cucumber Psolidium dorsipes is found in the intertidal zone. In the subtidal,
P. unifascialis (Fig. 8.4b) has been rarely found on rocks. Athyonidium chilensis
appears occasionally below them.
Isostichopus fuscus (Fig. 8.4h) has been found throughout the area with low
densities. This sea cucumber is not as affected here by over-exploitation as it has
been in northern Peru. On the other hand, Lobos de Afuera is the only location
where Tripneustes depressus has been reported. This species was very abundant
there until 2005. It is said that fishermen working in the island extracted them for
their own use and for commercialization. This has decreased the populations
below commercial levels.
The islands of Lobos de Afuera possess species from both provinces. They may
be considered relatively tropical. The relative abundance of the species differs
from coastal waters (Hooker et al. 2005). Knowledge about the Lobos de Afuera
echinoderm fauna (Hooker et al. 2005), fishes (Hooker 2009) and sponges are
more related to the Galapagos Islands than to the coastal tropical waters of
northern Peru (Fig. 8.6).
8.3.5 Deep Sea Waters
The diversity of echinoderms in Peruvian deep waters is very high, reaching 46 %
of the total reported species for Peru. Richness has been reported mostly by old
marine cruises. The information was collected and analyzed by Maluf (1988). The
most recent reports come from deep water cruises organized by the Instituto del
Mar de Peru (IMARPE). These cruises collected a large number of species that
should increase our knowledge of the diversity of Peruvian deep waters.
Prieto-Rios (2010) published the first report for Peru of the sea cucumbers
Molpadia and Caudina californica at depths of 1,412 and 996 m, respectively.
Morales-Montecinos (in preparation) has the first collection for Peru of the sea
stars Thrissacanthias penicillatus, Ctenodiscus crispatus, Pectinaster agassizi,
Ceramaster leptoceramus, Lophaster furcilliger, and Hymenaster quadrispinosus.
Recently, Prieto-Rios et al. (2011) published the first report of a crinoids for Peru,
adding F. magellanica (Bell, 1882) (360–814 m) to the biodiversity list of deep
sea echinoderms. Some other species of sea cucumbers and seastar are now under
revision and brittle stars and more crinoid species are still awaiting a proper
taxonomic revision.
8.4 Aquaculture and Fisheries
Historically echinoderms were of interest to Prehispanic Peruvian cultures. The sea
cucumber A. chilensis, locally called ‘‘ancoco’’, has been exploited and locally
consumed by the Mochica culture in the Lambayeque area (*6°50
0 S) for at least
292
Y. Hooker et al.
P. unifascialis (Fig. 8.4b) has been rarely found on rocks. Athyonidium chilensis
appears occasionally below them.
Isostichopus fuscus (Fig. 8.4h) has been found throughout the area with low
densities. This sea cucumber is not as affected here by over-exploitation as it has
been in northern Peru. On the other hand, Lobos de Afuera is the only location
where Tripneustes depressus has been reported. This species was very abundant
there until 2005. It is said that fishermen working in the island extracted them for
their own use and for commercialization. This has decreased the populations
below commercial levels.
The islands of Lobos de Afuera possess species from both provinces. They may
be considered relatively tropical. The relative abundance of the species differs
from coastal waters (Hooker et al. 2005). Knowledge about the Lobos de Afuera
echinoderm fauna (Hooker et al. 2005), fishes (Hooker 2009) and sponges are
more related to the Galapagos Islands than to the coastal tropical waters of
northern Peru (Fig. 8.6).
8.3.5 Deep Sea Waters
The diversity of echinoderms in Peruvian deep waters is very high, reaching 46 %
of the total reported species for Peru. Richness has been reported mostly by old
marine cruises. The information was collected and analyzed by Maluf (1988). The
most recent reports come from deep water cruises organized by the Instituto del
Mar de Peru (IMARPE). These cruises collected a large number of species that
should increase our knowledge of the diversity of Peruvian deep waters.
Prieto-Rios (2010) published the first report for Peru of the sea cucumbers
Molpadia and Caudina californica at depths of 1,412 and 996 m, respectively.
Morales-Montecinos (in preparation) has the first collection for Peru of the sea
stars Thrissacanthias penicillatus, Ctenodiscus crispatus, Pectinaster agassizi,
Ceramaster leptoceramus, Lophaster furcilliger, and Hymenaster quadrispinosus.
Recently, Prieto-Rios et al. (2011) published the first report of a crinoids for Peru,
adding F. magellanica (Bell, 1882) (360–814 m) to the biodiversity list of deep
sea echinoderms. Some other species of sea cucumbers and seastar are now under
revision and brittle stars and more crinoid species are still awaiting a proper
taxonomic revision.
8.4 Aquaculture and Fisheries
Historically echinoderms were of interest to Prehispanic Peruvian cultures. The sea
cucumber A. chilensis, locally called ‘‘ancoco’’, has been exploited and locally
consumed by the Mochica culture in the Lambayeque area (*6°50
0 S) for at least
292
Y. Hooker et al.