Marine species distribution reference map Southern Africa

The list of echinoderms of South Africa is a list of

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

that form a part of the echinoderm (Phylum Echinodermata)

fauna of South Africa The fauna of South Africa is diverse and largely typical of the ecosystems in Africa. South Africa is ranked sixth out of the world's 17 megadiverse countries. Many endemic species are unique to South Africa. The country is among the world leaders ...

, and includes the

starfish Starfish or sea stars are star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to as brittle stars or basket stars. Starfish ...

, feather stars,

brittle star Brittle stars, serpent stars, or ophiuroids (; ; referring to the serpent-like arms of the brittle star) are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea, closely related to starfish. They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms for locomo ...

sea urchin Sea urchins () are spiny, globular echinoderms in the class Echinoidea. About 950 species of sea urchin live on the seabed of every ocean and inhabit every depth zone from the intertidal seashore down to . The spherical, hard shells (tests) of ...

s and

sea cucumber Sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea (). They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the sea floor worldwide. The number of holothuria ...

s. The list follows the

SANBI The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is an organisation established in 2004 in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, No 10 of 2004, under the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (l ...

listing on

iNaturalist iNaturalist is a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. iNaturalist may be accessed via its website or from its mobile applic ...

Subphylum Asterozoa

Class Asteroidea

Superorder Forcipulatacea, order Forcipulatida

=Family Asteriidae

= *''

Coscinasterias calamaria ''Coscinasterias calamaria'', or the eleven-armed sea star, is a starfish in the family Asteriidae. It was thought to be endemic to southern Australia and New Zealand but has since been documented as occurring in the Cape Peninsula as well. It ...

'' (Gray, 1840) Many armed sea star *''

Marthasterias glacialis ''Marthasterias'' is a genus of starfish in the family Asteriidae. It is monotypic and the only species in the genus is ''Marthasterias glacialis'', commonly known as the spiny starfish. It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Description ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) Spiny starfish

Superorder Spinulosacea, order Spinulosida

=Family Echinasteridae

= *'' Henricia ornata'' (Perrier, 1869) Reticulated starfish

Superorder Valvatacea, order Paxillosida

=Family Astropectinidae

= *'' Astropecten granulatus'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 Grey sandstar *'' Astropecten hemprichi'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 *''

Astropecten irregularis pontoporeus ''Astropecten'' is a genus of sea stars of the family Astropectinidae. Identification These sea stars are similar one to each other and it can be difficult to determine with certainty the species only from a photograph. To have a certain d ...

'' Sladen, 1883 Pink sandstar

Order Valvatida,

=Family Acanthasteridae

= *''

Acanthaster planci The crown-of-thorns starfish (frequently abbreviated to COTS), ''Acanthaster planci'', is a large starfish that preys upon hard, or stony, coral polyps (Scleractinia). The crown-of-thorns starfish receives its name from venomous thorn-like spines ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) Crown of thorns starfish

=Family Asterinidae

= *''

Aquilonastra burtoni ''Aquilonastra burtoni'' is a species of small sea star from the family Asterinidae from the Red Sea which has colonised the eastern Mediterranean by Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal, although the Mediterranean populations are clonal ...

'' (Gray, 1840) *''

Asterina stellifera ''Asterina stellifera'' is one of thirty species of small bat star in the genus '' Asterina''. It is mainly found on the east coast of South America, ranging from Cabo Frio, Brazil to Mar del Plata, Argentina. In the past decades, their numbers ...

'' (Möbius, 1859) Namibian cushion star *'' Callopatiria granifera'' (Gray, 1847) Red starfish *'' Parvulastra exigua'' (Lamarck, 1816) Dwarf cushion star *''

Patiriella dyscrita ''Parvulastra dyscrita'' is a species of starfish belonging to the family Asterinidae. The species is found in Southern Africa. References Asterinidae Fauna of the Atlantic Ocean Fauna of the Indian Ocean Animals described in 1923 Tax ...

'' (H.L. Clark, 1923) Granular cushion star

=Family Goniasteridae

= *''

Calliaster baccatus ''Calliaster baccatus'', the cobbled starfish, is a species of starfish in the family Goniasteridae.Clark A. & Courtman-Stock J. 1976. ''The Echinoderms of South Africa'' British Museum (Natural History) London Description The cobbled starfi ...

'' Sladen, 1889 Cobbled sea star, tiled sea star *''

Fromia elegans ''Fromia elegans'', common name little red star, is a species of marine starfish belonging to the family Goniasteridae. Distribution This sea star has been spotted at latitudes from -27.5 to 26.6 and longitudes from 32.7 to 159.6. Habitat ...

