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© jacintha castora photography
Nathalia Tirado Marine Ecologist & Curator, CDF Marine Collections, Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Angel Chiriboga
Latest species added:
These exclusively marine animals are well known for their radial symmetry and calcareous endoskeletons, for example the starfish. They have an open circulatory system lacking a heart, and some can regenerate missing limbs.
Of the approximately 200 species that occur in Galapagos, 34 are endemic or native to the archipelago.
Authors: Nathalia Tirado, Angel Chiriboga, Diego Ruiz, Stuart Banks.
Other Contributors: Cleveland Hickman, Diana Loyola, Jerson Moreno, Fernando Pinillos, Fernando Rivera, Franz Smith, Marco Toscano, Luis Vinueza.
Names of taxa included: 207 total (203 accepted, 2 unidentified taxon, 2 doubtful).
Origin of the taxa included: 31 endemic, 160 indigenous, 1 questionable endemic.
Click on orders and families to expand the checklist; click on species names to navigate to species page.
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Division Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea
Order Brisingida
Family Brisingidae
Genus Astrolirus
Astrolirus panamensis (Ludwig, 1905)
Family Freyellidae
Genus Freyellaster
Freyellaster scalaris (A.H. Clark, 1916)
Order Comatulida
Suborder Bourgueticrinina
Family Bathycrinidae
Genus Bathycrinus
Bathycrinus equatorialis A.H. Clark, 1908
Suborder Comatulidina
Superfamily Antedonacea
Family Antedonidae
Genus Florometra
Florometra serratissima (A.H. Clark, 1907)
Genus Psathyrometra
Psathyrometra bigradata (Hartlaub, 1895)
Superfamily Tropiometracea
Family Thalassometridae
Genus Thalassometra
Thalassometra agassizii (Hartlaub, 1895)
Order Forcipulatida
Family Asteriidae
Genus Astrometis
Astrometis sertulifera (Xantus, 1860)
Genus Distolasterias
Distolasterias robusta (Ludwig, 1905)
Genus Evasterias
Evasterias troscheli (Stimpson, 1862)
Family Heliasteridae
Family Labidiasteridae
Genus Coronaster
Coronaster marchenus Ziesenhenne, 1942
Genus Rathbunaster
Rathbunaster californicus Fisher, 1906
Family Pedicellasteridae
Genus Tarsaster
Tarsaster galapagensis (Ludwig, 1905)
Family Zoroasteridae
Genus Myxoderma
Myxoderma longispinum (Ludwig, 1905)
Order Notomyotida
Family Benthopectinidae
Genus Pectinaster
Pectinaster agassizi Ludwig, 1905
Order Paxillosida
Family Astropectinidae
Genus Dytaster
Dytaster gilberti Fisher, 1905
Genus Leptychaster
Leptychaster inermis (Ludwig, 1905)
Genus Psilaster
Psilaster sladeni Ludwig, 1905
Genus Tethyaster
Tethyaster canaliculatus (A.H. Clark, 1916)
Family Luidiidae
Genus Luidia
Luidia bellonae Lütken, 1865
Luidia columbia (Gray, 1840)
Luidia foliolata (Grube, 1866)
Luidia superba A.H. Clark, 1917
Family Porcellanasteridae
Genus Eremicaster
Eremicaster crassus (Sladen, 1883)
Order Spinulosida
Family Echinasteridae
Order Valvatida
Family Acanthasteridae
Genus Acanthaster
Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family Asterinidae
Genus Asterina
Asterina cf. modesta Verrill, 1870
Family Asterodiscididae
Genus Paulia
Paulia horrida Gray, 1840
Family Asteropseidae
Genus Asteropsis
Asteropsis carinifera (Lamarck, 1816)
Family Goniasteridae
Genus Nymphaster
Nymphaster diomediae Ludwig, 1905
Family Mithrodiidae
Genus Mithrodia
Mithrodia bradleyi Verrill, 1870
Family Ophidiasteridae
Genus Leiaster
Leiaster teres (Verril, 1871)
Genus Linckia
