families Heliasteridae, Stichasteridae, Ganeriidae, Myxasteridae and Prenasteridae. The Myxasteridae is exclusive to the Eastern South America region and the
Prenasteridae is shared with the Chilean province.
In the negative part of this axis, associated with highest temperatures and low
chlorophyll concentration, are families with a wide distribution in the Atlantic but
absent in the Eastern South America region like Echinocyamidae. Some of them
like Brisingida, Ophidiasteridae, Saleniidae, Stichopodidae, Ophiodermatidae or
the class Crinoidea are even present along Pacific coasts. This indicates their
tropical origin and ancient links, prior to closure of the Isthmus of Panama. In
general, these families are represented by different species in each ocean. For
example, the sea star family Ophidiasteridae, is present in the area with 29 species,
14 in the Pacific, five in the Western Atlantic and nine in the Anfiatlantic. None is
shared between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Congeneric species are Ophidiaster
Fig. 16.19 a Percentage of echinoderm species per class by habitat type in the Pacific taxonomic
list and b percentage of species presents in one to seven habitat types. N = 473 species
16 Latin America Echinoderm Biodiversity and Biogeography
535
Prenasteridae is shared with the Chilean province.
In the negative part of this axis, associated with highest temperatures and low
chlorophyll concentration, are families with a wide distribution in the Atlantic but
absent in the Eastern South America region like Echinocyamidae. Some of them
like Brisingida, Ophidiasteridae, Saleniidae, Stichopodidae, Ophiodermatidae or
the class Crinoidea are even present along Pacific coasts. This indicates their
tropical origin and ancient links, prior to closure of the Isthmus of Panama. In
general, these families are represented by different species in each ocean. For
example, the sea star family Ophidiasteridae, is present in the area with 29 species,
14 in the Pacific, five in the Western Atlantic and nine in the Anfiatlantic. None is
shared between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Congeneric species are Ophidiaster
Fig. 16.19 a Percentage of echinoderm species per class by habitat type in the Pacific taxonomic
list and b percentage of species presents in one to seven habitat types. N = 473 species
16 Latin America Echinoderm Biodiversity and Biogeography
535