Susana Maytía Romero, Pablo E Penchaszadeh, Leonardo Ortega, Rosario Quintero, Alvar Carranza, Leonardo Santos de Souza, Angel Segura, Gabriela Vélez-Rubio, Ariel De León-Mackey, Romina Trinchin, Mariano Martínez, Martín Brogger, Wilson Serra, Mariela Romanelli, Fabrizio Scarabino, Alejandro Tablado

Asteroidea (Echinodermata) from Uruguay (SW Atlantic): an annotated checklist and zoogeographic considerations

Introduction

Asteroidea (echinodermata) from uruguay (sw atlantic): an annotated checklist and zoogeographic considerations. Annotated checklist of 42 Asteroidea (sea star) species from Uruguay (SW Atlantic). Compiles published records, clarifies locations, and discusses zoogeographic patterns & deepwater endemics.

Abstract

The diversity of Asteroidea from the Southwestern Atlantic between 30° S and 40° S (southern Brazil, Uruguay, and northern Argentinean waters) has been studied since the late 19thcentury. However, like many other benthic metazoans, the existing knowledge of species particularly reported from Uruguayan waters has remained dispersed and scarcely considered until now. This work aims to compile, analyze, and discuss all published records of sea stars from Uruguay. These correspond to 42 species for which detailed locations are available. Some of these localities were originally vague and are clarified here. Based on current knowledge, this asteroid fauna includes mostly tropical and subtropical as well as Antarctic and subantarctic shelf and deepwater species, with three deepwater endemisms standing out in the Argentine Basin (Psilaster herwigi, Dytaster grandis nobilis and Pythonaster murrayi). Future research should focus on analyzing the abundant unstudied material available in collections and developing deep-sea sampling and integrative taxonomy.

Review

This paper presents a much-needed compilation and analysis of Asteroidea (sea stars) from Uruguayan waters, a region where existing knowledge has remained notably dispersed and scarcely considered. By systematically bringing together all published records from the Southwestern Atlantic between 30° S and 40° S, the authors have successfully addressed a significant gap in regional biodiversity knowledge. The aim to create an annotated checklist and discuss zoogeographic considerations is clearly met, establishing a crucial baseline for future ecological and taxonomic research in this often-overlooked marine environment. The work's primary output is an annotated checklist detailing 42 species of Asteroidea with clarified and precise locality information, which is a substantial improvement over previously vague records. This robust dataset allows for meaningful zoogeographic analysis, revealing a complex faunal composition that includes tropical, subtropical, Antarctic, and subantarctic elements, spanning both shelf and deepwater habitats. The identification of three deepwater endemisms (Psilaster herwigi, Dytaster grandis nobilis, and Pythonaster murrayi) within the Argentine Basin is a particularly significant finding, underscoring the unique biodiversity potential of the region and highlighting areas of high conservation interest. Overall, this is a highly valuable contribution to marine science, offering a foundational resource for researchers working on Echinodermata biodiversity and biogeography in the Southwestern Atlantic. Beyond its immediate findings, the paper adeptly identifies key avenues for future research, including the critical need to analyze abundant unstudied material in collections, develop targeted deep-sea sampling strategies, and employ integrative taxonomic approaches. Such recommendations demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the field's ongoing challenges and opportunities, ensuring that this checklist serves not just as a static record, but as a catalyst for future exploration and discovery.

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