Micronesia is an island nation located north of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. A survey was executed on Kosrae, which is one of the four main islands of Micronesia, during January 23-30, 2011 and January 8-15, 2012. The echinoderms were collected at eight intertidal areas and at 12 SCUBA diving points at depths of 10-50 m in the subtidal zone. They were identified based on morphological characteristics. In total, 50 species from 276 individuals were identified: three crinoids, 11 asteroids, seven ophiuroids, 10 echinoids, and 19 holothuroids. Among them, two crinoids, five asteroids, three ophiuroids, four echinoids and two holothuroids were newly recorded from Kosrae.
Kosrae is one of four states in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) that stretch 1,800 miles across the North Pacific Ocean and comprise 607 small islands. Kosrae is called “the sleeping lady” because of it shape. It is one of the most picturesque mountains located about 5° north of the equator and is the most eastern island in the FSM (Edward, 2002). The coral reefs surrounding the island are kept in pristine condition through an extensive mooring buoy system that was installed and is maintained by concerned expat dive operators with the help of the government Marine Resources office. Specific information on the echinoderm fauna of Micronesia is included in the reports of Kerr (1994) and Kerr et al. (2007, 2008). The Yap of Micronesia was surveyed by Kerr et al. (2007), and a total of 66, including 16 unidentified species were collected from 19 different sites five crinoids (four unidentified), 14 asteroids (two unidentified), 14 echinoids (three unidentified), and 33 holothuroids (seven unidentified). Kerr (1994) and Kerr et al. (2007) investigated the echinoderm fauna of Kosrae. Kerr (1994) reported 28 holothuroids collected at nine sites, and Kerr et al. (2007) reported 74 species collected at 21 sites, which included 20 unidentified species: four crinoids (three unidentified), 11 asteroids (two unidentified), 11 ophiuroids (seven unidentified), eight echinoids (three unidentified), and 40 holothuroids (five unidentified). We surveyed eight intertidal sites and 12 SCUBA diving points around Kosrae for echinoderm fauna and assembled a checklist of echinoderms for this island.
We collected samples at 20 Kosrae sites during January 24- 28, 2011 and January 9-13, 2012 (Fig. 1), and the GPS coordinates of each site were recorded (Table 1). Most intertidal zones were coral sand and rocky regions, and six subtidal zones were investigated by SCUBA diving. All collected specimens were preserved in 95% ethyl alcohol and were identified based on their morphological characters. The important morphological characters were photographed by digital camera, stereo- and light-microscopes (Nikon D7000, Nikon SMZ1000, Nikon Eclipse 80i; Nikon Co., Tokyo, Japan specimens were identified based mainly on Clark and Rowe (1971) and Rowe and Doty (1977).
The specimens collected for the Kosrae faunistic study were
[Table 1.] Geological information for the collection sites around Kosrae
Geological information for the collection sites around Kosrae
identified as 62 species in 50 genera: three crinoids (sea lily), 11 asteroids (sea star), seven ophiuroids (brittle star), nine echinoids (sea urchin), and 20 holothuroids (sea cucumber). Of these, 16 echinoderms including two crinoids (
Phylum Echinodermata Klein, 1734
Subphylum Crinozoa Matsumoto, 1929
Class Crinoidea Muller, 1821
Order Comatulida A.H. Clark, 1908
Family Comasteridae A.H. Clark, 1908
Subfamily Comasterinae A.H. Clark, 1909
Genus Comaster L. Agassiz, 1836
1. Comaster schlegelii (Carpenter, 1881)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011; 2 specimens, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Utwa diving 3, 10 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Palau, Guam, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, Bengal Bay.
Genus Oxycomanthus Rowe, Hoggett, Birtles and Vail, 1986
*2. Oxycomanthus bennetti (Muller, 1841)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Utwa diving 3, 10 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Palau, Guam, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, Bengal Bay.
Remarks. This species has various body colors (Messing, 2007). Brachials are brown and some terminal parts are white. Pinnules have black basal parts and yellowish tips.
Subfamily Phanogeniinae White and Messing, 2001
Genus Phanogenia Loven, 1866
*3. Phanogenia gracilis (Hartlaub, 1890)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 1, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Utwa diving 3, 10 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Philippines, Palau, Guam, Indo-West Pacific.
