Northern Tasman Sea Research Articles

A New Species of Waginella (Crustacea: Thecostraca: Ascothoracida) Parasitic on a Stalked Crinoid From Tasman Sea, With Notes on Morphology of Related Genera

A new ectoparasitic ascothoracidan species has been discovered off northern Tasman Sea at a depth of 520 m. Single female, described herein as Waginella ebonita Kolbasov and Newman sp. nov. in the family Synagogidae Gruvel, 1905, was collected on the column of crinoid Metacrinus sp. This is the first study of a new form of Waginella to be based on the extensive use of both light and scanning electron microscopy to document the fine-scale external morphology. We studied the external morphology of other two species of Waginella, W. cf. axotremata and W. sandersi utilizing SEM and compared fine structures of all congeners. The genus Waginella represents a monophyletic taxon including at least 4 species having similar and unique morphology even on the ultrastructural level. Two species, W. cf. axotremata and W. cf. metacrinicola may represent at least two complexes of species. The morphology of an attachment apparatus in all species of Waginella suggests that they remain attached to the host for a considerable period of time. The lattice organs of Waginella have a unique structure distinguishing from all Thecostraca. Waginella ebonita sp. nov. is the second species of this genus known to harbor hyperparasitic cryptoniscid isopods representing parasitic castrators.

Forecasting the extreme rainfall, low temperatures, and strong winds associated with the northern Queensland floods of February 2019

From late January to early February 2019, a quasi-stationary monsoon depression situated over northeast Australia caused devastating floods, killing an estimated 625,000 head of cattle in northwest Queensland, and inundating over 3 000 homes in the coastal city of Townsville. The monsoon depression lasted ~10 days, driving daily rainfall accumulations exceeding 200 mm/day, maximum temperatures 8–10 °C below normal, and wind gusts above 70 km/h. In this study, the atmospheric conditions during the event and its predictability on the weekly to subseasonal range are investigated. Results show that during the event, the tropical convective signal of the Madden-Julian Oscillation was over the western Pacific, and likely contributed to the heavy rainfall, however the El Niño-Southern Oscillation was not in the usual phase for increased rainfall over Queensland. Over the northern Tasman Sea, an anticyclone helped maintain a positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode and promote onshore easterly flow. Somewhat consistent with these climate drivers, the monthly rainfall outlook for February issued by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology on 31 January provided no indication of the event, yet forecasts, not available to the public, of weekly-averaged conditions by the Bureau's dynamical subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction system were more successful. For the week of 31 January to 6 February the prediction system forecast a more than doubling of the probability of extreme (highest quintile) weekly rainfall a week prior to the event, along with increased probabilities of extremely low (lowest quintile) maximum temperatures and extreme (highest quintile) wind speeds. Ensemble-mean weekly rainfall amounts, however, were considerably underestimated by the prediction system, even in forecasts initialised at the start of the peak flooding week, consistent with other state-of-the-art dynamical S2S prediction systems. Despite this, one of the individual ensemble members of the Bureau's prediction system did manage to forecast close to 85% of the magnitude of the rainfall across the most heavily impacted region of northwest Queensland a week before the event. Predicting this exceptional event beyond two weeks appears beyond our current capability despite the dynamical system forecasts showing good skill in forecasting the broad-scale atmospheric conditions north of Australia a week prior.

Development of a Seamless, High-Resolution Bathymetric Model to Compare Reef Morphology around the Subtropical Island Shelves of Lord Howe Island and Balls Pyramid, Southwest Pacific Ocean

Lord Howe Island and Balls Pyramid are located approximately 600 km offshore of the southeastern Australian mainland, in the subtropical waters of the northern Tasman Sea. Lord Howe Island hosts the most southern coral reef in the Pacific Ocean, and the shelves surrounding both islands feature fossil coral reefs. This study creates a seamless, high-resolution (5 m cell size) bathymetry model of the two shelves to compare and contrast the extent of reef development and shelf morphology. This was produced by integrating satellite-derived depth data (derived to 35 m depth) and multibeam echosounder (MBES) data. Image partitioning and filtering improved the accuracy of the bathymetry estimates and the suitability for integration with MBES data. Diverse accretionary and erosional geomorphic features were mapped on both shelves, with fossil reefs dominating the shelves in 25–50 m depth. Similar patterns of shelf morphology were observed for the middle and outer shelves, while the inner shelf regions were most dissimilar, with reef development greater around Lord Howe Island compared to the more restricted inner shelf reefs around Balls Pyramid. Understanding the relative extent and morphology of shelf features provides insights into the geological and ecological processes that have influenced the formation of the shelves.

