Echinoderm diversity in the Caribbean Sea

Abstract

The Caribbean is considered a unique biogeographic province, being one of the top five hotspots in the world for marine and terrestrial biodiversity. The echinoderm research on the Caribbean began in the middle of the nineteenth century, and during the first half of the twentieth century most of the species were described. The number of ecological studies increased in the 1970s that continues until today, mostly focused on Diadema antillarum. Based on an extensive review of published records, the Caribbean echinoderm fauna is composed of 433 species, 237 genera, 80 families, 29 orders in five classes, with four endemic species.....