Insituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma
de México). These have a good level of national and local distribution, but not
regionally. There is a need to promote the publication of thesis in local and
regional journals, as well to encourage publication in English to have a broader
audience and distribution.
A total of 1,539 species (Table 1.1) (21.8 % of the worldwide species
accordingly to Pawson 2007) can be found in the taxonomic lists (see Appendix),
with 717 species in the Pacific and 926 in the Caribbean and Atlantic, and 104
species shared in both ocean basins. The richest class is Ophiuroidea with 521
species, followed by the class Asteroidea with 392 species. All classes have the
richest number of species in the Caribbean and Atlantic in contrast with the
Pacific, except for the class Holothuroidea, which is richest in the latter.
From the Pacific list, 86 % of the species give bathymetric information and
66 % give information on the habitat. From the Caribbean and Atlantic list, 92 %
and 70 % of the species give bathymetric and habitat information, respectively.
This indicates there is a greater understanding of the environment conditions were
this organisms inhabits in the Caribbean and Atlantic than in the Pacific. This is
probably due to a greater and continuous research effort in this region (i.e. Pawson
et al. 2009).
References
Appeltans W, Bouchet P, Boxshall GA, Fauchald K, Gordon DP, Hoeksema BW, Poore GCB,
van Soest RWM, Stöhr S, Walter TC, Costello MJ (eds) (2011) World Register of Marine
Species. http://www.marinespecies.org
Birkeland C (1989) The influence of echinoderms on coral-reef communities. In: Jangoux M,
Lawrence J (eds) Echinoderm studies, vol 3. AA. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 1–79
Table 1.1 Number of species in each Echinodermata class from the taxonomic list (TL) in the
Appendix
Total Pacific
TL
Caribbean and Atlantic
TL
Common species between
TLs
Crinoidea
82 21
63
2
Asteroidea
392 193
228
29
Ophiuroidea
521 211
340
30
Echinoidea
242 118
137
13
Holothuroidea
302 174
158
30
Total
1539 717
926
104
spp. with
bathymetric
information
–
620
(86 %)
836
(92 %)
–
spp. with habitat
information
–
473
(66 %)
630
(70 %)
–
1 Echinoderm Research and Diversity in Latin America
7
de México). These have a good level of national and local distribution, but not
regionally. There is a need to promote the publication of thesis in local and
regional journals, as well to encourage publication in English to have a broader
audience and distribution.
A total of 1,539 species (Table 1.1) (21.8 % of the worldwide species
accordingly to Pawson 2007) can be found in the taxonomic lists (see Appendix),
with 717 species in the Pacific and 926 in the Caribbean and Atlantic, and 104
species shared in both ocean basins. The richest class is Ophiuroidea with 521
species, followed by the class Asteroidea with 392 species. All classes have the
richest number of species in the Caribbean and Atlantic in contrast with the
Pacific, except for the class Holothuroidea, which is richest in the latter.
From the Pacific list, 86 % of the species give bathymetric information and
66 % give information on the habitat. From the Caribbean and Atlantic list, 92 %
and 70 % of the species give bathymetric and habitat information, respectively.
This indicates there is a greater understanding of the environment conditions were
this organisms inhabits in the Caribbean and Atlantic than in the Pacific. This is
probably due to a greater and continuous research effort in this region (i.e. Pawson
et al. 2009).
References
Appeltans W, Bouchet P, Boxshall GA, Fauchald K, Gordon DP, Hoeksema BW, Poore GCB,
van Soest RWM, Stöhr S, Walter TC, Costello MJ (eds) (2011) World Register of Marine
Species. http://www.marinespecies.org
Birkeland C (1989) The influence of echinoderms on coral-reef communities. In: Jangoux M,
Lawrence J (eds) Echinoderm studies, vol 3. AA. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 1–79
Table 1.1 Number of species in each Echinodermata class from the taxonomic list (TL) in the
Appendix
Total Pacific
TL
Caribbean and Atlantic
TL
Common species between
TLs
Crinoidea
82 21
63
2
Asteroidea
392 193
228
29
Ophiuroidea
521 211
340
30
Echinoidea
242 118
137
13
Holothuroidea
302 174
158
30
Total
1539 717
926
104
spp. with
bathymetric
information
–
620
(86 %)
836
(92 %)
–
spp. with habitat
information
–
473
(66 %)
630
(70 %)
–
1 Echinoderm Research and Diversity in Latin America
7