Amphilepis neozelandica sp. nov., the first record of the Amphilepididae in New Zealand waters (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

A new species of Amphilepis is described from several locations around New Zealand. It is distinguished from congeners by the combination of a lack of tentacle scales, separated dorsal and ventral arm plates, ventral interradial disc scaling and characteristic sharp appearance to the disc edge. This is the first record of Amphilepididae from New Zealand waters, and current evidence suggests that it occurs between 900 and 1500 m off eastern and western New Zealand.