André R. S. Garraffoni

Franciscideres gen. nov. – a new, highly aberrant kinorhynch genus from Brazil, with an analysis of its phylogenetic position

A new genus and species of Kinorhyncha, Franciscideres kalenesos gen. et sp. nov., is described from tidal and subtidal sandy habitats in Brazil. The new genus and species is characterized by an extremely flexible trunk without pachycycli that appears perfectly circular in cross-section, segments 1, 2 and 11 consisting of closed rings and 3 to 10 of single, bent plates with midventral articulations, a neck without placids that resembles an additional segment, densely packed scale-like, cuticular hairs, and a terminal segment with a middorsal spine and two sets of lateral terminal spines, but no midterminal spine. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA of Franciscideres kalenesos gen. et sp. nov. and 47 other kinorhynch ingroup taxa suggest that the new genus is a basal homalorhagid, whereas comparison of morphological characters indicates affinities between the new genus and the peculiar cyclorhagid Cateria. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:64E29D97-DE1D-4511-8683-C969DD2EED43

Checklist of polychaete species from Paraná state (Southern Brazil)

A checklist of polychaete species recorded from Parana State (Southern Brazil, 25°10’– 25°58’ S / 47°59’– 48°35’ W), including estuarine areas from Paranagua and Guaratuba Bays and shallow continental shelf bottoms, is reported. Altogether 44 families, 164 genera, and 259 valid species are currently known from the area. The list, which provides a synthesis of the regional taxonomical work carried out until now, can serve as a baseline survey for future studies.

New data on freshwater psammic Gastrotricha from Brazil.

Abstract Current knowledge of freshwater gastrotrich fauna from Brazil is underestimated as only two studies are available. The present communication is a taxonomic account of the first-ever survey of freshwater Gastrotricha in Minas Gerais State. Samplings were carried out yielding six species of three Chaetonotidae genera: Aspidiophorus cf. pleustonicus, Ichthydium cf. chaetiferum, Chaetonotus acanthocephalus, Chaetonotus heideri, Chaetonotus cf. succinctus, Chaetonotus sp., and also an undescribed species belonging to the genus Redudasys (incertae sedis): this is the first finding of specimens of Redudasys outside of original type locality. These preliminary observations suggest that the knowledge of the biodiversity of Gastrotricha in the Minas Gerais State, as well as in the whole Brazil, will certainly increase as further investigations are undertaken, and that freshwater Macrodasyida may be more common than previously thought.

Patterns of diversity in marine Gastrotricha from Southeastern Brazilian Coast is predicted by sediment textures

Broad spatial variations of biodiversity are associated with patterns and processes at different scales, and are well known for large terrestrial animals. For the interstitial microscopic fauna a wide distribution conception is accepted for several phyla. This assumption is being revised since more information has become available on their biogeography and general macroecological threats. This study analyzed the variability of marine Gastrotricha diversity among benthic habitats and localities along the Brazilian coast. We tested the hypothesis that sediment textures, location, tidal zones, and their interactions, are potential explanatory variables that affect the Gastrotricha diversity. Richness estimates, species composition, and beta diversity were used as response variables of biodiversity. The number of gastrotrichs, macrodasyids, and chaetonotids species was mostly explained by sediment sorting and the highest richness was detected in poorly sorted sediments. Species composition and beta diversity were correlated with tidal zone, location, and average grain size, and the highest turnover of species was expected on islands. The general diversity patterns observed in our study that were explained by sediment textures, tidal zones, and localities, are expected to be observed along other marine coastlines in the world and may be correlated with sediment transport and deposition processes.

Photos belong in the taxonomic Code

The 2015 publication of a photography-based description of a new fly species ([ 1 ][1]) kicked off a debate in the scientific community: Must a new species description include a specimen deposited in a museum, or is a photograph sufficient ([ 2 ][2]–[ 6 ][3])? A large group of taxonomists advocate

New species and new records of freshwater Heterolepidoderma (Gastrotricha: Chaetonotidae) from Brazil with an identification key to the genus.