Linckia columbiae Gray, 1840
Genus Narcissia
Narcissia gracilis A.H. Clark, 1916
Genus Pharia
Pharia pyramidatus (Gray, 1840)
Genus Phataria
Phataria unifascialis (Gray, 1840)
Genus Tamaria
Tamaria obstipa Ziesenhenne, 1942
Family Oreasteridae
Genus Nidorellia
Nidorellia armata (Gray, 1840)
Genus Pentaceraster
Pentaceraster cumingi (Gray, 1840)
Family Poraniidae
Genus Poraniopsis
Poraniopsis inflatus (Fisher, 1906)
Family Pseudarchasteridae
Genus Pseudarchaster
Pseudarchaster pulcher Ludwig, 1905
Order Velatida
Family Pterasteridae
Family Solasteridae
Genus Lophaster
Lophaster furcilliger Fisher, 1905
Class Crinoidea
Order Hyocrinida
Family Hyocrinidae
Genus Calamocrinus
Calamocrinus diomedae A. Agassiz, 1892
Class Echinoidea
Order Arbacioida
Family Arbaciidae
Genus Arbacia
Arbacia incisa (A. Agassiz, 1863)
Order Aspidodiadematoida
Family Aspidodiadematidae
Genus Plesiodiadema
Plesiodiadema horridum (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Order Camarodonta
Superfamily Odontophora
Family Echinometridae
Genus Caenocentrotus
Caenocentrotus gibbosus (Agassiz & Desor, 1846)
Family Toxopneustidae
Genus Lytechinus
Lytechinus semituberculatus (Agassiz & Desor, 1846)
Genus Toxopneustes
Toxopneustes roseus (A. Agassiz, 1863)
Genus Tripneustes
Tripneustes depressus A. Agassiz, 1863
Order Cassiduloida
Superfamily Cassidulina
Family Cassidulidae
Genus Rhyncholampas
Rhyncholampas pacificus A. Agassiz, 1863
Order Cidaroida
Superfamily Cidaridea
Family Cidaridae
Genus Centrocidaris
Centrocidaris doederleini (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Genus Eucidaris
Eucidaris galapagensis (Valenciennes, 1846)
Genus Hesperocidaris
Hesperocidaris houstonianus H. Clark, 1939
Hesperocidaris panamensis (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Family Ctenocidaridae
Genus Aporocidaris
Aporocidaris milleri (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Superfamily Histocidaridea
Family Histocidaridae
Genus Histocidaris
Histocidaris cobosi (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Order Clypeasteroida
Suborder Clypeasterina
Family Clypeasteridae
Genus Clypeaster
Clypeaster elongatus H.L. Clark, 1948
Clypeaster europacificus H.L. Clark, 1914
Clypeaster ochrus H.L. Clark, 1914
Clypeaster rotundus (A. Agassiz, 1863)
Clypeaster speciosus Verrill, 1870
Suborder Scutellina
Family Mellitidae
Genus Mellitella
Mellitella stokesii (L. Agassiz, 1841)
Order Diadematoida
Family Diadematidae
Genus Astropyga
Astropyga pulvinata (Lamarck, 1816)
Genus Centrostephanus
Centrostephanus coronatus Verrill, 1867
Genus Diadema
Diadema mexicanum A. Agassiz, 1863
Order Echinothurioida
Family Echinothuriidae
Subfamily Sperosomatinae
Genus Tromikosoma
Tromikosoma hispidum (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Order Holasteroida
Suborder Meridosternata
Family Pourtalesiidae
Genus Pourtalesia
Pourtalesia tanneri A. Agassiz, 1898
Order Salenioida
Family Seleniidae
Seccion Salenocidarini
Genus Salenocidaris
Salenocidaris miliaris (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Order Spatangoida
Suborder Brissidina
Family Brissidae
Genus Brissus
Brissus obesus Verrill, 1867
Genus Meoma
Meoma ventricosa grandis Gray, 1851
Subfamily Brissopsinae
Genus Brissopsis
Brissopsis pacifica (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Superfamily Spatangidea
Family Loveniidae
Genus Lovenia
Lovenia cordiformis A. Agassiz, 1872
Family Maretiidae
Genus Nacospatangus
Nacospatangus oblonga (Mortensen, 1950)
Suborder Paleopneustina
Family Prenasteridae
Genus Agassizia
Agassizia scrobiculata Valenciennes, 1846
Family Schizasteridae
Genus Schizaster
Schizaster rotundatus (Döderlein, 1906)
Subfamily Brisasterinae
Genus Brisaster
Brisaster latifrons (A. Agassiz, 1898)
Class Holothuroidea
Order Apodida
Family Synaptidae
Genus Euapta
Euapta godeffroyi (Semper, 1868)
Order Aspidochirotida
Family Holothuridae
Family Holothuriidae
Genus Holothuria
Holothuria arenicola Semper, 1868
Holothuria atra Jaeger, 1833
Holothuria difficilis Semper, 1868
Holothuria fuscocinerea (Jaeger, 1833)
Holothuria hilla Lesson, 1830
Holothuria imitans Ludwig, 1875
Holothuria impatiens (Forskål, 1775)
Holothuria inhabilis Selenka, 1867
Holothuria kefersteini (Selenka, 1867)
Holothuria languens Selenka, 1867
Holothuria leucospilota (Brandt), 1835
Holothuria lubrica Selenka, 1867
Holothuria pardalis (Selenka, 1867)
Holothuria portovallartensis Caso, 1954
Family Stichopodidae
Genus Isostichopus
Isostichopus fuscus Ludwig, 1875
Genus Stichopus
Stichopus horrens Selenka, 1867
Family Synallactidae
Genus Capheira
Capheira sulcata Ludwig, 1893
Genus Mesothuria
Mesothuria multipes Ludwig, 1893
Genus Pseudostichopus
Pseudostichopus mollis Théel, 1886
Order Dendrochirotida
Family Cucumariidae
Genus Thyone
Thyone neofusus Deichmann, 1941
Family Phyllophoridae
Family Psolidae
Genus Lissothuria
Lissothuria veleronis (Deichmann, 1941)
Genus Psolus
Psolus diomedeae Ludwig, 1893
Family Sclerodactylidae
Genus Euthyonidiella
Euthyonidiella zacae (Deichmann, 1938)
Genus Neothyone
Neothyone gibber (Selenka, 1867)
Genus Pachythyone
Pachythyone lugubris (Deichmann, 1939)
Order Elasipodida
Suborder Deimatina
Family Deimatidae
Genus Deima
Deima validum pacificum Ludwig, 1894
Family Laetmogonidae
Genus Laetmogone
Laetmogone theeli Ludwig, 1893
Suborder Psychropotina
Family Elpidiidae
Genus Peniagone
Peniagone gracilis (Ludwig, 1894)
Peniagone intermedia Ludwig, 1893
Peniagone vitrea Théel, 1882
Family Pelagothuridae
Genus Pelagothuria
Pelagothuria natatrix Ludwig, 1893
Family Psychropotidae
Genus Psychropotes
Psychropotes verrucosa (Ludwig, 1894)
Class Ophiuroidae
Order Ophiurida
Suborder Ophiurina
Family Amphilepididae
Genus Amphilepis
Amphilepis patens Lyman, 1879
Family Amphiuridae
Genus Microphiopholis
Microphiopholis platydisca (Nielsen, 1932)
Microphiopholis puntarenae (Lütken, 1856)
Genus Ophiophragmus
Ophiophragmus disacanthus Ziesenhenne, 1940
Ophiophragmus marginatus (Lütken, 1859)
Family Ophiactidae
Genus Histampica
Histampica duplicata Lyman, 1875
Genus Ophiactis
Ophiactis plana Lyman, 1869
Ophiactis savignyi (Müller & Troschel, 1842)
Ophiactis simplex (Le Conte, 1851)
Family Ophiocomidae
Genus Ophiocoma
Ophiocoma alexandri Lyman, 1860
Genus Ophiocomella
Ophiocomella schmitti A.H. Clark, 1939
Family Ophiodermatidae
Genus Ophioderma
Ophioderma elaps Lütken, 1856
Ophioderma panamensis Lütken, 1859
Ophioderma pentacantha H.L. Clark, 1917
Ophioderma teres (Lyman, 1860)
Ophioderma variegata Lütken, 1856
Family Ophiolepididae
Genus Ophioplocus
Ophioplocus hancocki Ziesenhenne, 1935
Family Ophionereididae
Genus Ophionereis
Ophionereis albomaculata E.A. Smith, 1877
Ophionereis annulata (Le Conte, 1851)
Ophionereis nuda Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Ophionereis perplexa Ziesenhenne, 1940
Family Ophiotrichidae
Genus Ophiothela
Ophiothela mirabilis (Verrill, 1867)
Family Ophiuridae
Subfamily Ophioleucinae
Genus Ophiernus
Ophiernus adspersus annectens Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Ophiernus seminudus Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Subfamily Ophiurinae
Genus Amphiophiura
Amphiophiura irregularis Ziesenhenne, 1940
Amphiophiura obtecta (Lütken, 1899)
Amphiophiura paucisquama Ziesenhenne, 1940
Genus Gymnophiura
Gymnophiura mollis Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Genus Ophiocten
Ophiocten hastatum Lyman, 1878
Genus Ophiomisidium
Ophiomisidium leurum Ziesenhenne, 1940
Genus Ophiophyllum
Ophiophyllum marginatum A.H. Clark, 1916
Genus Ophioplinthus
Ophioplinthus inornata (Lyman, 1878)
Genus Ophiura
Ophiura flagellata (Lyman, 1878)
Ophiura irrorata irrorata (Lyman, 1878)
Ophiura plana (Lütken & Mortensen, 1899)
Class Ophiuroidea
Order Euryalida
Family Asteronychidae
Genus Asteronyx
Asteronyx loveni Müller & Troschel, 1842
Genus Astrodia
Astrodia plana (Lütken & Mortensen, 1899)
Family Asteroschematidae
Genus Asteroschema
Asteroschema sublaeve Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Family Gorgonocephalidae
Genus Astrodendrum
Astrodendrum galapagensis A.H. Clark, 1916
Genus Astrodictyum
Astrodictyum panamense (Verrill, 1867)
Order Ophiurida
Suborder Ophiomyxina
Family Ophiomyxidae
Genus Ophiomyxa
Ophiomyxa panamensis Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Suborder Ophiurina
Family Amphiuridae
Genus Amphichondrius
Amphichondrius granulatus (Lütken & Mortensen, 1899)
Genus Amphicontus
Amphicontus minutus Hill, 1940
Genus Amphiodia
Amphiodia tabogae Nielsen, 1932
Genus Amphipholis
Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1828)
Genus Amphiura
Amphiura arcystata H.L. Clark, 1911
Amphiura gymnogastra Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Amphiura polyacantha Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Amphiura serpentina Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Amphiura verticillata Ljungman, 1867
Family Hemieuryalidae
Genus Sigsbeia
Sigsbeia lineata Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Family Ophiacanthidae
Subfamily Ophiacanthinae
Genus Ophiacantha
Ophiacantha cyrena A.H. Clark, 1916
Ophiacantha inconspicua Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Ophiacantha phragma Ziesenhenne, 1940
Ophiacantha quadrispina H.L. Clark, 1917
Ophiacantha similis A.H. Clark, 1916
Genus Ophiolebes
Ophiolebes mortenseni A.H. Clark, 1916
Genus Ophiotreta
Ophiotreta valenciennesi valenciennesi (Lyman, 1879)
Subfamily Ophiohelinae
Genus Ophiotholia
Ophiotholia spathifer (Lyman, 1879)
Subfamily Ophioplinthacinae
Genus Ophiothamnus
Ophiothamnus laevis Lütken, 1899
Family Ophiocomidae
Genus Ophiocoma
Ophiocoma aethiops Lütken, 1859
Family Ophiolepididae
Genus Ophiomusium
Ophiomusium diomedeae Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Ophiomusium glabrum Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Ophiomusium lymani Wyville-Thomson, 1873
Genus Ophiosphalma
Ophiosphalma jolliense (McClendon, 1909)
Genus Ophiozonella
Ophiozonella alba (Lütken & Mortensen, 1899)
Ophiozonella clypeata (Lyman, 1883)
Ophiozonella contigua (Lütken & Mortensen, 1899)
Genus Ophiuroconis
Ophiuroconis bispinosa Ziesenhenne, 1937
Family Ophiotrichidae
Genus Ophiothrix
Ophiothrix galapagensis Lütken & Mortensen, 1899
Ophiothrix magnifica Lyman 1860
Ophiothrix spiculata LeConte, 1851
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