Although recorded from Australia (on the basis of a single individual) Dipsacaster has not hitherto been taken in New Zealand waters. The genus may be characterized briefly as follows: The margin of the ray defined by the inferomarginals, which project beyond the superomarginals. Actinal intermediate areas large, crossed by fasciolar grooves. No pedicellariae. Madreporite large, covered by paxillae.

Dipsacaster magnificus (H. L. Clark)

• Lonchotaster magnificus Clark, H. L., 1916. Endeavour Rpt., p. 30, Pl. 6; Dipsacaster magnificus Fisher 1919. Bull. 100, U.S. Nat. Mus., 3, p. 150.

Material Examined: 25 specimens taken by Mr. F. Abernethy, honorary collector to Victoria University Zoology Department, at a depth of 55–63 fathoms in Cook Strait, 10 miles E. by S. of Cape Campbell. Colour in life, salmon-pink above, marginals paler salmon, underside cream.

Remarks: The holotype, hitherto unique, was taken by the Endeavour in the Great Australian Bight between 80–100 fathoms. The discovery of a relatively large population on the Cook Strait shelf, only a few miles from an area which had previously been trawled extensively, was a considerable surprise. Although D. magnificus has not yet been taken in deep water off New Zealand, it should probably be regarded as a deep water species, in view of its distribution. Like Psilaster, Gorgonocephalus, and other genera with a comparable range, it may well be an archibenthal type which occasionally ascends the slope to the continental shelf, provided the distance is not great.