Ophiothela mirabilis Verrill 1867

Disk lobulated (dd = 1.3 to 4.3 mm) and totally covered by large, rounded and scattered grains of different sizes. Disk mostly covered by large radial shields which are in contact and covered by grains (Fig. 3D). The ventral side of the disk is covered by skin (Fig. 3E). Oral and adoral shields appear to be fused, forming a continuous ring; covered by skin. Oral papillae lacking. A cluster of rounded dental papillae; about 10–18 (Fig. 3F). Six rolled up arms. Dorsal arm plates concealed and covered by numerous rounded grains, there are naked spaces between plates (Fig. 3B). Ventral arm plates with rounded edges, separated by the lateral arm plates and covered with skin (Fig. 3C). Lateral arm plates well developed. Six arm spines provided with well-developed hooks at the tip; the third spine is the longest. Tentacle scales lacking. Color purplish-rosaceous; dorsal side of the disk mostly rosaceous with purplish arms (Fig. 3A), ventral side uniformly rosaceous (Fig. 3E).

Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Lesser Antilles (Verrill 1867, Neira and Cantera 2005, Alvarado et al. 2010, Hendler et al. 2012). In Mexico has been reported from the Gulf of California (Baja California Sur and Sinaloa), on the Pacific side of Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero and Oaxaca (Solís-Marín et al. 2005, Honey-Escandón et al. 2008, Granja-Fernández and López-Pérez 2011). Depth 6 to 61 m (Maluf 1988). In this study, Ophiothela mirabilis was collected on coral reefs from Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero and Oaxaca, between depths of 4 and 26 m.