Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xm8r8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-16T07:26:13.811Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

New records and range extensions of azooxanthellate scleractinians (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) from Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2012

Ralf T.S. Cordeiro ,
Marcelo V. Kitahara  and
Fernanda D. Amaral
Ralf T.S. Cordeiro*
Affiliation:
Federal University of Pernambuco, Post graduation Program in Animal Biology, Center of Biological Science (CCB), Department of Zoology, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego, 1235, Recife, –PE, CEP 50670-420, Brazil
Marcelo V. Kitahara
Affiliation:
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reefs Studies and Coral Genomics Group, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Fernanda D. Amaral
Affiliation:
Reef Environment Laboratory (LAR/UFRPE), Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Department of Zoology, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, PE, CEP 52171-900, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: R.T.S. Cordeiro, RTSC, Rua 131, No. 86, Jardim Paulista, Paulista, PE 53407-460, Brazil email: ralfts@gmail.com

Abstract

Based on specimens deposited in the scientific collections of the Reef Environment Laboratory of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, National Museum/Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Oceanography Department of the Federal University of Pernambuco, the first occurrences of the azooxanthellate scleractinians Polycyathus senegalensis and Eguchipsammia cornucopia from Brazilian waters are reported. In addition, latitudinal and/or bathymetric range extensions are reported for Caryophyllia ambrosia caribbeana, Caryophyllia antillarum, Premocyathus cornuformis, Deltocyathus calcar, Paracyathus pulchellus, Flabellum apertum, Sphenotrochus auritus, Madracis asperula and Astrangia solitaria.

Keywords

deep-water coralsnew occurrencesnorth-east BrazilScleractiniaDendrophylliidaeCaryophylliidae
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 5 , August 2012 , e35
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

INTRODUCTION

Some marine invertebrates, including most shallow-water scleractinian corals, have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Boschma, Reference Boschma1925; Fitt et al., Reference Fitt, Spero, Halas, White and Porter1993; Trench, Reference Trench1997; Costa et al., Reference Costa, Sassi and Lira2008) and, consequently, are restricted to shallow-waters. However, almost half of the extant scleractinians do not present this symbiosis (Cairns, Reference Cairns2007) and are able to inhabit aphotic zones and live heterotrophically (Kitahara, Reference Kitahara2006; Roberts et al., Reference Roberts, Wheeler, Freiwald and Cairns2009). Therefore, with no taxonomic validity, scleractinian corals can be grouped on the presence or absence of these symbionts, and are commonly referred to as zooxanthellate or azooxanthellate corals, respectively (Cairns, Reference Cairns1977; Schuhmacher & Zibrowius, Reference Schuhmacher and Zibrowius1985; Capítoli & Bemvenuti, Reference Capítoli and Bemvenuti2004; Cairns et al., Reference Cairns, Häussermann and Försterra2005; Cairns, Reference Cairns2007).

To date, the number of azooxanthellate scleractinians from Brazil has a 4:1 ratio in relation to the number of zooxanthellate species (Pires, Reference Pires, George and Cairns2007). Due to their ecological constraints and following a worldwide tendency, the distributional records of both groups in Brazilian waters show a much broader latitudinal/depth range for azooxanthellate species than that of zooxanthellate corals. Most of our knowledge about the Brazilian azooxanthellate coral fauna was acquired during or with the specimens collected through oceanographic expeditions carried out in the 18th Century (Pires, Reference Pires, George and Cairns2007; Kitahara, Reference Kitahara2009). However, some regions with potentially diverse azooxanthellate coral fauna are still poorly sampled, especially those from the north-eastern and northern Brazilian coast.

Despite the scarce scientific campaigns aspiring to collect deep-water organisms in Brazil, 63 scleractinian species are reported for the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (Cairns, Reference Cairns1979, Reference Cairns2000; Kitahara, Reference Kitahara2007; Pires, Reference Pires, George and Cairns2007; Neves & Johnsson, Reference Neves and Johnsson2009). However, due to the low sampling efforts related to the scarce financial and logistical investments (Lindner & Kitahara, Reference Lindner and Kitahara2007), it is believed that the species richness of azooxanthellate scleractinians from the Brazilian EEZ is still underestimated (see Kitahara, Reference Kitahara2007). Aiming to contribute to the knowledge about azooxanthellate scleractinians from Brazil, the present study reports the first occurrence of Polycyathus senegalensis Chevalier, Reference Chevalier1966 and Eguchipsammia cornucopia (Pourtalès, Reference Pourtalès1871), and expands the latitudinal and/or bathymetric ranges of the other nine species previously reported from this region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The specimens examined herein were collected by SCUBA diving or by bottom trawling throughout the Brazilian coast (Figure 1; Table 1). Vouchers were deposited at the scientific collections of the Reef Environment Laboratory of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (LAR/UFRPE); National Museum/Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ); and/or Oceanographic Museum of the Pernambuco Federal University (MOUFPE).

