In such a variable and unpredictable context as described above, it is not
surprising that recent echinoderm faunas are rather poor. But, as mentioned below,
the lack of research must be taken into account. Fossil echinoderms, although also
not diverse, include key representatives of the extinct echinoid family Monophorasteridae, the sister group of the abundant and widespread Mellitidae. The aim
of this chapter is give an overview of the knowledge about extinct and extant
echinoderms of Uruguay.
10.2 Research
Echinoderm research is not yet systematically developed in Uruguay. There is
little knowledge of the modern fauna. Evidence of this situation is the few papers
that have been devoted to Uruguayan echinoderms.
Although Mortensen (1917) mentioned the presence of Isometra vivipara in
Uruguay, the given coordinates (33800
0 S; 51810
0 W) correspond to Brazilian
waters.
Barattini (1938) mentioned one ophiuroid species (Ophioceramis januarii,
presently Ophioplocus januarii), two asteroid species (Asterina marginata, today
classified as Asterina stellifera, and Astropecten brasiliensis) and two echinoid
species (Mellita quinquesperforata and Encope emarginata; Fig. 10.4b). The same
species are included in Barattini and Ureta (1961), a book for the general public.
A similar book by Klappenbach and Scarabino (1969) mentions only the sand
dollar species.
Bernasconi (1941a, b, 1947, 1953, 1955, 1966) and Bernasconi and D’Agostino
(1977) made important contributions to the knowledge of the echinoderms of the
Southwestern Atlantic, adding to the Uruguayan fauna one asteroid species
(Astropecten cingulatus; Fig. 10.4a), three ophiuroid species and an echinoid species. This material was included in papers focused on museum collections or about
the fauna collected in vessel campaigns at a regional scale (e.g. ‘‘Vema’’ from the
Lamont Geological Observatory). Bernasconi (1964) include the species of asteroids
and echinoids of Southern South America, including the Uruguayan species, to
already known biogeographical entities (e.g. Argentine and Magellan provinces).
In the framework of a faunistic survey, Milstein et al. (1976) added five
ophiuroid species to the Uruguayan fauna, and indicated some already known
asteroid and echinoid species. Also in a report of a faunistic survey and ecologic
study, Juanicó and Rodríguez-Moyano (1976) added three asteroid and two regular
echinoid species to the Uruguayan fauna. Parts of these papers include environmental data.
Tommasi (1970a, b, 1974) and Tommasi et al. (1988a, b) published monographs
or detailed surveys concerning Brazilian fauna, but included some Uruguayan
species found near the borderline between the two countries. In fact, the only
Uruguayan holothuroids identified at the species level can be found in these works.
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S. Martínez
surprising that recent echinoderm faunas are rather poor. But, as mentioned below,
the lack of research must be taken into account. Fossil echinoderms, although also
not diverse, include key representatives of the extinct echinoid family Monophorasteridae, the sister group of the abundant and widespread Mellitidae. The aim
of this chapter is give an overview of the knowledge about extinct and extant
echinoderms of Uruguay.
10.2 Research
Echinoderm research is not yet systematically developed in Uruguay. There is
little knowledge of the modern fauna. Evidence of this situation is the few papers
that have been devoted to Uruguayan echinoderms.
Although Mortensen (1917) mentioned the presence of Isometra vivipara in
Uruguay, the given coordinates (33800
0 S; 51810
0 W) correspond to Brazilian
waters.
Barattini (1938) mentioned one ophiuroid species (Ophioceramis januarii,
presently Ophioplocus januarii), two asteroid species (Asterina marginata, today
classified as Asterina stellifera, and Astropecten brasiliensis) and two echinoid
species (Mellita quinquesperforata and Encope emarginata; Fig. 10.4b). The same
species are included in Barattini and Ureta (1961), a book for the general public.
A similar book by Klappenbach and Scarabino (1969) mentions only the sand
dollar species.
Bernasconi (1941a, b, 1947, 1953, 1955, 1966) and Bernasconi and D’Agostino
(1977) made important contributions to the knowledge of the echinoderms of the
Southwestern Atlantic, adding to the Uruguayan fauna one asteroid species
(Astropecten cingulatus; Fig. 10.4a), three ophiuroid species and an echinoid species. This material was included in papers focused on museum collections or about
the fauna collected in vessel campaigns at a regional scale (e.g. ‘‘Vema’’ from the
Lamont Geological Observatory). Bernasconi (1964) include the species of asteroids
and echinoids of Southern South America, including the Uruguayan species, to
already known biogeographical entities (e.g. Argentine and Magellan provinces).
In the framework of a faunistic survey, Milstein et al. (1976) added five
ophiuroid species to the Uruguayan fauna, and indicated some already known
asteroid and echinoid species. Also in a report of a faunistic survey and ecologic
study, Juanicó and Rodríguez-Moyano (1976) added three asteroid and two regular
echinoid species to the Uruguayan fauna. Parts of these papers include environmental data.
Tommasi (1970a, b, 1974) and Tommasi et al. (1988a, b) published monographs
or detailed surveys concerning Brazilian fauna, but included some Uruguayan
species found near the borderline between the two countries. In fact, the only
Uruguayan holothuroids identified at the species level can be found in these works.
348
S. Martínez