FIGURE 3 - uploaded by Hudson Pinheiro
Content may be subject to copyright.
Examples of reef fishes recorded for the first time at the Trindade-Martin Vaz oceanic insular complex. Halichoeres sp. (a); Cryptotomus roseus (b); Hypleurochilus sp. (c); Canthigaster figueiredoi (d); Sphoeroides spengleri (e); Chilomycterus reticulatus (f); Cyclichthys spinosus (g); Hybrid between C. furcifer and C. fulva (h). Photos by R. Santos (d, f); H. Pinheiro (the others).
Source publication
Thirty-two new records for shore fishes were made at the Trindade-Martin Vaz oceanic insular complex, located 1,160 km off the Brazilian coast. These records are related to an increase in sampling effort and to temporal variation in population size. Newly found but very abundant species hypothetically exemplify temporal variations in population siz...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... taxa Hypleurochilus sp. is not technically a new record as it has been reported by niger was the most abundant species overall). Hybrids between Cephalopholis furcifer and C. fulva (Linnaeus, 1758) were recorded (Figure 3, h) in the Parcel region at 4 -8 m of depth. These individuals have demersal habits and morphology similar to that of C. fulva, but have a duskier coloration, deeper body and bifurcate caudal fin. ...
Context 2
... that Halichoeres sp. (Figure 3, a) is a new species presently being described by the first author and colleagues. Common, this wrasse lives alone or in small aggregations (up to 15 individuals) between 6 m and at least 25 m, mostly in high complexity habitats. ...
Context 3
... combtooth blenny Hypleurochilus sp. (Figure 3, c), albeit not technically a new record since it is listed as H. fissicornis Quoy & Gaimard, 1824, is worth mentioning since the capture of a higher number of individuals revealed this species is actually new to science. ...
Context 4
... few records are unusual for diverse reasons. Aetobatus narinari (Figure 2, a) and Cryptotomus roseus (Figure 3, b) were sighted twice while only one specimen of Aulostomus strigosus, Plectrypops retrospinis and Remora remora were observed. Galeocerdo cuvier and Rhincodon typus were recorded from recent Brazilian Navy archives. ...
Citations
... Five species were selected as models to access habitat use due to their high density and biomass: the coney C. fulva (Linnaeus, 1758), the rock hind E. adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765), the greater soapfish R. saponaceus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), the Creole fish P. furcifer (Valenciennes, 1828) and the hybrid between C. fulva and P. furcifer, which is commonly detected at the island (Pinheiro et al., 2009;Reece, 2002). Two species are targeted by fisheries, C. fulva and E. adscensionis (Guabiroba, Santos, et al., 2020b). ...
... Hybrids of C. fulva and P. furcifer exhibit morphological traits of both species: the head is similar to P. furcifer and the posterior body portion is similar to C. fulva (e.g., truncate caudal fin instead of forked). Such hybridization occurs in other oceanic environments where both species are sympatric (e.g., Cuba, Bermuda, Brazil) (Bostrom, 2000;Bostrom et al., 2002;Pinheiro et al., 2009;Smith, 1966). According to Bostrom (2000) the morphology of the hybrids enables the specimens to prey on items included in the C. fulva diet (i.e., crustaceans and fish) and the P. furcifer diet (i.e., zooplankton). ...
Density‐dependent mechanisms and habitat use are important drivers of marine spatial distribution in complex ecosystems such as coral or rocky reefs. In the last decade, a few studies have assessed habitat use by reef fishes in nearshore and coastal environments along the Brazilian coast. Serranidae (groupers and sea basses) are regarded as excellent models for understanding habitat use patterns due to their diversity, long lifespan, wide distribution, morphological and functional diversity, and behavioural complexity. Their trophic position in the food web, from meso‐ to top‐predators, grants them critical roles as top‐down population controllers. Herein, we present the first assessment of habitat use by five sympatric Serranidae in a Brazilian oceanic island, Trindade. The model species selected for this assessment were the coney (Cephalopholis fulva), the rock hind (Epinephelus adscensionis), the greater soapfish (Rypticus saponaceus), the Creole‐fish (Paranthias furcifer) and the hybrid between C. fulva and P. furcifer. Our findings revealed that the species showed specific associations with topographic characteristics related to shelter from predation, reproduction and feeding. Habitat use in Trindade was similar to that observed in nearshore coastal environments (where the hybrid is absent). The present work contributes to the knowledge of habitat use and niche partitioning among key species, which is a valuable tool to subsidize effective conservation initiatives such as designing marine protected areas focusing on the behaviour and habitat use of key ecological players.
... Analyses of endemic species from VTC and TRI and its mainland sister species indicate intermittent connectivity and colonization events following growth of the mainland population (Pinheiro et al. 2017). For reef species with a higher capacity for colonization, the seamounts of VTC are currently functioning as stepping stones and contribute to genetic connectivity (Thomas et al. 2009;Pinheiro et al. 2009;Simon et al. 2013Simon et al. , 2021Macieira et al. 2015). However, for weak colonizers, and those species that are restricted to shallower waters, low gene flow results in genetic differentiation . ...
Despite the marine environment being typified by a lack of obvious barriers to dispersal, levels of genetic divergence can arise in marine organisms from historical changes in habitat availability, current oceanographic regimes and anthropogenic factors. Here we describe the genetic structure of the Gray Parrotfish, Sparisoma axillare, and identify environmental variables associated with patterns of genetic divergence throughout most of its distribution in Brazil. The heavily exploited Gray Parrotfish is endemic to Brazil, and there is lack of data on population structure that is needed to support sustainable management. To address this shortfall we analyzed 5429 SNPs from individuals sampled in nine locations, ranging from tropical to subtropical reef systems and costal to oceanic environments with varying levels of protection. We found low levels of genetic structure along the coast, including the oceanic island of Fernando de Noronha, and that a combination of water depth, ocean currents and geographic distance were the major drivers explaining genetic divergence. We identified a distinct genetic population around Trindade Island, 1000 km from the coast, highlighting the conservation significance of this population. Colonization of this oceanic site probably occurred during the Pleistocene periods of lower sea levels, allowing this shallow water-dependent species to use the seamount chain as stepping stones to Trindade. Our data further suggest that two protected areas, Costa dos Corais and Fernando de Noronha, likely play an important role as larval sources for much of the species distribution.
... In Brazilian waters, common sightings of R. typus generally occur in the archipelago of São Pedro e São Paulo, which is located 1000 km from the Brazilian coast (Hazin et al. 2008). Di Beneditto et al. (2021) analyzed whale sharks records in southeastern Brazil, and presented only two cases of this animal's sighting in the state of Espírito Santo (Fig. 2): (1) 60 km from the Brazilian coast at the same latitude as the current study (Andrades et al. 2012) and (2) 1160 km off the coast in the Archipelago of Trindade and Martin Vaz (Pinheiro et al. 2009). ...
An individual whale shark (Rhincodon typus) was recorded on January 15, 2020, during the marine megafauna drone-monitoring. The animal was filmed for approximately 400 m of swimming at an average speed of 4.8 km/h, 650 m southwest of the mouth of a river impacted by the rupture of a mining tailing dam 5 years ago. The whale shark is a filter-feeding and highly migratory species. This is a rare record of this threatened species, representing the importance of recovering and protecting biodiversity in the Rio Doce river mouth region.
... In Brazil, R. typus occurs along the coast and around the few oceanic islands (e.g., Soto & Nisa-Castro-Neto, 2000;Faria et al., 2009;Pinheiro et al., 2009;Gomes et al., 2010;Barbosa-Filho et al., 2016;Macena and Hazin, 2016). The knowledge of the species in Brazilian waters is based on scattered/occasional records of sightings, strandings and incidental captures in fisheries. ...
