![Thumbnail: [Volume 77, 1948-49 page 211]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_77/thumbnails/rsnz_77_05_0988_0211_ac_02.gif)
Eurytopic Species.
Species occurring in two or more provinces number 127. It is not necessary to present a check-list of these here, though certain facts emerging from an examination of such a list may be noted. Ophionereis fasciata, a common endemic eulittoral ophiuroid, is known to occur in every province. The same appears true of the cosmopolitan Amphipholis squamata, though its presence in the Chathams requires verification. Other strongly eurytopic species include Amphiura amokurae, Allostichaster polyplax, Ophiomyxa brevirima and Evechinus chloroticus. Since these species include some of the most characteristic New Zealand
![Thumbnail: [Volume 77, 1948-49 page 212]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_77/thumbnails/rsnz_77_05_0989_0212_ac_02.gif)
forms (in the sense of being morphologically distinct from exotic forms) their wide distribution within New Zealand suggests their differentiation at a relatively early date. It is also noteworthy that, with the apparent exceptions of Brissopsis luzonica and Ophiocreas constrictum (known each from only one locality in New Zealand, though neither is endemic), all euryzonal species are also eurytopic. Since the two species named are widely distributed in the Pacific, a more widespread distribution in New Zealand is to be expected.
Fig. 1—Histogram showing relative proportions of the constituent elements of the New Zealand echinoderm fauna. Figs. 2–5—Histograms showing incidence of constituent elements in provincial faunas, expressed as percentage of the total echinoderm fauna of each marine province. Fig. 2—Endemic element; Fig. 3—Australian-Indo-Pacific element: Fig. 4—Magellanic element; Fig. 5—Cosmopolitan element. In Figs. 2–5 the provinces read in order from lett to right to correspond with their relative north to south disposition. Abbreviations: K, Kermadecian; A, Aupourian; C. Cookian; F, Forsterian; R, Rossian.