719 ( DNA code= V 2917). Maurit-1011 / MU256 , Mauritania, 19° 35´N, 17° 16.03´W to 19° 36.67´N, 17° 18.72´W, 1160 m, 25/11/2010 GoogleMaps , Vigo 2415 ( DNA code= V 2415). Ophiernus cf. alepidotus SAYA /CP5412, N Saya de Malha, 9° 44.192´S, 60° 48.05´E to 9° 44.561´S, 60° 48.435´E, 1441– 1396 m, 7/11/2022 GoogleMaps , MNHN IE.2023.4180 ( DNA code= IE.2023.4180). Ophiernus vallincola Lyman, 1878 : IN2015_C01/117, Great Australian Bight , SZ03 Area 22, 34° 40.458´S, 132° 28.7635´E to 34° 39.618´S, 132° 27.2761´E, 1017– 1014 m, 24/11/2015 GoogleMaps , MV F227611 ( DNA code=F227611). IN2017 _ V03 /056, Jervis CMR, 35° 19.98´S, 151° 15.48´E to 35° 19.92´S, 151° 12.84´E, 2650– 2636 m, 29/5/2017 GoogleMaps , MV F240096 ( DNA code=F240096). in2022_v08/145, Cocos ( Keeling), 12° 7.593´S, 96° 40.9921´E to 12° 7.82´S, 96° 40.6418´E, 3078– 3002 m, 17/10/2022 GoogleMaps , identified by O’Hara (2024b), MV F307644 ( DNA code=F307644). ME 85- 3/1072, South Iceland, Irminger Basin, 63° 0.46´N, 28° 4.0896´W to 63° 1.1´N, 28° 3.15´W, 1594 m, 8/9/2011 GoogleMaps , DZMB-HH 37435 ( DNA code= DZMB37435 A). PS61 ANT-XIX/3 ( ANDEEP)/044- 1, Elephant Island , 60° 58.08´S, 55° 6.85´W to 60° 58.09´S, 55° 4.05´W, 308–399 m, 29/1/2002 GoogleMaps , CASIZ 161551 ( DNA code= CAS161551 About CAS ). TAN1206/15, Site SL 1d, slope, Bay of Plenty , 36° 55.44´S, 176° 58.782´E to 176° 58.752´N, 36° 55.152´W, 1502- 1493 m, 16/4/2012 , MV F188877 ( DNA code=402VBH) .

Distribution. Arctic ( 1643–1648 m), NE Atlantic ( 619–4000 m), W Indian Ocean ( 1000–2312 m), E IndoW Pacific ( 300–3078 m), S Africa ( 1097–3255 m), Kerguelen (2557– 2557 m), S Australia ( 439–2821 m), New Zealand ( 1139–3391 m), Antarctic ( 308–3673 m).

Remarks. Ophiernus vallincola is a worldwide complex of bathyal species that also includes the weakly calcified O. alepidotus from off western Africa. More DNA samples are required across its geographic and bathymetric range to establish species boundaries. The Walters Shoal specimen is 7 mm dd, with the wide radial shields, disc scales limited to a row that surrounds the radial shields and a few in the centre of disc. Arm bristles are present.