numerous scientific papers, popular science works, scientific-technical reports and
many book chapters have been published.
Among the most relevant results obtained by the echinoderm specialists from the
benthos department are the works by Corvea (1986, 1990) that reports three new
records of holothuroids for Cuba: Euthyonidiella destichada (as Neophyllophorus
destichaudus), Synaptula hydriformis, and Holothuria thomasi. Corvea et al. (1990)
worked with the echinoderm communities from the Golfo de Batabanó macrolagoon and presented taxonomic and ecological results for echinoderms from the
gulf.
Abreu-Pérez (1983, 1987) published early works on new records of brittlestars
for the Cuban waters, including 14 species of shallow waters. Later, Abreu-Pérez
(1990) presented an updated list of Cuban ophiuroids that reported 158 species of
brittlestars, including seven new records. Espinosa et al. (1997) added new records
of three species of echinoderms: Davidaster rubiginosus, Astropyga magnifica,
Lytechinus variegatus carolinus. They also give data of bathymetric distribution
and exceptional sizes of four other species previously reported for Cuba: Eucidaris
tribuloides, Podocidaris sculpta, Moira atropos and Holothuria thomasi.
Abreu-Pérez (1997) published ‘‘Los asteroideos (Echinodermata) del Archipiélago Cubano’’ (‘‘The seastars (Echinodermata) of the Cuban Archipelago’’) that
updated the records of the seastar species of the coasts of Cuba. She reported 20
species, two of them being new records: Asterina harmeyeri and Ophidiaster
guildingi (= Linckia guildingi). In addition, she referred to previous works citing
the existence of the seastar species and their bathymetric ranges.
Abreu-Pérez and Del Valle (1998) recorded the sea urchin Lytechinus williamsi
for Cuba. That same year, Del Valle and Abreu-Pérez (1998) participated in the
National Study of Biological Diversity with a chapter related to the Phylum
Echinodermata that provided a list of all echinoderms recorded for Cuba and gave
the main characteristics of the group and ecological data of interest.
Ibarzábal et al. (1999) published a list of 26 species of echinoderms inhabiting
the Jardines de la Reina Archipelago. The class Ophiuroidea was the most diverse
with 14 species.
Abreu-Pérez et al. (2000) published an updated list of the sea urchins of the
Cuban Archipelago. Del Valle et al. (2000) recorded for the first time the family
Chiridotidae for Cuba with the species Chiridota rotifera. Fernández (2001) made
a new contribution for the class Asteroidea with the species Copidaster lymani.
Del Valle et al. (2003) presented the Final Report of the ‘‘Inventory of marine
flora and fauna from the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago’’ that included the list of
echinoderm species present in the northern part of the providences of Matanzas,
Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, and Camagüey (Archivo Científico
del Instituto de Oceanología). That same year, Abreu-Pérez (2003) published five
new records of brittlestars for Cuba: Ophiolepis gemmata, Ophiopsila hartmeyeri,
Ophionereis vittata, Ophioderma ensiferum, and Ophiactis quinquerradia,
extending the bathymetric range for some of them and increasing the number of
known species of brittlestars for Cuba. The next year, Del Valle and BarrerasRodríguez (2006) reported the sea cucumber Holothuria princeps for Cuba.
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
409
many book chapters have been published.
Among the most relevant results obtained by the echinoderm specialists from the
benthos department are the works by Corvea (1986, 1990) that reports three new
records of holothuroids for Cuba: Euthyonidiella destichada (as Neophyllophorus
destichaudus), Synaptula hydriformis, and Holothuria thomasi. Corvea et al. (1990)
worked with the echinoderm communities from the Golfo de Batabanó macrolagoon and presented taxonomic and ecological results for echinoderms from the
gulf.
Abreu-Pérez (1983, 1987) published early works on new records of brittlestars
for the Cuban waters, including 14 species of shallow waters. Later, Abreu-Pérez
(1990) presented an updated list of Cuban ophiuroids that reported 158 species of
brittlestars, including seven new records. Espinosa et al. (1997) added new records
of three species of echinoderms: Davidaster rubiginosus, Astropyga magnifica,
Lytechinus variegatus carolinus. They also give data of bathymetric distribution
and exceptional sizes of four other species previously reported for Cuba: Eucidaris
tribuloides, Podocidaris sculpta, Moira atropos and Holothuria thomasi.
Abreu-Pérez (1997) published ‘‘Los asteroideos (Echinodermata) del Archipiélago Cubano’’ (‘‘The seastars (Echinodermata) of the Cuban Archipelago’’) that
updated the records of the seastar species of the coasts of Cuba. She reported 20
species, two of them being new records: Asterina harmeyeri and Ophidiaster
guildingi (= Linckia guildingi). In addition, she referred to previous works citing
the existence of the seastar species and their bathymetric ranges.
Abreu-Pérez and Del Valle (1998) recorded the sea urchin Lytechinus williamsi
for Cuba. That same year, Del Valle and Abreu-Pérez (1998) participated in the
National Study of Biological Diversity with a chapter related to the Phylum
Echinodermata that provided a list of all echinoderms recorded for Cuba and gave
the main characteristics of the group and ecological data of interest.
Ibarzábal et al. (1999) published a list of 26 species of echinoderms inhabiting
the Jardines de la Reina Archipelago. The class Ophiuroidea was the most diverse
with 14 species.
Abreu-Pérez et al. (2000) published an updated list of the sea urchins of the
Cuban Archipelago. Del Valle et al. (2000) recorded for the first time the family
Chiridotidae for Cuba with the species Chiridota rotifera. Fernández (2001) made
a new contribution for the class Asteroidea with the species Copidaster lymani.
Del Valle et al. (2003) presented the Final Report of the ‘‘Inventory of marine
flora and fauna from the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago’’ that included the list of
echinoderm species present in the northern part of the providences of Matanzas,
Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, and Camagüey (Archivo Científico
del Instituto de Oceanología). That same year, Abreu-Pérez (2003) published five
new records of brittlestars for Cuba: Ophiolepis gemmata, Ophiopsila hartmeyeri,
Ophionereis vittata, Ophioderma ensiferum, and Ophiactis quinquerradia,
extending the bathymetric range for some of them and increasing the number of
known species of brittlestars for Cuba. The next year, Del Valle and BarrerasRodríguez (2006) reported the sea cucumber Holothuria princeps for Cuba.
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
409