Fig. 1. Map of the collection stations in Brazil.

Table 1. List of collection stations.

Morphometrics and meristics followed Vaughan & Wells (Reference Vaughan and Wells1943), Wells (Reference Wells1972), Cairns (Reference Cairns2000) and Kitahara (Reference Kitahara2007).

Abbreviations

Morphological terms: GCD, greater calicular diameter; LCD, lesser calicular diameter; PD, pedicel diameter. Locations: ASPSP: St Peter and St Paul Archipelago (00°55′N 29°20′W); FN, Fernando de Noronha (03°55′S 32°38′W).

RESULTS

SYSTEMATICS

Order SCLERACTINIA Bourne, 1900
Family CARYOPHYLLIIDAE Dana, 1846
Genus Polycyathus Duncan, 1876
Polycyathus senegalensis Chevalier, Reference Chevalier1966
(Figure 2A, B)

Fig. 2. (A, B) Polycyathus senegalensis: (A) colony view (MNRJ 8189); (B) calicular view (LAR/UFRPE 399). (c–e) Eguchipsammia cornucopia: (C) lateral view (LAR/UFRPE 650); (D) (juvenile); (E) (adult) calicular views (MNRJ 8190). Scale bar = 10 mm.

Polycyathus senegalensis Chevalier, Reference Chevalier1966: 971–974, Pl. 4, figures 7–8. Best, Reference Best1968: 72. Patriti, Reference Patriti1970: 83–84. Zibrowius, Reference Zibrowius1980: 94. Hubbard & Wells, Reference Hubbard and Wells1986: 133–134, figures 21–22. Verheij & Best, Reference Verheij and Best1987: 153. Cairns et al., Reference Cairns, Opresko, Hopkins and Schroeder1994: 7. Cairns, Reference Cairns2000: 83–86, figures 17 & 92–95. Reyes et al., Reference Reyes, Santodomingo and Flórez2010: 95, three figures.

Polycyathus mullerae: Hubbard & Wells, Reference Hubbard and Wells1986: 134, figures 23–24. (Not Polycyathus muellerae (Abel, 1959).)

Paracyathus pulchellus: Cairns, Reference Cairns1979: 88–90, Pl. 16, figure 5 (in part). Hubbard & Wells, Reference Hubbard and Wells1986. (Not Cyathina pulchellus Philippi, 1842.)

Polycyathus sp.: Edwards & Lubbock, Reference Edwards and Lubbock1983a: 62. Amaral et al., Reference Amaral, Hudson, Silveira, Migotto, Pinto and Longo2002: 569. Amaral et al., Reference Amaral, Silveira, Vasconcelos, Ramos, Vaske Júnior, Lessa, Nóbrega, Amaral and Silveira2006: 72, figure 6.4.

TYPE LOCALITY

Dakar Region (Senegal), depth unknown.

MATERIAL EXAMINED

LAR/UFRPE 399 (ASPSP), 18 m (2 colonies); LAR/UFRPE 401 (ASPSP), 30 m (1 colony); MNRJ 8189 (ASPSP), 20 m (1 colony); MNRJ 8191 (ASPSP), 19 m (1 colony).

DIAGNOSIS

Colonies phaceloid and firmly attached to substrate. Coenosteum conspicuous, smooth (sparsely granulated), thick and continuous. Collected colonies have an average of five corallites per cm2. Intercorallite distance between 1 and 4 mm. Corallite cylindrical and up to 20 mm in height. Calice slightly elliptical (up to 10 mm in GCD). Septotheca costate. Costae extend from calice to half distance to pedicel. Septa hexamerally arranged in four complete cycles (6S1 > 6S2 > 24S4 ≥ 12S3). S5 sometimes present. S1 most exserted (0.5 to 1.5 mm) and largest septa. S2 about 2/3 width and only slightly less exsert than S1. S3 least developed septa. Pairs of S4 fused to adjacent S1–2 near calicular edge forming small rectangular lancets. Pali present in two crowns before all but last cycle (P3 > P1–2). P3 bilobate or trilobate. Columella papillose (0.8 to 2.5 mm in diameter) consisting of 6 (young corallites) to 16 small elements.