A new temperate deepwater skate of the genus Bathyraja (Rajoidei: Arhynchobatidae) from the South-West Pacific.

A single specimen of a new Bathyraja skate was collected by the authors in 2003 during a survey of the deepwater biota of the northern Tasman Sea by the New Zealand FRV Tangaroa. This skate, labelled the 'blonde skate' by voyage participants, is uniformly white on all surfaces of the body and the skin is partly translucent. It belongs to a subgroup of Bathyraja with a large, almost smooth, quadrangular disc and well-developed and equally spaced median tail thorns. Other similar and probably closely related Bathyraja specimens have been caught in seas to the south of New Zealand since the discovery of this species, but their identity is yet to be confirmed.

Relationships between nutrient stocks and inventories and phytoplankton physiological status along an oligotrophic meridional transect in the Tasman Sea

The waters of the north Tasman Sea are adjacent to the arid Australian sub-continent and are north of the circumpolar Subtropical convergence. Nutrient and phytoplankton stocks in this region were investigated on two voyages during February 2005 and March 2006 to establish the spatial extent and magnitude of oligotrophy in the region. Surface nitrate, phosphate, ammonium and nitrite were all in the nanomolar concentration range north and south of the Tasman Front (∼33°S; 165–175°E). The location of the nitracline was found to be at or above the 1% light level. The distributions of pico-eukaryotic cells, Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus showed strong latitudinal and vertical gradients, with higher abundances south of the Tasman Front that decreased northward, but consistent with changes in nutrient concentration. A nitrite maximum was observed at and below the 1% light level and results from incomplete assimilatory nitrate reduction by phytoplankton. Mixed layer dissolved iron concentrations varied between 0.05 and 0.70nmolL−1, and were dependent on the vertical supply rate of iron from below and on sporadic atmospheric dust deposition. Based on the rate of iron supply, phytoplankton located south of the Tasman Front were unlikely to be iron limited whereas phytoplankton located north of the Tasman Front were near the threshold for iron limitation. Deck-board incubation experiments involving the addition of macro- (ammonium, nitrate and phosphate) and micro- (iron, dust and zinc) nutrients confirm nitrogen availability to be the primary control on biological production, with the potential for secondary phosphate, silicate and dissolved organic carbon limitation, when nitrogen limitation was alleviated. The form of nitrogen required to stimulate the phytoplankton community also varied; ammonium stimulated Prochlorococcus growth whereas nitrate stimulated Synechococcus growth. Predator-free incubation experiments indicate that grazing was an important constraint on phytoplankton production. Water column observations and incubation results confirm that the supply of dissolved inorganic nitrogen into the euphotic zone was the primary factor controlling new primary production in the northern Tasman Sea region.

Two new softnose skates of the genus Brochiraja (Rajoidei: Arhynchobatidae) from the deepwater slopes and banks of the Norfolk Ridge (South-West Pacific)

Two new species of the softnose skate genus Brochiraja are described based on material collected from the Norfolk Ridgein the northern Tasman Sea (South-West Pacific). Most of this material was collected in 2003 by the New Zealand vessel,RV Tangaroa, during the NORFANZ voyage. These species extend the known range of the genus northward along theNorfolk Ridge, and along with B. aenigma, are the only other representatives of the genus found outside seas adjacentNew Zealand. Brochiraja heuresa sp. nov. is known from the western Norfolk Ridge and the Wanganella Bank at 870–1350 m depth, whereas B. vittacauda sp. nov. is known from a smaller area of the western Norfolk Ridge at 629–973 mdepth. These species differ from each other, and from other nominal members of the genus, in morphometrics, meristics, coloration and squamation.

