Martin Lindsey Christoffersen

Universidade Federal da Paraíba | UFPB · Department of Systematics and Ecology

Sea cucumbers are the second most diverse class among echinoderms. They are characterized by an elongated body and dermal ossicles in the body wall. Among the included groups in that class, the order Holothuriida encompasses many species of commercial interest. Faced with the threats of biodiversity loss resulting from the climate crisis and the ad...

Most species of crustaceans are part of the most basal levels of the marine trophic web. Their study in Brazil has increased in recent years, but many aspects of crustaceans remain unknown and non-sampled. The littoral of the State of Paraíba, located in northeastern Brazil, remains one of these insufficiently explored areas, despite the increasing...

This work describes a methodological experience involving a study of the taxon Cycliophora, using a concept map. The methodological pathway included the search and organization of concepts based on a focal question. The resulting map, built with the software CmapTools, encompasses a central and more inclusive concept, linked to several more specifi...

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...

Polychaetes (Annelida) are typical marine invertebrates associated with macroalgae and coral reef environments, with a particular emphasis on tropical waters. In this study, 44 specimens were collected, belonging to ten families, 13 genera and 13 species, which the families Nereididae (with three species) and Amphinomidae (two species) were the mos...

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 o...

Class Ophiuroidea groups the most diverse and abundant organisms of the phylum Echinodermata, having approximately 2100 described species. They have a simple body plan, consisting of a central disk, where their main internal organs are located, and to which the arms are attached. Species are identified based mostly on external morphological charact...

O ensino de zoologia costuma ser abordado de modo tradicional, que têm como avalição principalmente a memorização das características dos filos. Nesta abordagem não há a preocupação de uma formação multidimensional, na qual o aluno teria a construção de um pensamento crítico e desenvolveria competências e habilidades. O presente estudo teve como ob...

The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, epidemiologic and laboratorial aspects of dogs with obesity and its possible correlation with other diseases. A total of 30 dogs were studied. Of these, 15 were obese and 15 were not. On the Control Group, there was a total of 10 females (5 neutered and 5 whole) and 5 males (all 5 neutered). On th...

Surgical intervention in animal patients affected by different pathologies is indicated so that they will have a better quality of life. Surgical procedures are now possible due to several advances in intervention technologies that are developed and updated for veterinary surgeons. In many cases, promptness in surgical intervention actions is the l...

Animal rearing regimes in zoos can be strongly altered according to the adaptation of animals to the captive environment. These changes can modulate animal well-being. In this review, we approach studies of ethological action and its impacts on the adaptation syndrome of captive animals. Zoos offer multiple ways of making adaptations of animals mor...

The use of organic waste for manufacturing animal ration is a technique that aims to reduce the waste of organic matter otherwise directed to discharge dumps. At the same time, it represents a source for the production of alternative food for animals such as swine and poultry. This bibliographic review aims to present an alternative formula for the...

In this study we carried out bibliographical research on the impacts that pig production can cause on the environment, highlighting what is necessary for its production. During the research, some current manuscripts on this theme were used in the Google Scholar tool. Brazil is the fourth largest producer and exporter of pork. Despite the importance...

Abstract 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. Euclymene vidali s...

Five species were identified in the studied collection: Colossendeis megalonyx Hoek, 1881, first record for Uruguay, Ascorhynchus corderoi du Bois-Reymond Marcus, 1952 and Pallenopsis candidoi Mello-Leitão, 1949, with extended ranges, Pallenopsis patagonica (Hoek, 1881), a species complex recently analysed with molecular data and Ammothea tetrapoda...

Colossendeis is a deep-water pycnogonid genus with a large world distribution. Some specimens may attain giant dimensions of almost 70 cm in leg span. Only C. geoffroyi had been recorded previously from Brazil. Deep-waters in the South Western Atlantic, particularly in Brazil, have been sampled only sparcely. In this paper we report C. arcuata and...

This work aimed to raise ocean awareness of 6th-grade students using marine invertebrates and integrating ludic activities within the curricula. Forty-two students from two public elementary schools from Northeast Brazil were selected. A pre-experimental design with pre-test/post-test was followed, using a questionnaire on ocean-environmental-relat...

