Shallow-water brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Araca Bay (Southeastern Brazil), with spatial distribution considerations

Author(s)

Alitto, Renata A. S. ^{[1, 2]} ; Bueno, Maristela L. ^[1] ; Guilherme, Pablo D. B. ^{[3, 4]} ; Di Domenico, Maikon ^{[2, 4]} ; Christensen, Ana Beardsley ^[5] ; Borges, Michela ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Postgrad Program Anim Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Zool Museum Adao Jose Cardoso, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Parana, Postgrad Program Ecol & Conservat, Curitiba, Parana - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Parana, Ctr Marine Studies, Pontal Do Parana, Parana - Brazil

^[5] Lamar Univ, Dept Biol, Beaumont, TX 77710 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Zootaxa; v. 4405, n. 1, p. 1-66, APR 6 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

The detailed study of arm ossicles, particularly the lateral arm plates, is providing valuable information in the elucidation of ophiuroid taxonomy. The present study describes in detail 16 species of brittle stars from Araca Bay, Brazil. This information is used to construct the first interactive electronic key, providing a valuable resource for a broad range of researchers. Brittle stars families were divided into three groups based on their spatial distribution: i) infaunal species of intertidal and shallow subtidal belonging to Amphiuridae and Ophiactidae, ii) epizoic species belonging to Amphiuridae, Ophiactidae, and Ophiotrichidae and, iii) epifaunal species of the subtidal belonging to Ophiodermatidae and Hemieuryalidae. In the global context of recent revisions of ophiuroid taxonomy, the present work provides additional characters for use in future phylogenetic studies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/50317-5 - Biodiversity and functioning of a subtropical coastal ecosystem: a contribution to integrated management
• Grantee: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants