An Annotated Checklist and Key to the Crinoidea of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands

Authors

Lisa Kirkendale, University of Florida
Charles G. Messing, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2003

Publication Title

Micronesica

Keywords

Crinoidea, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands

ISSN

0026-279X

Volume

35-36

First Page

523

Last Page

546

Abstract

Twenty-one species of crinoids in six families are now known from the Marianas Islands, 17 species from Guam and 10 from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). This paper adds nine previously unreported crinoid species each to Guam and the CNMI. The nomenclature of all 21 species is reviewed and updated following Rowe et al. (1986), Hoggett and Rowe (1986) and Messing (1995, 1998a). One apparently juvenile comasterid does not fit comfortably in any known genus and may represent a new taxon. A simple key to the shallow-water species of Guam is included. Crinoid faunal diversity on Guam is compared with that known elsewhere in the Indo-West Pacific.

NSUWorks Citation

Kirkendale, L and CG Messing (2003) An annotated checklist and key to the Crinoidea of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Micronesica 35-36: 523-546.