REMARKS

In Brazilian waters, the genus Polycyathus has been previously reported from St Peter and St Paul Archipelago (Edwards & Lubbock, Reference Edwards and Lubbock1983b; Amaral et al., Reference Amaral, Hudson, Silveira, Migotto, Pinto and Longo2002; Reference Amaral, Silveira, Vasconcelos, Ramos, Vaske Júnior, Lessa, Nóbrega, Amaral and Silveira2006). However, the specimens examined are the first identified to species level, and therefore, represent the first record of P. senegalensis for Brazil.

Among azooxanthellate scleractinians reported from Brazil, P. senegalensis is most similar to Paracyathus pulchellus (Philippi, 1842). However, it is distinguished by forming true colonies (Cairns, Reference Cairns2000). The well-developed coenesteum and/or stoloniferous connection between corallites differentiate P. senegalensis from rhizangids reported from Brazil like Astrangia solitaria (Lesueur, 1817) (Cairns, Reference Cairns2000).

DISTRIBUTION

Western Atlantic: Gulf of Paria; from Venezuela to French Guiana; Cape Canaveral, FL; off James Island, SC/GA; Cape Lookout, NC (Cairns, Reference Cairns2000); Brazil, ASPSP (Present study). Eastern Atlantic: Senegal and Morocco (Cairns, Reference Cairns1999a; Reference Cairns2000). Bathymetric range: 12 to 150 m (Edwards & Lubbock, Reference Edwards and Lubbock1983b; Reyes, Reference Reyes2000; Reyes et al., Reference Reyes, Santodomingo and Flórez2010).

Family DENDROPHYLIIDAE Gray, 1847
Genus Eguchipsammia Cairns, Reference Cairns1994
Eguchipsammia cornucopia (Pourtalès, Reference Pourtalès1871)
(Figure 2C–E)

Dendrophyllia cornucopia Pourtalès, Reference Pourtalès1871: 45, Pl. 5, figures 7 & 8. Cairns, Reference Cairns1978: 11, Table 1. Cairns, Reference Cairns1979: 179–181, Pl. 36, figures 1–4, Map 54. Zibrowius, Reference Zibrowius1980: 175–176, pl. 88, figures A–L. Not Hubbard & Wells, Reference Hubbard and Wells1986: 139, figures 33–35 (Rhizopsammia goesi). Viada & Cairns, Reference Viada and Cairns1987: 32. Cairns & Wells, Reference Cairns and Wells1987: 43, Pl. 11, figures 14–17. Cairns, Reference Cairns1999b: Table 1.

Balanophyllia [sic] cornucopia. Cairns et al., Reference Cairns, Opresko, Hopkins and Schroeder1994: 5.

Eguchipsammia cornucopia. Cairns, Reference Cairns1994: 85. Cairns, Reference Cairns2000: 169–170, figure 198. Reveillaud et al., Reference Reveillaud, Freiwald, Rooij, Guilloux, Altuna, Foubert, Vanreusel, Roy and Henriet2008: 322. Reyes et al., Reference Reyes, Santodomingo and Flórez2010: 120.

TYPE LOCALITY

Off Key West, Florida, 220–229 m.

MATERIAL EXAMINED

MNRJ 8190, 03°54,9′00″S 32°37,8′00″W (FN), 380 m (5 specimens); LAR/UFRPE 876, 03°54,9′00″S 32°37,8′00″W (FN), 380 m (40 specimens). All collected by RV ‘Natureza'.

DIAGNOSIS

Corallum cylindrical to vermiform, and free. Calice elliptical. Largest specimen examined (MNRJ 8190) 14.6 mm in calicular diameter, 4.2 mm in PD, and 113.0 mm in height. Theca porous bearing up to 27 asexual buds or bud scars. Epitheca present on lower part of corallum. Costae flat, marked by conspicuous striae (larger in young specimens). Septa hexamerally arranged in five incomplete cycles. Larger specimens display up to 66 septa. S1 is the only independent septa. Septal margins often beaded, and those of S4 laciniate. Pali absent. Fossa shallow, containing a well-developed, elliptical, and convex columella.

REMARKS

According to Cairns (Reference Cairns2000), E. cornucopia reproduces asexually through thecal buds. However, some specimens examined herein (also mentioned in specimens from the Caribbean (Cairns, Reference Cairns2000)), have settled on skeletons. This is consistent with the concept that this species also reproduces sexually by larval dispersal.

