Identification of phlebotomine sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Atlantic forest fragments and their dispersal to urban area.

The geographical distribution of sand flies in Brazil has been the subject of some studies, yet there is no information about the phlebotomine fauna in João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Brazil. The aim of this work is to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of sand flies in the Atlantic forest fragments and to evaluate a possible dispersion in 06 nearby districts. Light traps were used during three consecutive nights, supplemented by an aspirator during the dry period and rainy season.

An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency.

Red calcareous algae create bio-aggregations ecosystems constituted by carbonate calcium, with two main morphotypes: geniculate and non-geniculate structures (rhodoliths may form bio-encrustations on hard substrata or unattached nodules). This study presents a bibliographic review of the order Corallinales (specifically, rhodoliths), highlighting on morphology, ecology, diversity, related organisms, major anthropogenic influences on climate change and current conservation initiatives. These habitats are often widespread geographically and bathymetrically, occurring in the photic zone from the intertidal area to depths of 270 m.

A new species of Euclymene (Maldanidae, Annelida) from Brazil, with new combinations, and phylogenetic implications for Euclymeninae.

Maldanids are tube-building polychaetes, known as bamboo-worms; inhabit diverse marine regions throughout the world. The subfamily Euclymeninae was proposed to include forms with anal and cephalic plates, a funnel-shaped pygidium, and a terminal anus. Euclymene, the type genus of Euclymeninae, has about 18 valid species.

Three new species of Androdeloscia Leistikow, 1999 (Oniscidea: Philosciidae) from the Brazilian Amazonia.

Three new species of Androdeloscia Leistikow, 1999 from the Brazilian Amazonian rainforest are described. Androdeloscia bicornuata sp. nov.

Marine invertebrates associated with rhodoliths/maërl beds from northeast Brazil (State of Paraíba).

Background: This study investigates the marine macroinvertebrate fauna of rhodolith beds (non-geniculated red corallinaceaous algae) in northeast Brazilian. A total of 57 species were identified, belonging to six phyla (Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Sipuncula, Mollusca, Arthropoda and Echinodermata), of which 50 are considered here as new records for the Paraíba State. Annelids (Class Polychaeta) were the most representative taxa in Miramar and Seixas Beaches, while molluscs were dominant in Maceió Beach.

Catalogue of living crinoids (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) from Brazil.

Knowledge of living crinoids from Brazil is chiefly restricted to the contributions of Dr Luis Roberto Tommasi between the decades of 1950 and 1970. Herein we present an updated catalogue of the crinoids occurring along the Brazilian coast, including data on synonyms, type localities, type material, geographical distribution, bathymetric ranges, and occurrences of species along the coast. The data is based on an extensive revision of the literature and on a survey of several databases.

Dendrochirotida (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the northeastern coast of Brazil.

The study presents a review of the Dendrochirotida species from shallow waters of the northeastern coast of Brazil. A total of 1,268 specimens were analyzed and 24 species were recorded, which were classified into 16 genera of Cucumariidae, Psolidae, Phyllophoridae, and Sclerodactylidae. Detailed descriptions and figures of the taxonomic characters are provided to facilitate species identification.

Pycnogonida (Arthropoda) from Uruguayan waters (Southwest Atlantic): annotated checklist and biogeographic considerations.

Records of pycnogonids from Uruguayan waters (south-western Atlantic) include 26 species cited from precise locations, and at least five other species based on unconfirmed records. Nearly half of the species in that fauna belong to the genus Nymphon (12 spp.).

Taxonomic guide and historical review of echinoids (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) from northeastern Brazil.

The class Echinoidea contains among the best-known echinoderms. The group has left the most complete fossil record of this phylum, and contains about 1000 living species, of which 51 are recorded along the Brazilian coast. Although the first record of echinoids in Brazil was made 369 years ago, the knowledge of this fauna remains quite unsatisfactory from a taxonomic and ecological point of view, particularly in the north and northeastern regions of the country.

An annotated checklist of Brazilian sea spiders (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida).

The Brazilian coast is over 7000 km long. It is comprised of diverse environments such as reef, lagoons and mangroves. These diverse habitats support great biological diversity but, due to the extension of the coast, knowledge of the pycnogonid fauna is poor and fragmented.

A new species of Ayres, 1852 from the Brazilian coast (Holothuroidea, Dendrochirotida, Phyllophoridae).

is described from more than 3000 specimens as a new species of Phyllophoridae from northeast Brazil, in the tropical southwestern Atlantic. It is distinguished from its congeners by the shape of the calcareous ring with moderate posterior processes, and by the tables in the body wall with a usually quadrilocular disc and a low, toothed spire composed of two pillars. The body is brown, with the tube feet in double rows per ambulacrum, and tentacles more lightly colored.

