Consideraciones biogeográficas y ecológicas de equinodermos arquibentónicos de Chile Central (com excepción de Crinoidea)

Abstract

30 echinoderm species (the crinoias excepted) have been recorded from the archibenthos off Central Chile. Samples were taken at 5 stations (from Los Vilos to Qutntero). 250-450 m depth range, every 15 days for one year. The concept of Region or Province, usually related to the intertital fauna from high latitudes are showed to be impractical using them with archibenthal echinoderms. The presence oj some species that had been registered as characteristic from the Antarctic Region and/or present in the Argentinian and Magellanic Province is related with the Antarctic Intermediate Water Mass, which is at the capture depth in the sampled area.