The genus Eguchipsammia had already been recorded in Brazilian waters, more specifically from the ASPSP, through E. gaditana (Duncan, 1873) (Cairns, Reference Cairns2000). The coral E. cornucopia is distinguished from the only Brazilian congener in having a larger corallum, a deeper fossa and a better developed columella (see also Cairns, Reference Cairns2000).

DISTRIBUTION

Western Atlantic: Florida; Bahamas; Yucatan Channel; Gulf of Mexico; Cuba; south-western Caribbean; from the Gulf of Venezuela to Barbados; Colombia; northeastern Brazil (Cairns, Reference Cairns1979, Reference Cairns2000; Zibrowius, Reference Zibrowius1980; Viada & Cairns, Reference Viada and Cairns1987; Reyes et al., Reference Reyes, Santodomingo and Flórez2010; present study). Eastern Atlantic: Celtic Sea (Zibrowius, Reference Zibrowius1980); Bay of Biscay (Reveillaud et al., Reference Reveillaud, Freiwald, Rooij, Guilloux, Altuna, Foubert, Vanreusel, Roy and Henriet2008); Gulf of Gascony. Bathymetric range: 91 to 960 m.

RANGE EXTENSIONS

Additionally to the report of P. senegalensis and E. cornucopia, the present study also expands the Brazilian occurrence of nine species previously recorded in Brazil (Table 2).

Table 2. Brazilian azooxanthellate scleractinians with range extensions in Brazilian waters. *, geographical or bathymetric range extensions.

DISCUSSION

According to Kitahara (Reference Kitahara2007), the Brazilian coast can be considered as a transition region between the Caribbean and sub-Antarctic azooxanthellate coral fauna. However, among the 63 azooxanthellate scleractinians recorded from the Brazilian EEZ, 16 have disjunct distribution (Table 3), with gaps particularly on the north-eastern Brazilian coast (see Cairns, Reference Cairns1979, Reference Cairns2000; Castro et al., Reference Castro, Pires, Medeiros, Loiola, Arantes, Thiago, Berman, Lavrado and Ignacio2006; Kitahara, Reference Kitahara2007; Pires, Reference Pires, George and Cairns2007). Apart from these species, Deltocyathus eccentricus Cairns, Reference Cairns1979 and Polymyces fragilis (Pourtalès, 1868) are considered to have disjunct distribution because they display more than 14° of latitudinal gap between the northernmost Brazilian record and their subsequent southern record (15°35′S and 29°20′S, respectively).

Table 3. Summary of the azooxanthellate scleractinian distributional gaps in Brazilian waters.

Apart from Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829, an invasive species in Brazilian waters that most probably migrated through oil platforms (Paula & Creed, Reference Paula and Creed2004), the disjunct distribution of all other azooxanthellate scleractinians in Brazilian waters is most probably due to low sampling efforts.

Beside the first record of 2 species of azooxanthellate scleractinians in the south-western Atlantic, the new distributional records reported herein are a step forward in our understanding of this poorly understood fauna. To summarize, the present study decreases the gap between the previous Brazilian records of Caryophyllia ambrosia caribbeana Cairns Reference Cairns1979, reporting this species from Fernando de Noronha Island, which indicates that this species probably has a continuous distribution along the Brazilian north-eastern coast. Furthermore, the new record of Flabellum apertum Moseley, 1876 from Potiguar Basin (northern Brazilian coast) is the northernmost record of this species thought to be restricted to temperate/sub-Antarctic waters.

With the addition of Polycyathus senegalensis Chevalier, Reference Chevalier1966 and Eguchipsammia cornucopia (Pourtalès, Reference Pourtalès1871), the number of azooxanthellate scleractinians in Brazilian waters total 65. However, we believe that this number is still an underestimate for the species richness in this region.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank Dr José Carlos Nascimento de Barros (Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the UFRPE) for his solicitude in donating some of the specimens examined, Dr Deusinete Tenório for facilitating the access to the invertebrate collection of the Department of Oceanography of the UFRPE, the anonymous referees for their suggestions, the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, for authorizing the use of its facilities and for helping with editing our English. Lastly, we thank CNPq for the post-graduate scholarship to R.T.S.C. and for the Research Productivity fellowship to F.D.M.A.