'' H.L. Clark, 1921 Blocked starfish *''

Fromia indica ''Fromia indica'', commonly called Indian sea star or red starfish, is a species of marine starfish belonging to the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity ...

'' (Perrier, 1869)

=Family Mithrodiidae

= *''

Thromidia catalai ''Thromidia catalai'', sometimes called the heavy starfish, is a species of starfish in the family Mithrodiidae in the order Valvatida. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region. ''Thromidia catalai'' is one of the largest and heaviest starfishes ...

'' Pope & Rowe, 1977 Fat armed star

=Family Ophidiasteridae

= *''

Austrofromia schultzei ''Fromia'' is a genus of starfish belonging to the family Goniasteridae. Description These species are tropical sea stars, with 5 arms but sometimes up to 7. Some species like ''Fromia monilis ''Fromia monilis'', common name necklace starf ...

'' (Döderlein, 1910) Granular starfish *''

Linckia guildingi ''Linckia guildingi'', also called the common comet star, Guilding's sea star or the green Linckia, is a species of sea star reported from the shallow waters of the tropical Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Taxo ...

'' Gray, 1840 *''

Linckia laevigata ''Linckia laevigata'' (sometimes called the "blue ''Linckia''" or blue star) is a species of sea star in the shallow waters of tropical Indo-Pacific. Description and characteristics The variation ("polymorphism", in this case, a "color morph" ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) Blue star *''

Linckia multifora ''Linckia multifora'' is a variously colored starfish in the Family (biology), family Ophidiasteridae that is found in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Its common names include the Dalmatian Linckia, mottled Linckia, spotted Linckia, multicolor sea ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) *''

Narcissia ''Narcissia'' is a genus of echinoderms belonging to the family Ophidiasteridae. The species of this genus are found in Africa and America. Species: *'' Narcissia ahearnae'' *'' Narcissia canariensis'' *'' Narcissia gracilis'' *'' Narcissi ...

'' spp. *'' Nardoa variolata'' (Retzius, 1805) Button star

=Family Oreasteridae

= *''

Choriaster granulatus ''Choriaster'' is monotypic genus in the family Oreasteridae containing the single species ''Choriaster granulatus'' commonly known as the granulated sea star. Other common names include big-plated sea star and doughboy starfish. This species is ...

'' Lütken, 1869 Granulated star *''

Culcita schmideliana ''Culcita schmideliana'', commonly known as the spiny cushion star, is a species of pin-cushion star. It has a variety of base colors and often patches of a different color. It is pentagonal in shape and lives in the tropical Indo-Pacific. This ...

'' (Retzius, 1805) Pincushion starfish *'' Halityle regularis'' Fisher, 1913 Regular star *'' Protoreaster lincki'' (Blainville, 1830) Spine tipped star *'' Pentaceraster mammillatus'' (Audouin, 1826) Beaded starfish

=Family Pterasteridae

= *'' Euretaster cribrosus'' (von Martens, 1867) *''

Pteraster capensis ''Pteraster capensis'' is a species of echinoderm belonging to the family Pterasteridae Pterasteridae is a family of sea stars in the order Velatida, consisting of eight genera. Description and characteristics Pterasterids are primarily dee ...

'' Gray, 1847 Brooding cushion star

Class Ophiuroidea

Order Euryalida

=Family Gorgonocephalidae

= *''

Astroboa nuda ''Astroboa nuda'' is a type of basket star from Gorgonocephalidae family. Its large arms (up to armspread) are highly branched. It inhabits reef slopes exposed to current in diverse places such as the Red Sea The Red Sea ( ar, البح ...

'' (Lyman, 1874) Naked basket star *''

Astrocladus euryale Astrocladus euryale, the basket star, or gorgon's head is a brittlestar of the family Gorgonocephalidae found in the coastal waters of South Africa from the west coast of the Cape Peninsula to about Algoa Bay. Description The 10 arms branch repe ...

'' (Retzius, 1783) Basket star

Superfamily Euryalidea

=Family Asteroschematidae

= *'' Asteroschema capensis'' Mortensen, 1925

=Family Euryalidae, Subfamily Euryalinae

= *''

Euryale In Greek mythology, Euryale ( ; grc, Εὐρυάλη, lit=far-roaming") was the name of the following characters: * Euryale, one of the Gorgons. * Euryale, daughter of Minos, possible mother of the great hunter Orion. * Euryale, one of the Ama ...

'' spp.

