Author(s): Alan Dartnall

Flora & Fauna

Echinoderms exploit nearly every marine habitat, from the shore to the abyss, often in great numbers. Some are of economic importance as predators of oysters and mussels. Heliocidaris erythrogramma was investigated for its potential as a source of sea urchin roe for export. The history of the study of Tasmanian echinoderms began with early colonial collections for cabinet specimens and continued through the work of H.L.Clark of Harvard, and early British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic expeditions. Recent work was carried out in Victoria by Pawson and Rowe and A.M. Clark and in Tasmania by V.V.Hickman and Alan Dartnall.