If you walk on the beach, you may observe many kinds of stones of diverse colors. Surprisingly, some of these “stones” may be algae! A certain type of red algae creates structures called redstones, also known as rhodoliths. Rhodoliths are important builders and can create extensive banks at the bottom of the oceans. These bioengineers create an oas...

In this article, the internal organs of an olive sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) were described. The autopsy was based on a methodological guide of “Virchow”. The Cardiorespiratory, Digestive, Liver, Gallbladder, Pancreas, Spleen, Genito-Urinary System, and Endocrine System systems were observed. This description of the internal organs aimed to...

This study characterized rhodolith beds and the structure and function of their invertebrate communities in three tropical beaches subjected to different environmental impacts. The highest rhodolith density and invertebrate diversity and density were found on a beach with coarser sands (interpreted as indicative of higher hydrodynamics) and the hig...

Three new species of Androdeloscia Leistikow, 1999 from the Brazilian Amazonian rainforest are described. Androdeloscia bicornuata sp. nov., A. paraleilae sp. nov., and A. micropunctata sp. nov. were distinguished from the 26 other species of the genus mainly based on the shape of male pleopod I endopod. Androdeloscia bicornuata sp. nov. differs fr...

The teaching of zoology, although recent in basic education, is questioned methodologically. The main criticisms are that zoology teaching still follows an Aristotelian essentialist view. It is based on traditional expositions in the classroom, and it fragments and decontextualizes contents. All this hinders learning, especially when we are dealing...

Ophioderma appressum is a common and abundant ophiuroid species in tropical reef communities. Nevertheless, few studies analyse and describe its biology. In this paper, we evaluate and describe the diet of this species collected at Seixas reefs, João Pessoa, Brazil. Monthly diurnal samples were obtained between September 2018 and July 2019. In tota...

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...

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, an...

A lodging facility for domestic dogs is a development that provides accommodation services among its main activities. Other services, such as the provision of natural food, of baths, and of shearing, among others, are also offered when required. The inn aims to care for animals during the absence of the pet owner. While the animals are adequately a...

Polychaetes are typical marine invertebrates in the macroalgae and coral reefs environments, with a particular emphasis on tropical waters. In this study, 44 specimens were collected, belonging to 10 families, 13 genera and 13 species, among which the families Nereididae (with three species) and Amphinomidae (two spp.) were the most representative....

Starting from the construction of an ontology of the semaphoront, the basic empirical unit of biological systematics, Willi Hennig provides a theory capable of explaining and systematizing the differential character sharing between these units. The analysis of the multidimensional nature of the semaphoront is the basis for the comparative holomorph...

The Mamanguape River estuary represents an important environment for marine species, where there are the combination of soft-bottoms and reefs zones. The present study reports on the echinoderm species inhabiting Barra de Mamanguape, at Northeast coast of Brazil. A total of 83 specimens were analyzed, belonging to 13 species, 10 families and the cl...

Background and Objective: Rhodoliths (or ‘maërls’) are non-geniculated aggregates of coralline red algae, with a high content of calcium carbonate, forming extensive beds on the ocean bottoms. This study evaluated and characterized the rhodoliths and associated fauna, from beaches subjected to different impacts, from a structural and functional per...

Rhodolith beds (non-geniculated aggregates of coralline red algae) are extremely common and abundant in the Brazilian coast, especially in the Northeastern region. These algae are usually considered biodiversity hotspots for marine invertebrates. Nonetheless, ecological characterization studies are still scarce in the region. This study evaluated t...

Scientific collections represent a highly relevant social legacy. They provide a source for research and production of human resources at several academic levels and play a key role for the preservation of biodiversity. The Invertebrate Collection Paulo Young (CIPY), held at the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), contains one of the most compl...

The intense production of information demands coherent treatment of available bodies of theoretical knowledge. A critical revision of methods in use within research programs is essential to maintain an adequate ontology and to guarantee the particular epistemological position required by each research area. The theory of Phylogenetic Systematics wa...

One of the initial milestones for earthworm taxonomy was the work of Michaelsen (1900), “Das Tierreich Oligochaeta”. During this period only two exotic species of the genus Amynthas were recorded for the North and Northeast of Brazil. A century has passed and little is known about the taxonomy of earthworms in these two regions and the distribution...