Order Ophiurida, Suborder Ophiurina, Infraorder Gnathophiurina

=Family Amphiuridae

= *'' Amphiura (Amphiura) capensis'' Ljungman, 1867 Equal tailed brittlestar *'' Amphioplus (Lymanella) integer'' (Ljungman, 1867) *''

Amphipholis squamata ''Amphipholis squamata'', common names brooding snake star and dwarf brittle star, is a species complexLe Gac, M., Féral, J.P., Poulin, E., Veyret, M. & Chenuil, A. (2004) ''Identification of allopatric clades in the cosmopolitan ophiuroid speci ...

'' (Delle Chiaje, 1828) *'' Ophiodaphne scripta'' (Koehler, 1904) Pansy-shell brittlestar

=Family Ophiactidae

= *'' Ophiactis carnea'' Ljungman, 1867 Snake-star *''

Ophiactis savignyi ''Ophiactis savignyi'' is a species of brittle star in the family Ophiactidae, commonly known as Savigny's brittle star or the little brittle star. It occurs in the tropical and subtropical parts of all the world's oceans and is thought to be th ...

'' (Müller & Troschel, 1842)

=Family Ophiocomidae, Subfamily Ophiocominae

= *'' Ophiocoma (Breviturma) brevipes'' Peters, 1851 *'' Ophiocoma (Breviturma) dentata'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 *''

Ophiocoma (Breviturma) doederleini ''Ophiocoma'' is a genus of brittle stars belonging to the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the fam ...

'' de Loriol, 1899 *''

Ophiocoma erinaceus ''Ophiocoma erinaceus'' is a species of echinoderms belonging to the family Ophiocomidae Ophiocomidae are a family of brittle stars of the suborder Ophiurina. Systematics and phylogeny Ophiocomidae has been placed (along with Ophionereidid ...

'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 *''

Ophiocoma pica ''Ophiocoma'' is a genus of brittle stars belonging to the family Ophiocomidae. Selected species * ''Ophiocoma aethiops'' (Lütken, 1859) * ''Ophiocoma echinata'' (Lamarck, 1816) * ''Ophiocoma erinaceus'' (Müller & Troschel, 1842) * ''Ophiocom ...

'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 *'' Ophiocoma pusilla'' (Brock, 1888) *''

Ophiocoma scolopendrina ''Ophiocoma scolopendrina'' is a species of brittle star belonging to the family Ophiocomidae. Restricted to life in the intertidal, they live in the Indo-Pacific. They can typically be found within crevices or beneath borders on intertidal reef ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) *'' Ophiocoma valenciae'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 Snake armed brittlestar

=Family Ophionereididae

= *'' Ophionereis dubia dubia'' (Müller & Troschel, 1842) Striped brittlestar *'' Ophionereis porrecta'' Lyman, 1860 Striped brittlestar

=Family Ophiotrichidae

= *'' Macrophiothrix hirsuta cheneyi'' (Lyman, 1862) *'' Ophiocnemis marmorata'' (Lamarck, 1816) Hitchhiker brittlestar *'' Ophiothela danae'' Verrill, 1869 Commensal brittlestar *''

Ophiothrix (Acanthophiothrix) purpurea ''Ophiothrix'' is a large genus of brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) found in oceans worldwide from tropics to Arctic and Antarctic regions. At present a total of 93 Ophiothrix species have been recognized. It is considered as one of the most interesti ...

'' von Martens, 1867 *''

Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) foveolata ''Ophiothrix'' is a large genus of brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) found in oceans worldwide from tropics to Arctic and Antarctic regions. At present a total of 93 Ophiothrix species have been recognized. It is considered as one of the most interesti ...

'' Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1887 *''

Ophiothrix fragilis ''Ophiothrix fragilis'' is a species of brittle star in the order Ophiurida. It is found around the coasts of western Europe and is known in Britain as the common brittle star. It is also found along the coast of South Africa where it is known ...

