Systematics and biology of Macquarie Island echinoderms

Abstract

From Macquarie Island and the Macquarie Ridge in the Southern Ocean, between Tasmania (Australia) and the Victoria Quadrant of the Antarctic continent, 52 echinoderm species are recorded. One new asteroid (Odontohenricia anarea sp. nov.) and one new holothurian (Trachythyone nelladana sp. nov.) are described. The asteroids (Cycethra macquariensis and Asterina hamiltoni) are synonymized with A. frigida. The asteroid (Ceramaster lennoxkingi) is synonymized with C. patagonicus, Solaster dianae with S. notophyrnus and Anasterias sphoerulatus with A. mawsoni. The asteroids (Psilaster charcoti, Odontaster penicillatus, Ceramaster papagonicus, Crossaster multispinus, S. multiphyrnus, Pteraster affinis, Henricia studeri), the ophiuriod (Ophioplocus incipiens) and the holothurians (Paelopatides ovalis, Synallactes challengeri, Laetmogone sp., Taeniogyrus sp.) are recorded from Macquarie Island for the first time. The ecology and relationships of echinoderms from Macquarie Island are discussed.