Amphipholis squamata is an important Ophiuroid species belonging to the family Amphiuridae which is widely used in biotechnological and molecular studies. It is a cosmopolitan species and capable to inhabit a wide variety of habitats except the polar regions, from subtidal zone to the depth of 2000 meters. ... In the present study, Amphipholis squamata was reported for the first time from the subtidal zone of Chabahar Bay in northern part of the Oman Sea. This paper also provides information about the taxonomy and morphology of this group of aquatic taxa dwelling in the marine waters of the Iranian coasts of Chabahar Bay and the Oman Sea

Attaran-Fariman, G.

Beygmoradi, A.

Aquatic Commons

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences                            15(3)1254-1261                                            2016 
 
  
The first report of Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1829) 
(Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Chabahar  
Bay – northern Oman Sea 
 
Attaran-Fariman G. *; Beygmoradi A. 
 
 
Received: December 2014                     Accepted: April 2016 
 
 
  Chabahar Maritime University, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Department of Marine Biology, 
Daneshgah Avenue, 99717-56499, Chabahar, Iran. 
*Corresponding author's email: gilan.attaran@gmail.com  
 
 
Keywords: Echinoderms, Amphiuridae, Morphology, Taxonomy, Chabahar Bay; 
Oman Sea 
 
Introduction  
Amphipholis squamata is an important 
Ophiuroid species belonging to the 
family Amphiuridae which is widely 
used in biotechnological and molecular 
studies. It is a cosmopolitan species and 
capable to inhabit a wide variety of 
habitats except the polar regions, from 
subtidal zone to the depth of 2000 
meters (Hendler, 1995). According to 
Fell (1962) its widespread distribution 
all over the world is the result of its 
costal migration. A. squamata is 
characterized by its small body size, 
hermaphroditic reproduction, lack of 
larval phase, (Nisolle, 1990) and brood 
protection properties. It is an 
omnivorous species filtering sediment 
food particles and planktons (Emson 
and Whitfield, 1989). Variety in 
coloration patterns are reported among 
the cognates of this species (Deheyn 
and Jangoux, 1999). Also, this species 
is one of the most important 
echinoderms in terms of 
bioluminescence (Deheyn et al., 1997). 
Bioluminescence echinoderms were 
identified about two centuries ago 
(Viviani, 1805), consisting 4 out of 5 
class of Echinodermata (Herring, 1987). 
The only class without bioluminescence 
ability is Echinoidea (Herring, 1987). 
In the present study, Amphipholis 
squamata was reported for the first time 
from the subtidal zone of Chabahar Bay 
in northern part of the Oman Sea. This 
paper also provides information about 
the taxonomy and morphology of this 
group of aquatic taxa dwelling in the 
marine waters of the Iranian coasts of 
Chabahar Bay and the Oman Sea.  
 
1255 Attaran-Fariman and Beygmoradi, The first report of Amphipholis squamata … 
 
Materials and methods  
This study was carried out in March 
2014. Sediment samples were collected 
by grab from the subtidal zone at 
Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar Bay 
(Fig. 1). Brittle stars was sorted in situ 
and put in a jar including sea water. 
Specimens were transferred to 
Laboratory of Chabahar Maritime 
University and living specimens were 
maintained in the well aerated 
aquariums. Dimensions, radial shields, 
form and color of disc and arms’ length 
were measured in all of the specimens. 
Photographs were taken by streo 
microscope (model C-DS ) equipped 
with the camera (model T4AL250 V 
(21 V 150 W)). Identification keys used 
in this study were from Clark and Rowe 
(1971); Price (1983) and Pomory 
(2007). Specimens (n=3) are currently 
fixed and preserved in 4% formaline  
and maintained in the same laboratory 
and are ready for scientific demands. 
 
Results and discussion 
A. squamata was recorded for the first 
time during this study. 
 