Composition and distribution of deep-sea benthic invertebrate megafauna on the Lord Howe Rise and Norfolk Ridge, southwest Pacific Ocean

The deep-sea biodiversity of the Lord Howe Rise and Norfolk Ridge – two complex submarine features that extend in a north-south direction either side of a deep basin within the northern Tasman Sea and southern Coral Sea – was sampled in 2003 for the first time on a broad regional scale. The total of 1313 megabenthic invertebrate species from 17 higher order taxa collected between 100 and 1800 m depths showed faunal diversity and novelty was high. Only 256 of these species were named, and 10% of these were described as a result of this survey; 78% are un-named and believed to be mostly new species. Of the 1253 species included in quantitative analyses, most appeared to be rare – 85% were only found once. This indicates intra-regional endemism may be high, but undersampling is also likely. Species accumulation curves confirm that many additional species remain to be collected. There was high regional-scale spatial heterogeneity in species distribution patterns which appeared to be influenced by hydrographic patterns and feature-scale topography, and to a lesser extent by seabed type. Depth and oxygen concentration (correlated with depth) had most influence on distribution patterns of fauna, with assemblages identified from three depth-zones: 100–400 m (deep continental shelf and shelf edge), 400–700 m (upper continental slope) and >700 m (mid-continental slope). In the shallowest depth zone, there were north-south (latitudinal) patterns in invertebrate assemblages that appeared to be influenced by water mass distribution. Species overlap was higher in the south than the north, probably due to the Tasman Front forming a hydrographic connection between the southern parts of the Rise and the Ridge at shallower depths. At depths >700 m, the absence of a latitudinal pattern in assemblage structure was attributed to the continuity of Antarctic Intermediate Water in the study area. Differentiation of two assemblages in sled samples from the >700 m depth zone, as well as some patterns of diversity of large sessile fauna between sub-regions within the study area, suggested a relationship with bottom type but this was not fully analysed. While providing a major increase in scientific knowledge of marine biodiversity in deep waters of the Coral and Tasman Seas, these results also highlighted the paucity of biogeographical knowledge that exists for the area. Some science advances needed to inform national and international conservation plans currently under development are identified. They include taxonomic standardisation at a regional-scale (Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia) for informative higher level taxa, and some additional surveys of selected areas and seabed features, including off northeastern Australia.

Phenacoscorpius longirostris, a new species of deep water scorpionfish (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the northern Tasman Sea, southwestern Pacific Ocean

Phenacoscorpius longirostris, a new species of deep water scorpionfish (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the northern Tasman Sea, southwestern Pacific Ocean

Phenacoscorpius longirostris, a new species of deep water scorpionfish (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the northern Tasman Sea, southwestern Pacific Ocean

A new species of deep water scorpionfish, Phenacoscorpius longirostris, is described on the basis of two specimens from the Norfolk Island Ridge and Lord Howe Rise, northern Tasman Sea, at depths of 300–322 m. The new species is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: all pectoral-fin rays unbranched; no palatine teeth; second preopercular spine well-developed, its length longer than third or fourth spines; and several morphometric characters, including orbit diameter, head width, caudal-peduncle length and depth, and snout, predorsal, preanal and prepelvic lengths.

Capel and Faust basins—integrated geoscientific assessment of Australia's remote offshore eastern frontier

The paper discusses the results from the GA–302 2D seismic survey and GA–2436 (RV Tangaroa) marine reconnaissance survey over the Capel and Faust basins in the northern Tasman Sea. The integration of seismic, potential field and bathymetric data sets in 3D space at an early stage in the project workflow has assisted in the visualisation of the basin architecture, the interpolation of data between the seismic lines and the iterative refinement of interpretations. The data sets confirm the presence of multiple depocentres previously interpreted from satellite gravity data with a maximum sediment thickness of 5–7 km. Preliminary interpretation of the seismic data has identified two predominantly Cretaceous syn-rift and two Upper Cretaceous to Neogene sag megasequences overlying a heterogeneous pre-rift basement. The comparison of seismic facies and tectonostratigraphic history with offshore New Zealand and eastern Australian basins suggests the presence of possible Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous coaly and lacustrine source rocks in the pre-rift and syn-rift, and fluvio-deltaic to shallow marine reservoir rocks in the syn-rift to early post-rift successions. Preliminary 1D basin modelling suggests that the deeper depocentres of the Capel and Faust basins are within the oil and gas windows. Large potential stratigraphic and structural traps are also present.