References

REFERENCES

Amaral, F.D., Hudson, M.M., Silveira, F.L., Migotto, A.E., Pinto, S.M. and Longo, L. (2002) Cnidarians of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Northeast Brazil. Proceedings of the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium 1, 567–572.Google Scholar
Amaral, F.D., Silveira, S.R.M., Vasconcelos, S.L. and Ramos, C.A.C. (2006) Biodiversidade de cnidários bentônicos. In Vaske Júnior, T., Lessa, R.P., Nóbrega, M.F., Amaral, F.M.D. and Silveira, S.E.M. (eds) Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo: histórico e recursos naturais. Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil: Livro Rápido, pp. 42–55.Google Scholar
Best, M.B. (1968) Two new species of the genus Polycyathus (Madreporaria) from the Mediterranean Sea. Vie et Milieu 19, 69–84.Google Scholar
Boschma, H. (1925) The nature of association between Anthozoa and zooxanthellae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 11, 65–67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cairns, S.D. (1977) Deep-water corals. Sea Frontiers 23, 84–89.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D. (1978) A checklist of the ahermatypic Scleractinia of the Gulf of Mexico, with the description of a new species. Gulf Research Reports 6, 9–15.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D. (1979) The deep-water Scleractinia of the Caribbean Sea and adjacent waters. Studies on the fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean Islands 57, 1–341.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D. (1994) Scleractinia of the temperate North Pacific. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 557, 1–150.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D. (1999a) Species richness of recent Scleractinia. Atoll Research Bulletin 459, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cairns, S.D. (1999b) Stratigraphic distribution of Neogene Caribbean azooxanthellate corals (Scleractinia and Stylasteridae). Bulletins of American Paleontology 357, 109–118.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D. (2000) A revision of the shallow-water azooxanthellate Scleractinia of the Western Atlantic. Studies on the natural history of the Caribbean region. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao 75, 1–215.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D. (2007) Deep-water corals: an overview with special reference to diversity and distribution of deep-water scleractinian corals. Bulletin of Marine Science 81, 311–322.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D., Opresko, D.M., Hopkins, T.S. and Schroeder, W.W. (1994) New records of deep-water Cnidaria (Scleractinia & Antipatharia) from the Gulf of Mexico. Northeast Gulf Science 13, 1–11.Google Scholar
Cairns, S.D., Häussermann, V. and Försterra, G. (2005) A review of the Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) of Chile, with the description of two new species. Zootaxa 1018, 15–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cairns, S.D. and Wells, J.W. (1987) Paleontology in the northern Dominican Republic, Part 5: the suborders Caryophylliina and Dendrophylliina (Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Bulletins of American Paleontology 93, 23–74.Google Scholar
Capítoli, R.R. and Bemvenuti, C. (2004) Distribuição batimétrica e variações de diversidade dos macroinvertebrados bentônicos da plataforma continental e talude superior do extremo sul do Brasil. Atlântica 26, 27–43.Google Scholar
Castro, C.B., Pires, D.O., Medeiros, M.S., Loiola, L.L., Arantes, R.C.M., Thiago, C.M. and Berman, E. (2006) Filo Cnidaria. In Lavrado, H.P. and Ignacio, B.L. (eds) Biodiversidade bentônica da região central da Zona Econômica Exclusiva Brasileira. Rio de Janeiro: Museu Nacional, Série Livros 18, pp. 147–192.Google Scholar
Chevalier, J. (1966) Contributions à l'étude des Madréporaires des côtes occidentales de l'Afrique tropicale, pts. 1 and 2. Bulletin of I. F. A. N. (A) 28, 912–975.Google Scholar
Costa, C.F., Sassi, R. and Lira, K.G. (2008) Uma abordagem metodológica para o estudo das zooxantelas de coras do Brasil. Boletim do Laboratório de Hidrobiologia 21, 83–94.Google Scholar
Edwards, A. and Lubbock, R. (1983a) The ecology of Saint Paul's Rocks (Equatorial Atlantic). Journal of Zoology 200, 51–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, A. and Lubbock, R. (1983b) Marine zoogeography of St Paul's Rocks. Journal of Biogeography 10, 65–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fitt, W.K., Spero, H.J., Halas, J., White, M.W. and Porter, J.W. (1993) Recovery of the coral Montastrea annularis in the Florida keys after the 1987 Caribbean ‘Bleaching event'. Coral Reefs 12, 57–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hubbard, R.H. and Wells, J.W. (1986) Ahermatypic shallow-water scleractinian corals of Trinidad. Studies of the Fauna of Curaçao 68, 121–147.Google Scholar
