List of species that form a part of the echinoderm fauna of South Africa
Map of the Southern African coastline showing some of the landmarks referred to in species range statements Thelist of echinoderms of South Africa is a list ofspecies that form a part of the echinoderm (Phylum Echinodermata)fauna of South Africa , and includes thestarfish ,feather stars ,brittle stars ,sea urchins andsea cucumbers . The list follows theSANBI listing oniNaturalist .
Anechinoderm /ɪ ˈ k aɪ n ə ˌ d ɜːr m ˈ ɛ k ə animal of thephylum Echinodermata (/ɪ ˌ k aɪ n oʊ ˈ d ɜːr m ə t ə starfish ,brittle stars ,sea urchins ,sand dollars andsea cucumbers , as well as the sessilesea lilies or "stone lilies". Whilebilaterally symmetrical aslarvae , asadults echinoderms are recognisable by their usually five-pointedradial symmetry (pentamerous symmetry), and are found on the sea bed at every ocean depth from theintertidal zone to theabyssal zone . The phylum contains about 7,600 livingspecies , making it the second-largest group ofdeuterostomes after thechordates , as well as the largestmarine-only phylum. The first definitive echinoderms appeared near the start of theCambrian .
Echinoderms are important both ecologically and geologically. Ecologically, there are few other groupings so abundant in thedeep sea , as well asshallower oceans . Most echinoderms are able toreproduce asexually andregenerate tissue, organs and limbs; in some cases, they can undergo complete regeneration from a single limb. Geologically, the value of echinoderms is in theirossified dermal endoskeletons , which are major contributors to manylimestone formations and can provide valuable clues as to the geological environment. They were the most used species in regenerative research in the 19th and 20th centuries. Further, some scientists hold that theradiation of echinoderms was responsible for theMesozoic Marine Revolution . (Full article...
Subphylum Asterozoa [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] Family Echinasteridae [ edit ] [ edit ] Family Astropectinidae [ edit ] Family Acanthasteridae [ edit ] Family Goniasteridae [ edit ] Family Mithrodiidae [ edit ] Family Ophidiasteridae [ edit ] Family Oreasteridae [ edit ] Family Pterasteridae [ edit ] Family Gorgonocephalidae [ edit ] Superfamily Euryalidea [ edit ] Family Asteroschematidae [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] Family Ophionereididae [ edit ] Family Ophiotrichidae [ edit ] Infraorder Ophiodermatina [ edit ] Family Ophiodermatidae [ edit ] Subfamily Ophiarachninae [ edit ] Subfamily Ophiodermatinae [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] Subphylum Echinozoa [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] Subfamily Stylocidarinae [ edit ] [ edit ] Family Diadematidae [ edit ] Infraclass Carinacea [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] Family Parechinidae [ edit ] [ edit ] Family Toxopneustidae [ edit ] Infraorder Temnopleuridea [ edit ] Family Temnopleuridae [ edit ] Order Stomopneustoida [ edit ] Family Stomopneustidae [ edit ] Infraclass Irregularia [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] [ edit ] Infraorder Laganiformes [ edit ] Family Echinocyamidae [ edit ] Order Echinolampadoida [ edit ] Family Echinolampadidae [ edit ] Class Holothuroidea [ edit ] Family Chiridotidae [ edit ] Order Aspidochirotida [ edit ] Family Holothuriidae [ edit ] Family Stichopodidae [ edit ] Order Dendrochirotida [ edit ] Family Cucumariidae [ edit ] Aslia spyridophora [ 2] Cucumaria spyridophora ,Pentacucumis spyridophora Pentacta doliolum [ 2] Pseudocnella insolens [ 2] Cucumaria insolens Théel, 1886Pseudocnella sykion [ 2] Cucumaria sykion (Lampert, 1885)Roweia stephensoni [ 2] Cucumaria stephensoni John, 1939Roweia frauenfeldi frauenfeldi [ 2] Cucumaria frauenfeldi Ludwig, 1882 Trachasina crucifera [ 4] Trachythyone crucifera (Semper, 1869)Family Phyllophoridae [ edit ]
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