Three specimens of the sea star Asterodiscus

truncatus constitute the first records of this species

from Tasmanian waters. The literature pertaining

to the species is surveyed briefiy and some mention

made of specimens held by various institutions

Dartnall, AJ

University of Tasmania Open Access Repository

PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TASMANIA, VOLUME 102 ASTERODISCUS TRUNCATUS (COLEMAN, 1911}-A NEW RECORD FOR TASMANIAN WATERS By A. J. DARTNALL ABSTRACT Three specimens of the sea star Asterodiscus truncatus constitute the first records of this species from Tasmanian wlllters. The literature pertaining to the species is surveyed briefiyand some mention made of specimens held ,by various institutions. INTRODUCTION During 1966-67 three specimens of Asterodiscus truncatus were lodged in the collections of the Tasmanian Museum, Hobart. The specimens, all taken off eastern Tasmania ,are the first records of the species from these waters. DETAILS OF THE TASMANIAN SPECIMENS H260 4/6/1966, three miles east of Bicheno, Tas-mania, 30 fathoms, ColI. A. J. Harrison. Don. V. V. Hickman. H261 6/9/1966, five miles north of Diamond Island, near Bicheno, Tasmania, 27-28 ·fathoms, Don. B. Bosworth. H294 May 1967, off Bicheno, Tasmania, 40 fathoms, Don. E. R. Guiler. LITERATURE Asterodiscus truncatus was recognised asa new species and described by Coleman after H. L. Clark had attributed the "Thetis" specimens to Nectria ocelli/era. Clark's (1916) repol't on the " Endeavour" echinoderms mentioned another nine specimens; Serventy's (1937) paper recorded the species at the western end of the Great Australian Bight and Pope (1951) described the colour of the species in life. Cotton and Godfrey (1942) and Clark (1938 and 1946) reviewed the information then available. Occurrence of Asterodiscus truncatus in New Zealand waters was recorded by Powell (1.937). SPECIMENS Some 37 registered specimens are lodged in museums in Australia. The holotype and figured paratypeare held by the Australian Museum, Sydney (J 1053 and J 2047 respectively). Two 23 specimens (J 6977) collected inter tidally and 21 further specimens are also held by thlllt institute. Five specimens are held by the Museum of Com-parative Zoology, Harvard University, including two cotypes (adult from" Thetis" station 56, MCZ 1998: young from" Endeavour" colI. E 1645/MCZ 2484). COMMENTS Clark's (1946) comments may now be amended. The species ranges from Norah Head, N.S.W. to the western end of the Great Australian Bight and south to Tasmania; also found in New Zealand waters. The vertical range is from intertidal levels to 200 fathoms. ACKNOWLEDGMENT I should like to thank those museums who have allowed me to examine ,their specimens of Astero-di8'cuS truncatus, Miss E. C. Pope for her comments and Dr H. B. FeB for making the M.C.Z. info'rma-tion available to me. BIBLIOGRAPHY COTTON, B. C. and GODFREY, F. K. (1942)-Echinodermata of the Flindersian Region of South Australia. Rec. S. Aust. Mus. VII, 193. CLARK, H. L. 1909) .-" Thetis" echinoderms. Mem. Aust. Hus. 4, 529. (1916) .-Biological Results of the "Endeavour ". Repts. Dept. Trade & Customs: Fisheries, Sydney, N.S.W. 4, 50. ----- (1938).-Echinoderms from Australia. Mem. Mus. Compo Zool. 55, 101. (1946) .-The Echinoderm fauna of Australia. Publ. Carneg. lnstn. 566, 108. COLEMAN, H. L. (1911).-Supplement to Echinodermata. Mem. Aust. Mus. 4, 699. POPE, ELIZABETH C. (l951).-Trawlermen's Rubbish. Au.t. Museum Mag. X (5), 144-149. (cover illustration of species.) POWELL, A. W. B. (1937).-A starfish of the genus A8terodi8cu8 new to New Zealand. Trans. Proc. Roy. Soc. N.Z., 67, 78-79, pI. XVI. SERVENTY, D. L. (1937) .-Zoological notes on a Trawling Cruise in the Great Australian Bight. Roy. Soc. of West. Aust., 23, 81. https://doi.org/10.26749/rstpp.102.23

Asterodiscus truncatus (Coleman, 1911)- A new record

for Tasmanian waters

http://eprints.utas.edu.au/14242/1/1968_Dartnall_Asterodiscus_truncatus_new_record.pdf

Asterodiscus truncatus (Coleman, 1911)- A new record for Tasmanian waters

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