commented on the similarity of the cidarids with the genera from Indo-Pacific
Province.
Brito (1979) studied the Brazilian Cenozoic clyperasteroids and described a
new species from the Pirabas Formation, Clypeaster paraensis. Brito (1981d)
reported a new species of clyperasteroid, Abertella complanata, from the Pirabas
Formation and suggested the presence of Cidaris antarctica (Ortmann, 1900).
Brito (1986) redescribed Abertella complanata in greater detail. Fernandes and
Morais (1994) reported Rhyncholampas candidoi from the Pirabas Formation in
Salinópolis, Pará State. Martinez and Mooi (1997) transfered Karlaster pirabensis
to the genus Abertella.
Morais and Fernandes (1997) recorded for the first time a regular echinoid in
Brazilian Cenozoic rocks. Morais (1998) studied the taxonomy and paleoecology
of regular echinoids from Pirabas Formation.
Collections in the twenty first century resulted in several publications on taxonomy, paleoecology and paleobiogeography of the echinoderms fauna from the
Cretaceous and Tertiary Brazilian Basins (Cooke 1955; Seeling et al. 2000; Manso
2001, 2003a, b, 2006; Souza-Lima and Manso 2000; Manso and Souza-Lima
2003a, b, c, 2005, 2007, 2010; Rodovalho et al. 2003; Manso and Hessel 2007;
Manso and Andrade 2008; Manso and Lemos 2008). All this fossil material was
deposited at the Phoenix Paleontological Foundation (Fundação Paleontológica
Phoenix) in Sergipe State.
9.2.3 Echinoderm Physiological Research
Echinoderm physiology has been the focus of intensive research in the last century. However, interest in this area of research has decreased significantly in the
last decades.
The first studies on the effect of acetylcholine on holothuroid muscles were
conducted at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (Rio de Janeiro State) by Moussatché in
1949. Classical studies conducted at the University of São Paulo focused on muscle
biochemistry in holothuroids (Sawaya 1951; Ancona-Lopez 1964) and echinoids
(Sawaya and Ancona-Lopez 1964; Bianconcini et al. 1982, 1985), and on gas
exchange in ophiuroids (Petersen 1976). In the last decade, the physiology of
excretion and ionic regulation has been investigated at the Federal University of
Paraná (Vidolin et al. 2002, 2007; Santos-Gouvea and Freire 2007). The main focus
of this research has been on the interspecific differences in the homeostasis of ions
of the perivisceral coelomic fluid of three echinoids (Echinometra lucunter,
Lytechinus variegatus and Arbacia lixula), one holothuroid (Holothuria grisea) and
one asteroid (Asterina stellifera). Another target of research has been the investigation of how echinoderms deal with the different ions. The current evidence that
echinoderm epithelia treat different ions in distinct ways led to the conclusion that
they are not very homogeneous and identical in their osmo-ionic-conforming
strategies. These studies pointed out that E. lucunter shows reasonable euryhanility
308
C. R. R. Ventura et al.
Province.
Brito (1979) studied the Brazilian Cenozoic clyperasteroids and described a
new species from the Pirabas Formation, Clypeaster paraensis. Brito (1981d)
reported a new species of clyperasteroid, Abertella complanata, from the Pirabas
Formation and suggested the presence of Cidaris antarctica (Ortmann, 1900).
Brito (1986) redescribed Abertella complanata in greater detail. Fernandes and
Morais (1994) reported Rhyncholampas candidoi from the Pirabas Formation in
Salinópolis, Pará State. Martinez and Mooi (1997) transfered Karlaster pirabensis
to the genus Abertella.
Morais and Fernandes (1997) recorded for the first time a regular echinoid in
Brazilian Cenozoic rocks. Morais (1998) studied the taxonomy and paleoecology
of regular echinoids from Pirabas Formation.
Collections in the twenty first century resulted in several publications on taxonomy, paleoecology and paleobiogeography of the echinoderms fauna from the
Cretaceous and Tertiary Brazilian Basins (Cooke 1955; Seeling et al. 2000; Manso
2001, 2003a, b, 2006; Souza-Lima and Manso 2000; Manso and Souza-Lima
2003a, b, c, 2005, 2007, 2010; Rodovalho et al. 2003; Manso and Hessel 2007;
Manso and Andrade 2008; Manso and Lemos 2008). All this fossil material was
deposited at the Phoenix Paleontological Foundation (Fundação Paleontológica
Phoenix) in Sergipe State.
9.2.3 Echinoderm Physiological Research
Echinoderm physiology has been the focus of intensive research in the last century. However, interest in this area of research has decreased significantly in the
last decades.
The first studies on the effect of acetylcholine on holothuroid muscles were
conducted at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (Rio de Janeiro State) by Moussatché in
1949. Classical studies conducted at the University of São Paulo focused on muscle
biochemistry in holothuroids (Sawaya 1951; Ancona-Lopez 1964) and echinoids
(Sawaya and Ancona-Lopez 1964; Bianconcini et al. 1982, 1985), and on gas
exchange in ophiuroids (Petersen 1976). In the last decade, the physiology of
excretion and ionic regulation has been investigated at the Federal University of
Paraná (Vidolin et al. 2002, 2007; Santos-Gouvea and Freire 2007). The main focus
of this research has been on the interspecific differences in the homeostasis of ions
of the perivisceral coelomic fluid of three echinoids (Echinometra lucunter,
Lytechinus variegatus and Arbacia lixula), one holothuroid (Holothuria grisea) and
one asteroid (Asterina stellifera). Another target of research has been the investigation of how echinoderms deal with the different ions. The current evidence that
echinoderm epithelia treat different ions in distinct ways led to the conclusion that
they are not very homogeneous and identical in their osmo-ionic-conforming
strategies. These studies pointed out that E. lucunter shows reasonable euryhanility
308
C. R. R. Ventura et al.