New species of the genus Ophiolepis Müller & Troschel, 1840 (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiolepididae)

The aim of the present work is to report and describe three new species of the tropical brittle-star genus Ophiolepis. The new species are described herein as Ophiolepis aemulata sp. nov., Ophiolepis buitronae sp. nov. and Ophiolepis crebra sp. nov. As these species were previously misidentified, morphological traits and similarities between them and other species are extensively discussed. Ophiolepis buitronae sp. nov. is widespread in tropical and warm waters of the western Atlantic from intertidal to 36 m. It has consistently been misidentified as Ophiolepis impressa as these two species share a similar distribution and are found together. Ophiolepis aemulata sp. nov. is found in western Australia, as are its congeners Ophiolepis superba and Ophiolepis unicolor, while Ophiolepis crebra sp. nov. is found in Australia and Indonesia. There are 25 extant species, including the three new species, which are currently referred to the genus Ophiolepis.