Diversity of Deep-Sea Echinoderms From Costa Rica

Echinoderms are a highly diverse group and one of the most conspicuous in deep sea, playing ecological key roles. We present review about history expeditions studies on deep-sea echinoderms Costa Rica, including an updated list species. used literature information gathered from databases California Academy Sciences, Benthic Invertebrate Collection Scripps Institution Oceanography, National Museum Natural History, Comparative Zoology Museo de Zoología Universidad Rica. A total 124 taxa (75 confirmed species) have been collected Rican 112 found Pacific Ocean, 13 Caribbean Sea, species shared between two basins. report 22 new records for Eastern Tropical Pacific, 46 Central American waters, 58 The specious was Ophiuroidea with 37 taxa, followed by Holothuroidea (34 taxa), Asteroidea (23 Echinoidea (17 Crinoidea (11 taxa). highest number (64) 800 m 1200 depth. Only were deeper than 3200 m. Further efforts identification will be required better comprehension diversity echinoderms. Limited research has done regarding biology ecology so additional approaches necessary to understand their functions.