ABSTRACT
A small fissiparous ophiactid brittle star possessing hemoglobin was collected from the coast of Texas. Analysis of morphological characteristics failed to provide a positive identification of the species. A 406 bp segment of the COI mitochondrial DNA gene was sequenced and compared to sequences obtained from Ophiactis simplex (California) and Ophiactis rubropoda (Florida). The region sequenced showed a greater than 98% homology among the three groups suggesting that all three populations belong the same species. Translation of the DNA segment shows no change in amino acid sequence. Preliminary phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Texas population is more closely related to the California population than it is to the Florida population. It is unknown if the Texas population represents a recent invasion or has been present but misidentified.
