CHERCHEZ-LA-FEMME - IS THE UPPER BATHYAL OPHIUROID OPHIURA-CARNEA THEADULT OF OPHIOPLUTEUS-COMPRESSUS

Post-larval ophiuroids developing from Ophiopluteus compressus, collec ted in the Mediterranean, are compared with known post-larval ophiuroi ds collected as part of the SAMS and BIOFAR research programmes. By co mparing post-larval features we show that the post-larva of Ophioplute us compressus belongs to the genus Ophiura. By eliminating the species of Ophiura from which the ophiopluteus is known and comparing the dis tribution of Ophiopluteus compressus with the remaining species we ded uce, tentatively, that the adult of Ophiopluteus compressus is the upp er bathyal species Ophiura carnea.