Echinoderm (Echinodermata) diversity in the Pacific coast of Central America

• Published in: Marine biodiversity 2010-03, Vol.40 (1), p.45-56
• Main Authors: Alvarado, Juan José, Solís-Marín, Francisco A., Ahearn, Cynthia G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 20th century; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Collections; Echinodermata; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Geology; Heterogeneity; Invertebrate zoology; Life Sciences; Marine invertebrates; Museums; Natural history; Offshore; Original Paper; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Species richness; Taxonomy; Zoology; Zoroaster (628?-551? BC)
• ISSN: 1867-1616; 1867-1624
• DOI: 10.1007/s12526-009-0032-5

We present a systematic list of the echinoderms of Central America Pacific coast and offshore island, based on specimens of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., the Invertebrate Zoology and Geology collections of the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, the Museo de Zoología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José and published accounts. A total of 287 echinoderm species are recorded, distributed in 162 genera, 73 families and 28 orders. Ophiuroidea (85) and Holothuroidea (68) are the most diverse classes, while Panama (253 species) and Costa Rica (107 species) have the highest species richness. Honduras and Guatemala show the highest species similarity, also being less rich. Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador y Nicaragua are represented by the most common nearshore species. Due to their coastal heterogeneity, Costa Rica and Panama are the richest places, with Panama also being the place where more research has been done. The current composition of echinoderms is the result of the sampling effort made in each country, recent political history and the coastal heterogeneity.