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Issue: Vol. 4098 No. 2: 6 Apr. 2016
Type: Article
Published: 2016-04-06
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.2.4
Page range: 273–297
Abstract views: 100
PDF downloaded: 1

Shallow-water reef ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of Réunion (Mascarene Islands), with biogeographic considerations

USR3278-CRIOBE-EPHE-CNRS-UPVD, Laboratoire d’Excellence « CORAIL », Bat. R – CBETM, Université de Perpignan, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France
Molecular Ecology and Evolution Programme, Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, Republic of South Africa
Florida Museum of Natural History, Division of Malacology, 278 Dickinson Hall, Museum Road & Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
UMR Entropie, Laboratoire d’Excellence « CORAIL », Université de La Réunion, CS 92003, 97744 Saint Denis, La Réunion, France
Echinodermata brittle-stars biodiversity morphotype cryptic species dispersal ability coral reefs

Abstract

Despite their importance in marine biodiversity, invertebrates are far less studied than vertebrates. Given the current global biodiversity crisis and insufficient taxonomic resources, sustained efforts need to be undertaken to assess species diversity, especially in the highly threatened ‘biodiversity hotspots’. Réunion is a young volcanic island lying in the Mascarene Islands (south-western Indian Ocean, SWIO), a marine biodiversity hotspot. A substantial sampling effort was conducted around Réunion Island to document shallow water reef-associated ophiuroid (brittle-stars) diversity, a class recognised as the most diverse among echinoderms. A total of 33 species were documented, increasing the known species richness of the island by 56%. Findings include 15 new records for Réunion, 11 for the Mascarene Islands and 8 for the Indian Ocean. The most diverse family was Ophiocomidae, a family of large, abundant and conspicuous tropical species. Even in this well studied family, a new species was revealed by this survey. Morphological variants together with DNA sequence variations within several species revealed cryptic species. We compared our results with the known fauna of other Mascarene Islands and discuss biogeographic implications for the region.

 

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