Remarks. Messing (2007) described two forms of
Subphylum Asterozoa von Zittel, 1895
Class Asteroidea de Blainville, 1830
Order Valvatida Perrier, 1884
Family Acanthasteridae Sladen, 1889
Genus Acanthaster Gervais, 1841
4. Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), Guam, Palau, New Zealand (Kermadec Islands), Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Mauritius, Madagascar), Red Sea.
Family Archasteridae Viguier, 1878
Genus Archaster Muller and Troschel, 1840
*5. Archaster typicus Muller and Troschel, 1840 (Fig. 2A)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Palau, Guam, West Caroline Islands, South Pacific, Hawaii, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, Bengal Bay, West Indian Ocean.
Remarks. This is the most known species of the genus
Family Asterinidae Gray, 1840
Genus Aquilonastra O’Loughlin, 2004
*6. Aquilonastra burtonii (Gray, 1840) (Fig. 3A, D, G-I)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Philippines, South Pacific, Hawaii, northern Australia, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, eastern Africa, Red Sea, eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Remarks. Body color is quite diverse: greenish gray, pale gray, brown, mottled brown, orange, red, and mottled red (O’Loughlin and Rowe, 2006). The body color of our specimen is greenish gray.
Family Ophidiasteridae Verrill, 1870
Genus Linckia Nardo, 1834
7. Linckia guildingi Gray, 1840
Material examined. 1 specimen, Walung diving, 11 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern China, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, Africa, Caribbean Sea, Central America, Gulf of Mexico.
8. Linckia laevigata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fig. 2B)
Material examined. 12 specimens, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 1, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012; 6 specimens, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 4, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), Korea (Jeju Island), Japan, southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guam, Hawaii, Australia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania), Red Sea.
9. Linckia multifora (Lamarck, 1816) (Fig. 2C)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Utwa diving 4, 11 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Malem diving 2, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern China, Guam, Australia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Madagascar), Red Sea.
Genus Ophidiaster L. Agassiz, 1836
*10.
Ophidiaster granifer Lutken, 1871: 276; HL Clark, 1921: 81; 1946: 121; AM Clark and Rowe, 1971: 60; Rowe and Gates, 1995: 91; Mah, 2012: 212302.
Material examined. 1 specimen, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Palau, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea.
Remarks. This species was collected under a coral rock. Dorsal side body color of is brown with irregular formed dark brown patches. Body size: R=3 cm, r=0.7 cm, R=4.3 r.
Family Goniasteridae Forbes, 1841
Genus Fromia Gray, 1840
*11. Fromia nodosa A.M. Clark, 1967 (Fig. 2D, 3C, F, M-O)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Utwa diving 4, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), Sri Lanka (Ceylon), West Indian Ocean (Amirante Island, Maldive Island), eastern Africa (Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles).
Remarks. This species was reported at the West Indian Ocean and eastern Africa (Clark, 1967b; Clark and Rowe, 1971) and this is the first reported from the Pacific Ocean. Body color is red, and the ventral part is white. Body size: R=2.6 cm, r=0.7 cm, R=3.7 r.
Family Oreasteridae Fisher, 1911
Genus Choriaster Lutken, 1869
12. Choriaster granulatus Lutken, 1869
Material examined. 2 specimens, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, Palau, New Caledonia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa, Red Sea.
Genus Culcita (L. Agassiz, 1836)
13. Culcita novaeguineae Muller and Troschel, 1842
Material examined. 1 specimen, Utwa diving 4, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, Palau, Marshall Islands, Hawaii, northern Australia, Bengal Bay, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Madagascar, Mozambique).
Order Spinulosida Perrier, 1884
Family Echinasteridae Verrill, 1867
Genus Echinaster Muller and Troschel, 1840
*14. Echinaster luzonicus (Gray, 1840) (Fig. 4A-C)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, Palau, South Pacific, northern Australia, New Caledonia.
Remarks. This species has five or six arms and rarely seven (Clark and Rowe, 1971). Our specimens have six arms. Body color of disk and basal side of arms is light orange and the terminal part of the arm is red.
