by presence in collections or by valid scientific data. Ortiz (2006), whose work was
based on material in national collections, studied the variations of some ossicles of
holothurians of both Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia and contributed to
an improvement of the descriptions of species.
In the Management Plan of the Marine Protected Area of Malpelo (2005–2009),
109 species of echinoderms were included. These species had been recorded since
1975 by various institutions and unofficial sources from shallow and deep water
(up to a depth of 1000 m) near the island. Cohen-Rengifo (2007) and CohenRengifo et al. (2007) increased the number of species of Malpelo Island to 84.
Fifty-six percent of these species occur at depths of more than 200 m, Defined as
such, we can consider that the number of species surrounding Malpelo Island are
44, the other are of the Oceanic Pacific Ecoregion (PAO) defined as oceanic zones
with depths of more of 200 m.
5.3 Diversity of Echinoderms and Distribution
5.3.1 Geographical Distribution of Species of Echinoderms
in the Caribbean Sea
In total, 259 species of echinoderms have been reported from the Colombian
Caribbean Sea. These species have been collected on the coasts from depths of 0 to
940 m in all ecoregions that comprise the Colombian Caribbean Sea that were
defined earlier. The species that have been studied belong to five classes of
echinoderms. Ophiuroidea is the most diverse with 80 species, followed by
Asteroidea (67 species), Echinoidea (49 species), Holothuroidea (44 species) and
Crinoidea (22 species).
Number of Species Per Class Per Caribbean Ecoregion
In the Colombian Caribbean Sea, ARCO and TAY are the ecoregions with the
highest number of recorded echinoderms, 172 and 158 species respectively. This
may be the result of the greater diversity of ecosystems present and the greater
number of studies carried out in these ecoregions. Furthermore, MAG (134 species), GUA (122 species) and DAR (115 species) are also represented by a high
number of species, whereas PAL (82 species), MOR (54 species), and SAN
(45 species) have a lower number of recorded species. This is consistent with the
smaller number of studies in these ecoregions (Fig. 5.4).
Ophiuroidea has more species in PAL, TAY, MAG, ARCO and DAR than the
other classes. In some zones, Asteroidea is better represented, such as GUA and
MOR, where a high number of species of this class is present.
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
159
based on material in national collections, studied the variations of some ossicles of
holothurians of both Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia and contributed to
an improvement of the descriptions of species.
In the Management Plan of the Marine Protected Area of Malpelo (2005–2009),
109 species of echinoderms were included. These species had been recorded since
1975 by various institutions and unofficial sources from shallow and deep water
(up to a depth of 1000 m) near the island. Cohen-Rengifo (2007) and CohenRengifo et al. (2007) increased the number of species of Malpelo Island to 84.
Fifty-six percent of these species occur at depths of more than 200 m, Defined as
such, we can consider that the number of species surrounding Malpelo Island are
44, the other are of the Oceanic Pacific Ecoregion (PAO) defined as oceanic zones
with depths of more of 200 m.
5.3 Diversity of Echinoderms and Distribution
5.3.1 Geographical Distribution of Species of Echinoderms
in the Caribbean Sea
In total, 259 species of echinoderms have been reported from the Colombian
Caribbean Sea. These species have been collected on the coasts from depths of 0 to
940 m in all ecoregions that comprise the Colombian Caribbean Sea that were
defined earlier. The species that have been studied belong to five classes of
echinoderms. Ophiuroidea is the most diverse with 80 species, followed by
Asteroidea (67 species), Echinoidea (49 species), Holothuroidea (44 species) and
Crinoidea (22 species).
Number of Species Per Class Per Caribbean Ecoregion
In the Colombian Caribbean Sea, ARCO and TAY are the ecoregions with the
highest number of recorded echinoderms, 172 and 158 species respectively. This
may be the result of the greater diversity of ecosystems present and the greater
number of studies carried out in these ecoregions. Furthermore, MAG (134 species), GUA (122 species) and DAR (115 species) are also represented by a high
number of species, whereas PAL (82 species), MOR (54 species), and SAN
(45 species) have a lower number of recorded species. This is consistent with the
smaller number of studies in these ecoregions (Fig. 5.4).
Ophiuroidea has more species in PAL, TAY, MAG, ARCO and DAR than the
other classes. In some zones, Asteroidea is better represented, such as GUA and
MOR, where a high number of species of this class is present.
5 Echinoderms of Colombia
159