Echinoderms from the Gulf of Venezuela, north-western coast of Venezuela

Echinoderms are a major group of marine invertebrates that often play integral roles within the ecosystem. Studies about their occurrence, abundance, and distribution in Venezuela focused central-eastern coasts; hence aim this study is to describe echinoderm community north-western coast Gulf Venezuela. Samples were collected from three sites Venezuelan Guajira Peninsula (Castilletes, Porshoure, Kazuzain) where patchy coral reefs seagrass meadows abundant. According substrate, two methods performed using quantitative (1 m² quadrates), qualitative free-diving observations. All organisms counted identified lowest possible taxonomic level; finally, diversity (Shannon index), richness (number species), dominance different sampled substrates recorded. The updated list echinoderms reported research, includes 20 genera, 15 families, 10 orders, four classes, 28 species. richest class was Ophiuroidea, with 18 species, followed by Asteroidea, Echinoidea Holothuroidea, species each. Castilletes sampling site higher number (18 Porshoure (15 lastly Kazuzain (12 species). Our observations indicate abundance when found (21 80.69% total individuals) contrast beds (16 19.31% individuals collected). This represents 11.54% phylum areas Venezuela; it suggested percentage greatly influenced differences habitats alongside