A new species of brittle star, Ophiomitrella floorae, is recorded from the lower two meters of the Gronsveld Member (Maastricht Formation), of late Maastrichtian age (c. 66.7 Ma). These relatively fine-grained biocalcarenites reflect shallow-water deposition in a sheltered setting with a relatively firm sea floor and clear waters, under middle sublittoral and subtropical conditions. Associated echinoderm taxa comprise more robust, sturdy-plated ophiomusaid and ophiodermatid brittle stars and

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... erous bourgueticrinine sea lilies. The new brittle star described herein belongs to a family whose present-day members are predominantly restricted to bathyal depths. Its small size and the exceptional preservation of a single articulated specimen partially wrapped around the stalk of a bourgueticrinine suggest that O. floorae n. sp. was probably epizoic and specifically associated with stalked crinoids. PeerJ reviewing PDF | (Manuscript to be reviewed 1 A new ophiacanthid brittle star (Echinodermata, 2 Ophiuroidea) from sublittoral crinoid and seagrass 3 communities of late Maastrichtian age in the 4 southeast Netherlands 5 6 7 Abstract 22 A new species of brittle star, Ophiomitrella floorae, is recorded from the lower two meters of the 23 Gronsveld Member (Maastricht Formation), of late Maastrichtian age (c. 66.7 Ma). These 24 relatively fine-grained biocalcarenites reflect shallow-water deposition in a sheltered setting with 25 a relatively firm sea floor and clear waters, under middle sublittoral and subtropical conditions. 26 Associated echinoderm taxa comprise more robust, sturdy-plated ophiomusaid and 27 ophiodermatid brittle stars and numerous bourgueticrinine sea lilies. The new brittle star 28 described herein belongs to a family whose present-day members are predominantly restricted to 29 bathyal depths. Its small size and the exceptional preservation of a single articulated specimen 30 partially wrapped around the stalk of a bourgueticrinine suggest that O. floorae n. sp. was 31 probably epizoic and specifically associated with stalked crinoids.