List of echinoderms of Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. So it is complicated to summarize the exact number of species found within the country.

Contents

Echinoderms belong to the phylum Echinodermata. They are deuterostomes that are closely related to chordates. Echinoderms are characterized by having a water vascular system, tube feet, radial symmetry, and undergo complete regeneration from a single limb. It is the largest phylum that has no freshwater or terrestrial members. There are five classes of echinoderms: Asteroidea (starfish), Ophiuroidea (brittle star), Echinoidea (sea urchin), Crinoidea (sea lily) and Holothuroidea (sea cucumber).

The following list provides echinoderms currently identified in Sri Lankan waters.

Sea Urchins

The first detailed work on irregular echinoids was carried out by Agassiz in 1872 and then by Clark & Rowe in 1971 where they compiled records of 24 species of irregular sea urchins in the "Ceylon area". However, some of these localities now belong to the Indian Territory. In 2017, a recent species list has been made by Arachchige et al., where he described 27 irregular echinoids from Sri Lankan waters. [1] The information on regular echinoids was listed by Agassiz & Desor in 1846 which continued to advance until the end of the 19th century. Then, there was a knowledge gap between the mid-20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries mainly due to a lack of systematic studies. However, in the latter part, two checklists have been published by the IUCN Red List in 2006 and 2012. [2]

Currently, in Sri Lanka, there are 39 regular echinoids belong to 28 genera, nine families, and five orders are recorded. [2] Meanwhile, there are 21 irregular echinoid species belong to four orders, nine families, and 15 genera in Sri Lanka. [1]

Irregular echinoids

Order: Echinoneoida

Family: Echinoneidae

Order: Echinolampadoida

Family: Echinolampadidae - Cassiduloids

Order: Clypeasteroida - Sand dollars

Family: Astriclypeidae

Family: Clypeasteridae

Family: Fibulariidae

Family: Laganidae

Order: Spatangoida - Heart urchins

Family: Brissidae

Family: Loveniidae

Family: Maretiidae

Regular echinoids

Order: Cidaroida

Family: Cidaridae

Order: Diadematoida

Family: Diadematidae

Order: Stomopneustoida

Family: Stomopneustidae

Order: Camarodonta

Family: Echinometridae

Family: Temnopleuridae

Family: Toxopneustidae

Starfish

The exact number of starfish in Sri Lankan waters is unknown. Many works came through the work done based on Indian echinoderms in and around Indian seas. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Order: Valvatida

Family: Acanthasteridae

Family: Asterinidae

Family: Ophidiasteridae

Family: Oreasteridae

Family: Goniasteridae

Order: Forcipulatida

Family: Asteriidae

Order: Paxillosida

Family: Astropectinidae

Family: Luidiidae

Brittle stars

There is little works have done to identify the brittle star species around Sri Lanka. But, further detailed work is necessary to compile a checklist. [9] [10]

Order: Ophiurida

Family: Ophiactidae

Family: Ophiocomidae

Family: Ophiodermatidae

Family: Ophiolepididae

Family: Ophiomyxidae

Family: Ophiotrichidae

Sea cucumber

The diversity of sea cucumbers of Sri Lanka show extensive research work. [11] Many species are edible and economically important, whereas some researches about sea cucumbers in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka have been documented. [12] [13] However, some species are extensively studied. [14] [15] [16] [17] The sea cucumber fishery was introduced to Sri Lanka by the Chinese particularly through the commodities taken to China for centuries. [18] Since 1980, sea cucumber fishery rapidly grown throughout north, east and northwestern Sri Lankan coast. [19] In 2010, D.C.T. Dissanayake and Gunnar Stefansson compiled a research on the abundance and distribution of commercial sea cucumber species in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka. [20] They described twenty-five sea cucumber species belonging to seven genera from east and northwest coasts of Sri Lanka. [21] Another research was carried out from May 2014 to June 2015 in Viyaparimuli and Munnai to identify the species composition and diversity of sea cucumber population in the Point Pedro coastal area of Jaffna peninsula. [22] In 2008, Dissanayaka and Athukorala recorded 24 sea cucumber species from Northwestern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka, and then in 2014, Kuganathan has reported sixteen species of sea cucumbers in the Jaffna estuary. [23] [24] In 2017, the status of holothurian fisheries in Mullaitivu coastal waters in the North-East region of Sri Lanka was documented. [25] In 2020, a new sea cucumber record was identified from nearby waters. [26] Apart from that, leading scientist D.C.T. Dissanayake has done extensive work on sea cucumbers. [27] [28] [29]

