Mozambique - 2006 - Echinodermata

Mozambique • Echinodermata

The identifications were only made on the basis of the photographs which is very hazardous for most of the species. As a consequence the Latin names might not be accurate.
The books used for the identification are listed: bibliography.

Echinoderms are exclusively marine, they seem to be a monophyletic group characterised by a fivefold radial symetry, an internal skeleton and an internal water vascular system. They can be split in five groups:
• Crinoidea, feather stars, about 600 species.
• Holothuroidea, sea cucumbers about 1,000 species.
• Echinoidea,sea urchins & sand dollars, about 1,000 species.
• Ophiuroidea, brittle stars & basket stars, about 1,500 species.
• Asteroidea,starfish, about 1,500 species.

Click on the pictures to get a closer view

ECHINODERMATA, Holothuroidea, sea cucumbers

Synaptidae
Synapta maculata (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821)

Synaptidae
Synapta maculata (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821)

Holothuriidae
Bohadschia graeffei (Semper,1868)

ECHINODERMATA, Echinoidea, sea urchins and sand dollars

Cidaridae
Prionocidaris sp.

Cidaridae
Prionocidaris sp.

Diadematidae
Astropyga radiata (Leske, 1778)

Diadematidae
Astropyga radiata (Leske, 1778)

Diadematidae
Diadema cf. setosum (Leske, 1778)

Temnopleuridae
Microcyphus rousseaui Agassiz & Desor, 1846

Toxopneustidae
Tripneustes sp.

Toxopneustidae, Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck, 1816)
Never touch this magnificent sea urchin, it's supposed to be letal for human although I've done it and nothing happen...
I found this specimen in very shallow water, on flat rocks. As it's figured on the first photo, it hid itself using small stones, dead shells...

Toxopneustidae
Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck, 1816)

Atelostomata, irregular urchins
Cf. Maretia sp.

ECHINODERMATA, Ophiuroidea, brittle stars

Ophiures are often moving very quickly so I've got trouble to make pictures of them. The only ones I've photos of were living in the bell of the jellyfish: Scyphozoa.

ECHINODERMATA, Asteroidea, starfishes

Ophidiasteridae
Linckia sp.

Ophidiasteridae
Fromia monilis (Perrier, 1869)

Ophidiasteridae
Linckia sp.

Oreasteridae
Choriaster granulatus Lütken, 1869

Oreasteridae
Choriaster granulatus Lütken, 1869

Oreasteridae
cf. Halityle regularis Fisher, 1913

Oreasteridae
Pentaceraster sp.

Oreasteridae
Protoreaster lincki (Blainville, 1830)

Protoreaster lincki (Blainville, 1830) & Linckia sp.

Acanthasteridae
Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758)

Found on the beach at low tide. Any idea ?

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Last update 24/10/06
© Copyright 2006 Sophie Valtat

Mozambique • Echinodermata The identifications were only made on the basis of the photographs which is very hazardous for most of the species. As a consequence the Latin names might not be accurate. The books used for the identification are listed: bibliography. Echinoderms are exclusively marine, they seem to be a monophyletic group characterised by a fivefold radial symetry, an internal skeleton and an internal water vascular system. They can be split in five groups: • Crinoidea, feather stars, about 600 species. • Holothuroidea, sea cucumbers about 1,000 species. • Echinoidea,sea urchins & sand dollars, about 1,000 species. • Ophiuroidea, brittle stars & basket stars, about 1,500 species. • Asteroidea,starfish, about 1,500 species. Click on the pictures to get a closer view
ECHINODERMATA, Holothuroidea, sea cucumbers
	Synaptidae Synapta maculata (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821)	Synaptidae Synapta maculata (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821)
	Holothuriidae Bohadschia graeffei (Semper,1868)
ECHINODERMATA, Echinoidea, sea urchins and sand dollars

Cidaridae Prionocidaris sp.		Cidaridae Prionocidaris sp.
Diadematidae Astropyga radiata (Leske, 1778)	Diadematidae Astropyga radiata (Leske, 1778)	Diadematidae Diadema cf. setosum (Leske, 1778)	Temnopleuridae Microcyphus rousseaui Agassiz & Desor, 1846
	Toxopneustidae Tripneustes sp.

Toxopneustidae, Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck, 1816) Never touch this magnificent sea urchin, it's supposed to be letal for human although I've done it and nothing happen... I found this specimen in very shallow water, on flat rocks. As it's figured on the first photo, it hid itself using small stones, dead shells...
	Toxopneustidae Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck, 1816)
	Atelostomata, irregular urchins Cf. Maretia sp.
ECHINODERMATA, Ophiuroidea, brittle stars Ophiures are often moving very quickly so I've got trouble to make pictures of them. The only ones I've photos of were living in the bell of the jellyfish: Scyphozoa. ECHINODERMATA, Asteroidea, starfishes
Ophidiasteridae Linckia sp.	Ophidiasteridae Fromia monilis (Perrier, 1869)		Ophidiasteridae Linckia sp.
	Oreasteridae Choriaster granulatus Lütken, 1869	Oreasteridae Choriaster granulatus Lütken, 1869
	Oreasteridae cf. Halityle regularis Fisher, 1913


Oreasteridae Pentaceraster sp.
	Oreasteridae Protoreaster lincki (Blainville, 1830)	Protoreaster lincki (Blainville, 1830) & Linckia sp.
	Acanthasteridae Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758)	Found on the beach at low tide. Any idea ?
Mozambique Porifera • Cnidaria • Mollusca • Annelida • Arthropoda • Tunicata • Fish Home
Last update 24/10/06		© Copyright 2006 Sophie Valtat