presented, as well as needs and suggestions to improve the knowledge of Brazilian
echinoderms.
In short, research on echinoderms in Brazil was developed on several subjects,
mostly on species of the classes Asteroidea, Echinoidea, Ophiuroidea and Holothuroidea. Few studies have been made on crinoids, probably due to their low
diversity along the Brazilian coast.
9.2.2 Echinoderm Paleontological Research
Brazilian echinoderms are found from the Palaeozoic to the Tertiary basins. Ten
species of Crinoidea, two of Stylophora, three of Blastoidea, 63 of Echinoidea,
three of Asteroidea, one of Ophiuroidea and two of Holothuroidea have been
recorded (Tommasi 1999; Scheffler 2007). There are difficulties in increasing
knowledge of extinct echinoderms, particularly due to the large distances among
the basins and the few paleontologists devoted to the study of echinoderm fossils.
Besides, very little is known of the origins and geological history of macro and
megafaunal biodiversity in the deep-sea, including echinoderms (Campos et al.
2010). Even though it is recognized today that species richness of deep-sea is
comparable to, or even exceeds, that of continental shelves, the difficulties in
finding identifiable macro-fossils in deep-sea cores limits any assessment of the
geological history of specific benthic groups, including echinoderms (Gray et al.
1997, Smith and Stockley 2005). Smith and Stockley (2005) combined evidence
from echinoid phylogenetic trees and molecular studies and suggested deep-sea
nutrient enhancement over a long geological time has had a key role in the
development of its biodiversity.
According to Scheffler (2007), research on Devonian echinoderms (Ponta
Grossa Formation, Paraná Basin) started at the end of the nineteenth century with
the studies published by Derby (1878) on the Ophiuroidea, and the monograph of
Clarke (1913) on the Asteroidea. The first references on Crinoidea were made by
Löfgreen (1937) with findings from Goiás State, and by Erichsen and Löfgreen
(1940) with material from Mato Grosso State. Lange (1943) identified the first
crinoid from Paraná Basin while Petri (1948a, b) described 18 levels of the crinoids and cystoids from Ponta Grossa Formation in the same Basin. Caster (1954a,
b) described two new species of Stylophora. Crinoid fragments were recorded by
Barbosa (1949), Almeida (1954), Del‘Arco et al. (1982) and Bosetti and Quadros
(1996) in Mato Grosso State, and Beurlen (1957) in Goiás State. Ferreira and
Fernandes (1985) reported the crinoids from the Devonian of Brazil and Ferreira
and Fernandes (1989) recorded the crinoid species Erisocrinus sp. from the Carboniferous and the genera Ctenocrinus, Exaesyodiscus, Laudonomphalus and
Monstrocrinus from the Devonian of the Amazon Basin.
In the twenty-first century studies on the Devonian echinoderms were intensified
with new descriptions and taxonomic reviews such as those published by Alves and
Fernandes (2001) about Encrinaster pontis, and Scheffler et al. (2002), who
306
C. R. R. Ventura et al.
echinoderms.
In short, research on echinoderms in Brazil was developed on several subjects,
mostly on species of the classes Asteroidea, Echinoidea, Ophiuroidea and Holothuroidea. Few studies have been made on crinoids, probably due to their low
diversity along the Brazilian coast.
9.2.2 Echinoderm Paleontological Research
Brazilian echinoderms are found from the Palaeozoic to the Tertiary basins. Ten
species of Crinoidea, two of Stylophora, three of Blastoidea, 63 of Echinoidea,
three of Asteroidea, one of Ophiuroidea and two of Holothuroidea have been
recorded (Tommasi 1999; Scheffler 2007). There are difficulties in increasing
knowledge of extinct echinoderms, particularly due to the large distances among
the basins and the few paleontologists devoted to the study of echinoderm fossils.
Besides, very little is known of the origins and geological history of macro and
megafaunal biodiversity in the deep-sea, including echinoderms (Campos et al.
2010). Even though it is recognized today that species richness of deep-sea is
comparable to, or even exceeds, that of continental shelves, the difficulties in
finding identifiable macro-fossils in deep-sea cores limits any assessment of the
geological history of specific benthic groups, including echinoderms (Gray et al.
1997, Smith and Stockley 2005). Smith and Stockley (2005) combined evidence
from echinoid phylogenetic trees and molecular studies and suggested deep-sea
nutrient enhancement over a long geological time has had a key role in the
development of its biodiversity.
According to Scheffler (2007), research on Devonian echinoderms (Ponta
Grossa Formation, Paraná Basin) started at the end of the nineteenth century with
the studies published by Derby (1878) on the Ophiuroidea, and the monograph of
Clarke (1913) on the Asteroidea. The first references on Crinoidea were made by
Löfgreen (1937) with findings from Goiás State, and by Erichsen and Löfgreen
(1940) with material from Mato Grosso State. Lange (1943) identified the first
crinoid from Paraná Basin while Petri (1948a, b) described 18 levels of the crinoids and cystoids from Ponta Grossa Formation in the same Basin. Caster (1954a,
b) described two new species of Stylophora. Crinoid fragments were recorded by
Barbosa (1949), Almeida (1954), Del‘Arco et al. (1982) and Bosetti and Quadros
(1996) in Mato Grosso State, and Beurlen (1957) in Goiás State. Ferreira and
Fernandes (1985) reported the crinoids from the Devonian of Brazil and Ferreira
and Fernandes (1989) recorded the crinoid species Erisocrinus sp. from the Carboniferous and the genera Ctenocrinus, Exaesyodiscus, Laudonomphalus and
Monstrocrinus from the Devonian of the Amazon Basin.
In the twenty-first century studies on the Devonian echinoderms were intensified
with new descriptions and taxonomic reviews such as those published by Alves and
Fernandes (2001) about Encrinaster pontis, and Scheffler et al. (2002), who
306
C. R. R. Ventura et al.