Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the continental shelf off Angola and Namibia Author Glück, Franziska U. Author Stöhr, Sabine Author Bochert, Ralf Author Zettler, Michael L. text Zootaxa 2012 3475 1 20 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.282230 bb15ffdf-3104-4e60-932b-77e650707a27 1175-5326 282230 Ophiactis plana Lyman, 1869 Fig. 4A, B West African records. Alva & Vadon 1989 : 839. This species is common in South Africa and rare in South–West Africa. Alva and Vadon collected only five specimens at 26°S (southern Namibia ). Material examined. St. 88: dredge sampling, 7°14.088´S , 12°41.010´E ; 1 specimen , 2 mm . Depth: 41 m . This species appeared just once and was the only individual at this station. Diagnosis. Ophiactis plana is easily distinguished from Ophiactis luetkeni by the presence of six arms and the complete covering of the dorsal side of the disc with fan-shaped scales. The remaining characters are similar to Ophiactis luetkeni (see above). Distribution. This sublittoral species (Mortensen 1933a) may be restricted to the Atlantic Ocean or distributed worldwide at depths down to 412 m , depending on the taxonomic status of this and several similar species. It has never been found as far north off West Africa as described here, but was described from the Caribbean.