Quick Search
To Advanced Search
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:
OPHIONEREIDIDAE
Full Classification:
Echinodermata (Phylum)
> Asterozoa (Subphylum)
> Ophiuroidea (Class)
> Myophiuroidea (Subclass)
> Metophiurida (Infraclass)
> Ophintegrida (Superorder)
> Amphilepidida (Order)
> Ophionereidoidea (Superfamily)
> Ophionereididae (Family)
> Ophionereis (Genus)
> fasciata (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Ophiocrasis H.L. Clark, 1911
=Ophiodesmus Ziesenhenne, 1940
=Ophiotriton Döderlein, 1896
Images: Ophionereis fasciata Hutton, 1872
Under rocks at low tide in sheltered gut, Far North, NZ
Under rocks at low tide, Far North, NZ
Underside of animal, Far North, NZ
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:
OPHIONEREIDIDAE
Full Classification:
Echinodermata (Phylum)
> Asterozoa (Subphylum)
> Ophiuroidea (Class)
> Myophiuroidea (Subclass)
> Metophiurida (Infraclass)
> Ophintegrida (Superorder)
> Amphilepidida (Order)
> Ophionereidoidea (Superfamily)
> Ophionereididae (Family)
> Ophionereis (Genus)
> fasciata (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Ophiocrasis H.L. Clark, 1911
=Ophiodesmus Ziesenhenne, 1940
=Ophiotriton Döderlein, 1896
Details: Ophionereis fasciata Hutton, 1872
Distribution:
Throughout NZ
Geographical Range:
ACFE.
Notes:
Common Brittle Star, Marine, Endemic, On open shores down to about 300m deep
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.44)

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
Recently Viewed