Pycnogonida (Arthropoda) from coral reef environments along the Southwest Atlantic: new records and new species

ABSTRACT

Presently, 28 species of pycnogonids are known from the northeastern region of Brazil. This is the largest coastal section of Brazil, with an extent of 3400 km, but the least explored from a scientific point of view. Organic reefs follow the coastal line, becoming concentrated in the section known as the Reef Coast. This section has 17 pycnogonid species recorded. The aim of this paper is to increase our knowledge of the Pycnogonida occurring in northeastern Brazil. Specimens deposited in the Invertebrate Collection Paulo Young, at the Federal University of Paraíba, were examined. As a result, 21 species are identified (18 nominal species and three morphotypes). Eight of these are new records for northeastern Brazil, and one represents a new record for the South Atlantic. Two new species are described: Ammothella calva sp. nov., that has the body short and oval, the proboscis equal to length of body, oval and large, and lateral setae and the eighth, ninth and tenth articles with serrated setae; and Tanystylum parahybanum sp. nov., which has small tubercles on cuticle, eighth article with three long dorsal setae and eighth and ninth articles with one serrated seta.

KEYWORDS:

• Pantopoda
• intertidal
• northeast Brazil
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Dr. João Nogueira and his research group, from Universidade de São Paulo, for the donation of part of the material studied herein. We are grateful to the anonymous referees for their critical review, corrections and suggestions regarding the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

RAL acknowledges a Doctoral scholarship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Ensino Superior. MLC is supported by a productivity grant (Process 302388/2014-1) from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico.