Ventura et al. (2006) recorded the occurrence of the family Asteronychidae and
reported a total of 15 species from the coast of Rio de Janeiro to Bahia States from
depths down to 1,800 m. Borges et al. (2006) described the species Ophiomisidium
tommasii (Ophiuridae) collected at depths down to 800 m, and Borges and Amaral
(2007) recorded four new occurrences for Brazil, including the first record of the
family Ophiochitonidae. Manso et al. (2008) collected 23 species at Todos os
Santos Bay and Aratú Bay (Bahia State), at depths down to 62 m. Gondim et al.
(2008) recorded 13 species at Cabo Branco Beach (Paraíba State). Barboza (2010)
and Gondim et al. (2010) recorded for the first time the occurrence of the genus
Gorgonocephalus (G. chilensis) and the species Ophionereis dolabriformis,
respectively.
At the present time, 153 species have been recorded (Appendix), despite the
fact that knowledge on Brazilian Ophiuroidea, especially from the continental
margin and the deep sea, is yet quite scarce (Tommasi 1999).
Ophiuroids were one of the most abundant macrofauna groups collected at
different bathymetric ranges, from the intertidal down to a depth of 1,600 m.
Especially in regions deeper than 200 m, new species and many new records of
occurrence have been reported (Borges et al. 2006, Borges and Amaral 2007,
Campos et al. 2010).
One of the most recent programs of faunal survey was REVIZEE. Between
Cabo de São Tomé (Rio de Janeiro State) and Arroio Chuí (Rio Grande do Sul
State), more than 16,000 Ophiuroidea specimens were collected between depths of
60 and 810 m with 32 species recorded (Amaral et al. 2004). On the Biota Marine
Benthos project (Biodiversidade Marinha do Estado de São Paulo), which sampled
from the intertidal down to a depth of 50 m, 29 species of Ophiuroidea were
recorded and approximately 2,500 specimens were collected (Borges et al. 2011).
Species of the family Amphiuridae predominate in waters shallower than 50 m,
although banks of ophiuroids are scarcely found at this bathymetric range. These
studies recorded herds of ophiuroids deeper than 500 m for at least three species of
the family Ophiuridae: Ophimisidium tommasii, Ophiura clemens and Ophiura
ljungmani (Monteiro 1987, 1990; Tommasi et al. 1988a, b; Absalão 1990; Sumida
1994; Heitor 1996; Petti 1997; Capítoli and Monteiro 2000; Borges 2001).
Although the high diversity of Amphiuridae in shallow and deeper waters, population densities are low when compared to those of Ophiuridae in deeper regions.
Some genera, such as Ophiura, Ophiomusium, Ophiomastus, and Ophiomisidium,
are dominant in these regions.
On the inner continental shelf, Hemipholis elongata (Ophiactidae), an infaunal
and gregarious species, was frequently found together with other species such as
Microphiopholis atra and Amphiodia planispina, from the beach down to a depth
of about 50 m, similarly to the findings reported by Hendler et al. (1995) in the
Caribbean region. These authors stated that the species occur frequently on poorly
oxygenated unconsolidated bottoms, but also on oyster banks and coral reefs. Boffi
(1972) recorded only young individuals of H. elongata in the phytal of the
northern coast of São Paulo State, and reported that adults probably live preferentially on sublittoral soft bottoms.
9 Echinoderm from Brazil
319
reported a total of 15 species from the coast of Rio de Janeiro to Bahia States from
depths down to 1,800 m. Borges et al. (2006) described the species Ophiomisidium
tommasii (Ophiuridae) collected at depths down to 800 m, and Borges and Amaral
(2007) recorded four new occurrences for Brazil, including the first record of the
family Ophiochitonidae. Manso et al. (2008) collected 23 species at Todos os
Santos Bay and Aratú Bay (Bahia State), at depths down to 62 m. Gondim et al.
(2008) recorded 13 species at Cabo Branco Beach (Paraíba State). Barboza (2010)
and Gondim et al. (2010) recorded for the first time the occurrence of the genus
Gorgonocephalus (G. chilensis) and the species Ophionereis dolabriformis,
respectively.
At the present time, 153 species have been recorded (Appendix), despite the
fact that knowledge on Brazilian Ophiuroidea, especially from the continental
margin and the deep sea, is yet quite scarce (Tommasi 1999).
Ophiuroids were one of the most abundant macrofauna groups collected at
different bathymetric ranges, from the intertidal down to a depth of 1,600 m.
Especially in regions deeper than 200 m, new species and many new records of
occurrence have been reported (Borges et al. 2006, Borges and Amaral 2007,
Campos et al. 2010).
One of the most recent programs of faunal survey was REVIZEE. Between
Cabo de São Tomé (Rio de Janeiro State) and Arroio Chuí (Rio Grande do Sul
State), more than 16,000 Ophiuroidea specimens were collected between depths of
60 and 810 m with 32 species recorded (Amaral et al. 2004). On the Biota Marine
Benthos project (Biodiversidade Marinha do Estado de São Paulo), which sampled
from the intertidal down to a depth of 50 m, 29 species of Ophiuroidea were
recorded and approximately 2,500 specimens were collected (Borges et al. 2011).
Species of the family Amphiuridae predominate in waters shallower than 50 m,
although banks of ophiuroids are scarcely found at this bathymetric range. These
studies recorded herds of ophiuroids deeper than 500 m for at least three species of
the family Ophiuridae: Ophimisidium tommasii, Ophiura clemens and Ophiura
ljungmani (Monteiro 1987, 1990; Tommasi et al. 1988a, b; Absalão 1990; Sumida
1994; Heitor 1996; Petti 1997; Capítoli and Monteiro 2000; Borges 2001).
Although the high diversity of Amphiuridae in shallow and deeper waters, population densities are low when compared to those of Ophiuridae in deeper regions.
Some genera, such as Ophiura, Ophiomusium, Ophiomastus, and Ophiomisidium,
are dominant in these regions.
On the inner continental shelf, Hemipholis elongata (Ophiactidae), an infaunal
and gregarious species, was frequently found together with other species such as
Microphiopholis atra and Amphiodia planispina, from the beach down to a depth
of about 50 m, similarly to the findings reported by Hendler et al. (1995) in the
Caribbean region. These authors stated that the species occur frequently on poorly
oxygenated unconsolidated bottoms, but also on oyster banks and coral reefs. Boffi
(1972) recorded only young individuals of H. elongata in the phytal of the
northern coast of São Paulo State, and reported that adults probably live preferentially on sublittoral soft bottoms.
9 Echinoderm from Brazil
319