New species of the brittlestar genus Astrogymnotes H. L. Clark, 1914, from New Zealand and Japan (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Abstract

Three new species of the commensal ophiuroid genus Astrogymnotes H L Clark are described Two are from the Kermadec Islands, to the north east of New Zealand, and one is from the Izu Islands Japan The type species from the eastern Indian Ocean is redescribed and illustrated The Kermadec species are both five‐armed, in contrast to the six‐ or seven‐armed genotype, and both have distinct transversely oriented colour patterns The Japanese species is more closely related to the type species