NZCMI


New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates

Volume 2

NZCMI Volume 1 Cover - Available from CUPUnder Revision August 2021

Hi there,

Volume One of New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates was published in 2010, and now I'm looking for a range of images to complete Volume Two, which includes over 650 species.

I must reiterate that all contributors to this book, are doing so voluntarily, and that unfortunately, as much as would like to, I can not promise a free copy of the book once it is published.

The images below are just there to give you an idea of what to look for. Most are from overseas (and link to their source), however, I need images taken in New Zealand waters. For more examples, click on, and it will bring up Google images.

Annelida - Hirudinea (leeches)

Annelida - Oligochaeta  




Annelida - Polychaeta (bristleworms, feather duster worms, ragworms etc.)


There are a wide range of these beasties, and they are often good at hiding. Some of the more obvious ones we have images for, e.g. feather dusters, but for many of them we don't, particularly the burrowing species.

Echiura (spoon worms)


We have only one species in the book, Urechis novaezelandiae.

Sipuncula (peanut worms)


We have more species than most people realise, but they tend to stick to themselves, and not get out much. We have a few piks, but could certainly do with some more. They tend to be inconspicuous, usually in association with soft sediments, e.g. buried in sand or mud, in muddy crevices and holes left by other animals in intertidal reefs, under rocks, etc.

Arthropoda - Pycnogonida (sea spiders)

Arthropoda - Decapoda (crabs, hermits, lobsters, shrimps etc.)

Arthropoda - Stomatopoda (mantis shrimps)


These little rascals are an aggressive predator, that live in burrows in soft sediments, from low intertidal to subtidal. There are several new species that have been described, so basically, if you see one, grab a shot if you can, it could be one of the new ones!

Bryozoa (moss animals)

Chaetognatha (arrow worms)

Echinodermata - Asteroidea (starfish)

Echinodermata - Echinoidea (urchins)

Echinodermata - Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers)

Echinodermata - Ophiuroidea (brittle, snake & basket stars)

Hemichordata (acorn worm)

Tunicata - Ascidacea (sea squirts)

Tunicata - Thaliacea (salps, doliolids, pyrosomes)



Volume 2 of NZCMI will include 13 chapters (the numbers follow on from Volume 1):
  1. Priapulida
  2. Annelida
    • Hirudinea (leeches)
    • Oligochaeta
    • Polychaeta (bristle worms)
  3. Echiura (spoon worms)
  4. Sipuncula (peanut worms)
  5. Arthropoda
    • Cirripedia (barnacles)
    • Amphipoda (hoppers, skeleton shrimps etc.) - brief intro only
    • Isopoda (e.g. sea lice) - brief intro only
    • Decapoda (crabs, lobsters, hermits, shrimps)
    • Euphausiacea (euphausids)
    • Stomatopoda (mantis shrimps)
    • Pycnogonida (sea spiders)
  6. Phoronida (horseshoe worms)
  7. Bryozoa (moss animals, lace coral etc.)
  8. Entoprocta (goblet worms, nodding heads)
  9. Brachiopoda (lamp shells)
  10. Chaetognatha (arrow worms)
  11. Echinodermata
    • Crinoidea (feather stars)
    • Asteroidea (star fish)
    • Ophiuroidea (brittle, basket & snake stars)
    • Echinoidea (urchins)
    • Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers)
  12. Hemichordata (acorn worms)
  13. Chordata
    • Leptocardii [subphylum Cephalochordata] (lanclet)
    • Ascidacea [subphylum Tunicata] (sea squirts)
    • Thaliacea [subphylum Tunicata] (salps, doliolids etc)