Order: Apodida

Family: Synaptidae

Order: Holothuriida

Family: Holothuriidae

Order: Molpadiida

Family: Caudinidae

Order: Synallactida

Family: Stichopodidae

Sea lilies

Researches on sea lily or feather star diversity of Sri Lankan waters have been very limited when compared with other echinoderm classes. [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]

Order: Comatulida

Family: Colobometridae

Family: Comatulidae

Family: Himerometridae

Family: Mariametridae

Family: Tropiometridae

Family: Zygometridae

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echinoderm</span> Exclusively marine phylum of animals with generally 5-point radial symmetry

An echinoderm is any member of the phylum Echinodermata. The adults are recognisable by their radial symmetry, and include starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers, as well as the sea lilies or "stone lilies". Adult echinoderms are found on the sea bed at every ocean depth, from the intertidal zone to the abyssal zone. The phylum contains about 7,000 living species, making it the second-largest grouping of deuterostomes, after the chordates. Echinoderms are the largest entirely marine phylum. The first definitive echinoderms appeared near the start of the Cambrian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea cucumber</span> Class of echinoderms

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. They are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of known holothurian species worldwide is about 1,786, with the greatest number being in the Asia-Pacific region. Many of these are gathered for human consumption and some species are cultivated in aquaculture systems. The harvested product is variously referred to as trepang, namako, bêche-de-mer, or balate. Sea cucumbers serve a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter, after which bacteria can continue the decomposition process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambulacraria</span> Clade of deuterostomes containing echinoderms and hemichordates

Ambulacraria, or Coelomopora, is a clade of invertebrate phyla that includes echinoderms and hemichordates; a member of this group is called an ambulacrarian. Phylogenetic analysis suggests the echinoderms and hemichordates separated around 533 million years ago. The Ambulacraria are part of the deuterostomes, a clade that also includes the many Chordata, and the few extinct species belonging to the Vetulicolia.

<i>Holothuria atra</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria atra, commonly known as the black sea cucumber or lollyfish, is a species of marine invertebrate in the family Holothuriidae. It was placed in the subgenus Halodeima by Pearson in 1914, making its full scientific name Holothuria (Halodeima) atra. It is the type species of the subgenus.

<i>Holothuria mexicana</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria mexicana, the donkey dung sea cucumber, is commonly found in the Caribbean and the Azores. It is a commercially important aspidochirote sea cucumber that can reach a total length of 50 cm (20 in).

<i>Australostichopus</i> Genus of sea cucumbers

Australostichopus is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Stichopodidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Australostichopus mollis, commonly known as the brown sea cucumber or Australasian sea cucumber. This species has stimulated interest for its fishery potential in the Southern Hemisphere, and for its capability to reduce waste produced by aquaculture. Despite its ecological role and abundance in New Zealand coastal waters, the scarcity of knowledge regarding A. mollis biology and ecology has hindered the development of a stable fishery industry. Importantly, A. mollis represents promising business potential within an important Asian market. Recently its potential as a functional food has been evaluated, highlighting the nutritious components

<i>Holothuria scabra</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria scabra, or sandfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It was placed in the subgenus Metriatyla by Rowe in 1969 and is the type species of the subgenus. Sandfish are harvested and processed into "beche-de-mer" and eaten in China and other Pacific coastal communities.

<i>Holothuria tubulosa</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria tubulosa, the cotton-spinner or tubular sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is the type species of the genus Holothuria and is placed in the subgenus Holothuria, making its full name Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa.

