Abstract:
In her classic review of the echinoderms, Hyman (1955),
describes the ophiuroids as "the most successful echinoderm group
living today". This success has largely been attributed to both
their smaller size and their remarkable agility. Many authors
have commented on their great importance in the bionomics of the
sea; various species participate in food chains involving
demersal fish and many others serve as agents for the disposal
and recycling of organic materials on the benthos. Their wide
occurrence in the marine environment, coupled with their dense
numbers, has led to their inclusion in the nomenclature of
benthic communities and sub-comnunities, particularly in European
waters. Some 1,900 extant species, being referred to 255 genera,
have no been described (Fell, 1960).