Most records of echinoderms in Venezuelan waters have been made from
depths between 0 and 50 m (47.42 %), followed by the range 51–199 m
(26.12 %), 200–499 m (8.25 %) and depths [500 m (18.21 %). Now, considering
the distribution of echinoderms in the ecoregions described (Table 7.1, Fig. 7.2),
29.17 % of the known species are reported for the Eastern upwelling zone ecoregion; followed by the Oceanic islands ecoregión (23.33 %) and the Central coast
ecoregion (10.42 %). The smallest number was found in the Gulf of Venezuela
ecoregion (1.67 %). There are no reports of echinoderms within the Lake Maracaibo ecoregion, most probably due to the low salinity.
The Class Crinoidea includes 16 species, 15 genera, nine families and four
orders (Table 7.1), with members mainly in the Central Coast (23.91 %), Oceanic
Islands (21.74 %) and Eastern Upwelling ecoregions (19.57 %). They have not
been found in the Unare-Píritu, Golfete de Coro and Oceanic area ecoregions.
Comasteridae and Antedonidae showed a wider distribution, being present in
seven and five ecoregions, respectively. Families like Thalassometridae, Pentacrinidae and Bathycrinidae, have only been reported for a single ecoregion, Oceanic
Islands, Central Coast and Tocuyo, respectively. Forty percent of the crinoids
reported are found in the depth range 0–50 m, followed with 32 % in the range
51–199 m. The Charitometridae has the largest depth range, with representatives
from 51 m to more than 500 m deep. Tropiometridae, Colobometridae, Comasteridae and Antedonidae are only reported for shallow waters, in the depth range
0–50 m for the first, and the remaining in the range 0–199 m. Bathycrinidae and
Atelecrinidae show the deepest records ([500 m).
The Class Asteroidea is the most diverse, with 63 species, 40 genera, 15
families and six orders (Table 7.1), being mostly represented in the Eastern
upwelling (22.92 %), Oceanic Islands (22.92 %) and Paraguaná (11.81 %) ecoregions; with the smallest representation in Unare-Píritu ecoregion (0.69 %, a
single record). The Astropectinidae and Luidiidae have the widest distribution
along the coast, with representatives in ten and nine ecoregions, respectively.
Families like Brisingidae, Asteriidae, Goniopectinidae and Benthopectinidae, are
only present in a single ecoregion, the first in Oceanic Islands ecoregion, the
second in Tocuyo ecoregion and the last two in the Eastern upwelling region. It has
been calculated that 30.53 % of the asteroid records has been made within
51–199 m, followed by depths greater than 500 m with 27.37 % of the records.
Members of Astropectinidae and Goniasteridae were present in all depth intervals.
Furthermore, the Oreasteridae, Asterinidae, Ophidiasteridae and Luidiidae, are
only reported for shallower waters, within 0–50 m for the first, and the remaining
from 0 to 199 m. Brisingidae, Asteriidae, Zorasteridae, Goniopectinidae and
Pterasteridae are only recorded at depths greater than 200 m.
The Class Ophiuroidea consisted of 52 species, 31 genera, 14 families and two
orders, being mostly represented in the Eastern Upwelling (34.07 %) and Oceanic
Islands ecoregions (21.98 %), and has not been found in the Cariaco Trench,
Tocuyo, Golfo de Venezuela and Oceanic area ecoregions. The Amphiuridae and
Ophiuridae have the widest distribution with representatives in seven ecoregions,
while the Asteroschematidae, Ophiochitonidae, Ophiolepididae, Ophiomixidae
248
C. Lodeiros et al.
depths between 0 and 50 m (47.42 %), followed by the range 51–199 m
(26.12 %), 200–499 m (8.25 %) and depths [500 m (18.21 %). Now, considering
the distribution of echinoderms in the ecoregions described (Table 7.1, Fig. 7.2),
29.17 % of the known species are reported for the Eastern upwelling zone ecoregion; followed by the Oceanic islands ecoregión (23.33 %) and the Central coast
ecoregion (10.42 %). The smallest number was found in the Gulf of Venezuela
ecoregion (1.67 %). There are no reports of echinoderms within the Lake Maracaibo ecoregion, most probably due to the low salinity.
The Class Crinoidea includes 16 species, 15 genera, nine families and four
orders (Table 7.1), with members mainly in the Central Coast (23.91 %), Oceanic
Islands (21.74 %) and Eastern Upwelling ecoregions (19.57 %). They have not
been found in the Unare-Píritu, Golfete de Coro and Oceanic area ecoregions.
Comasteridae and Antedonidae showed a wider distribution, being present in
seven and five ecoregions, respectively. Families like Thalassometridae, Pentacrinidae and Bathycrinidae, have only been reported for a single ecoregion, Oceanic
Islands, Central Coast and Tocuyo, respectively. Forty percent of the crinoids
reported are found in the depth range 0–50 m, followed with 32 % in the range
51–199 m. The Charitometridae has the largest depth range, with representatives
from 51 m to more than 500 m deep. Tropiometridae, Colobometridae, Comasteridae and Antedonidae are only reported for shallow waters, in the depth range
0–50 m for the first, and the remaining in the range 0–199 m. Bathycrinidae and
Atelecrinidae show the deepest records ([500 m).
The Class Asteroidea is the most diverse, with 63 species, 40 genera, 15
families and six orders (Table 7.1), being mostly represented in the Eastern
upwelling (22.92 %), Oceanic Islands (22.92 %) and Paraguaná (11.81 %) ecoregions; with the smallest representation in Unare-Píritu ecoregion (0.69 %, a
single record). The Astropectinidae and Luidiidae have the widest distribution
along the coast, with representatives in ten and nine ecoregions, respectively.
Families like Brisingidae, Asteriidae, Goniopectinidae and Benthopectinidae, are
only present in a single ecoregion, the first in Oceanic Islands ecoregion, the
second in Tocuyo ecoregion and the last two in the Eastern upwelling region. It has
been calculated that 30.53 % of the asteroid records has been made within
51–199 m, followed by depths greater than 500 m with 27.37 % of the records.
Members of Astropectinidae and Goniasteridae were present in all depth intervals.
Furthermore, the Oreasteridae, Asterinidae, Ophidiasteridae and Luidiidae, are
only reported for shallower waters, within 0–50 m for the first, and the remaining
from 0 to 199 m. Brisingidae, Asteriidae, Zorasteridae, Goniopectinidae and
Pterasteridae are only recorded at depths greater than 200 m.
The Class Ophiuroidea consisted of 52 species, 31 genera, 14 families and two
orders, being mostly represented in the Eastern Upwelling (34.07 %) and Oceanic
Islands ecoregions (21.98 %), and has not been found in the Cariaco Trench,
Tocuyo, Golfo de Venezuela and Oceanic area ecoregions. The Amphiuridae and
Ophiuridae have the widest distribution with representatives in seven ecoregions,
while the Asteroschematidae, Ophiochitonidae, Ophiolepididae, Ophiomixidae
248
C. Lodeiros et al.