<i>Lissocarcinus orbicularis</i> Species of crab

Lissocarcinus orbicularis, common names sea cucumber crab, red-spotted white crab, and harlequin crab is a species of crab in the family Portunidae. This species gains one of its names from its close-knit relationship with holothuroids, the sea cucumbers. L. orbicularis should not be confused with L. laevis, a similar species of swimming crab, or Camposcia retusa, both of which are also commonly referred to as the harlequin crab. L. orbicularis displays numerous morphological and social adaptations for feeding and has a large distribution throughout the Indo-West Pacific.

<i>Holothuria parvula</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria parvula, the golden sea cucumber, is a species of echinoderm in the class Holothuroidea. It was first described by Emil Selenka in 1867 and has since been placed in the subgenus Platyperona, making its full scientific name Holothuria (Platyperona) parvula. It is found in shallow areas of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico and is unusual among sea cucumbers in that it can reproduce by breaking in half.

<i>Stichopus</i> Genus of sea cucumbers

Stichopus is a genus of sea cucumbers from the family Stichopodidae.

Chantal Conand is a French marine biologist and oceanographer.

Holothuria grisea, the gray sea cucumber, is a mid-sized coastal species of sea cucumber found in shallow tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Southern Brazil and West Africa. They have a variety in color and can range from red to more yellowish with brown markings. They are also a food source for local and international markets with the majority of harvesting taking place in Brazil. This species is currently not over-fished and is not endangered or threatened.

<i>Holothuria fuscogilva</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria (Microthele) fuscogilva, also known as the white teatfish or white teeth, is a species of sea cucumber in the genus Holothuria, subgenus Microthele. The cucumber is found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific ocean. The species is vulnerable to over-exploitation from commercial fishing. It was first formally named by Gustave Cherbonnier in 1980.

<i>Benthodytes</i> Genus of sea cucumbers

Benthodytes is a genus of sea cucumbers in the family Psychropotidae.

<i>Holothuria stellati</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria stellati, also known as the brown sea cucumber,is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. First described by Delle Chiaje in 1824. There are two accepted subspecies, Holothuria stellatidakarensis and Holothuria stellati mammata, though there is still debate on whether or not they are separate species.

<i>Holothuria whitmaei</i> Species of sea cucumber

Holothuria (Microthele) whitmaei, commonly known as the black teatfish, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. The sea cucumber is distributed in the western Indian and Pacific oceans, with specimens being found off of Tanzania, New Caledonia and the Philippines. They are usually found in groups of 5-25 individuals.

Ailsa McGown Clark (1926–2014) was a British zoologist, who principally studied echinoderms and was a specialist on asteroidea. She worked at the Natural History Museum for most of her career.

<i>Bohadschia vitiensis</i> Species of sea cucumber

Bohadschia vitiensis is a species of sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It is also known as the brown sandfish and brown sea cucumber. It is widespread in shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific. It appears to be able to hybridize with Bohadschia argus.