Foraging ecology of the Cook’s petrel Pterodroma cookii during the austral breeding season: a comparison of its two populations

This study examined divergence in the foraging distribution, at-sea behaviour and pro- visioning strategies of a small procellarid, the Cook's petrel Pterodroma cookii, during chick-rearing at 2 islands off New Zealand, separated latitudinally by ~1000 km. There was little overlap in forag- ing distribution between adults from Little Barrier Island (LBI), which ranged to the west into the Northern Tasman Sea and east into the Pacific Ocean, and conspecifics from Codfish Island (CDF), which foraged west of the South Island in the south Tasman Sea in association with the subtropical convergence zone. Although birds from CDF ranged further than those from LBI, there was no differ- ence in mean foraging trip duration. Cook's petrels from CDF foraged over deeper, cooler water, with higher primary productivity, than conspecifics from LBI. At-sea behaviour also differed: adults from LBI spent less time in flight, and showed less variation in total flight time per day. Overall, Cook's petrels spend much more time in flight than albatrosses, and approximately the same amounts of time on the water during the night as during the day, suggesting a high portion of nocturnal foraging. Dive depths did not differ between colonies but were greater than expected for a gadfly petrel. Stable isotope signatures of blood indicated population-specific diets, and suggested that birds from LBI primarily consume cephalopods and fish, whereas those from CDF eat more crustaceans. Chicks at CDF received more food. These results suggest a broad divergence in foraging strategies between geographically well-separated colonies in response to regional differences in oceanography.

Decadal variability of East Australian Current transport inferred from repeated high‐density XBT transects, a CTD survey and satellite altimetry

A time series of the net geostrophic transport through the Tasman Sea (representing the flow of the East Australian Current (EAC) Extension) is determined from a full‐depth CTD section, 15 years of high‐density XBT transects, and satellite altimetry data. A section between Sydney and Wellington (PX34) has been occupied four times per year since 1991 with high resolution XBT sampling. Two methods to infer baroclinic transport from proxy data along the section are presented. The first uses shallow XBT transects to derive geostrophic transport relative to a deep (2000 m) reference level. In the second approach (SynTS) the subsurface temperature and salinity structure are inferred from satellite surface height and temperature fields using a model developed from historical in situ observations. The baroclinic transport is then computed in the usual manner. The methods are validated using both a full‐depth CTD occupation of the PX34 section and further transects crossing the EAC in the northern Tasman Sea. There is close agreement between the 49 XBT and SynTS PX34 transport estimates obtained between 1992 and 2006. The time series of transport through the Sydney–Wellington section shows a range of temporal signals from eddyscale, seasonal, interannnual to decadal. In particular, we note that the net EAC flow ranges from 5 Sv in 1995 to a maximum of 16 Sv in 2000/2001. This decadal variation confirms the EAC response to a spin‐up of the South Pacific circulation forced by changes in the basin‐wide winds and matches the changes in oceanic properties observed in the Tasman Sea.

Decapod Crustacea collected by the NORFANZ Expedition: Galatheidae and Polychelidae

The present study reports on the squat lobsters (Galatheidae) and blind lobsters (Polychelidae) collected by the 2003 NORFANZ Expedition to the Lord Howe Rise, Norfolk, and West Norfolk Ridges in the northern Tasman Sea. Galatheids and polychelids, both typical components of the outer shelf and slope, were collected from 26 and 36 mostly deepwater stations, respectively. Polychelids were represented by five species in two genera; galatheids by 26 species in ten genera of which one genus and twelve species are new to science. Munida grieveae Vereshchaka, 2005, and M. gordoni Vereshchaka, 2005, both described from northeastern New Zealand, are synonymised with M. endeavourae Ahyong & Poore, 2004, and M. isos Ahyong & Poore, 2004, respectively, both described from eastern Australia.

Unique fish assemblages at world’s southernmost oceanic coral reefs, Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, Tasman Sea, Australia

