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Family: Ichneumonidae
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Bocas Species Database Habitat: In calm waters behind the reef crest and also in the turbulent spur-and-groove zone. Distribution: Caribbean Natural History Notes: O. squamulosa can reach high densities (over 100 individuals per liter) in algae with other small or juvenile brittle stars. A spawning female has pink ovaries and sheds about 90 negatively buoyant, red eggs. he eggs are relatively large (0.2 mm diameter) and develop into yolky non-feeding vitellaria larvae that complete metamorphosis within 6 days. Depth: 1-40 m Characteristics: This species looks similar to O. reticulata but is significantly smaller. Individuals rarely exceed 6 mm in disk diameter and 45 mm in arm length. Its primary plates are conspicuous. The three arm spines exceed the length of an arm joint and are less compressed than the spines of O. reticulata. The disk has a gray background with brown or brownish green spots and blotches scattered across an irregular network of reddish or greenish brown. Most arm joints are darkly colored. A dark reddish or greenish brown joint and several mottled gray-brown joints alternate with single white arm joints. |
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