Kitahara, M.V. (2006) Novas ocorrências de corais azooxantelados (Anthozoa, Scleractinia) na plataforma e talude continental do sul do Brasil (25–34°S). Biotemas 19, 55–63.Google Scholar
Kitahara, M.V. (2007) Species richness and distribution of azooxanthellate Scleractinia in Brazil. Bulletin of Marine Science 81, 497–518.Google Scholar
Kitahara, M.V. (2009) A pesca demersal de profundidade e os bancos de corais azooxantelados do sul do Brasil. Biota Neotropica 9, 1–10.Google Scholar
Lindner, A. and Kitahara, M.V. (2007) Pesca e pesquisa no mar profundo. Scientific American Brasil, São Paulo 2007, 31–31.Google Scholar
Neves, E. and Johnsson, R. (2009) Taxonomic revision of the southwestern Atlantic Madracis and the description of Madracis fragilis n. sp. (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae), a new coral species from Brazil. Scientia Marina 73, 739–746.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patriti, G. (1970) Catalogue des Cnidaires et Cténaires des côtes atlantiques marocaines. Travaux de l'Institut Scientifique Chérifien et de la Faculté des Sciences. Zoologie 35, 1–149.Google Scholar
Paula, A.F. and Creed, J. (2004) Two species of the coral Tubastraea (Cnidaria, Scleractinia) in brazil: a case of accidental introduction. Bulletin of Marine Science 74, 175–183.Google Scholar
Pires, D.O. (2007) The azooxanthellate coral fauna of Brazil. In George, R.Y. and Cairns, S.D. (eds) Conservation and adaptative management of seamount and deep-sea coral ecosystems. Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, pp. 265–272.Google Scholar
Pourtalès, L.F. (1871) Deep-Sea corals. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 4, 1–93.Google Scholar
Reveillaud, J., Freiwald, A., Rooij, D.V., Guilloux, E.L., Altuna, A., Foubert, A., Vanreusel, A., Roy, K.O.L. and Henriet, J.P. (2008) The distribution of scleractinian corals in the Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic. Facies 54, 317–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reyes, J. (2000) Lista de los corales (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) de Colombia. Biota Colombiana 1, 164–176.Google Scholar
Reyes, J., Santodomingo, N. and Flórez, P. (2010) Corales Escleractinios de Colombia. Santa Marta, Colombia: Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, 246 pp.Google Scholar
Roberts, J.M., Wheeler, A.J., Freiwald, A. and Cairns, S.D. (2009) Cold-water corals: biology and geology of deep-sea corals habitats. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schuhmacher, H. and Zibrowius, H. (1985) A redefinition of ecological groups in corals and other organisms. Coral Reefs 4, 1–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trench, R.K. (1997) Diversity of symbiotic dinoflagellates and the evolution of microalgal–invertebrate symbioses. Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium 2, 1275–1286.Google Scholar
Vaughan, T.W. and Wells, J.W. (1943) Revision of the suborders, families and genera of the Scleractinia. Geological Society of America, Special Papers 44, 1–363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verheij, E. and Best, M.B. (1987) Notes on the genus Polycyathus Duncan, 1876 and a description of three new scleractinian corals from the Indo-Pacific. Zoologische Mededelingen 61, 147–154.Google Scholar
Viada, S.T and Cairns, S.D. (1987) Range extensions of ahermatypic scleractinian in the Gulf of Mexico. Northeast Gulf Science 9, 131–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, J. (1972) Some shallow water ahermatyic corals from Bermuda. Postilla 156, 1–10.Google Scholar
Zibrowius, H. (1980) Les Sclèractiniaires de la Méditarranée et de l'Atlantique Nord-Oriental. Mémoires de l'Institut Océanographique, Monaco 11, 1–284.Google Scholar
Figure 0

Fig. 1. Map of the collection stations in Brazil.

Figure 1

Table 1. List of collection stations.

Figure 2

Fig. 2. (A, B) Polycyathus senegalensis: (A) colony view (MNRJ 8189); (B) calicular view (LAR/UFRPE 399). (c–e) Eguchipsammia cornucopia: (C) lateral view (LAR/UFRPE 650); (D) (juvenile); (E) (adult) calicular views (MNRJ 8190). Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 3

Table 2. Brazilian azooxanthellate scleractinians with range extensions in Brazilian waters. *, geographical or bathymetric range extensions.

Figure 4

Table 3. Summary of the azooxanthellate scleractinian distributional gaps in Brazilian waters.