Systematic 
Order OPHIURIDA Müller and 
Troschel, 1840 
Suborder OPHIURINA Müller and 
Troschel, 1840 
Family AMPHIURIDAE Ljungman, 
1867 
Genus Amphipholis Ljungman, 1866 
Amphipholis squamata (DelleChiaje, 
1829) 
 
Redescription 
Generally trunk brownish gray carrying 
small circular disk with black speckles 
(ca. 5 mm) and arms (6 cm). Dorsally, 
disk covered by small and irregular 
scales overlapping partially. Radial 
shields with elongated, thin, connective, 
rounded outer margins and straight 
inner margin (Fig. 2A). Coloration and 
coverage in ventral part similar to 
dorsal side. Bursa slits elongated. Oral 
shield pentagonal with an enlarged 
distal margin and convex, somewhat 
longer than wide. Dorsal shield large 
and united proximally. Two oral papilla 
present on each corner of jaw. 
infradental papillae present in pair (Fig. 
2B). Dorsal arm plate oval with smooth 
distal margin (Fig. 2C). Ventral arm 
plate pentagonal (Fig. 2D). 3arm spines 
conic, transparent, erected, serrated at 
tip, 2 small tentacle scales, thin and 
elongated (Fig. 2E). 
     Ophiuroidea have a widespread 
distribution in the tropics. Totally 651 
Echinodermata species have been 
reported from the Indian Ocean so far, 
152 of which are belonging to 
Ophiuroidea. Chabahar Bay includes a 
variety of substrate such as, sandy, 
muddy and rocks. This 
geomorphological variation makes this 
region qulified to be habitable for 
various groups of animals (Sharifi, 
2004). 
Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 15(3) 2016                                      1256 
 
 
 
 
Figure 1: Geographical location of the study area at Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar Bay, and 
its position at the Iranian coast of the Oman Sea. 
 
 
 
 
Figure 2: Species of the family Amphiuridae. Amphipholis squamata A dorsal view, detail of the 
radial shields B ventral view C jaw D dorsal view of the arms E ventral view of the 
arms. Scale bar = A and B 2 mm; C, D and E 100 µm. 
1257 Attaran-Fariman and Beygmoradi, The first report of Amphipholis squamata … 
 
 However, the Ophiuroid species which 
were reported from this area so far are: 
Macrophiothrix elongata (H.L. Clark, 
1938) and Ophiothrix savigny (Müller 
and Troschel, 1842 ) belonging to 
family Ophiotrichidae (Ljungman, 
1867) (Khaleghi and Owfi, 2011) and 
Ophionereis dubia (Müller and 
Troschel, 1842) belonging to the family 
Ophionereididae Ljungman, 1867 
(Attaran-Fariman et al., 2014). During 
the present study, A. squamata was 
reported for the first time. Specimens 
were collected from the depth of 10 m 
with a muddy substrate. A. squamata 
have a diversity of genetic, color and 
bioluminiscence features through the 
world (Sponer et al., 1999). For 
instance, 11 differnet color patterns of 
this species were reported till now 
(Mallefet and Jangoux, 2000). 
Therefore, variation in color and 
brightness could proof the presence of 
correlation between polychromatism 
and genetics of native populations. 
Because of its brightening feature, A. 
squamata had previously been 
nominated as Asterias noctiluca 
(Viviani, 1805). Presence of dark and 
light pigments on the body give it a 
noctilucent feature while 
bioluminiscence is controled by 
nervous system (Deheyn et al., 1994). 
Bioluminiscence mechanism in these 
taxa is utilized for avoiding predation 
and also, scaring the predators (Grober, 
1990). Tortonese (1932) showed the 
presence of various coloration patterns 
in this species. Orange, beige, dark 
brown, gray, black polka dots are the 
colores that were reported between 
vareious populations of this species 
collected from inter tidal zone at 1971 
by Binaux and Bocquet. Whereas, our 
species was brownish gray with polka 
dots. However, Clark (1987) proposed 
and fixed the name of this species as 
Amphipholis squamata instead of its 
previous name, Ophiura elegans 
(Leach, 1815). A. squamata is a very 
complicating species with very 
divergent mitochondrial lineages 
(Sponer, 2002). Unpublished data E. 
Boissinon mitochondrial DNA 
successive determination show that this 
species has a common lineage in 
equatorial regions (Stohr et al., 2008). 
This species has a spherical disc with 
1.08 – 2.47 mm diameter. The disc is 
covered with enlarged scales 
irregularly. In some cases the central 
plate is appeared. The length of shield 
is longer than its width, connective with 
rounded external edge and smooth 
internal edge. Spaces between radials 
are covered by small scales. Bursa slits 
elongated and vast. Oral shield fan-
shaped with an enlarged and convex 
distal margin, its length is longer than 
width. Dorsal shield large, standing in 
equal distance from its proximal edge. 
Two oral papilla with a long distal part 
present on both apical sides of jaw. Pair 
of infradental papilla is present as well. 
Ventral arm plate pentagonal, elongated 
with 3 conical straight arm spine and 
denticulate apex. There are 2 small, thin 
and elongated tentacle scale (Gondim et 
al., 2013). Our specimen is small with 
spherical disc 5mm in diameter. The 
Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 15(3) 2016                                     1258 
 
