Cynthia Lara de Castro Manso

Echinodermata da Praia do Cabo Branco, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil

The present study examined the fauna of echinoderms at Cabo Branco Beach, Joao Pessoa, state of Paraiba, Brazil. The beach was formed by the erosion of a sandstone terrace. Thirty two species from four echinoderm classes (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea and Holothuroidea) distributed among 18 families and 24 genera were identified. The number of identified taxons corresponds to 9.7% of the total number of species registered for the entire Brazilian coast, and demonstrates the significant diversity of echinoderm species in this area. Class Ophiuroidea was the most diverse, with 13 species, followed by Holothuroidea (10 spp.), Asteroidea (5 spp.) and Echinoidea (4 spp.). Among the recorded species, the following were new occurrences for the state of Paraiba: Ophiocnida scabriuscula, Ophiomyxa flaccida, Ophiactis lymani, Ophionereis reticulata, Ophioderma januarii, Ophiophragmus brachyatis, Thyone cognita, T. suspecta, Ocnus suspectus, Phyllophorus occidentalis, P. communis, Lissothuria sp., Holothuria grisea, Holothuria arenicola, Chiridota rotifera, Synaptula hydriformis, Echinaster nudus, Linckia guildingii, Lytechinus variegatus, Mellita quinquiesperforata and Leodia sexiesperforata.

Latin America Echinoderm Biodiversity and Biogeography: Patterns and Affinities

We investigated the current patterns of diversity by country and by class of echinoderms, and analyzed their biogeographical, depth, and habitat or substratum affinities, using the database of the appendix of this book. Traditionally, the area has been divided into five biogeographical Regions and nine Provinces that cover a wide climate range. Currently, the echinoderm fauna of Latin America and Canary islands is constituted by 1,539 species, with 82 species of Crinoidea, 392 species of Asteroidea, 521 species of Ophiuroidea, 242 species of Echinoidea and 302 species of Holothuroidea. Species richness is highly variable among the different countries. The number of species for the countries is highly dependent on its coast length. The echinoderm fauna of the Panamic, Galapagos and the Chilean regions are biogeographically related. Other regions that are closely related are the Caribbean, West Indian, Lusitania and Brazilian. Cosmopolitan species are an important component in all the regions. Affinities between faunas are a consequence of the combination of climatic and trophic factors, connectivity as a function of distance, currents patterns and historical processes. Moreover, different environmental factors would be responsible for the faunal composition and species distribution at different spatial scales. The bathymetrical distribution of the echinoderm classes and the species richness varies according to the depth range and the ocean. Most species occurred at depths between 20 and 200 m. The Caribbean-Atlantic regions are richest in shallow depths, while the Pacific coast has higher values in deeper waters. The domination of each class in each substrate and habitat categories also varies differentially along each coast.

A taxonomic guide to the brittle-stars (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) from the State of Paraíba continental shelf, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract We provide the first annotated checklist of ophiuroids from the continental shelf of the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Identification keys and taxonomic diagnoses for 23 species, belonging to 14 genera and 8 families, are provided. The material is deposited in the Invertebrate Collection Paulo Young, at the Federal University of Paraíba. Ophiopsila hartmeyeri represents the first record for the northeastern region of Brazil, while Ophiolepis impressa, Ophiolepis paucispina, Amphiura stimpsoni, Amphiodia riisei, Ophiactis quinqueradia, Ophiocoma wendtii and Ophionereis olivaceae are new records for the State of Paraíba. The number of species known for the state was increased from 16 to 23, representing approximately 17% of the species known for Brazil and 54% of the species known for northeastern Brazil. The recorded fauna has a large geographical and bathymetrical distribution.

Echinoderm from Brazil: Historical Research and the Current State of Biodiversity Knowledge

This chapter aims to present historical development of echinoderm studies and current research in Brazil. Information about the important geographic and oceanographic features of the Brazilian coast is highlighted. Several aspects of taxonomy, distribution, reproduction, development, immunology, physiology and ecology of echinoderms found in both shallow and deep Brazilian waters are compiled and analyzed to show the current state of knowledge.

