Marine teleost fishes of the northeastern Brazilian coast: 166 years of compiled data

Abstract

The richness of marine teleost fishes from the tropical northeastern Brazilian coast was compiled through an extensive search of published species records and of voucher specimens in collections. Results are presented in a systematic list that includes 571 marine species across 98 families considered as valid records in coastal and estuarine environments. 516 species (90.4%) are represented by voucher specimens in collections. Species reported in the literature with pending confirmation, or known only from vouchers, may add 72 species to the list, 18 of them without previous mention in the literature representing new records for the study region. Brazilian endemic species are also reported, seven of which are exclusive to the northeastern coast. Additionally, 91 species belonging to 41 families are treated as erroneous or doubtful records for the region, and their geographic distribution or taxonomic status commented upon. Among the valid species recorded, 21 are listed as threatened according to the IUCN Red List and 24 by the Brazilian official list of threatened species. At least four species introduced in the Western Atlantic are now considered invasive in northeastern Brazil. The data presented herein result from the most comprehensive survey of the coastal marine ichthyofauna of northeastern Brazil. It adds 154 species records when compared to the maximum species richness previously reported for the study region in a single publication and serves as a baseline to promote future studies in fish systematics, biogeography, ecology and conservation. Notwithstanding, the species richness of this region remains an underestimate pending additional taxonomic research and the availability of online data for regional collections.

Key words:

• biogeography
• checklist
• collections
• shore fishes
• taxonomy
• Western Atlantic

Acknowledgements

We thank A. Carvalho-Filho, B. M. Feitoza, C. L. S. Sampaio, D. Seripieri, G. O. M. Silva, J. L. Figueiredo, J. L. Gasparini, M. E. Araújo, N. A. Menezes, P. R. Lopes, R. L. Moura, and W. F. Smith-Vaniz, who provided bibliographic references; W. Smith-Vaniz gave access to his extensive personal library. Michel D. Gianeti provided listings of marine fishes in the MZUSP collection; A. Castro and M. Marinho made available records under their care at UFPB. Naércio A. Menezes, C. L. S. Sampaio, J. L. Figueiredo, and R. L. Moura critically read various versions of the manuscript. RM thanks the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq and Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco – FACEPE for the postdoctoral fellowship. The final manuscript has been greatly improved with the detailed review by an anonymous reviewer for Systematics and Biodiversity.

Authors’ contributions

RSR, CRR and LAR initially conceived the research. RSR, APMM, AF, CB, EFCS, FVA, JAS, JL, KMPV, MBS, RM, VMV, APM, CRR, LAR, and JMFF compiled data from the literature and digital platforms. APMM, EFCS, KMPV and RM compiled and analysed the scientometric data. RSR, APM, LAR, JAS and RFF verified the species’ occurrence and status. RSR, LAR, CRR, RFF, RM, JMFF, VMV, JAS, and APM wrote the paper. AF and RM prepared the illustrations. RSR led the revisions of the database and manuscript. KMPV reviewed and formatted the data files. RSR and all co-authors reviewed and approved the last version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental material

Supplemental material for this article can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2023.2228314.

Associate Editor: Dr Kevin Conway

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by CNPq [grant number 478486/2009-0 to RSR]; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute [postdoctoral fellowship to LAR]; National Geographic Society [grant 2003-1032 to LAR]; Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado da Paraíba – FAPESQ [postdoctoral fellowship 1262/2021 to APM] and FAPESQ-CNPq [postdoctoral fellowship 77/2022 to VMV].