The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is an endangered fish species for which data in the South Atlantic Ocean are still scarce. This study presents and compares all the known records for this species in southeastern Brazil and recommends strategies to minimize the anthropic influence on its well-being locally and to enhance the database of records. Thirty-eight records were obtained from 1983 to 2020, including sightings (65.8%, n = 25), strandings (21.1%, n = 8), incidental captures in fisheries (10.5%, n = 4), and an incidental capture event followed by sighting (2.6%, n = 1). The results highlight the Rio de Janeiro state coast as an important site for R. typus in southeastern Brazil, where its presence is related to an upwelling zone (22 • S-23 • S; 41 • W-42 • W) and warmer sea surface temperature. The highest number of occurrences of R. typus on the Rio de Janeiro state coast was from February to May; this may be related to the seasonal availability of prey or even to the regulation of prey availability by sea surface temperature. Another feature that may attract R. typus individuals to this region is the offshore platforms positioned along the Campos Basin. The records do not indicate that the coastal waters from Rio de Janeiro state have potential for seasonal tourism activities based on R. typus presence. Although the feeding behavior of R. typus was not explicit from our records, we might infer that the coastal waters between 22 • S and 23 • S and 41 • W-42 • W are a feeding site in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
... For instance, studies on reef fish biodiversity have been conducted in Trindade Island since the early 20th century (Murray 1902;Nichols and Murphy 1914;Miranda Ribeiro 1919;Carvalho 1950), with more accu-rate surveys conducted one century later (e.g. Gasparini and Floeter 2001;Pinheiro et al. 2009;Simon et al. 2013). In contrast, Martin Vaz Archipelago, only 50 km east of Trindade, and some seamounts were first investigated in 1992 (Séret and Andreata 1992;Andreata and Séret 1995), with more detailed assessments conducted recently (Pinheiro et al. 2015a;Simon et al. 2013). ...
... In contrast, Martin Vaz Archipelago, only 50 km east of Trindade, and some seamounts were first investigated in 1992 (Séret and Andreata 1992;Andreata and Séret 1995), with more detailed assessments conducted recently (Pinheiro et al. 2015a;Simon et al. 2013). So far, it has been assumed that Trindade and Martin Vaz are part of a single zoogeographical unit, an assumption that is reasonable given the geographic proximity and the geological similarity of the two island groups (Pereira-Filho et al. 2011;Pinheiro et al. 2009;Simon et al. 2013). However, the low sampling effort in Martin Vaz precludes an accurate estimate. ...
... With one more dive in Martin Vaz and Davis, and recovering unreported species from our photographic database, we update the number of fish records to 80 and 104 in each site, respectively. The rate of new records per dive decreased from nine (Pinheiro et al. 2009;Simon et al. 2013) to three (this study) in Martin Vaz, and from 1.5 (Pinheiro et al. 2015a) to one (this study) in Davis Seamount. However, even in well-sampled sites, such as Trindade, the constant sampling effort and the use of different methods (e.g. ...
Oceanic islands and seamounts present high and unique biodiversity; however, these environments are still poorly understood. Here we report seven new records of fishes for Martin Vaz Archipelago, five for Trindade Island, and one for Davis Seamount, in the Vitória-Trindade Chain. Three species, Cookeolus japonicus (Cuvier, 1829), Promethichthys prometheus (Cuvier, 1832), and Psenes cyanophrys Valenciennes, 1833 are new records for the whole chain. Such isolated sites are among the last frontiers for shallow-reef exploration in the South Atlantic, and more scientific effort is needed to better understand their biogeography and to help advance conservation efforts.
... This decision was adopted by some authors (e.g. Pinheiro et al. 2009, Page et al. 2013. Based on morphological diagnosis of the genus we prefer to maintain both genera as distinct, a decision also followed by the ECoF Jordan, Tanaka and Snyder (1913: 152) as discussed by Pethiyagoda and Gill (2012: 11)]. ...
