According to Pawson (2007) 7,000 echinoderm species have been reported
globaly. CA is a very diverse area, with 5.9 % of the world species. The Caribbean
and Pacific coasts are very similar in the number of total species (214 and 207
species, respectively, with seven in common; Table 3.1), and differing more
notably in the numbers of holothuroids and crinoids. The first group is more
diverse in the Pacific and the second group is more diverse in the Caribbean. It is
important to note that the number of species from the Pacific coast without considering Cocos Island and the Cocos Ridge, CA possesses only 126 species. Cocos
Island and the Cocos Ridge contributed with 39 % of the echinoderm species of
the Pacific of CA. Even without Cocos Island, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is the
richest in CA with 106 species (Table 3.1). Honduras is the least diverse
(11 species). However, Cocos Island is the richest location on the Pacific with 127
species. Belize (134 species) is the richest country on the Caribbean, while
Guatemala (23 species) is the least diverse. Ophiuroidea is the most diverse class
on both coasts, while Crinoidea is the least diverse (Table 3.1).
Seven species of echinoderms are found on both coasts: three ophiuroids
(Amphiodia violacea, Amphipholis squamata and Ophiactis savignyi), one echinoid (Clypeaster speciosus) and three holothuroids (Holothuria arenicola,
Holothuria impatiens and Benthodytes sanguinolenta). Amphiodia violacea is
present on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Cocos Island, and in the Caribbean
coast of Belize. Amphipholis squamata is present on the Pacific coasts of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua, and on the Caribbean coast of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Ophiactis savignyi is present on the Pacific coast of El Salvador, Nicaragua,
Costa Rica and at Cocos Island, and on the Caribbean coast of Belize, Honduras
and Costa Rica. Clypeaster speciosus is present on the Pacific side at Cocos Island,
and on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Holothuria arenicola is present on the
Pacific coast of Costa Rica and at Cocos Island, and on the Caribbean coasts of
Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Holothuria impatiens is present on the Pacific
coast of El Salvador, Costa Rica and at Cocos Island, and on the Caribbean coast
of Belize. Benthodytes sanguinolenta is present on the Pacific side at Cocos Island
and on the Caribbean coast of Honduras (see Appendix).
Six species are distributed on all the countries coasts of the Pacific side
and Cocos Island: Ophiocoma aethiops, Ophiocoma alexandri, Echinometra
vanbrunti, Clypeaster rotundus, Holothuria difficilis and Isostichopus fuscus. Ten
species are found on the Caribbean coasts of all the CA countries: Davidaster
discoidea, Astropecten articulatus, Oreaster reticulatus, Astrophyton muricatum,
Ophiocoma echinata, Eucidaris tribuloides, Diadema antillarum, Echinometra
lucunter, Meoma ventricosa and Holothuria mexicana. One hundred and twentyeight species are reported for the Pacific coast of only one country, 43 species for
two countries, 14 species for three countries, three species for five countries and
six species for six countries. On the Caribbean coasts of CA 130 species are
reported for only one country, 43 species for two countries, 25 species for three
countries, five species for four countries and ten species for five countries (see
Appendix).
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J. J. Alvarado et al.
globaly. CA is a very diverse area, with 5.9 % of the world species. The Caribbean
and Pacific coasts are very similar in the number of total species (214 and 207
species, respectively, with seven in common; Table 3.1), and differing more
notably in the numbers of holothuroids and crinoids. The first group is more
diverse in the Pacific and the second group is more diverse in the Caribbean. It is
important to note that the number of species from the Pacific coast without considering Cocos Island and the Cocos Ridge, CA possesses only 126 species. Cocos
Island and the Cocos Ridge contributed with 39 % of the echinoderm species of
the Pacific of CA. Even without Cocos Island, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is the
richest in CA with 106 species (Table 3.1). Honduras is the least diverse
(11 species). However, Cocos Island is the richest location on the Pacific with 127
species. Belize (134 species) is the richest country on the Caribbean, while
Guatemala (23 species) is the least diverse. Ophiuroidea is the most diverse class
on both coasts, while Crinoidea is the least diverse (Table 3.1).
Seven species of echinoderms are found on both coasts: three ophiuroids
(Amphiodia violacea, Amphipholis squamata and Ophiactis savignyi), one echinoid (Clypeaster speciosus) and three holothuroids (Holothuria arenicola,
Holothuria impatiens and Benthodytes sanguinolenta). Amphiodia violacea is
present on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Cocos Island, and in the Caribbean
coast of Belize. Amphipholis squamata is present on the Pacific coasts of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua, and on the Caribbean coast of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Ophiactis savignyi is present on the Pacific coast of El Salvador, Nicaragua,
Costa Rica and at Cocos Island, and on the Caribbean coast of Belize, Honduras
and Costa Rica. Clypeaster speciosus is present on the Pacific side at Cocos Island,
and on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Holothuria arenicola is present on the
Pacific coast of Costa Rica and at Cocos Island, and on the Caribbean coasts of
Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Holothuria impatiens is present on the Pacific
coast of El Salvador, Costa Rica and at Cocos Island, and on the Caribbean coast
of Belize. Benthodytes sanguinolenta is present on the Pacific side at Cocos Island
and on the Caribbean coast of Honduras (see Appendix).
Six species are distributed on all the countries coasts of the Pacific side
and Cocos Island: Ophiocoma aethiops, Ophiocoma alexandri, Echinometra
vanbrunti, Clypeaster rotundus, Holothuria difficilis and Isostichopus fuscus. Ten
species are found on the Caribbean coasts of all the CA countries: Davidaster
discoidea, Astropecten articulatus, Oreaster reticulatus, Astrophyton muricatum,
Ophiocoma echinata, Eucidaris tribuloides, Diadema antillarum, Echinometra
lucunter, Meoma ventricosa and Holothuria mexicana. One hundred and twentyeight species are reported for the Pacific coast of only one country, 43 species for
two countries, 14 species for three countries, three species for five countries and
six species for six countries. On the Caribbean coasts of CA 130 species are
reported for only one country, 43 species for two countries, 25 species for three
countries, five species for four countries and ten species for five countries (see
Appendix).
94
J. J. Alvarado et al.