Abstract Brazilian coral reefs form structures significantly different from the well-known reef models, as follows: (i) they have a growth of mushroom-shaped pinnacles called "chapeirões", (ii) are built by low diversity fauna rich in endemic species, most them relic forms dating back to Tertiary, and (iii) nearshore bank surrounded siliciclastic sediments. The distributed following four major sectors along coast: northern, northeastern eastern regions, oceanic islands, but certain isolated...

Recent surveys of the copepod fauna associated with sponge Ircinia felix (Porifera, Dictyoceratida) in Brazil resulted discovery a new siphonostomatoid species belonging to recently erected genus Asterocheridae. Setacheres portobarrensis sp. nov. possesses 21-segmented antennule, 3 free distal segments, after aesthetasc. The third exopodal segment leg shows seta instead spine as some other congeners. several unique features on endopodal antenna, mandibular stylet, inner lobe maxillule, and...

Two new species of amphipods associated with the bioinvasive coral Tubastraea coccinea from Todos-os-Santos Bay are described. The sun is known for competing native species, which shelter a big diversity fauna, especially amphipods. Leucothoe oxumae sp. nov. shows acute rostrum, antenna 1 about 1/4 body length; gnathopod carpochelate, propodus 5 anterodistal robust setae; 2 fusiform, slightly serrated on palmar margin and posterodistal corner epimeral plate 3 produced rounded. Stenothoe...

The Family Entomolepididae is composed by 7 genera and 15 species. During a survey on the known species search for new species, Spongiopsyllus described associated with sponge Aplysina insularis. has antennule 14-segmented, four setae both lobes of maxillule, some unique features leg setation armature maxilliped. These characteristics make different from all other congeners in Spongiopsyllus. diagnosis Entomopsyllus was also revised once it does not consider differences to which created...

The family Asterocheridae Giesbrecht has several genera associated with sponges including Asterocheres Boeck, 1859. type genus is commonly found in but it also recorded echinoderms, bryozoans, and corals. A revision of the diagnosis conducted 2010 was beginning a reorganization process, culminating present status 63 valid species. This study describes new species Asterocheridae. Neoasterocheres gen. nov. shares many characteristics sensu stricto, except for antennule segmentation which shows...

Cryptopontius is the most species-rich genus in family Artotrogidae with 25 species, being recorded almost all oceans, except Arctic. However only three species of this have been from Brazilian coast, them along coast Pernambuco state. This study describes two new genus. phyllogorgius sp. nov. differs other by having 9-segmented antennule, and nine elements on third exopodal segment leg 4. pentadikos its congeners five expressed antennulary segments proximal to fused ancestral IX-XII, setae...

Eriopisidae is a widespread amphipod family, whose members have subcylindrical bodies, often do not eyes, showing elongate third uropods in which the endopod reduced and exopod can become very long. This first record of from Central America. Here, we describe new genus species Panamapisa guaymii gen. nov., sp. nov. Bocas del Toro, Panama. The taxon differs other family having greatly enlarged merus on gnathopod 1, marginal setae dactyls pereopod 5 to 7 uropod nearly as long body.

In the marine environment competition between sessile organisms may influence habitat conditions for associated small invertebrates, acting as a selective pressure individuals with suitable traits to select profitable habitats and leading less adapted occupy unfavourable habitats. Intraspecific also selection of amphipods in different conditions. present study, we describe new Photis species (Photidae: Senticaudata) analyse its morphological variation influenced by oxalai sp. nov. is unique...

The Entomolepididae family is a small taxon with very characteristic body morphology and represented, in the Atlantic Ocean, by three genera five species. A recent study Todos-os-Santos Bay, Bahia State, has revealed new species of Spongiopsyllus genus belonging to Entomolepididae. found association sponge Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882) sampled at Porto da Barra beach. It distinguished from its congeners mainly differences segmentation pattern antennule, endopod antenna, setation...

Abstract The family Dendrophylliidae comprises a genus of azooxanthellate corals, Tubastraea (also known as ‘sun corals’ or ‘cup corals’), native from the Indo-Pacific and introduced into Atlantic Ocean in early 1940s. In Brazil, colonies were first registered on oil platforms northern coast Rio de Janeiro state (22°S) late 1980s. Two decades later, these corals for time identified Todos-os-Santos Bay (Bahia state, 13°S), warmer environment with diverse marine ecosystems including estuaries,...

Identification of scleractinian corals is traditionally based upon morphological analysis skeleton traits. However, due to the influence environment on coral development, and pattern highly variable most diagnostical characters, additional information related anatomy soft parts, reproductive behavior ecological interactions have been argued support distinction among similar morphotypes. Caribbean South Atlantic Scolymia comprise a small group solitary zooxanthellate corals: lacera, S....

Samples of Siderastrea collected by the geologist C. F. Hartt during expedition to Brazil (19th century), and deposited at National Museum Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, have been re-examined. Taxonomical analyses resulted in identification a colony S. siderea from offshore northern Bahia state. Following recent studies, occurrence Caribbean siderastreids western South Atlantic provides new criteria assess intra- interpopulational morphological variation endemic stellata, refuting...

Members of the Cryptochiridae are small gall-crabs that live as obligate symbionts scleractinian corals. Only two species have so far been recorded in western Atlantic Ocean. Herein a new genus and is described, information added on life history cryptochirids. The characterized by having carapace with lowest deflection angle among genera, also shows following features: thoracic sternite 4 setules constriction smaller than half width basis, anterior margin curved apical row granules; third...

The morphology of sessile invertebrates, such as scleractinian corals, can be controlled by environmental and genetic mechanisms and, consequently, it is highly variable. Morphological variation has puzzled taxonomists posing challenges to species classification within cryptic complexes. 'Atlantic Siderastrea Complex' a suitable example. Because overlapping diagnostic traits, the morphological interspecific limits this group remain controversial often resulted in doubtful synonyms. In...

Siderastrea is a small genus of scleractinian corals, composed by zooxanthellate massive colonial forms. Besides contributing to the consolidation reef structure, represent group with significant resistance environmental stress. Until 70's, its taxonomy was complicated task, limited difficulty in identifying morphotypes. More recently, interspecific boundaries were redefined for 'Atlantic Complex'. However, despite new perspectives, including occurrence S. radians and siderea Brazil,...

Abstract Extending over warmer environments in the Brazilian waters, exotic vermetid Eualetes tulipa was first recorded from Ceará State (3°S) 2005. In 2009, it reported cold-water Rio de Janeiro (22°S). Seven years later, E. Grande do Norte (6°S) on rocky pools sandstone reefs. present study, is for time Bahia (12°S), associated with a biofouling community Todos-os-Santos Bay, co-occurring dendrophylliid corals ( Tubastraea ). The shows great diversity of epibionts, mostly bivalves,...

The genus Madracis has been known in Brazil from four deep water species, namely M. mirabilis, asperula, brueggemanni and pharensis, one zooxanthellate species shallow environments, decactis. Delicate fragments of a small branching colony an undescribed were collected at 73 m depth, northern Salvador (Bahia State). Although resembling the congeners asperula brueggemanni, new distinct features including reduced branch thickness, smaller diameter corallite columella structure pattern...