New records of ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Zihuatanejo (Guerrero) and Puerto Escondido (Oaxaca), Mexican Pacific

Abstract

New records of ophiuroids from Zihuatanejo, Guerrero and Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca in the Mexican Pacific are presented. Based on specimens collected on diverse substrata, 12 species were identified, being Ophiocoma alexandri Lyman, 1860 and Ophiothela mirabilis (Verrill, 1867) the most widely distributed. The increase on the recorded species compared to previous works may be related to a spatial more intensive sampling along to a detailed search on a large variety of substrata. New substrata for Ophiothela mirabilis and Ophioderma panamensis Lütken, 1859 are reported. We addressed, for first time, the relation among a juvenile individual of O. alexandri and a hydrozoan in the eastern Pacific. Although there was a meaningful increase on the number of recorded species in the studied area, it is suggested to carry on a large scale search on the tropical Mexican Pacific, along with a more thoughtful sampling on a large number of substrata in order to increase the knowledge regarding ophiuroids in the area.