Arachnoides zelandiae

Taxobox
name = "Arachnoides zelandiae"
regnum = Animalia


phylum = Echinodermata
subphylum = Eleutherozoa
superclassis = Cryptosyringida
classis = Echinoidea
subclassis = Euechinoidea
superordo = Gnathostomata
ordo = Clypeasteroida
subordo = Clypeasterina
familia = Arachnoididae
genus = "Arachnoides"
species = "A. zelandiae"
binomial = "Arachnoides zelandiae"
binomial_authority = (Gray, 1855)

"Arachnoides zelandiae", or the snapper biscuit, is an echinoderm of the family Arachnoididae, endemic to New Zealand. It is found shallowly buried in fine sand, and muddy sand, beaches at and below low tide level.

The snapper biscuit is a circular and flattened sea urchin densely covered in small spines. The tube feet are tiny and numerous, and in narrow rows. It walks across the surface, and buries itself when the tide recedes. It feeds on fine organic particles.

The disc is five-segmented, and broken-up triangular segments are commonly cast up on beaches

Maximum width is up to 100 mm.

References

* Miller M & Batt G, "Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand", William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973