Ortiz (2001) provided a list of marine, estuarine and semi-terrestrial invertebrates of Playa Cojimar, located in the northern coast of the Province Ciudad de la
Habana. It showed that several species, Oreaster reticulatus and Arbacia punctulata among them, were starting to disappear during a period of 40 years of
sampling in that locality.
Later on, De la Guardia et al. (2003) published a work on marine biodiversity in
the coastal lagoon ‘‘El Guanal’’, Cayo Largo, Cuba. They made an inventory of the
flora and fauna of this site. Four echinoderm species were identified: O. reticulatus,
D. antillarum, Tripneustes ventricosus, and Lytechinus variegatus. The authors
concluded that none of the species identified during this study is exclusive to this
zone, nor in danger of extinction or overexploitation. Despite the intense nautical
activity and dredging work prior to this study, the system’s characteristics have
allowed the maintenance of a phase, undistinguishable from natural situations.
Due to the importance of the results obtained by the joint expeditions from
Harvard and La Habana Universities, on board the B/I ‘‘Atlantis’’ during 1938 and
1939; as well as for the difficult access to the original literature on the subject,
Lalana et al. (2004) published a taxonomic list (with bathymetric distribution) of
371 species and 5 subspecies of mollusks, crustaceans and echinoderms from that
expedition (31 species and one subspecies were echinoderms).
Recently, Martín-Blanco et al. (2011) determined the abundance, distribution,
and size structure of Diadema antillarum and the influence of their populations on
the community structure of algae in Jardines de la Reina Archipelago.
12.3 Diversity and Distribution
Three hundred and fifty seven species of echinoderms have been recorded for
Cuba. The Class Crinoidea is represented by 34 species (four orders, 19 families,
and 21 genera), the Class Asteroidea by 76 species (six orders, 23 families, and 50
genera), the Class Ophiuroidea by 163 species (two orders, 14 families, and 61
genera), the Class Echinoidea by 63 species (13 orders, 23 families, and 35 genera), and the Class Holothuroidea by 51 species (five orders, 12 families, and 24
genera).
The 34 crinoid species recorded for Cuba are distributed from the littoral zone
down to the great depths, as in the species Coccometra hagenii which was collected at 1,046 m depth. Only eight species of crinoids have been recorded at
depths below 30 m. Conspicuous by their apparent frequency in coral reefs are the
species Davidaster rubiginosus and N. discoideus.
The Class Asteroidea is represented in Cuban waters by 76 species; of these,
only 20 (26 %) are distributed down to a depth of 30 m. Conspicuous by their
apparent frequency in coral reefs are Linckia guildingii and Ophidiaster guildingi.
Whereas, in sandy substrates with macro-vegetation, the most frequent and
abundant seastar is O. reticulatus. In bays and coastal lagoons, where sand-mud
substrates predominate mostly without vegetation, the nine-arm seastar Luidia
412
R. d. Valle-García et al.
Habana. It showed that several species, Oreaster reticulatus and Arbacia punctulata among them, were starting to disappear during a period of 40 years of
sampling in that locality.
Later on, De la Guardia et al. (2003) published a work on marine biodiversity in
the coastal lagoon ‘‘El Guanal’’, Cayo Largo, Cuba. They made an inventory of the
flora and fauna of this site. Four echinoderm species were identified: O. reticulatus,
D. antillarum, Tripneustes ventricosus, and Lytechinus variegatus. The authors
concluded that none of the species identified during this study is exclusive to this
zone, nor in danger of extinction or overexploitation. Despite the intense nautical
activity and dredging work prior to this study, the system’s characteristics have
allowed the maintenance of a phase, undistinguishable from natural situations.
Due to the importance of the results obtained by the joint expeditions from
Harvard and La Habana Universities, on board the B/I ‘‘Atlantis’’ during 1938 and
1939; as well as for the difficult access to the original literature on the subject,
Lalana et al. (2004) published a taxonomic list (with bathymetric distribution) of
371 species and 5 subspecies of mollusks, crustaceans and echinoderms from that
expedition (31 species and one subspecies were echinoderms).
Recently, Martín-Blanco et al. (2011) determined the abundance, distribution,
and size structure of Diadema antillarum and the influence of their populations on
the community structure of algae in Jardines de la Reina Archipelago.
12.3 Diversity and Distribution
Three hundred and fifty seven species of echinoderms have been recorded for
Cuba. The Class Crinoidea is represented by 34 species (four orders, 19 families,
and 21 genera), the Class Asteroidea by 76 species (six orders, 23 families, and 50
genera), the Class Ophiuroidea by 163 species (two orders, 14 families, and 61
genera), the Class Echinoidea by 63 species (13 orders, 23 families, and 35 genera), and the Class Holothuroidea by 51 species (five orders, 12 families, and 24
genera).
The 34 crinoid species recorded for Cuba are distributed from the littoral zone
down to the great depths, as in the species Coccometra hagenii which was collected at 1,046 m depth. Only eight species of crinoids have been recorded at
depths below 30 m. Conspicuous by their apparent frequency in coral reefs are the
species Davidaster rubiginosus and N. discoideus.
The Class Asteroidea is represented in Cuban waters by 76 species; of these,
only 20 (26 %) are distributed down to a depth of 30 m. Conspicuous by their
apparent frequency in coral reefs are Linckia guildingii and Ophidiaster guildingi.
Whereas, in sandy substrates with macro-vegetation, the most frequent and
abundant seastar is O. reticulatus. In bays and coastal lagoons, where sand-mud
substrates predominate mostly without vegetation, the nine-arm seastar Luidia
412
R. d. Valle-García et al.