[Extract] Located in the northern Tasman Sea, 600 km east of Australia, Elizabeth (29°56'S, 159°05'E.) and Middleton Reefs (29°27'S, 159°07'E) form the southernmost oceanic platform coral reefs in the world (Oxley et al. 2004). Previous surveys indicated an unusual fish fauna at these reefs (Australian Museum 1992; Oxley et al. 2004). Further detailed underwater surveys of the fish fauna conducted in February 2006 and 2007 confirmed that the combination of geographic location, isolation and the convergence of tropical and temperate waters have produced a unique fish assemblage comprising tropical, temperate and endemic species. Two characteristics distinguish these reef fish assemblages from those on other coral reefs. Firstly, the numerical dominance of two large predators: the black cod (Epinephelus daemelii) and Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) (Fig. 1a), which were abundant on the outer reef (2.9 per ha and 1.8 per ha, respectively), with even greater densities (5.1 per ha and 4.8 per ha, respectively) in the lagoon, an apparent nursery area. Both species have been overfished throughout their ranges, however the remoteness and protected status of these two reefs provides a refuge for these species. The second characteristic was the abundance of large temperate herbivorous fishes, particularly the Pacific drummer (Kyphosus pacificus, 31.5 per 1,000 m²) and sawtail surgeonfish (Prionurus maculatus, 16.5 per 1,000 m²) (Fig. 1b). Their high abundance, and the rarity of sea urchins, indicates that temperate fishes play a major herbivory role on these coral reefs. The uniqueness of these coral reef communities has been recognised by the Australian Government and the reefs have been protected as a Marine National Nature Reserve since 1987.

Scorpaena bulacephala, a new species of scorpionfish (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from the northern Tasman Sea

A new species of small-sized scorpionfish, Scorpaena bulacephala, is described on the basis of seven specimens collected from off Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, northern Tasman Sea, southwestern Pacific Ocean, at depths of 86–113 m. The new species is closely related to a Hawaiian endemic species, S. colorata. The two species are distinguished from other Indo–Pacific species of Scorpaena by the following combination of characters: exposed cycloid scales covering the anteroventral surface of the body and pectoral-fin base, the lateral surface of the lacrimal without spines, and 17 pectoral-fin rays. The new species differs from S. colorata in having 39–44 longitudinal scales rows and relatively short fin spines and rays, especially short longest pectoral-fin ray (31.5–33.5% of standard length). Morphological changes with growth and sexual dimorphism of the new species are also discussed.

Carbon isotope evidence for changes in Antarctic Intermediate Water circulation and ocean ventilation in the southwest Pacific during the last deglaciation

Deep‐sea sediment core FR1/97 GC‐12 is located 990 mbsl in the northern Tasman Sea, southwest Pacific, where Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) presently impinges the continental slope of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Analysis of carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios on a suite of planktonic and benthic foraminifera reveals rapid changes in surface and intermediate water circulation over the last 30 kyr. During the Last Glacial Maximum, there was a large δ13C offset (1.1‰) between the surface‐dwelling planktonic foraminifera and benthic species living within the AAIW. In contrast, during the last deglaciation (Termination 1), the δ13Cplanktonic‐benthic offset reduced to 0.4‰ prior to an intermediate offset (0.7‰) during the Holocene. We suggest that variations in the dominance and direction of AAIW circulation in the Tasman Sea, and increased oceanic ventilation, can account for the rapid change in the water column δ13Cplanktonic‐benthic offset during the glacial‐interglacial transition. Our results support the hypothesis that intermediate water plays an important role in propagating climatic changes from the polar regions to the tropics. In this case, climatic variations in the Southern Hemisphere may have led to the rapid ventilation of deep water and AAIW during Termination 1, which contributed to the postglacial rise in atmospheric CO2.

The influence of rock resistance on coastal morphology around Lord Howe Island, southwest Pacific

AbstractAn Erratum has been published for this article in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 27(7) 2004, 931.Lord Howe Island, in the northern Tasman Sea, is a remnant of a much larger Late Miocene basaltic shield volcano. Much of the island's coastline is exposed to waves that have unlimited fetch, but a marked contrast is provided by a fringing coral reef and lagoon that very effectively attenuate wave energy along a portion of the western coastline. The geology of the island is varied, with hard and resistant basalt lavas, breccias and tuffs of intermediate resistance, and highly erodible eolianites. This variability provides an excellent opportunity to examine the influence of rock resistance on the development of the spectacular rock coast landforms that occur around the island. The hardness of rocks and the extent of weathering around the coastline were assessed using a Schmidt hammer, and statistical analysis was undertaken to remove outlying values. On all but one occasion, higher mean rebound values were returned from fresh surfaces than weathered surfaces, but only half of these differences were statistically significant. Shore platforms with two distinct levels are juxtaposed along two stretches of coastline and Schmidt hammer results lend support to hypotheses that the raised surfaces may be inherited features. Relative rock resistance was assessed through a combination of Schmidt hammer data and measurements of joint density, and constrained on the basis of morphological data. This approach formed a basis for examining threshold conditions for sea‐cliff erosion at Lord Howe Island in the context of the distribution of resistant plunging cliffs and erosional shore platforms. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Prehistoric settlement on Norfolk Island and its Oceanic context

