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Taxonomy
Phylum: Echinodermata
This is not a Mollusc. Other non-Molluscan Phyla (Echinodermata, Brachiopoda etc) have been included to help identify species that may be mistaken for Mollusca, but are not.
Family:
OPHIOTRICHIDAE
Full Classification:
Echinodermata (Phylum)
> Asterozoa (Subphylum)
> Ophiuroidea (Class)
> Myophiuroidea (Subclass)
> Metophiurida (Infraclass)
> Ophintegrida (Superorder)
> Amphilepidida (Order)
> Ophiactoidea (Superfamily)
> Ophiotrichidae (Family)
> Ophiothrix (Genus)
> Acanthophiothrix (Subgenus)
> lepidus (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Ophionyx Müller & Troschel, 1840
Images: Ophiothrix lepidus de Loriol, 1893
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Taxonomy
Phylum: Echinodermata
This is not a Mollusc. Other non-Molluscan Phyla (Echinodermata, Brachiopoda etc) have been included to help identify species that may be mistaken for Mollusca, but are not.
Family:
OPHIOTRICHIDAE
Full Classification:
Echinodermata (Phylum)
> Asterozoa (Subphylum)
> Ophiuroidea (Class)
> Myophiuroidea (Subclass)
> Metophiurida (Infraclass)
> Ophintegrida (Superorder)
> Amphilepidida (Order)
> Ophiactoidea (Superfamily)
> Ophiotrichidae (Family)
> Ophiothrix (Genus)
> Acanthophiothrix (Subgenus)
> lepidus (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Ophionyx Müller & Troschel, 1840
Details: Ophiothrix lepidus de Loriol, 1893
Distribution:
Recorded mainly from the Southwest Pacific, Kermadec and Norfolk Islands, but has recently been found in the Far North of NZ
Geographical Range:
KA
Notes:
Marine, White and red disc covered in long white spines, 5 brittle, very spiny arms. Found in sponge gardens and on the rocky seabed living up on the upper branches of gorgonian and black corals from about 80 metres
Distribution Map
 
References and Publications
  • Mills, S., Neill, K., Anderson, O., Davey, N. 2017 Extraordinary Echinoderms. A guide to the echinoderms of New Zealand. Version 2, Niwa Guides (p.48)

Key to Geographical Ranges
NZ Map showing Geographical Ranges
The symbols K.A.C.F.M.An. are used to indicate the geographical range of the species. They have been adopted to give an approximation of the range of each species within New Zealand.
K=
Kermadec Islands
A=
Aupourian - Kaipara Harbour, north around North Cape, encompassing the Three Kings Islands and south to East Cape
C=
Cookian - Lower North Island and the northern part of the South Island
F=
Forsterian - Otago, Fiordland and Stewart Island
M=
Moriorian - Chatham Islands, Pitt Island
An=
Antipodean - Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand
Fw =
Freshwater
L =
Land
N =
North Island
S =
South Island
E =
Endemic
I =
Introduced
R =
Recent
Sf =
Subfossil
Fo =
Fossil