The Comparative Form, Function and Ecology of some New Zealand Brittle-Stars (Ophiuroidea)

Abstract

In her classic review of the echinoderms, Hyman (1955), describes the ophiuroids as "the most successful echinoderm group living today". This success has largely been attributed to both their smaller size and their remarkable agility. Many authors have commented on their great importance in the bionomics of the sea; various species participate in food chains involving demersal fish and many others serve as agents for the disposal and recycling of organic materials on the benthos. Their wide occurrence in the marine environment, coupled with their dense numbers, has led to their inclusion in the nomenclature of benthic communities and sub-comnunities, particularly in European waters. Some 1,900 extant species, being referred to 255 genera, have no been described (Fell, 1960).