Invertebrates associated with the reef ecosystems of Morro de São Paulo on Tinharé Island in the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil were studied from samples collected in January and September 2015. A total of 119 individuals belonging to 26 species and 16 families were identified among Pycnogonida and Echinodermata. The families Ophiactidae and O...

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...

Tardigrades, colloquially known as “water bears”, are diminutive animals with cosmopolitan distribution and a complex taxonomic characterization. They have four pairs of inconspicuously articulated legs with terminal claws. Although relevant for the understanding of animal evolution, the taxon Tardigrada as a whole has not received much attention i...

The populational control of wandering animals and the well-being of animals are among the non-resolved public policies in Brazil. The lack (or non-application) of educational and punitive laws in the area are some of the reasons for implementing Federal, State, and Municipal Public Policies dealing with this issue. The aim of this literature review...

The family Polynoidae includes a group of scale worms which is abundant in several marine environments, and many members are associated with other invertebrates. The genus Harmothoe is one of the largest in number of species within the polynoids, with more than 150 described species. We summarize in a checklist information relative to 23 nominal sp...

The nurse shark(Ginglymostomacirratum), also knownin Portuguese as “tubarãolixa” or “lambaru”, is found mostly in groups of variable size. Specimens inhabit the bottom of the sea, in warm, littoral waters. The nervous system of these sharks arises embryologically from the medullary plate, in which the cephalon develops. The cephalon is divided into...

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 s...

Tardigrados são animais de tamanho microscópico, com distribuição cosmopolita e apresentam quatro pares de pernas contendo garras na região terminal. São conhecidos como "ursos aquáticos". Tem caracterização complexa e são pouco estudados quando comparado com outros animais. Sendo a técnica de mapeamento conceitual de grande utilidade para exploraç...

Introduction: Rhodoliths are biogenic structures distributed worldwide, formed by several types of calcareous algae. They may host a great diversity of marine invertebrates, among which polychaetes are conspicuous and diversified representatives. Rhodolith beds are notwithstanding vulnerable to several human activities (e.g. exploitation of commerc...

Objetivo: Motivar o ensino da zoologia e ecologia marinha nas escolas do 7º ano, através de novas possibilidades didáticas, para que este conhecimento seja reconhecido, transmitido e fomentado através de práticas quotidianas na preservação das zonas costeiras. Conclusões: Após a realização das atividades lúdicas, ambas as escolas revelaram uma melh...

Este trabalho descreve sobre uma investigação direcionada para sistematizar conteúdos envolvidos acerca dos animais entoproctos (camptozoários), por meio de mapa conceitual (MC). O percurso vivencial incluiu a busca e organização dos conceitos, seguindo a proposta novaquiana, ao explicitar: questão focal, conceito central (mais inclusivo), diversos...

Considering that certain terms and concepts are necessary for the interpretation of phylogenetic context underlying the classification of biological diversity and some of them are considered abstract and difficult to understand, the present study aimed to: a) assess the phylogenetic terms cited in texts published in the proceedings of a scientific...

The purpose of this study is to address traumas in the oral cavity due to the use of removable or total prostheses, that either fit poorly into the oral cavity or are incorrectly sanitized by the patient. We highlight the need for a Surgical Dentist to perform possible corrections, and to perform a follow-up of the patient after the procedure. It i...

The Jaguaribe river is entirely urban in its extent. It follows a convoluted course through the city of João Pessoa, the capital of the State of Paraíba. As with other urban water bodies in Brazil, the quality of its water is compromised by diffuse contaminations arising from a diverse array of polluting sources originating from diverse localities...

The SPOAN syndrome is a neurodegenerative disease of autosomal recessive inheritance that causes atrophy of muscles of the upper and lower limbs of the affected individuals. The disease had its initial characterization carried out in individuals originating in the upper western part of the city of Serrinha dos Pintos, State of Rio Grande do Norte,...

