Cidaroidea (Echinoidea) from deep-water off Argentina: preliminary results on diversity and distribution

FLORES, J.N.; MARTINEZ, M.I.; BROGGER, M.I.

Playa del Camen

Conferencia; 15th International Echinoderm Conference; 2015

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México \ Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología

Only three species of the order Cidaroida have been reported so far for the Argentine Sea, with no records of any sea urchin beyond 1,200 m depth in the area. In order to collect samples at deep sea, we conducted three research campaigns during 2012 and 2013 on board the oceanographic vessel Puerto Deseado (CONICET). We sampled the Argentinean continental slope along 38°S, and the Mar del Plata submarine canyon (ca. 37ºS; 53°W) taking samples from 200 to 3,500 m depth. In the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences Bernardino Rivadavia (Buenos Aires, Argentina) we conducted the taxonomic determination by studying the morphological characters and using scanning electron microscopy. Preliminary results show new records and the presence in this area of at least two new species of different genera. Furthermore, for Austrocidaris canaliculata we registered an extension of its bathymetric distribution up to 1,400 m depth. We also discuss the idea of consider as synonyms all three previous described species of the genus Austrocidaris that spans in the study area. This work is a part of a bigger project that is studying the diversity of Echinodermata from Argentina, aiming look and analyze for some connection between the fauna from the Argentine´s deep-waters and the Antarctic sea.