Echinoderm fauna of the South China Sea: an inventory and analysis of distribution patterns
Lane, D.J.W.; Marsh, L.M.; Vandenspiegel, D.; Rowe, F.W.E. (2000). Echinoderm fauna of the South China Sea: an inventory and analysis of distribution patterns. Raffles Bull. Zool. Supp. 8: 459-493
In: The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. National University of Singapore: Singapore. ISSN 0217-2445, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Lane, D.J.W.
- Marsh, L.M.
- Vandenspiegel, D.
- Rowe, F.W.E.
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| Abstract |
A comprehensive review and analysis of the literature on echinoderm records for the South China Sea (SCS) indicates close to a thousand (982) species in total (113 crinoids, 227 asteroids, 272 ophiuroids, 167 echinoids and 203 holothuroids). All known SCS species and their distributions are tabulated herein. A total of 178 echinoderms have their type locality in the South China Sea, with 63% of these (12% of the echinofauna overall) currently considered endemic. One possible reason for the prominence of endemics is that the South China Sea became relatively land-locked, repeatedly, during low sea level stands. Large areas of the South China Sea remain relatively unexplored biologically and it is likely that additional records and new taxa await discovery. National University of Singapore. |
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