Echinoderms (starfish, sea cucumbers, featherstars and seaurchins).

Apart from the black corals and the swarms of fish it is the echinoderms which stand out as one of the dominant groups in Fiordland. There is probably nowhere else in the country where so many different species of holothurians, starfish and sea urchins can be seen on a single dive.

Just below the Low Salinity Layer (LSL) armies of the giant Coscinasterias starfish can be seen waiting for the LSL to thin out so they can raid the larder of mussels which live in the LSL.

In some parts of Fiordland whole cliff faces are covered with the feeding tentacles of the strawberry holothurian while gorgonians and black corals host snakestars.

Asterodon miliaris is rarely encountered in Fiordland but when it is the colours appear almost fluorescent. (63.98K)

Another red starfish from Fiordland, probably Henricia sp. (53.54K)

Coscinasterias calamaria, the eleven-armed starfish is the commonest starfish in Fiordland. (71.11K)

Hordes of Coscinasterias calamria lurk below the low salinity layer. (73.28K)

A red starfish from Fiordland (Henricia?). (56.34K)

Henricia are common at divable depths in Fiordland. (48.11K)

Astrobrachion constrictum, yellow morph. This snakestar lives in a mutualistic arrangement with black coral. (29.17K)

Astrobrachion constrictum (red morph).


 (46.82K)

Other Echinoderms (brittle star, seacucumbers, featherstars and sea urchins).

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Last modified on Friday, February 23, 2001