senegalensis occurs frequently. In beaches or sandy plains Astropecten duplicatus
can be observed, with relative frequency. The 56 species left are distributed in the
deeper zones. Conspicuous amongst them are Benthopecten spinosus and Pteraster
aciculata, the first recorded at depths between 1,300 and 3,700 m and the second
at depths between 260 and 3,712 m.
The Class Ophiuroidea is the best represented in all coastal ecosystems of the
Cuban Archipelago, both in species number (163) and appearance frequency and
abundance. Of the total of recorded species, 55 have been observed at depths
shallower than 30 m. Conspicuous in coral reefs are the genera Ophiomyxa,
Astrophyton, Ophiocoma, Ophioderma, and Ophiothrix. In particulate substrates
with macro-vegetation, stand out, by its appearance frequency, the species Ophiolepis paucispina and Ophionereis reticulata. In particulate substrates without
vegetation in bays, coastal lagoons, beaches or sandy plains, Amphiodia trychna
and Amphipholis gracillima are the most frequent.
In semi-enclosed areas with limited water circulation and with major input of
organic matter, as is the case for Bahía de Santa Clara (northern-central Cuba),
very high densities of the species Ophiothrix suensonii (up to 8.84 ind m
-2 ) and
Ophiothrix angulata (up to 7.57 ind m
-2 ) have been recorded. Both are associated
with macroalgae of the genera Laurencia. In the mangrove swamps of Cuba, the
brittle stars species Ophiopsila riisei and Ophionereis olivacea are recorded with
greater frequency It is interesting that the only species of brittle star that has been
recorded in the rocky littoral is Ophioderma brevicadum and the two species
recorded at greatest depths are Ophiomusium lymani and Homolophiura abyssorum (584 and 983 m, respectively).
Of the 63 echinoids recorded for Cuba, the best represented orders are
Cidaroida, with nine species, Clypeasteroida, also with nine species, and Echinoidea with seven. Twenty two species have been observed at depths less than
30 m. Conspicuous, both by its appearance frequency and abundance (in density
and biomass), are E. lucunter, E. viridis, E. tribuloides, T. ventricosus and
D. antillarum.
In particulate sand-mud substrates with macro-vegetation, Meoma ventriciosa
and Clypeaster rosaceus have been recorded in high densities. The latter is also
abundant in sandy bottoms. In muddy substrates without macro-vegetation in bays
and coastal lagoons, the irregular echinoid Moira atropos is the best represented.
On beaches and/or protected sandy plains Leodia sexiesperforata is the most
frequent and abundant. It must be emphasized that prior to the 1980s, D. antillarum was very abundant in the rocky littoral of Cuba, where it occurred along
with E. lucunter. However, after the mass mortality of this sea urchin, E. lucunter
became the most frequent and abundant species of this ecosystem. The deepest
records for the Phylum Echinodermata are for Pourtalesia miranda (450–5,850 m)
and Aceste bellidifera (550–5,220 m).
Among the 51 species of holothurians recorded for Cuba, 26 inhabit depths
greater than 30 m. The other 25 species are distributed in the different ecosystems
present on the island platform. In coral reefs, 10 species are recorded, of which
Euapta lappa, Holothuria impatiens, and H. thomasi inhabit exclusively in this
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
413
can be observed, with relative frequency. The 56 species left are distributed in the
deeper zones. Conspicuous amongst them are Benthopecten spinosus and Pteraster
aciculata, the first recorded at depths between 1,300 and 3,700 m and the second
at depths between 260 and 3,712 m.
The Class Ophiuroidea is the best represented in all coastal ecosystems of the
Cuban Archipelago, both in species number (163) and appearance frequency and
abundance. Of the total of recorded species, 55 have been observed at depths
shallower than 30 m. Conspicuous in coral reefs are the genera Ophiomyxa,
Astrophyton, Ophiocoma, Ophioderma, and Ophiothrix. In particulate substrates
with macro-vegetation, stand out, by its appearance frequency, the species Ophiolepis paucispina and Ophionereis reticulata. In particulate substrates without
vegetation in bays, coastal lagoons, beaches or sandy plains, Amphiodia trychna
and Amphipholis gracillima are the most frequent.
In semi-enclosed areas with limited water circulation and with major input of
organic matter, as is the case for Bahía de Santa Clara (northern-central Cuba),
very high densities of the species Ophiothrix suensonii (up to 8.84 ind m
-2 ) and
Ophiothrix angulata (up to 7.57 ind m
-2 ) have been recorded. Both are associated
with macroalgae of the genera Laurencia. In the mangrove swamps of Cuba, the
brittle stars species Ophiopsila riisei and Ophionereis olivacea are recorded with
greater frequency It is interesting that the only species of brittle star that has been
recorded in the rocky littoral is Ophioderma brevicadum and the two species
recorded at greatest depths are Ophiomusium lymani and Homolophiura abyssorum (584 and 983 m, respectively).
Of the 63 echinoids recorded for Cuba, the best represented orders are
Cidaroida, with nine species, Clypeasteroida, also with nine species, and Echinoidea with seven. Twenty two species have been observed at depths less than
30 m. Conspicuous, both by its appearance frequency and abundance (in density
and biomass), are E. lucunter, E. viridis, E. tribuloides, T. ventricosus and
D. antillarum.
In particulate sand-mud substrates with macro-vegetation, Meoma ventriciosa
and Clypeaster rosaceus have been recorded in high densities. The latter is also
abundant in sandy bottoms. In muddy substrates without macro-vegetation in bays
and coastal lagoons, the irregular echinoid Moira atropos is the best represented.
On beaches and/or protected sandy plains Leodia sexiesperforata is the most
frequent and abundant. It must be emphasized that prior to the 1980s, D. antillarum was very abundant in the rocky littoral of Cuba, where it occurred along
with E. lucunter. However, after the mass mortality of this sea urchin, E. lucunter
became the most frequent and abundant species of this ecosystem. The deepest
records for the Phylum Echinodermata are for Pourtalesia miranda (450–5,850 m)
and Aceste bellidifera (550–5,220 m).
Among the 51 species of holothurians recorded for Cuba, 26 inhabit depths
greater than 30 m. The other 25 species are distributed in the different ecosystems
present on the island platform. In coral reefs, 10 species are recorded, of which
Euapta lappa, Holothuria impatiens, and H. thomasi inhabit exclusively in this
12 Echinoderms of the Cuban Archipelago
413