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.