Class Ophiuroidea Gray, 1840
Order Ophiurida Muller and Troschel, 1840
Infraorder Gnathophiurina Matsumoto, 1915
Family Ophiactidae Matsumoto, 1915
Genus Ophiactis Lutken, 1856
*15. Ophiactis savignyi (Muller and Troschel, 1842) (Figs. 2D, 4D-F, I)
Material examined. 11 specimens, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011; 17 specimens, Tafunsak diving 1, 25 Jan 2011; 9 specimens, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011; 2 specimens, Utwa diving 2, 9 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Walung diving, 11 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Utwa diving 5, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), Korea (Korea Strait, Jeju Island), Japan (Honshu, Kyushu), China, Philippines, Guam, northern Australia, Singapore, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Tanzania, Madagascar), Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean.
Remarks. This is a cosmopolitan species that usually inhabits the inner cavity of sponges. It was collected with sponges by SCUBA diving on Kosrae. Body color is light brown or greenish gray. Arms are usually six and rarely five.
Family Ophicomidae Ljungman, 1867
Genus Ophiocoma L. Agassiz, 1835
16. Ophiocoma erinaceus Muller and Troschel, 1842 (Fig. 2E)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Utwa intertidal, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa, Red Sea.
17. Ophiocoma scolopendrina (Lamarck, 1816) (Fig. 2F)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 10 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 1, 26 Jan 2011; 7 specimens, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012; 3 specimens, Utwa intertidal, 11 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern China, Guam, Saipan, Solomon Islands, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Mauritius, Madagascar), South Africa, Red Sea.
Genus Ophiomastix Muller and Troschel, 1842
*18. Ophiomastix caryophyllata Lutken, 1869 (Fig. 4G, H, K, L)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 2, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Utwa diving 2, 9 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Utwa diving 3, 10 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan,
southern China, Guam, northeastern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Madagascar), Red Sea.
Remarks. These specimens were collected by SCUBA diving. Body is light cream color and has irregular formed black spots on the dorsal and ventral side of the disk. Arms are banded and are approximately equal width.
19. Ophiomastix mixta Lutken, 1869
Material examined. 2 specimens, Utwa diving 5, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Korea (Jeju Island), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia (Ambon Island).
Remarks. This species is a common and abundant ophiuroid in the Indo-West Pacific, and at the subtidal zone of Jeju Island, Korea (Shin, 2012). Only two individuals were collected by SCUBA diving in Kosrae.
Family Ophiotrichidae Ljungman, 1867
Genus Ophiothrix Muller and Troschel, 1840
20. Ophiothrix (Acanthophiothrix) purpurea von Martens, 1867
Material examined. 3 specimens, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Madagascar, Tanzania), Red Sea.
Infraorder Ophiodermatina Smith, Paterson and Lafay, 1995
Family Ophiodermatidae Ljungman, 1867
Genus Ophioconis Lutken, 1869
*21. Ophioconis permixta Koehler, 1905 (Fig. 4J, M-O)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Utwa diving 3, 10 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Indonesia (Wowoni Island, Kai Island), East India Ocean, eastern Africa.
Remarks. Morphological characters of our specimens corresponded to the description of AM Clark and Rowe (1971). Body size: R=5 mm, r=62 mm, R=12.4 r.
Subphylum Echinozoa
Class Echinoidea Leske, 1778
Order Diadematoida Duncan, 1889
Family Diadematidae Gray, 1855
Genus Diadema Gray, 1825
*22. Diadema savignyi (Audouin, 1829)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), south Japan, south China, Philippines, Guam, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, West Indian Ocean, southeastern Arabia, eastern Africa (Kenya, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles).
Remarks. This specimen was collected from the intertidal zone at night. Primary spines are very long and body color is black.
23. Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 3, 27 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Korea (Jeju Island), Japan (Sagami bay-Bonin Islands), southern China, Taiwan, Indo- West Pacific.
Genus Echinothrix Peters, 1853
*24. Echinothrix calamaris (Pallas, 1774) (Figs. 2G, 5A, D, G-I)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Hawaii, Solomon Islands, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa, Red Sea.
Remarks. The specimen, whose spines were moving smoothly, was collected from a wide horizontal coral rocky area of the intertidal zone at night. The primary spines on the dorsal side are white. Size is rather large and diameter of the test is about 9.7 cm.
