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Family Ophiocomidae

Ophiocoma L. Agassiz, 1835

Ophiocoma bollonsi Farquhar

• Farquhar, H., 1908. Trans. N.Z. Inst. 40, p. 108.

Material Examined: Numerous specimens, including the following from deep-water stations: 250–350 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 53, 2 specimens; 250–300 fathoms, off east Otago, Dom. Mus. Station B.S.191, several specimens; 200–300 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 51, 2 specimens; 150 fathoms, Cook Strait, VUZ Station 98, 2 specimens.

Other material is from VUZ Stations 49, 55 and 15, at depths of 70, 40–100, and 100–150 fathoms respectively, all from Cook Strait. Professor L. R. Richardson noted that specimens from Station 49 were rich reddish-brown; the colour is retained in preservation. It is evident that the species is by no means so rare as was formerly believed.