A new species of freshwater Heterolepidoderma (Gastrotricha) was found in Brazil. Heterolepidoderma mariae sp. nov. is unique in possessing a three-lobed head, three types of dorsal keeled scales, a thin band of cilia on the head, connecting the two bands of ventral cilia, and an interciliary area with elliptical keeled scales with short spines. Heterolepidoderma famaillense Grosso & Drahg, 1991 is reported for the first time outside the type locality in Argentina, and we make some initial remarks on H. aff. majus Remane, 1927, a possible undescribed species. A dichotomous key for all freshwater species of Heterolepidoderma , with distributional data, is also provided.

New records of Gastrotricha from Minas Gerais, Brazil

Identification of Gastrotricha from Sempre-Vivas National Park, Minas Gerais, is reported here for the first time. The samples from 29 locations yielded new records for Brazil. These are species of the genus Marinellina Ruttner-Kolisko (Ruttner-Kolisko A. 1955. Rheomorpha neiswestnovae und Marinellina flagellata, zwei phylogenetisch interessante Wurmtypen aus dem Süsswasserpsammon. Österr Zool. 6:55–69) reported only in the original description in Europe and never collected again, belonging to the order Macrodasyida, and eight more species of Chaetonotida. One new form of Chaetonotus acanthocephalus is described; five species appear to be previously unknown taxa. One species is first identified from the state of Minas Gerais.

Synthesis of Brazilian Rotifera: an updated list of species

A checklist of species of Rotifera recorded for Brazilian inland waters is provided. A total of 625 species, with representatives from 84 genera are listed. The list comprises reports of rotifers documented in 132 studies, including regional ecological (58%) and taxonomic/biodiversity (42%) studies carried out until early of the year 2012. More than 75% of the species were recorded from the states of Para, Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, and Minas Gerais. We hope that this survey will serve as a baseline for future studies.

Postlarval development of Nicolea uspiana (Polychaeta: Terebellidae)

The postlarval development of Nicolea uspiana (Nogueira, 2003), a small intertidal terebellid polychaete from rocky habitats on the southeastern and southern Brazilian coast, was studied based on postlarval, juvenile and adult specimens. The specimens, ranging from 8 to 43 segments, were collected between May 2006 and May 2007. The youngest postlarval specimen was found crawling outside of the tube. In specimens at different stages of growth, the number of ocelli and tentacles increased; the first pair of nephridial papillae appeared early (before 8-segmented specimen), and the second and third pairs appeared later (31-segmented specimen); the circulatory system only developed when the first pair of branchial bulbs arose (32-segmented specimen), and the second branchial pair appeared later (40-segmented specimen); and the inversion of the uncini positions in some rows occurred in the transition from larva to juvenile (17-segmented specimen). In the course of development, segments 2-3 lost the notochaetae, and segments 3-4 lost the neurochaetae. The changes involved in the development from postlarval to adult animals are illustrated by SEM micrographs and photographs.

A new genus and new species of freshwater Chaetonotidae (Gastrotricha: Chaetonotida) from Brazil with phylogenetic position inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences

Most studies of South American freshwater Gastrotricha have focused on the inland waters of Brazil including São Paulo State, Mato Grosso do Sul State, and Pará State. In this paper, we describe a new genus and species, Cephalionotus kisielewskii gen. et. sp. nov. (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae), from Minas Gerais State using morphological data and DNA sequence data (18S rDNA and COI genes). The new genus contains a single psammic species collected from high altitude streams. Cephalionotus gen. nov. exhibits a set of autapomorphic characters that easily distinguish it from all other genera of Chaetonotida: extremely large cephalion and hypostomium that completely cover the dorsal and ventral sides of the head, respectively; a single pair of pleurae; peculiar shape and arrangement of dorsal and ventral scales in the posterior trunk region; one paired, very large, keeled scale at the ventral posterior end; and very long adhesive tubes divided into three parts. Affinity of Cephalionotus kisielewskii gen. et sp. nov. with other Chaetonotida (Paucitubulatina) is discussed from morphological and molecular perspectives. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5E324696-AB33-42C2-A27A-609B1983D540