Sclerasterias Perrier emend. Fisher, 1924

Sclerasterias mollis (Hutton)

• Asterias mollis Hutton, F. W., 1872. Cat. Echin. N.Z. p. 4.
• Sclerasterias mollis Fisher, W. K., 1924. Bull. Inst. Oceanogr. 444.

Material Examined: Although more than a hundred specimens have already been recorded from the Cook Strait shelf at depths less than 100 fathoms (Fell, 1952, p. 12), only ten deep-water specimens have been received. This is the first evidence that the species is archibenthal.

200–300 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 51, 1 juvenile; 150 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 98, 6 specimens; 150 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 99, 1 juvenile; 130 fathoms, Chatham Islands Expedition Station 34, 1 specimen; 120 fathoms, off east Otago, Dom. Mus. Station B.S.189, 1 specimen.