Equinodermos de la Isla de Pascua

Comunicación preliminar

Abstract

The shallow water echinoderm fauna of Easter Island, contains species which are typical of the Indo-Paclfic area, such as Diadema pauclspinum A. AGASSIZ, Brissus latecarinatus LESKE, Ophiocoma brevipes PETERS, Ophiocoma dentata MULLER y TROSCHEL, Ophiocoma longispina H. L. CLARK. Echinoneus cyclostomus LESKE, has circuntropical distribution. Tripneutes depressus A. AGASSIZ is abundant from the eastern tropical Pacific or Panamic area. Diadema savignyi (AUDOUIN) MICHELIN is common in the Indo-Pacific area from eastern Africa to the South Pacific Island, until Easter Island; from Japan to Bonin Islands in the North. Ophidiaster easterensis F. ZIESENHENNE, seems to be endemic to Easter Island. Stylasterias paschae CLARK is another typical species from Easter Island. Actinopyga difficilis (SEMPER) is common in the Indo-Pacific area and Stichopus variegatus SEMPER Is wide-spread in this area also; its presence in Easter Island is of great zoogeoghaphical importance.