First Record of the Brittle Star Ophiocamax hystrix Lyman, 1878 (Ophiacanthida) in Venezuela

Abstract

The genus Ophiocamax was originally described by Lyman (1878) and is characterized by the presence of spiny oral papillae and spine-shaped tentacular scales. Although 11 species of this genus are currently known, knowledge about their distribution and diversity is limited, especially in Venezuelan waters. This study represents the first report of Ophiocamax hystrix in Venezuela, contributing to the understanding of the biodiversity of brittle stars in the region. The objective is document the presence of Ophiocamax hystrix in Venezuelan waters, describe its morphological characteristics, and compare this species with other members of the same genus to enhance understanding of its distribution and taxonomy. A specimen of Ophiocamax hystrix was collected at the fishing port of La Zorra, La Guaira, Venezuela, at a depth of 280 m. The specimen exhibited distinctive morphological features, such as spiny oral papillae and spine-shaped tentacular scales. Its morphology is consistent with previous descriptions of the species, although minor variations were observed and are discussed in this study. This finding represents the first confirmed record of the species in Venezuela. The discovery of Ophiocamax hystrix in Venezuela extends its geographical distribution and contributes to the knowledge of brittle star biodiversity in the deep waters of the Caribbean. Further exploration of Venezuelan deep waters is recommended to enhance understanding of benthic fauna and to update the catalog of echinoderm species in the region.