'' (Abildgaard, in O.F. Müller, 1789) Hairy brittlestar *''

'' var. ''triglochis'' Müller & Troschel, 1842

Infraorder Ophiodermatina

=Family Ophiodermatidae

Subfamily Ophiarachninae

*'' Ophiarachnella capensis'' (Bell, 1888) Banded brittlestar

Subfamily Ophiodermatinae

*'' Ophioderma wahlbergii'' Müller & Troschel, 1842 Serpent skinned brittlestar

Subphylum Crinozoa

Class Crinoidea, subclass Articulata

Order Comatulida, sub-order Comatulidina

=Super-family Antedonoidea, family Antedonidae, subfamily Antedoninae

= *'' Annametra occidentalis'' (AH Clark, 1915)

=Superfamily Comasteroidea, family Comatulidae, subfamily Comatulinae

= *'' Comanthus wahlbergii'' (Müller, 1843) Common feather star

=Superfamily Mariametroidea, family Mariametridae

= *'' Stephanometra indica'' (Smith, 1876) Indicated feather star

=Superfamily Tropiometroidea, family Tropiometridae

= *'' Tropiometra carinata'' (Lamarck, 1816) Elegant feather star

Subphylum Echinozoa

Class Echinoidea, subclass Cidaroidea

Order Cidaroida

=Superfamily Cidaridea, family Cidaridae, subfamily Cidarinae

= *''

Eucidaris metularia ''Eucidaris metularia'', the ten-lined urchin, is a species of sea urchins in the family Cidaridae. It is found in shallow parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean and is characterised by its sparse covering of banded, flat-tipped spines. Description ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) *''

Phyllacanthus imperialis ''Phyllacanthus imperialis'', also known as the Sputnik urchin, imperial lance urchin, imperial sea urchin, imperial urchin, pencil sea urchin, lance urchin, knobby sputnik sea urchin, mine urchin, and land mine sea urchin, is a species of sea u ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816)

=Subfamily Stylocidarinae

= *'' Prionocidaris pistillaris'' (Lamarck, 1816) Rough pencil urchin

Subclass Euechinoidea, infraclass Acroechinoidea

Order Diadematoida

=Family Diadematidae

= *'' Astropyga radiata'' (Leske, 1778) *'' Diadema savignyi'' (Audouin, 1829) Needle urchin *''

Diadema setosum ''Diadema setosum'' is a species of long-spined sea urchin belonging to the family Diadematidae. It is a typical sea urchin, with extremely long, hollow spines that are mildly venomous. ''D. setosum'' differs from other '' Diadema'' with five, ...

'' (Leske, 1778) Needle urchin *'' Echinothrix calamaris'' (Pallas, 1774) Banded urchin

Infraclass Carinacea

Superorder Echinacea, order Arbacioida

=Family Arbaciidae

= *'' Tetrapygus niger'' (Molina, 1782) Black urchin

Order Camarodonta, infraorder Echinidea

=Family Echinidae

= *'' Echinus gilchristi'' Bell, 1904 Deep water urchin

=Family Parechinidae

= *'' Parechinus angulosus'' (Leske, 1778) Cape urchin

=Superfamily Odontophora, family Echinometridae

= *'' Colobocentrotus (Podophora) atratus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *''

Echinometra mathaei ''Echinometra mathaei'', the burrowing urchin, is a species of sea urchin in the family Echinometridae. It occurs in shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific region. The type locality is Mauritius. Description ''Echinometra mathaei'' grows to a ...

'' (Blainville, 1825) Oval urchin *'' Echinostrephus molaris'' (Blainville, 1825) Tuft urchin *'' Heterocentrotus mamillatus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) Slate pencil urchin

=Family Toxopneustidae

= *''

Toxopneustes pileolus ''Toxopneustes pileolus'', commonly known as the flower urchin, is a widespread and commonly encountered species of sea urchin from the Indo-West Pacific. It is considered highly dangerous, as it is capable of delivering extremely painful and m ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) Flower urchin *''

Tripneustes gratilla ''Tripneustes gratilla'', the collector urchin, is a species of sea urchin. Collector urchins are found at depths of in the waters of the Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, the Red Sea, and The Bahamas. They can reach in size. Description Collector urch ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) Short-spined urchin

Infraorder Temnopleuridea

=Family Temnopleuridae

= *'' Salmacis bicolor'' L. Agassiz in L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846 Bicoloured urchin

Order Stomopneustoida

=Family Stomopneustidae

= *''

Stomopneustes variolaris ''Stomopneustes variolaris'', the black sea urchin or long-spined sea urchin, is a species of sea urchin, the only one in its genus ''Stomopneustes'' and only species still alive in its family Stomopneustidae. It is found throughout the tropi ...

'' (Lamarck, 1816) Pot-hole urchin

Infraclass Irregularia

Superorder Atelostomata, order Spatangoida, suborder Brissidina

=Superfamily Spatangidea, family Loveniidae, subfamily Echinocardiinae

= *''

Echinocardium cordatum ''Echinocardium cordatum'', also known as the common heart urchin or the sea potato, is a sea urchin in the family (biology), family Loveniidae. It is found in sub-tidal regions in the NE Atlantic. Other un-named species have been identified as t ...