lengths of arms are as long as 6 times of 
the disc diameter bearing some short 
spines. The disc is covered by small 
scales while radial shields are visible. 
There are a colored area with different 
colors (such as, gray, white and Bluish 
gray) in different individuals. Present 
type has Gray polka dots. This species 
has recently been reported by Pomory 
(2007) with 5 mm disc diameter with 
arms as long as 3-4 times of disc 
diameter. However, we measured this 
rate 6 times as long as disc’s diameter. 
Dorsal plate of arm is lunate with 
smooth distal edge. Radial shield is 
long, thin and is half time of radius of 
disc (Pomory, 2007). Although in some 
references the diameter of disc was 
reported longer than 5 mm its average 
length is 0.7 – 3 mm (Mortensen, 
1927). Radial shields are small and 
connected to each other. Big species has 
2 tentacle scales on proximal extremity 
of arm while small species normally has 
only 1 (Bartsch, 2008). Finding of this 
species from Chabahar Bay for the first 
time is not surprising because of its 
wide distribution through the world. 
According to the present literatures 
related to morphology and 
identification of A. squamata from 
different area our species demonstrates 
very close features with them. 
Therefore, due to the abtained results 
from this study and previously 
published data it would be concluded 
that this species has a invariable and 
monotonic morphological features all 
ove the world (Sponer et al., 1999).  
A. squamata dwells in various 
substrates such as, under stones, btween 
alges and briozoas, rock pools, sandy 
bottom (Rodrigues et al., 2011) and 
also sea grasses, mangrove, estuaries 
and water with high salinity (Gondium 
et al., 2013). It is mostly in relation 
with Corallina alge and briozoas (Fish 
and Fish, 2011). This cosmopolitan 
species could be found from intertidal 
zone to 1300 m depth of sea (Rodrigues 
et al., 2011). 
     A. squamata is distributed all over 
the world except to arctic and antarctic 
regions. This species has already been 
reported from west Alantic, United 
States of America, Mexico, Netherlands 
Antilles, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, 
Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, and 
Argentina's Santa Cruz Province 
(Benavides-Serrato et al., 2011), South 
Carolina, Florida, Islands of South 
Florida, Texas, Antilles, Belize, 
Panama, Brazil (Alvarado et al., 2008), 
Persian Gulf (Price, 1983), eastern 
Atlantic along the periphery of Europe, 
the Mediterranean, the west coast of 
Africa, the eastern coast of South Africa 
and Madagascar (Alva and Vadon, 
1989). This is the first report of A. 
squamata species from Chabahar Bay 
located at the North part of the Oman 
Sea. 
 
Acknowledgements  
The present work is a part of the MSc 
work of A.Beygmoradi at Chabahar 
Maritime University (CMU) and 
working space and facilities granted by 
the university are highly acknowledged. 
1259 Attaran-Fariman and Beygmoradi, The first report of Amphipholis squamata … 
 
The authors are grateful to Professor 
Andrew Price from University of 
Warwick for his help with the 
identification of Amphipholis squamata. 
 
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Short communication: The first report of Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1829) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Chabahar Bay – northern Oman Sea

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Short communication: The first report of Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1829) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Chabahar Bay – northern Oman Sea

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