Nuevos registros de ofiuroideos (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) para iocalidades de Zihuatanejo (Guerrero) y Puerto Escondido (Oaxaca), Pacífico Mexicano

Abstract

New records of ophiuroids from localities at Zihuatanejo, Guerrero and Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca in the Mexican Pacific are presented. Based on specimens collected on diverse substrata, 12 species were identified; Ophiocoma alexandri Lyman, 1860 and Ophiothela mirabilis (Verrill, 1867) being the most widely distributed. The larger number of recorded species compared to previous studies may result from a spatially broader sampling and a more thorough survey involving a larger variety of substrata. New substrata for O. mirabilis and Ophioderma panamensis Lutken, 1859 are reported. We document, for first time, the relationship between a juvenile of O. alexandri and a hydrozoan of the order Leptothecata in the Eastern Pacific. Although this paper documents a significant increase in the number of recorded species in the study area, we highlight the need for a large scale survey in the tropical Mexican Pacific, along with a more thorough sampling on a larger number of substrata in order to increase our knowledge about ophiuroids in the area.