'' (Pennant, 1777) Heart urchin *'' Lovenia elongata'' (Gray, 1845)

=Family Maretiidae

= *'' Spatagobrissus mirabilis'' H.L. Clark, 1923 Heart urchin

Superorder Neognathostomata, order Clypeasteroida, suborder Scutellina, infraorder Scutelliformes

=Superfamily Scutellidea, family Astriclypeidae

= *'' Echinodiscus auritus'' Leske, 1778 Pansy shell *'' Echinodiscus bisperforatus'' Leske, 1778 Pansy shell

Infraorder Laganiformes

=Family Echinocyamidae

= *'' Echinocyamus'' sp.

Order Echinolampadoida

=Family Echinolampadidae

= *'' Echinolampas crassa'' (Bell, 1880) Lamp urchin

Class Holothuroidea

Order Apodida

=Family Chiridotidae

= *'' Taeniogyrus dayi'' Cherbonnier, 1952

=Family Synaptidae

= *'' Leptosynapta knysnaensis''(Cherbonnier, 1952) *''

Synapta maculata ''Synapta maculata'', the snake sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Synaptidae. It is found in shallow waters in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. Sometimes growing as long as , it is one of the longest sea cucumbers in the w ...

'' (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) Snake sea cucumber

Order Aspidochirotida

=Family Holothuriidae

= *'' Bohadschia subrubra'' (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) *'' Holothuria (Halodeima) atra'' Jaeger, 1833 *''

Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota ''Holothuria'' is the type genus of the marine animal family Holothuriidae, part of the class Holothuroidea, commonly known as sea cucumbers. Members of the genus are found in coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions. They are soft-bodied ...

'' (Brandt, 1835) Tapering sea cucumber *'' Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra'' Jaeger, 1833 *'' Holothuria (Microthele) nobilis'' (Selenka, 1867) Noble sea cucumber *''

Holothuria (Selenkothuria) parva ''Holothuria'' is the type genus of the marine animal family Holothuriidae, part of the class Holothuroidea, commonly known as sea cucumbers. Members of the genus are found in coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions. They are soft-bodied ...

'' Krauss in Lampert, 1885 Banana sea cucumber *''

Holothuria (Semperothuria) cinerascens ''Holothuria'' is the type genus of the marine animal Family (biology), family Holothuriidae, part of the class Holothuroidea, commonly known as sea cucumbers. Members of the genus are found in coastal waters in tropical and temperate regions. Th ...

'' (Brandt, 1835) Tufted sea cucumber

=Family Stichopodidae

= *'' Neostichopus grammatus'' (H.L. Clark, 1923) Warty sea cucumber *'' Stichopus chloronotus'' Brandt, 1835 *''

Thelenota ananas ''Thelenota ananas'', also known as pineapple sea cucumber, oloturia ananas, tripang, prickly skin cucumber, pointed teat sea cucumber, armoured sea cucumber, giant sea cucumber, sand fish or prickly redfish, is a species of sea cucumber found i ...

'' (Jaeger, 1833) Pineapple sea cucumber

Order Dendrochirotida

=Family Cucumariidae

= *'' Aslia spyridophora'' (H.L. Clark, 1923) Grey sea cucumber syn. Cucumaria spyridophora, Pentacucumis spyridophora *'' Pentacta doliolum'' (Pallas, 1766) Cask sea cucumber, mauve sea cucumber *'' Pseudocnella insolens'' (Théel, 1886) Red-chested sea cucumber syn. Cucumaria insolens Théel, 1886 *'' Pseudocnella sykion'' (Lampert, 1885) Black sea cucumber syn. Cucumaria sykion (Lampert, 1885) *'' Roweia stephensoni'' (John, 1939) Stephenson's sea cucumber syn. Cucumaria stephensoni John, 1939 *'' Roweia frauenfeldi frauenfeldi'' (Ludwig, 1882) Horseshoe sea cucumber syn. Cucumaria frauenfeldi Ludwig, 1882 *'' Trachasina crucifera'' (Semper, 1869) syn. Trachythyone crucifera (Semper, 1869)

=Family Psolidae

= *'' Psolus griffithsi'' Thandar, 2009

=Family Phyllophoridae

= *'' Stolus buccalis'' (Stimpson, 1855) syn. Thyone sacellus (Selenka) *'' Thyone aurea'' (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) Golden sea cucumber

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Echinoderms South Africa Marine biota of South Africa

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

South African animal biodiversity lists