There are about 700 extant species of Crinoidea, of which only 16 have been
reported for Brazilian waters. Of the 1,800 extant species of Asteroidea, only 77
reported for Brazil. Of the 2,000 extant species of Ophiuroidea, 153 have been
reported for the Brazilian coast. Of the 900 extant species of Echinoidea, 52 have
been reported for the Brazilian coast. Of the approximately 1,250 extant species of
Holothuroidea, 49 reported for Brazil.
9.3.2 Crinoidea, Asteroidea and Echinoidea
The remarkable low diversity of echinoderms of Brazilian waters may be due to
the low number of researchers who have been dedicated to the study of the
phylum. Considering the great length of the country’s coastline, information on the
occurrence and distribution of extant echinoderm species in Brazil seems to be
insufficient, especially for crinoids, asteroids and echinoids. Little information
about earlier studies on crinoids, asteroids and echinoids are available. However,
some information about ophiuroids and holothuroids are emphasized on the following topics.
9.3.3 Ophiuroidea
The first report about ophiuroids in Brazil appeared in the 17
th century, when
Marcgrave (1942) recorded a brittle star, probably from the genus Gorgonocephalus
Leach, 1815. Ljungman (1867) established the genus Amphipholis based on the
species Amphipholis januarii from the coast of Rio de Janeiro State. Several other
studies were carried out in Brazil, mainly on taxonomy and geographical distribution (Brito 1960e; Tommasi 1965a, b, 1967, 1970b, c, d, 1971a, b, c, d; Lima-Verde
1969; Manso 1988a, b, 1989; Absalão 1990). Tommasi (1970b, c, d) published a
survey including 65 species of ophiuroids known to that time. Up to the end of the
1980s, eight new species from the Brazilian coast were described and new occurrences were recorded (Tommasi 1971a, b, c, d, Tommasi and Abreu 1974; Tommasi
and Oliveira 1976; Albuquerque 1986; Monteiro 1987; Manso 1988a, b, c). In 1999
Tommasi published an identification key for 98 species and 38 genera of Brazilian
ophiuroids.
More recently, several other studies were carried out in different regions of
Brazil. Alves and Cerqueira (2000) investigated the echinoderms found on beaches
of Salvador (Bahia State), recording 15 species of ophiuroids. Albuquerque et al.
(2001) described two new species of the family Amphiuridae: Amphiura callida
and Amphiodia habilis. Borges et al. (2002a), in a study about the ophiuroids of the
continental shelf off southern and southeastern Brazil, recorded 25 species,
including two new records, at depths down to 800 m. Manso (2004) recorded 10
species of ophiuroids in Camamu Bay (Bahia State), at depths down to 50 m.
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C. R. R. Ventura et al.
reported for Brazilian waters. Of the 1,800 extant species of Asteroidea, only 77
reported for Brazil. Of the 2,000 extant species of Ophiuroidea, 153 have been
reported for the Brazilian coast. Of the 900 extant species of Echinoidea, 52 have
been reported for the Brazilian coast. Of the approximately 1,250 extant species of
Holothuroidea, 49 reported for Brazil.
9.3.2 Crinoidea, Asteroidea and Echinoidea
The remarkable low diversity of echinoderms of Brazilian waters may be due to
the low number of researchers who have been dedicated to the study of the
phylum. Considering the great length of the country’s coastline, information on the
occurrence and distribution of extant echinoderm species in Brazil seems to be
insufficient, especially for crinoids, asteroids and echinoids. Little information
about earlier studies on crinoids, asteroids and echinoids are available. However,
some information about ophiuroids and holothuroids are emphasized on the following topics.
9.3.3 Ophiuroidea
The first report about ophiuroids in Brazil appeared in the 17
th century, when
Marcgrave (1942) recorded a brittle star, probably from the genus Gorgonocephalus
Leach, 1815. Ljungman (1867) established the genus Amphipholis based on the
species Amphipholis januarii from the coast of Rio de Janeiro State. Several other
studies were carried out in Brazil, mainly on taxonomy and geographical distribution (Brito 1960e; Tommasi 1965a, b, 1967, 1970b, c, d, 1971a, b, c, d; Lima-Verde
1969; Manso 1988a, b, 1989; Absalão 1990). Tommasi (1970b, c, d) published a
survey including 65 species of ophiuroids known to that time. Up to the end of the
1980s, eight new species from the Brazilian coast were described and new occurrences were recorded (Tommasi 1971a, b, c, d, Tommasi and Abreu 1974; Tommasi
and Oliveira 1976; Albuquerque 1986; Monteiro 1987; Manso 1988a, b, c). In 1999
Tommasi published an identification key for 98 species and 38 genera of Brazilian
ophiuroids.
More recently, several other studies were carried out in different regions of
Brazil. Alves and Cerqueira (2000) investigated the echinoderms found on beaches
of Salvador (Bahia State), recording 15 species of ophiuroids. Albuquerque et al.
(2001) described two new species of the family Amphiuridae: Amphiura callida
and Amphiodia habilis. Borges et al. (2002a), in a study about the ophiuroids of the
continental shelf off southern and southeastern Brazil, recorded 25 species,
including two new records, at depths down to 800 m. Manso (2004) recorded 10
species of ophiuroids in Camamu Bay (Bahia State), at depths down to 50 m.
318
C. R. R. Ventura et al.