References

  1. 1 2 "The irregular echinoids of Sri Lanka". Proceedings of Wayamba University Research Congress 2017. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  2. 1 2 Arachchige, Gayashan M.; Jayakody, Sevvandi; Mooi, Rich; Kroh, Andreas (2019-03-25). "An annotated species list of regular echinoids from Sri Lanka with notes on some rarely seen temnopleurids". Zootaxa. 4571 (1): 35. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4571.1.3. PMC   6910863 . PMID   31715829 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  3. ↑ "A Biodiversity Status Profile of Sub-tidal and Inter-tidal Habitats of the Rekawa, Ussangoda and Kalametiya Area" (PDF). IUCN. Occasional Papers of IUCN Occasional Papers of IUCN Sri Lanka Sri Lanka No: 5, March 2004. p. 35. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  4. ↑ "Notes on the family Goniasteridae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from the Indian seas" (PDF). J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. India. 38 (1–2): 133–138. 1996. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  5. ↑ "Asteroidea of the Anambas expedition 2002" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 2004. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  6. ↑ "The occurrence of the genus Heteronardoa (Asteroidea: Ophidiasteridae) in the Indian Ocean, with the description of a new species" (PDF). Records of the Western Australian Museum, 1976. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  7. ↑ "A Revision of the Family Astropectinidae (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from Taiwan, with Description of Five New Records" (PDF). Zoological Studies. 38 (3): 257–267. 1999. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  8. ↑ "Phylum EcMmodermata-A source for biologically active compounds: A Review" (PDF). The Pharmaceutical Journal of Sri Lanka. 1999. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  9. ↑ "Brittle stars of Ophiodermatidae and Ophiolepididae (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiurida: Ophiurina) collected from the Singapore Strait". Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement (34): 619–626. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  10. ↑ Roy, M. S.; Sponer, R. (2002-05-22). "Evidence of a human–mediated invasion of the tropical western Atlantic by the 'world's most common brittlestar'". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 269 (1495): 1017–1023. doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.1977. PMC   1690993 . PMID   12028758.
  11. ↑ "Management of Sea Cucumber Fishery in Sri Lanka, Sustainable Utilization and Value Addition". researchgate. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  12. ↑ Gamage, Lalith Kumara Thiththagalle; Thushari, Gajahin Gamage Nadeeka; Atapaththu, Keerthi Sri Senevirathna; Kondaramage, Rasika Sampath Kumara Hewa; Senevirathna, Jayan Duminda Mahesh (2021-08-11). "Diversity, Length-Weight Relations, and Condition Factor of Sea Cucumbers in Three Coastal Areas Along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka: A Case Study" (PDF). Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 21 (12): 575–588. doi: 10.4194/1303-2712-v21_12_01 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  13. ↑ Dissanayake, Dct; Wijeyaratne, Mjs (2010-08-13). "Studies on the sea cucumber fishery in the North Western coastal region of Sri Lanka". Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences. 12: 19–38. doi: 10.4038/sljas.v12i0.2212 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  14. ↑ "Abundance, distribution and some biological aspects of Holothuria edulis in the North Western coastal waters of Sri Lanka". CENARA. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  15. ↑ DISSANAYAKE, D. C. T.; STEFANSSON, G. (2010-09-01). "Reproductive biology of the commercial sea cucumber Holothuria atra (Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida) in the northwestern coastal waters of Sri Lanka". Invertebrate Reproduction & Development. 54 (2): 65–76. doi:10.1080/07924259.2010.9652318. S2CID   83903619 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  16. ↑ Reichenbach, Norman; Nishar, Yoosuf; Saeed, Ahamed (1996). "Species and Size-Related Trends in Asexual Propagation of Commercially Important Species of Tropical Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea)". Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 27 (4): 475–482. doi:10.1111/j.1749-7345.1996.tb00632.x . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  17. ↑ Hamel, Jean-François; Conand, Chantal; Pawson, David L.; Mercier, Annie (2001-01-01). "The sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (Holothuroidea: Echinodermata): Its biology and exploitation as Beche-de-mer". Advances in Marine Biology Volume 41. Advances in Marine Biology. Vol. 41. pp. 129–223. doi:10.1016/S0065-2881(01)41003-0. ISBN   9780120261413 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  18. ↑ Prasada, D.V.P. (October 2020). "Assessing the potential for closure rules in the Sri Lankan sea cucumber fishery: Empirical models of practices and preferences of fishers". Marine Policy. 120: 104130. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104130. S2CID   224942189 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  19. ↑ Gamage, Lalith Kumara Thiththagalle; Thushari, Gajahin Gamage Nadeeka; Atapaththu, Keerthi Sri Senevirathna; Kondaramage, Rasika Sampath Kumara Hewa; Senevirathna, Jayan Duminda Mahesh (2021-08-11). "Diversity, Length-Weight Relations, and Condition Factor of Sea Cucumbers in Three Coastal Areas Along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka: A Case Study" (PDF). Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 21 (12): 575–588. doi: 10.4194/1303-2712-v21_12_01 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  20. ↑ "Shallow-water Sea Cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in Sarangani Bay, Mindanao, Philippines with Notes on Their Relative Abundance". Philippine Journal of Science 147 (3): 453-461, September 2018. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  21. ↑ Dissanayake, D. C.T.; Stefansson, Gunnar (July 2010). "Abundance and distribution of commercial sea cucumber species in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka". Aquatic Living Resources. 23 (3): 303–313. doi: 10.1051/alr/2010031 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  22. ↑ Veronika, K.; Edrisinghe, U.; Sivashanthini, K.; Athauda, A. R. S. B. (2016-07-04). "Abundance and diversity of sea cucumbers in point pedro coastal waters in Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka". Tropical Agricultural Research. 27 (2): 182. doi: 10.4038/tar.v27i2.8166 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  23. ↑ "Present status of the sea cucumber fishery in Sri Lanka". SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin #30 – March 2010. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  24. ↑ "Potential for sea cucumber culture in the Jaffna lagoon". www.mangrovesforthefuture.org. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  25. ↑ Veronika, K.; Edrisinghe, U.; Sivashanthini, K.; Athauda, A. R. S. B. (2017-06-26). "Present status of holothurian fisheries in mullaitivu coastal waters in North-East region of Sri Lanka". Tropical Agricultural Research. 28 (3): 216. doi: 10.4038/tar.v28i3.8226 .
  26. ↑ "First Record of Lamperts' Sea Cucumber (Synaptula Lamperti) in Northern Coast, Sri Lanka". Conference: International Conference on Multidisiplinary Research -2020. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  27. ↑ Dissanayake, D.C.T.; Stefansson, G. (May 2012). "Habitat preference of sea cucumbers: Holothuria atra and Holothuria edulis in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 92 (3): 581–590. doi:10.1017/S0025315411000051. S2CID   88436124 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  28. ↑ "DVP Prasada and DCT Dissanayaka, 2020. Ecology, Economics, and Management of Sea cucumber Fishery in Sri Lanka". South Asian Network of Development and Environmental Economics (ICIMOD). Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  29. ↑ Nishanthan, Ganeshan; Kumara, Ajith; Prasada, Pahan; Dissanayake, Chamari (2019). "Sea cucumber fishing pattern and the socio-economic characteristics of fisher communities in Sri Lanka". Aquatic Living Resources. 32: 12. doi:10.1051/alr/2019009. S2CID   182474934 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  30. ↑ "Market value of flower teatfish ('Pentard'): a highly exploited Indian Ocean holothuroid". SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin #37 – March 2017. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  31. ↑ Soliman, Taha; Reimer, James D.; Kawamura, Iori; van der Meij, Sancia E. T.; Reijnen, Bastian T.; Paulay, Gustav (February 2019). "Description of the juvenile form of the sea cucumber Thelenota anax H. L. Clark, 1921". Marine Biodiversity. 49: 547–554. doi:10.1007/s12526-017-0820-2. S2CID   37203810 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  32. ↑ "New Record of five Feather stars (Class: Crinoidea) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands". CiteSeerX   10.1.1.1049.7227 .{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  33. ↑ "Extant Crinoidea (Echinodermata) of Singapore". Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement (34): 627–658. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  34. ↑ "Feather stars (Crinoidea, Comatulida) of Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam: fauna, habitat and symbionts" (PDF). sevin.ru. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  35. ↑ "An annotated checklist and key to the Crinoidea of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands". Micronesica 35-36:523-546. 2003. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  36. ↑ Mekhova, Elena; T.A. Britayev (2013). "Feather stars (Crinoidea, Comatulida) of Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam: fauna, habitat and symbionts. E.S. Mekhova, T.A. Britayev". doi:10.13140/2.1.4306.4325 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  37. ↑ "First report of feather star Tropiometra carinata (Lamarck, 1816)". Rec. Zool. Surv. India. 115 (Part 4): 357–360. 2015. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  38. ↑ Mohammednowshad, B.; Idreesbabu, K.K.; Parameswaran, Usha V.; Messing, Charles G.; Sureshkumar, S. (2020-06-08). "The Shallow-water Crinoid Fauna of Lakshadweep Atolls, North-western Indian Ocean". Zootaxa. 4789 (1): 247–265. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4789.1.9. PMID   33056451. S2CID   222828673 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  39. ↑ Kogo, Ichizo; Fujita, Toshihiko; Kubodera, Tsunemi (2019-11-25). "Shallow-water Comatulids (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) from Ambon and Lombok Islands, Indonesia". Species Diversity. 24 (2): 229–246. doi: 10.12782/specdiv.24.229 . S2CID   213097129 . Retrieved 2021-08-23.
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