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Deep-Sea Echinoderms of New Zealand

Order Echinothurioida — Family Echinothuriidae

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Order Echinothurioida

Family Echinothuriidae

Phormosoma Wyville Thomson, 1874

Phormosoma rigidum Agassiz
  • Agassiz, A., 1881. Challenger Echinoidea, p. 104, Pl. 12.

Material Examined: None.

The holotype was taken at Challenger Station 169, in 700 fathoms, off East Cape.

Phormosoma bursarium Agassiz
  • Agassiz, A., 1881. Challenger Echinoidea, p. 99, Pl. 10.

Material Examined: Two specimens from the Chatham Islands Expedition 1954, one from Station 41, 330 fathoms ("rich, saturated red-purple", G. A. Knox), the other from Station 6, in 220 fathoms, on the Chatham Rise.

The species has not been recorded from New Zealand before, but as it is known to be wide-ranging in the Pacific, its occurrence was to be expected.

Araeosoma Mortensen, 1903

Araeosoma thetidis (H. L. Clark)

  • Asthenosoma thetidis Clark, H. L. 1909. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 52, p. 134.

Material Examined: Four individuals: also a large, isolated primary hoof, believed to be of this species, from 400 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 87; 100–130 fathoms, off Plate Island, Bay of Plenty, coll. F. J. Shirley of the Zuyder Zee, 5/6/1957, 1 specimen; 40–125 fathoms, Bay of Plenty, N.P.8, 2 specimens and 60–100 fathoms, N.P.9, 1 large specimen, h.d. 180 mm.

This large and striking species, of a deep red-purple colour, was first taken by the Terra Nova in 70 fathoms, off North Cape, see Mortensen (1921).

Asthenosoma Grube, 1868

Asthenosoma gracile Agassiz

  • Agassiz, A., 1881. Challenger Echinoidea, p. 89. Pl. 17.

Material Examined: None.

Recorded from Challenger Station 169, in 700 fathoms, off East Cape.