Zongjing Deng, Nicholas Wei Liang Yap & Toshihiko Fujita

Abstract. A total of 454 ophiuroid specimens were collected from beaches surrounding the public lagoons at Sentosa Island, Singapore, during a marine biodiversity survey in May 2023. They belong to seven species and three genera in two families, Ophiactidae and Ophiotrichidae. The most abundant species were Ophiactis savignyi found in sponges, and Ophiothela mirabilis observed amongst sponges, sea grass, and algae. Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) plana is transferred to Macrophiothrix based on molecular evidence, with SEM observations of isolated dorsal arm plates providing morphological support for this reassignment. All seven species were previously reported from deeper waters around Singapore; this is the first time they have been documented from artificial structures in shallow-waters of reclaimed beaches. Findings from this study provide a baseline that will be useful for further biodiversity monitoring along modified coastal shores.

Key words. echinoderm, ophiuroid, Ophiactidae, Ophiotrichidae, new combination, artificial environment, Singapore

Read article here: RBZ-2026-0016