Species richness and distribution of azooxanthellate Scleractinia in Brazil

• Autores: Marcelo Visentini Kitahara
• Localización: Bulletin of Marine Science, ISSN 0007-4977, Vol. 81, Nº. 3, 2007 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals), págs. 497-518
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The azooxanthellate Scleractinia from Brazilian waters are reviewed based on examination of museum specimens and current literature, indicating the occurrence of 59 species, including the first southern Atlantic description of: Caryophyllia berteriana Duchassaing, 1850, Caryophyllia crypta Cairns, 2000, Caryophyllia scobinosa Alcock, 1902, and Dendrophyllia alternata Pourtalès, 1880. A checklist of all species, including first reported occurrence, relevant literature, survey vessel, position and depth range data, and water masses within which Brazilian azoox-anthellate Scleractinia occur, are provided. An identification key is proposed and almost all species discussed in this document are illustrated. Distributional patterns of deep-sea corals from Brazil as well as other geographical areas are briefly discussed, and a strong affinity with those Scleractinia from the Caribbean waters is demonstrated. A diagnosis for the species first time described for the southern Atlantic is provided.