Zoogeography of Tropical Western Atlantic Crinoidea (Echinodermata)
Meyer DL, Messing CG, Macurda DB. 1978. Zoogeography of Tropical Western Atlantic Crinoidea (Echinodermata). Bulletin of Marine Science. 28(3):412-441
Recent collections of crinoids from the intertidal zone to 1,650 m in the tropical western Atlantic have provided significant range extensions for more than half of the 44 comatulid and stalked species known from the region. Of the 34 comatulid species, over 60% are endemic to the region; of the 10 stalked species, 90% are endemic. At the familial level, this fauna has its strongest affinities with the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Comatulids are most abundant above 300 m, while stalked species occur primarily between 100 and 700 m. Species that occur primarily above 600 m (the deepest penetration of the 10 degrees Celsius isotherm in the region) have depth ranges generally narrower than 200 m. Species that are found below 1,000 m generally have much broader depth ranges.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Meyer, David; Messing, Charles; Macurda, Donald
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Abundant, Bathymetric Data, Comatulids, Endemic, Transitional Zone