Weird and wonderful creatures

Taniwha octopus

A Graneledone taniwha octopus collected from around 900 metres on the Chatham Rise.

The beautifully named 'Astrophiura kohurangi' McKnight, 1975 which means 'ra...

The beautifully named 'Astrophiura kohurangi' McKnight, 1975 which means 'rare treasure' in Māori, was described from a single animal from near New Caledonia.

'Uroptychus bispinatus' Baba, 1988 is a known species from the tropical west...

'Uroptychus bispinatus' Baba, 1988 is a known species from the tropical western Pacific and it’s a new record to New Zealand...

'Syracosphaera pemmadiscus' F.H.Chang, 2013 is a species of coccolithoph...

'Syracosphaera pemmadiscus' F.H.Chang, 2013 is a species of coccolithophore microalgae described by NIWA’s Emeritus Dr Hoe Chang in 2013.

A large undescribed species of rossellid glass sponge in the genus "Hyalascus' Ijima, 1896.

A large undescribed species of rossellid glass sponge in the genus "Hyalascus' Ijima, 1896.

The nematode worm species Desmodorella verscheldei was recently discovere...

The nematode worm species Desmodorella verscheldei was recently discovered from a central Wellington beach in the suburb of Hataitai.

This firebrick sea star, 'Asterodiscides truncatus' Coleman, 1911, was collect...

This firebrick sea star, 'Asterodiscides truncatus' Coleman, 1911, was collected from the Bay of Islands in 2009.

The fireworm, 'Chloeia inermis' Quatrefages, 1865, is a member of the phylum Annelida –...

The fireworm, 'Chloeia inermis' Quatrefages, 1865, is a member of the phylum Annelida – the segmented worms...

The snake star species is 'Asteroporpa australiensis' and the primno...

The snake star species is 'Asteroporpa australiensis' and the primnoid coral it is living on is called 'Perrisogorgia vitrea'...