List of echinoderms of the Houtman Abrolhos

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

The marine waters of the Houtman Abrolhos, an island chain off the coast of Western Australia, has been recorded as containing 172 species of echinoderm in ?? genera. This extremely high diversity has been attributed to a combination of factors, namely: the position of the Houtman Abrolhos within a biotone between temperate and tropical waters; the wide variety of habitats; and the Leeuwin Current, which both transports tropical species southwards, and keeps the reef warm enough for them to survive.[1] This is a list of echinoderms of the Houtman Abrolhos:

Crinoidea

Asteroidea

Ophiuroidea

Echinoidea

Holothuroidea

Notes

Published surveys have not included observations of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Ananthaster planci), and this species is therefore not listed above. However, individuals have occasionally been observed at the Houtman Abrolhos.[2]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.