The likelihood of Polynesian settlement of Norfolk Island was recognized in the eighteenth century, but archaeological remains of a settlement site were only discovered in 1995. The excavation history of the Emily Bay site is summarized, its date put at about the thirteenth to fourteenth century A.D. and its East Polynesian nature, especially its contacts with the Kermadecs and New Zealand, recognized through its artefacts. The faunal remains show a dominance of fish and birds, and low diversity within each. The reasons for ending the settlement are unknown but speculated upon and several future research priorities noted. ANDERSON, ATHOLL, AND PETER WHITE, 2001b. Prehistoric settlement on Norfolk Island and its Oceanic context. In The Prehistoric Archaeology of Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific, ed. Atholl Anderson and Peter White, pp. 135–141. Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 27. Sydney: Australian Museum. Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 27 (2001): 135–141. ISBN 0 7347 2305 9 There are two small archipelagos in the northern Tasman Sea. One of them, consisting of Lord Howe Island and Ball’s Pyramid, has never produced any evidence of prehistoric human settlement, even by extensive test-pitting, coring and drilling (Anderson, 1996a, Macphail, 1996). In the other, consisting of Norfolk Island, Nepean Island and Phillip Island—the Norfolk Island archipelago—indications of earlier habitation were observed from the beginnings of European settlement. These were, and remained, enigmatic, namely, clusters of bananas growing in Arthur’s Vale, the existence of small rats, pieces of wrecked canoes and other wooden artefacts which were ascribed variously to origins in Tonga or New Zealand, and from the interior of the island some stone adzes and chisels. By A.D. 1793 Commandant King, clearly influenced by the fact that two Maori taken to Norfolk Island had recognized the newly-discovered stone tools as Maori “toki” (adzes) from the North Island (New Zealand), concluded that the various pieces of evidence constituted “a feasible proof” of Norfolk Island having once been settled from New Zealand (King, 1793, cited in McCarthy, 1934: 267). If this seems a prescient observation now, it was not one that the history of archaeological discovery subsequent to 1793 and prior to the current project would have easily allowed. Many stone adzes and flakes, recovered particularly from Emily Bay and adjacent areas, were of forms regarded as generically East Polynesian, but some Norfolk Island collections were found by Specht (1984) to contain many stone implements, and some of shell, in nonPolynesian forms and materials, Melanesian types especially. Further examples of non-Polynesian implements, not recorded by Specht, occur in the Norfolk Island Museum collection, where they were catalogued by Anderson (n.d.). Since New Caledonia is relatively close to the north and

Tectonic plate movements and the evolution of Jasus and Panulirus spiny lobsters (Palinuridae)

Jasus is at least as old as early Miocene (20 Ma). Genetic differentiation between J. verreauxi in Australia and New Zealand indicates larval isolation across the northern Tasman Sea following a northward retreat of a strong south-flowing warm current. After South Africa and Australia separated from Antarctica, stocks of the temperate J. lalandii subgroup of three species became genetically isolated because of reduced larval exchange by tracking of local environments. Once the full strength of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current was established, a series of subantarctic islands and seamounts provided new habitats for four species of the J. frontalis subgroup, and their larvae responded to local circulation systems. Speciation of nine species or subspecies of Indo–West Pacific Panulirus probably occurred between 9 and 3.5 Ma (late Miocene to early Pliocene) as a result of the formation of new habitats after collisions of India and Australia with the Asian plate. Major mountain chains resulted in high continental run-off, produced regular tropical monsoon systems, enhanced regional upwelling, altered oceanographic circulation patterns and restricted larval transport between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Deep sea Majidae (Decapoda: Brachyura) new to New Zealand with a description ofOxypleurodon wanganellasp.nov

Three deep sea spider crabs (Brachyura: Majidae) from the south west Pacific are examined: Vitjazmaia latidactyla Zarenkov, 1994 from the western Indian Ocean, is recorded from New Zealand, eastern Australia and the northern Tasman Sea; Oxypleurodon wanganella sp.nov. is described from north west of northern New Zealand; and Cyrtomaia cornuta Richer de Forges and Guinot, 1988 from New Caledonian waters, is now recorded from New Zealand.