Six species of Ophiuroidea have been recorded from the Mexican Cretaceous
and Paleogene-Neogene (Pliocene) from different localities in the mainland
territory (Ophiactis applegatei, Ophiura sp., aff. Amphiura, aff. Ophiomusium; aff.
Stegophiura and aff. Ophiura). The Echinoidea is the most diverse and widely
distributed echinoderm fossil group in Mexico, with 221 species. One hundred of
these are from the Mesozoic and 121 species are from the Cenozoic. Both groups
are represented in 17 States of Mexico (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua,
Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Jalisco,
Michoacan, Colima, Puebla, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Yucatan States). The
Holothuroidea is represented by two Cretaceous species (Applegate et al. 2009).
The distribution of Mexican echinoderms in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic indicates
that there was a large marine faunal province in eastern North America, which
differs at the species level from the marine faunal province on the west coast of
North America. This implies the existence of some kind of barrier during the Tertiary
that prevented the faunal interchange between these two provinces. Echinoderms
and other invertebrate groups in the region of the Atlantic and Pacific show the
mark of a moderate exchange, superposed on the old pattern of Tertiary provincial
aforementioned.
2.3 Research
2.3.1 Ecology and Reproduction Studies on Mexican Echinoderms
Ecological studies of the Echinodermata in Mexico have contributed to the
knowledge of species richness, diversity and communities of echinoderms in
several zones, mainly in the Gulf of California, southern Pacific and the Gulf of
Mexico (Fig. 2.1).
Gulf of California
Salcedo-Martinez et al. (1988) generated a benthic inventory of echinoderms in
Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. Data for each species were provided on bathymetric distribution, substrate, and some characteristics of the habitat.
Morgan and Cowles (1996) studied the effects of temperature on the behaviour
and physiology of Phataria unifascialis and its implications for species distribution
in the Gulf of California. They determined whether cool temperature was an
important factor limiting this species distribution in the northern regions of the Gulf.
Pyloric caecae and gonads showed that food limitation or lack of reproductive
potential was a principal limiting factor. They also suggested that low temperatures
of the northern gulf may well be an important factor limiting the northern distribution
of this species in the Gulf.
28
F. A. Solís-Marín et al.
and Paleogene-Neogene (Pliocene) from different localities in the mainland
territory (Ophiactis applegatei, Ophiura sp., aff. Amphiura, aff. Ophiomusium; aff.
Stegophiura and aff. Ophiura). The Echinoidea is the most diverse and widely
distributed echinoderm fossil group in Mexico, with 221 species. One hundred of
these are from the Mesozoic and 121 species are from the Cenozoic. Both groups
are represented in 17 States of Mexico (Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua,
Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Jalisco,
Michoacan, Colima, Puebla, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Yucatan States). The
Holothuroidea is represented by two Cretaceous species (Applegate et al. 2009).
The distribution of Mexican echinoderms in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic indicates
that there was a large marine faunal province in eastern North America, which
differs at the species level from the marine faunal province on the west coast of
North America. This implies the existence of some kind of barrier during the Tertiary
that prevented the faunal interchange between these two provinces. Echinoderms
and other invertebrate groups in the region of the Atlantic and Pacific show the
mark of a moderate exchange, superposed on the old pattern of Tertiary provincial
aforementioned.
2.3 Research
2.3.1 Ecology and Reproduction Studies on Mexican Echinoderms
Ecological studies of the Echinodermata in Mexico have contributed to the
knowledge of species richness, diversity and communities of echinoderms in
several zones, mainly in the Gulf of California, southern Pacific and the Gulf of
Mexico (Fig. 2.1).
Gulf of California
Salcedo-Martinez et al. (1988) generated a benthic inventory of echinoderms in
Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. Data for each species were provided on bathymetric distribution, substrate, and some characteristics of the habitat.
Morgan and Cowles (1996) studied the effects of temperature on the behaviour
and physiology of Phataria unifascialis and its implications for species distribution
in the Gulf of California. They determined whether cool temperature was an
important factor limiting this species distribution in the northern regions of the Gulf.
Pyloric caecae and gonads showed that food limitation or lack of reproductive
potential was a principal limiting factor. They also suggested that low temperatures
of the northern gulf may well be an important factor limiting the northern distribution
of this species in the Gulf.
28
F. A. Solís-Marín et al.