Taxonomic status of the genera Amphipholizona H.L. Clark, 1915 (Ophiuroidea, Ophiolepididae) and Amphigyptis Nielsen, 1932 (Hemieuryalidae): systematic placement and synonymy.

We synonymize Amphipholizona (Ophiolepididae) and Amphigyptis (Hemieuryalidae), suggest their transfer to family Amphiuridae, and propose a new species combination (Amphipholizona perplexa new comb.). We further provide a new diagnosis for the genus Amphipholizona, a dichotomic identification key for the two species now belonging to this genus and re-describe and illustrate for the first time some of the internal characters, such as the genital plates, vertebrae, and inner side of the lateral arm plate.

Redescription and designation of a neotype for Caecum floridanum (Littorinimorpha, Truncatelloidea, Caecidae) with a characterization of the protoconch and growth stages.

After an extensive search for the type specimens of Caecum floridanum Stimpson, 1851, we believe that these specimens may have been either lost or destroyed in the Chicago fire (1871). This paper presents a redescription of the species and a neotype is designated based on material from the type locality (Florida). Protoconch and growth stages of Caecum floridanum are described and illustrated herein.

A catalogue of the scaleworm genus Lepidonotus (Polynoidae, Polychaeta) from South America, with two new records for Brazilian waters.

The genus Lepidonotus is the largest in number of species within the Polynoidae, with more than 70 described species and subspecies. A catalogue of 18 nominal species and subspecies of Lepidonotus from South America is provided, with valid names, synonyms and original citations. Redescriptions and illustrations of two species based on new specimens collected along the littoral of the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil are included.

A new species of Anoplodactylus (Pycnogonida: Phoxichilidiidae) from Brazil, with a case of gynandromorphism in Anoplodactylus eroticus Stock, 1968.

A new species of Anoplodactylus was discovered in coral reefs from the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. A. mirim sp.

Redescription of Hemieuryale pustulata von Martens, 1867 (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) based on Brazilian specimens, with notes on systematics and habitat association.

We redescribe Hemieuryale pustulata on the basis of 325 specimens obtained from the continental shelf off northeastern and southeastern Brazil. This is the first record of the species for Brazil. We illustrate for the first time details of the dental plate, oral plate, and vertebrae.

Aspidochirotida (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the northeast coast of Brazil.

This is a taxonomic work on the aspidochirotid sea cucumbers from shallow waters in Northeast Brazil. We studied 165 specimens, classified into 2 families, 3 genera, 7 subgenera and 9 species. Descriptions, illustrations and literature data are included for each species, in addition to ecological notes and information on their distribution in the northeast coast of Brazil.

Sabellaria and Lygdamis (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) from reefs off northeastern Brazil including a new species of Sabellaria.

Members of the polychaete taxon Sabellariidae Johnston, 1865 are known to live in sand tubes cemented onto rocky substrata, mollusk shells, or sea grasses. Of 37 known Sabellaria species, only nine were reported for the Brazilian coast, in all cases being associated with aggregates of other species. The genus is considered cosmopolitan.

Taxonomic guide and historical review of starfishes in northeastern Brazil (Echinodermata, Asteroidea).

Presently more than 1900 species of sea stars are recognized, of which 77 are recorded for the coast of Brazil. Although the first starfish record in Brazil was published 363 years ago, our knowledge of this fauna remains unsatisfactory from a systematic and ecological point of view, particularly in the north and northeastern regions of the country. This study provides the first annotated list of sea stars from northeastern Brazil.

Spatiotemporal distribution and population structure of Monokalliapseudes schubarti (Tanaidacea: Kalliapseudidae) in an estuary in Southern Brazil.

Monokalliapseudes schubarti is an endemic tanaidacean microcrustacean from southeastern Brazil to Uruguay inhabiting low energy estuaries. Saco da Fazenda is located in the estuary of the Itajaí-Açú River, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is exposed to strong anthropic impact and receives intensive flows of domestic wastewater, solid residues, and drainage activities.

A taxonomic guide to the brittle-stars (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) from the State of Paraíba continental shelf, Northeastern Brazil.

We provide the first annotated checklist of ophiuroids from the continental shelf of the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Identification keys and taxonomic diagnoses for 23 species, belonging to 14 genera and 8 families, are provided. The material is deposited in the Invertebrate Collection Paulo Young, at the Federal University of Paraíba.

PHYLOGENY AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE PANDALOIDEA (CRUSTACEA, CARIDEA).

Abstract- A manual cladistic analysis, subsequently expanded with a PAUP computer analysis, was performed on 21 genera of the monophyletic taxon Pandaloidea. Morphological data were obtained from the literature for 146 of the 152 known species-group taxa and from specimens belonging to 11 genera and 15 species-those of Pantomus parvulus extending the known range from the North Western Atlantic to Uruguay. The taxon Physetocaridoidca was synonymized with Pandaloidea, and the genus Pandalopsis with "Pandalus".