TAXONOMY AND EVOLUTION OF LIVING SPECIES OF BREYNIA (ECHINOIDEASPATANGOIDA) FROM AUSTRALIA

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract
Three living species of Breynia are described: B. australasiae (Leach, 1815) from eastern Australia; B. desorii Gray, 1851 from western and northern Australia; and B. neanika sp. nov. which is described on the basis of specimens from north-eastern Australia and from the Arafura Sea. Speciation is shown to relate to variation in rates of morphological development, B. desorii undergoing most morphological change during its ontogeny, B. neanika the least. The post-larval ontogeny of Breynia is described in detail for the first time. A revised key for the living species of Breynia is presented.