25. Echinothrix diadema (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fig. 2H)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Malem intertidal, 10 Jan 2012; 4 specimens, Utwa intertidal, 11 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 4, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa, Red Sea.
Order Camarodonta Jackson, 1912
Family Parasaleniidae Mortensen, 1903
Genus Parasalenia A. Agassiz, 1863
*26. Parasalenia gratiosa A. Agassiz, 1863 (Figs. 2I, 5B, E, J-M)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Utwa diving 5, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique), Red Sea.
Remarks. This species was collected at blue holes by SCUBA diving. Body color is nearly black but primary spine has white ring at its base.
Family Echinometridae Gray, 1855
Genus Echinostrephus A. Agassiz, 1863
27. Echinostrephus aciculatus A. Agassiz, 1863
Material examined. 4 specimens, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Taiwan, East Australia, Indo-West Pacific.
Genus Echinometra Gray, 1825
*28. Echinometra mathaei (Blainville, 1825) (Figs. 2J, 5C, F, N-R)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Malem intertidal, 10 Jan 2012.
Remarks. This species is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific and South Pacific (Clark and Rowe, 1971; Rowe and Gates, 1995). Specimens of about 4 cm were collected under coral rocks at the intertidal zone. Tubefeet spicules are C-shaped and rarely a tridentate form with hooked tips.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), Korea (Jeju Island), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, Solomon Islands, Hawaii, North Australia, Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea, eastern Africa.
Family Toxopneustidae Troschel, 1872
Genus Tripneustes L. Agassiz, 1841
29. Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) (Fig. 2K)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 4, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), Korea (Jeju Island), Japan (Sagami Bay, Boso Peninsula), southern China, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, southeastern Africa.
Order Clypeasteroida L. Agassiz, 1835
Family Clypeasteridae L. Agassiz, 1835
Genus Clypeaster Lamarck, 1801
30. Clypeaster reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Material examined. 3 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Hawaii, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, West Indian Ocean, eastern Africa.
Class Holothuroidea de Blainville, 1834
Order Apodida Brandt, 1835
Family Synaptidae Burmeister, 1837
Genus Euapta Ostergren, 1898
31. Euapta godeffroyi (Semper, 1868) (Fig. 2L)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 2 specimens, Utwa diving 3, 10 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Guam, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Mauritius, Madagascar), Red Sea.
Genus Opheodesoma Fisher, 1907
*32. Opheodesoma clarki Heding, 1928 (Fig. 6D-K)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Philippines.
Remarks. Body color of dorsal side is dark reddish brown and ventral side is light brown.
Genus Synapta Eschscholtz, 1829
33. Synapta maculata (Chamisso and Eysenhardt, 1821)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 3 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012; 3 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012; 4 specimens, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012; 3 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 4, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), Guam, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Kenya, Madagascar), Red Sea.
Order Aspidochirotida Grube, 1840
Family Holothuriidae Ludwig, 1894
Genus Actinopyga Bronn, 1860
34. Actinopyga mauritiana (Quoy and Gaimard, 1834)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, Australia, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Mauritius), Red Sea.
35. Actinopyga palauensis Panning, 1944
Material examined. 3 specimens, Utwa intertidal, 11 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Palau, New Caledonia.
Genus Bohadschia Jaeger, 1833
36. Bohadschia argus Jaeger, 1833 (Fig. 2M)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Walung diving, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indonesia, Bengal Bay.
37. Bohadschia bivittata (Mitsukuri, 1912)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 3, 27 Jan 2011; 2 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Philippines, Caroline Islands, West Central Pacific.
38. Bohadschia marmorata Jaeger, 1833
Material examined. 2 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo-West Pacific, Bengal Bay, eastern Africa, Red Sea.
Genus Holothuria Linnaeus, 1767
39. Holothuria (Halodeima) atra Jaeger, 1833 (Fig. 2N)
Material examined. 15 specimens, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 12 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 1, 26 Jan 2011; 3 specimens, Malem intertidal, 10 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Walung diving, 11 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012; 4 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 4, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, eastern Africa (Kenya, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique), Red Sea.
40. Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis Lesson, 1830 (Fig. 6A)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 1, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak diving 3, 27 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Walung diving, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Guam, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indonesia, Indo-West Pacific, Bengal Bay.
41. Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) hilla Lesson, 1830
Material examined. 1 specimen, Utwa diving 3, 10 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Walung diving, 11 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Korea (Korea Strait, Jeju Island), southern Japan, Guam, Hawaii, Australia, Indo-West
Pacific, Africa (Zanzibar).
42. Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota (Brandt, 1835) (Fig. 6B)
Material examined. 2 specimens, Malem intertidal, 10 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Utwa intertidal, 11 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 4, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, West Indian Ocean, eastern Africa (Madagascar), Red Sea.
43. Holothuria (Stauropora) pervicax Selenka, 1867
Material examined. 1 specimen, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 2, 9 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Utwa intertidal, 12 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indo- West Pacific, Indian Ocean, eastern Africa, Red Sea.
44. Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens (Forskal, 1775)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Malem diving 2, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Guam, Indo-West Pacific, West Indian Ocean, Africa (Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania), Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela Sea.
Genus Labidodemas Selenka, 1867
*45. Labidodemas rugosum (Ludwig, 1875) (Fig. 6L-Q)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011.
Remarks. This specimen was collected under coral rock. Body color is translucent white. Contracted body length in alcohol is 3 cm which is one-third of living body length.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Philippines, Guam, Malaysia, Indo-West Pacific, Indian Ocean, eastern Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Somalia).
Genus Pearsonothuria Levin in Levin, Kalinin and Stonik, 1984
46. Pearsonothuria graeffei (Semper, 1868)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Malem diving 1, 24 Jan 2011.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern China, Philippines, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, Africa (Comoros, Madagascar), Red Sea.
Genus Stichopus Brandt, 1835
47. Stichopus chloronotus Brandt, 1835 (Fig. 2O)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 3, 11 Jan 2012; 4 specimens, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern China, Guam, Indo-West Pacific, West Indian Ocean, eastern Africa (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique), Red Sea.
48. Stichopus herrmanni Semper, 1868
Material examined. 2 specimens, Tafunsak diving 2, 26 Jan 2011.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), southern China, Philippines.
49. Stichopus horrens Selenka, 1867 (Fig. 6C)
Material examined. 1 specimen, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 1 specimen, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae, Yap), southern Japan, southern China, Philippines, Hawaii, South Pacific, northern Australia, Indonesiam Indian Ocean (Maldive Island).
Order Dendrochirotida Grube, 1840
Family Sclerodactylidae Penning, 1902
Genus Afrocucumis Deichmann, 1944
50. Afrocucumis africana (Semper, 1867)
Material examined. 13 specimens, Lelu intertidal, 25 Jan 2011; 2 specimens, Malem intertidal, 10 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Utwa intertidal, 11 Jan 2012; 2 specimens, Walung intertidal, 12 Jan 2012; 1 specimen, Tafunsak intertidal 4, 13 Jan 2012.
Distribution. Micronesia (Kosrae), Korea (Jeju Island), Japan (Kyushu-Ryukyu Islands), southern China, Guam, northern Australia, Malaysia, Indo-West Pacific, West Indian Ocean, eastern Africa (Madagascar).
A faunistic study of echinoderms was performed at eight intertidal and 12 subtidal sites on Kosrae during January 24-28, 2011 and January 9-13, 2012 (Table 1, Fig. 1). In total, 276 specimens were collected and classified as 62 species: 50 species were identified based on morphological characteristics, and 12 were unidentified. Thirty-two echinoderm species, of which 28 species were identified, were collected in the intertidal zone. Thirty-five species were collected by SCUBA at the subtidal zone, and 27 were identified. The echinoderm fauna of the subtidal zone was more diverse than that of the intertidal zone. Seven echinoderms, including one asteroid (
The echinoderm fauna of Kosrae was first reported by Kerr (1994) with regard to the Holothuroidea. Then, Kerr et al. (2008) surveyed 21 locations during 2 weeks (February 22- March 7, 2008) and reported 74 species including 20 unidentified species. We newly reported 16 echinoderms from Kosrae which were not reported by Kerr (1994) or Kerr et al. (2008). In addition, some unidentified species need to be identified for further verification, including four crinoids (