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).