An annotated checklist of the groupers and sea basses known to date is given. Species are arranged in the subfamilies Anthiadinae,
Epinephelinae, and Serraninae and listed alphabetically according to the genus they belong to. The list includes 1183 nominal species
representing 579 valid species in 72 genera. Thirty-one new junior synonyms (Cerna acutirostris var. lata Döderlein, Holocentrus bicolor
Shaw, Centropristis brasiliensis Brisout de Barneville, Labrus caprulensis Nardo, Holocentrus chana Nardo, Serranus confertus
Anonymous, Holocentrus decussatus Shaw, Labrus fasciatus Walbaum, Perca fusca Thunberg, Serranus goliath Peters, Paraserranus
hasseltii Bleeker, Holocentrus hians Nardo, Grammistes lineatus Arnault, Holocentrus marinus variegatus Suchow, Serranus cruentatus
Peters, Holocentrus epinephelus Lacepède, Plectropoma melanorhina Guichenot, Serranus melas Peters, Prionodes nigropunctatus
Hildebrand, Perca pentacantha Lacepède, Holocentrus pirapixanga Lacepède, Labrus salviani Suckow, Serranus sarnicus Griffith and
Smith, Lutjanus scriptura Lacepéde, Bodianus sexlineatus Lacepède, Labrus spalatensis Walbaum, Centropristis springeri Weed,
Epinephelus striatus Bloch, Perca triacantha Lacepède, Lutjanus trilobatus Lacepède, Mustelichthys ui Tanaka) are recognized. Five
nomina oblita (Cerna sicana Döderlein, Epinephelus argus Bloch and Schneider, Grammistes compressus Liénard, Perca miniata
caeruleoocellata Forsskål, and Holocentrus zebra Marion de Procé) are here declared. Perca daba Forsskål is regarded as vernacular. An
unneeded replacement name (Epinephelus dermatolepis Boulenger) is discovered. Epinephelus gigas (Brünnich) should be regarded as the
valid name presently known as Epinephelus marginatus and an application to ICZN is needed to retain the latter and to preserve stability.
The enigmatic species Caesioscorpis theagenes and Hemilutjanus macrophthalmos are placed in the families Caesioscorpididae, new
family, and Hemilutjanidae new family, respectively.
... Despite the extensive range of distribution of R. typus in Brazil, from Rio Grande do Sul to Pará states ( Fig. 1), including around oceanic islands (Soto and Nisa-Castro-Neto 2000;Hazin et al. 2008;Pinheiro et al. 2009), records are rather scarce. Most reports are based on opportunistic sightings, incidental catches and strandings (Soto and Nisa-Castro-Neto 2000;Faria et al. 2009;Andrades et al. 2012;Barbosa-Filho et al. 2016). ...
... Despite the extensive range of distribution of R. typus in Brazil, from Rio Grande do Sul to Pará states ( Fig. 1), including around oceanic islands (Soto and Nisa-Castro-Neto 2000;Hazin et al. 2008;Pinheiro et al. 2009), records are rather scarce. Most reports are based on opportunistic sightings, incidental catches and strandings (Soto and Nisa-Castro-Neto 2000;Faria et al. 2009;Andrades et al. 2012;Barbosa-Filho et al. 2016). ...
We describe the first record of a whale shark, Rhincodon typus, feeding in Brazilian coastal waters, and the first stranding record in the state of Bahia, Northeast Brazil. In April 2008, an individual of R. typus was observed surface feeding on Dromiidae crab larvae in the continental shelf off the coast of Bahia, near a gas platform. Other fishes were observed foraging in association with the whale shark. We also document the first stranding of R. typus on the coast of Bahia in October 2013. Biometric data confirmed that the stranded whale shark was a juvenile. Stomach content analysis revealed the ingestion of Geryonidae crab larvae. Plastic debris were also found in the gastric lumen of the stranded juvenile whale shark, and we speculate that it could have been a contributing factor to the stranding, and subsequent death of the whale shark. Crab larvae were observed in both of our records and likely to consist as relevant prey items for R. typus in Brazilian continental shelf. Our study provided a contribution on the diet and feeding behaviour of whale sharks in tropical oligotrophic waters and highlights the risks of marine pollution for the species conservation.
... In the eastern extreme of the VTC, Trindade Island is an area of low level endemism and reef fish abundance, not influenced by the propagule flow along the VTC (Floeter and Gasparini, 2000;Joyeux et al., 2001;Floeter et al., 2008). Nevertheless, previous taxonomic studies (e.g., Pinheiro et al. (2009) and Rocha et al. (2010)) showed that approximately 10% of reef fish endemism was found around the island (Simon et al., 2013), similar to the level of endemism found in other South Atlantic isolated oceanic islands. ...
... Brazilian oceanic islands may indeed work as stepping stones, bridging species between different provinces, as some of them shelter Caribbean species (Rocha, 2003;Rocha, Robertson, Roman et al., 2005), or may work as landing spots for Indian Ocean species (Bowen, Muss, Rocha, & Grant, 2006;). An opposite pathway may also occur, as Brazilian and Caribbean species have been found in east Atlantic oceanic islands Pinheiro, Camilato, Gasparini, & Joyeux, 2009). ...
