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The list of echinoderms of South Africa is a list of species that form a part of the echinoderm (Phylum Echinodermata) fauna of South Africa, and includes the starfish, feather stars, brittle stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. The list follows the SANBI listing on iNaturalist.

Map of the Southern African coastline showing some of the landmarks referred to in species range statements
Map of the Southern African coastline showing some of the landmarks referred to in species range statements

An echinoderm (/ɪˈknəˌdɜːrm, ˈɛkə-/) is any member of the phylum Echinodermata (/ɪˌknˈdɜːrmətə/; from Ancient Greek ἐχῖνος (ekhînos) 'hedgehog', and δέρμα (dérma) 'skin') of marine animals. The adults are recognizable by their (usually five-point) 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 (a superphylum), after the chordates (which include the vertebrates, such as birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles). Echinoderms are the largest phylum that has no freshwater or terrestrial members.

Aside from the hard-to-classify Arkarua (a Precambrian animal with echinoderm-like pentamerous radial symmetry), the first definitive members of the phylum appeared near the start of the Cambrian. One group of Cambrian echinoderms, the cinctans (Homalozoa), which are close to the base of the echinoderm origin, has been found to possess external gills used for filter feeding, similar to those possessed by chordates and hemichordates.

The echinoderms are important both ecologically and geologically. Ecologically, there are few other groupings so abundant in the biotic desert of the deep sea, as well as shallower oceans. Most echinoderms are able to reproduce asexually and regenerate tissue, organs, and limbs; in some cases, they can undergo complete regeneration from a single limb. Geologically, the value of echinoderms is in their ossified skeletons, which are major contributors to many limestone formations, and can provide valuable clues as to the geological environment. They were the most used species in regenerative research in the 19th and 20th centuries. Further, some scientists hold that the radiation of echinoderms was responsible for the Mesozoic Marine Revolution. (Full article...)


Subphylum Asterozoa



Class Asteroidea



Superorder Forcipulatacea, order Forcipulatida


Family Asteriidae


Superorder Spinulosacea, order Spinulosida


Family Echinasteridae


Superorder Valvatacea, order Paxillosida


Family Astropectinidae


Order Valvatida,


Family Acanthasteridae


Family Asterinidae


Family Goniasteridae


Family Mithrodiidae


Family Ophidiasteridae


Family Oreasteridae


Family Pterasteridae


Class Ophiuroidea



Order Euryalida


Family Gorgonocephalidae


Superfamily Euryalidea


Family Asteroschematidae


Family Euryalidae, Subfamily Euryalinae


Order Ophiurida, Suborder Ophiurina, Infraorder Gnathophiurina


Family Amphiuridae


Family Ophiactidae


Family Ophiocomidae, Subfamily Ophiocominae


Family Ophionereididae


Family Ophiotrichidae


Infraorder Ophiodermatina


Family Ophiodermatidae


Subfamily Ophiarachninae

Subfamily Ophiodermatinae

Subphylum Crinozoa



Class Crinoidea, subclass Articulata



Order Comatulida, sub-order Comatulidina


Super-family Antedonoidea, family Antedonidae, subfamily Antedoninae


Superfamily Comasteroidea, family Comatulidae, subfamily Comatulinae


Superfamily Mariametroidea, family Mariametridae


Superfamily Tropiometroidea, family Tropiometridae


Subphylum Echinozoa



Class Echinoidea, subclass Cidaroidea



Order Cidaroida


Superfamily Cidaridea, family Cidaridae, subfamily Cidarinae


Subfamily Stylocidarinae


Subclass Euechinoidea, infraclass Acroechinoidea



Order Diadematoida


Family Diadematidae


Infraclass Carinacea



Superorder Echinacea, order Arbacioida


Family Arbaciidae


Order Camarodonta, infraorder Echinidea


Family Echinidae


Family Parechinidae


Superfamily Odontophora, family Echinometridae


Family Toxopneustidae


Infraorder Temnopleuridea


Family Temnopleuridae


Order Stomopneustoida


Family Stomopneustidae


Infraclass Irregularia



Superorder Atelostomata, order Spatangoida, suborder Brissidina


Superfamily Spatangidea, family Loveniidae, subfamily Echinocardiinae


Family Maretiidae


Superorder Neognathostomata, order Clypeasteroida, suborder Scutellina, infraorder Scutelliformes


Superfamily Scutellidea, family Astriclypeidae


Infraorder Laganiformes


Family Echinocyamidae


Order Echinolampadoida


Family Echinolampadidae


Class Holothuroidea



Order Apodida


Family Chiridotidae


Family Synaptidae


Order Aspidochirotida


Family Holothuriidae


Family Stichopodidae


Order Dendrochirotida


Family Cucumariidae


Family Psolidae


Family Phyllophoridae


Notes



    References


    1. Jones, Georgina (2008). A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. Cape Town: SURG. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9.
    2. Branch, G.M.; Branch, M.L.; Griffiths, C.L.; Beckley, L.E. (2010). Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. ISBN 978 1 77007 772 0.
    3. "EchinoMAP — Atlas of African Echinoderma: 134 species found for South Africa, Date filter: none". Animal Demography Unit: Virtual Museum. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
    4. Day, J.H. 1969. A guide to marine life on South African shores. Balkema, Cape Town



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