During El Niño, the entire area is invaded by tropical waters and an aquatic
tropical fauna is established, significantly expanding its distribution to the south.
This expansion is only temporary. When the oceanographic conditions become
normal after 1–2 years, this fauna gradually disappears, leaving only some species
that are resistant inside localities that act as refugia, especially in enclosed bays
where temperature is normally higher than in open waters.
8.2 Echinoderm Research
Few papers are dedicated to the taxonomy or systematic research on Peruvian
echinoderms. Alexander Aggasiz (1881) reported seven echinoid species, mostly
from shallow waters in Callao and Paita (at Paita Province). Later on, Clark (1910)
published the largest echinoderm list ever reported. He described 25 seastar species collected in Peruvian territorial seas, 10 ophiuroids, 12 echinoids species, and
seven species of sea cucumbers. Deichmann (1941, 1958) reported 14 species of
holothurians collected between 1932 and 1938 during the Allan Hancock expeditions to the American Pacific (Velero III and IV).
More recently, Bluhm and Gebruk (1999) made underwater images observations
at depths between 4,140 and 4,160 m for three Peruvian localities. They reported 11
species of deep sea holothurians and some non identified sea cucumbers. Hooker
et al. (2005) reported 39 echinoderm species at Islas Lobos de Afuera (Lambayeque):
seven Asteroidea, eight Ophiuroidea, 11 Echinoidea and 13 Holothuroidea.
Prieto-Rios (2010) reported 22 species of sea cucumbers for Peruvian waters,
including both shallow and deep areas. Finally, Prieto-Rios et al. (2011) reported
Florometra magellanica (Bell, 1882) in Piura between 360–814 m, the first crinoid
species ever recorded for Peruvian waters.
8.3 Diversity of Echinoderms and Distribution
The Peruvian littoral is divided into two main areas included in two biogeographical provinces (Spalding et al. 2007): Warm Temperate South-Eastern Pacific
(Peruvian Province) and Tropical Eastern Pacific (Panamic Province). The former
is associated with the Peruvian Current with a high level of endemism. The
Temperate Eastern Pacific, on the other hand, is associated with warm waters
coming from the north, mostly by a branch of the South Equatorial Current. The
fauna of this province is widely distributed from the Gulf of California (Mexico) to
north of Piura region, Peru (4°15
0 S). The area between Cabo Blanco (4°15
0 S) and
Punta Aguja (6°S) is a transition zone between these two provinces (Hooker 2009).
Peruvian echinoderms are represented by 215 species: Crinoidea (1 species),
Asteroidea (64 species, distributed in seven orders and 22 families), Ophiuroidea
(42 species, distributed in two orders and 11 families), Echinoidea (35 species,
284
Y. Hooker et al.
tropical fauna is established, significantly expanding its distribution to the south.
This expansion is only temporary. When the oceanographic conditions become
normal after 1–2 years, this fauna gradually disappears, leaving only some species
that are resistant inside localities that act as refugia, especially in enclosed bays
where temperature is normally higher than in open waters.
8.2 Echinoderm Research
Few papers are dedicated to the taxonomy or systematic research on Peruvian
echinoderms. Alexander Aggasiz (1881) reported seven echinoid species, mostly
from shallow waters in Callao and Paita (at Paita Province). Later on, Clark (1910)
published the largest echinoderm list ever reported. He described 25 seastar species collected in Peruvian territorial seas, 10 ophiuroids, 12 echinoids species, and
seven species of sea cucumbers. Deichmann (1941, 1958) reported 14 species of
holothurians collected between 1932 and 1938 during the Allan Hancock expeditions to the American Pacific (Velero III and IV).
More recently, Bluhm and Gebruk (1999) made underwater images observations
at depths between 4,140 and 4,160 m for three Peruvian localities. They reported 11
species of deep sea holothurians and some non identified sea cucumbers. Hooker
et al. (2005) reported 39 echinoderm species at Islas Lobos de Afuera (Lambayeque):
seven Asteroidea, eight Ophiuroidea, 11 Echinoidea and 13 Holothuroidea.
Prieto-Rios (2010) reported 22 species of sea cucumbers for Peruvian waters,
including both shallow and deep areas. Finally, Prieto-Rios et al. (2011) reported
Florometra magellanica (Bell, 1882) in Piura between 360–814 m, the first crinoid
species ever recorded for Peruvian waters.
8.3 Diversity of Echinoderms and Distribution
The Peruvian littoral is divided into two main areas included in two biogeographical provinces (Spalding et al. 2007): Warm Temperate South-Eastern Pacific
(Peruvian Province) and Tropical Eastern Pacific (Panamic Province). The former
is associated with the Peruvian Current with a high level of endemism. The
Temperate Eastern Pacific, on the other hand, is associated with warm waters
coming from the north, mostly by a branch of the South Equatorial Current. The
fauna of this province is widely distributed from the Gulf of California (Mexico) to
north of Piura region, Peru (4°15
0 S). The area between Cabo Blanco (4°15
0 S) and
Punta Aguja (6°S) is a transition zone between these two provinces (Hooker 2009).
Peruvian echinoderms are represented by 215 species: Crinoidea (1 species),
Asteroidea (64 species, distributed in seven orders and 22 families), Ophiuroidea
(42 species, distributed in two orders and 11 families), Echinoidea (35 species,
284
Y. Hooker et al.