Ophiura sarsii sarsii (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) from the Late Pliocene Hachioji Formation in Niigata Prefecture, Central Japan

Abstract

Specimens of the Recent species Ophiura sarsii sarsii Lutken, collected from the Late Pliocene Hachioji Formation in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, represent the first record of this species from the Pliocene, although this species has been found from the Middle-Late Miocene. The fossil specimens have been compared and contrasted with related species using morphometric characteristics of the disk, basal arm portions and radial shields.