New records of Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from shallow waters off Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil

maria lilian f. lima, monica d. correia, hilda h. sovierzoski and cynthia l.c. manso Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica e Conservação nos Trópicos, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Setor de Comunidades Bentônicas (LABMAR/ICBS), Rua Aristeu de Andrade, 452, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Núcleo de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Invertebrados Marinhos (LABIMAR), Campus Prof. Alberto Carvalho, Itabaiana, Sergipe, Brazil

Updated morphological description of Asteroporpa (Asteroporpa) annulata (Euryalida: Gorgonocephalidae) from the Brazilian coast, with notes on the geographic distribution of the subgenus

This study provides an updated morphological description of Asteroporpa (Asteroporpa) annulata based on one specimen from the northeastern coast of Brazil, thus validating the previously uncertain occurrence of this species there. We also provide notes on the known geographic distribution of the subgenus Asteroporpa (Asteroporpa) and comments on ecological aspects of this taxon. Given our limited knowledge of the Euryalida fauna along the Brazilian coast, these new records are important for understanding the distribution, dispersal and speciation patterns of this group. The number of Euryalida reported for the Brazilian coast is increased to eight with this record.

Deep-Water Ophiuroids (Echinodermata) Associated with Anthozoans and Hexactinellid Sponges from Northern Chile

Associations between ophiuroids and sponges or corals are common and well studied among shallow water species. In deep-water communities, such relationships are more difficult to observe because of the difficulty in sampling by traditional methods. In this work, five species of ophiuroids attached to corals and sponges, obtained as bycatch in commercial fishing vessels, were identified. Of the species living on corals, Asteroschema sp. was collected for the first time on the Chilean coast. Of the species from sponges, Ophiacanthella acontophora (Clark, 1911) has its first record for the Southern Hemisphere, and Histampica rugosa H.L. Clark, 1941 has the first record for the southeastern Pacific Ocean.

Mecaster texanus (Echinoidea) from Turonian-Coniacian strata in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin, Brazil

The spatangoid echinoid Mecaster texanus (Roemer) was first described from the Austin Chalk in Texas (USA). In northeast Brazil, this species was recorded from the Upper Cretaceous (Turonian-Coniacian) Jandaira Formation in the Potiguar Basin. Here we extend the palaeogeographical distribution of M. texanus southwards to the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin, where this species occurs in the Turonian-Coniacian Cotinguiba Formation. A key to identification of spatangoids from the Cretaceous-Cenozoic sequence at Sergipe-Alagoas is added and considerations about other spatangoid species from that basin are presented.

Aspidochirotida (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the northeast coast of Brazil

This is a taxonomic work on the aspidochirotid sea cucumbers from shallow waters in Northeast Brazil. We studied 165 specimens, classified into 2 families, 3 genera, 7 subgenera and 9 species. Descriptions, illustrations and literature data are included for each species, in addition to ecological notes and information on their distribution in the northeast coast of Brazil. A taxonomic key is provided for the identification of the species.

Occurrence of Ophioderma brevicauda Lütken, 1856 (Ophiuroidea: Echinodermata) from the Brazilian coast

About 133 species of Ophiuroidea are known from the Brazilian coast. Of these, seven belong to the family Ophiodermatidae Ljungman, 1867 and six to the genus Ophioderma Müller & Troschel, 1840. The aim of this study is to record the presence of Ophioderma brevicauda Lütken, 1856 for the Brazilian coast. The specimens were collected, identified using specific literature and deposited in the Invertebrate Collection Paulo Young of the Federal University of Paraiba and in the Echinodermata Collection of Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil. The ophiuroid Ophioderma brevicauda Lütken, 1856 is recorded for the first time from the States of Maranhão to Bahia, located at the two extremes of the Brazilian northeast region. We provide a description, notes of the habitat, distribution and ecology for the species based on these two localities. The known distribution of Ophioderma brevicauda Lütken, 1856 in the South Atlantic Ocean is expanded. More studies in poorly known environments of the northeastern coast should be encouraged.