Cryptopelta tarltoni Baker , 1974

Mills, V. Sadie & O'Hara, Timothy D., 2013, Ophiuroids (Echinodermata; Ophiuroidea) of biogenic habitats on the continental shelf of New Zealand, Zootaxa 3613 (5), pp. 401-444 : 423

Cryptopelta tarltoni Baker, 1974

( Fig. 9 )

Cryptopelta tarltoni Baker, 1974: 255 –259, figs. 6, 7.— Baker, 1979: 35.

Material Examined. Bay of Islands. TAN0906/93, NIWA 55586 (1). TAN0906/96, NIWA 77919 (1). TAN0906/ 140, NIWA 56234 (1). TAN0906/240, NIWA 77918 (1). East Coast North Island. TAN1108/268, NIWA 77917 (1).

Diagnosis. Dorsal and ventral disc covered in small granules, except for oral shield, scattered elongate granules at disc margin. Granules extend onto first lateral arm plate. Seven adpressed arm spines, as long as an arm segment. Single large tentacle scale.

Description. See Baker (1974).

Distribution. northern New Zealand (1–151 m).

Remarks. Cryptopelta tarltoni is predominantly found around off Northland, New Zealand, only occasionally being found as far south as East Cape or Cook Strait. It is easily distinguished from other New Zealand ophiodermatids by the striking orange disc with contrasting darker banded arms, and the presence of scattered elongate granules on the dorsal disc surface.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Cryptopelta tarltoni Baker, 1974 (NIWA 56234, TAN 0906 / 140) showing live colour, a: dorsal, b: ventral; Scale bar = 5 mm.