FIGURE 3. Ophiothela venusta from the Persian Gulf. A-C in New records of the brittle stars Ophiothela venusta and Ophiactis modesta (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the northern Persian Gulf, with morphological details

FIGURE 3. Ophiothela venusta from the Persian Gulf. A-C, variation in colour pattern in preserved and dried specimens, colours have faded, and red has turned to yellow (A, B). D, specimen treated with bleach (NaOCl) to remove the outer epidermis and part of the granules, radial shields mostly exposed, ventral side still covered by translucent skin. E, skin completely removed by longer treatment with bleach (NaOCl), exposing arm vertebrae, dental plates, oral plates (jaws), genital plates and radial shields. DP, dental plate, GP, adradial genital plate, LAP, lateral arm plate, OP, oral plate, RS, radial shield, V, vertebra, VAP, ventral arm plate, TP, tooth papillae. Scale bars in millimetre.