Pigrogromitus timsanus Calman, 1927 is a species of pycnogonid that has a broad world distribution and belongs to a monotypic genus. Although this species was recorded for the first time in the Southern Atlantic from the port of Natal, state of Rio Grande do Norte, this record appeared in the grey literature, has gone unnoticed, and to our knowledg...

p>O estudo da biodiversidade é de extrema urgência, devido principalmente à velocidade dos impactos ambientais que atingem principalmente o meio marinho. Devido a essas alterações, parte da biota encontra-se inacessível em meio natural. Neste sentido as coleções biológicas aparecem como ponto chave, servindo de bancos de dados imprescindível para t...

This is the first record of a pycnogonid for the Iranian coast. It is also the first record of an Endeis, and of Endeis biseriata, for the waters of the Gulf of Oman. A single specimen was collected in an algal bed of Padina sp., along Chabahar Bay, in February 2017. It is deposited in the Zoology Museum of the University of Hormozgan. E. biseriata...

The sea urchin Centrostephanus longispinus rubicingulus was rediscovered on the continental shelf of Brazil. The subspecies was merely recorded in 1955, when Bernasconi described Centrostephanus besnardi (a synonym of C. longispinus rubicingulus), on the basis of two specimens collected at Trindade Island (State of Espírito Santo). This is the firs...

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 unsatisfacto...

Forest fragmentation favours the propagation of some arboreal primate species that can alter the floristic composition of a community. This process may be associated with the loss of seed dispersants. In this work we propose to identify if the presence of frugivorous primates of medium and large size (Sapajus flavius and Alouatta belzebul) can infl...

Anoplodactylus is the largest and the most abundant genus of Phoxichilidiidae, with 134 described species, most from shallow waters. The genus is cosmopolitan and easily encountered in Brazil. The present work catalogues the species of Anoplodactylus found in Brazilian waters and describes two new species for the coast of northeastern Brazil. The m...

Objective: The present study aimed to analyse the polychaete communities associated with rhodolith beds subjected to touristic pressure. Study area: The study was performed at the Seixas Beach, where tourism is gradually increasing over time. Effects were evaluated at two depths, 1.5m and 4.0m. Results and Conclusions: 733 individuals of 49 species...

Rhodoliths are worldwide biogenic structures formed by several types of calcareous algae, housing a great diversity of marine invertebrates, among which polychaetes are conspicuous and diversified representatives. Rhodolith beds are notwithstanding vulnerable to several human activities, including the exploitation of commercial species associated,...

The present study distinguishes types of fishing activities. It records the most economically exploited shrimps in the municipality of Lucena, Paraíba, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri ("espigudo"), and Penaeus schmitti (white shrimp). From October 2014 to October 2015, samples containing 700 gr of shrimp were collected at three sites of artisanal fishing. Dat...

We compile all published information on the Recent Pentastomida published to date, including complet synonyms, and speci es distributions. All host species are cited and their names updated. A taxonomicalhistory of the group, a synthesis of phylogenetic information for the taxon, and a summary of the pentastomes by host groups, with accounts of the...

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. Records from Brazil began with Krøyer in the 1840s. Collections from Brazil...

O presente livro é resultado de uma monografia, uma dissertação e do inicio de uma tese de doutorado. Tem por objetivo catalogar todas as espécies já registradas para águas brasileiras. Ao mesmo tempo, introduz os Pycnogonida, um grupo de artrópodes marinhos do subfilo Chelicerata, pouco conhecido até mesmo no meio acadêmico. Os picnogonídeos se di...

A new species in the previously monotypic genus Xiphoniscus Vandel, 1968, X. adisi sp. nov. is described. Both X. mirabilis Vandel, 1968 from Ecuador and X. adisi sp. nov. from Brazil occur in the Amazon rainforest. The new species shows a prolonged coxal plate II drawn out caudally, an autapomorphy of Xiphoniscus. Xiphoniscus adisi sp. nov. differ...

A simplified cladogram of Sarcopterygii was used to analyse preadaptations compared with exaptations at the origin of terrestriality in Vertebrata. The cladogram contains Neotetrapoda – the crown group of the terrestrial sarcopterygians – and its sister group, Actinopterygii. The concept of preadaptation is considered unsuitable because (1) the ter...

This study presents a review of the species Protankyra ramiurna Heding, 1928 and Protankyra benedeni (Ludwig, 1881) from the Brazilian coast. Some authors consider that these two taxa represent a single variable species. Our comparative analysis of external characters, anatomy and ossicle morphology indicates that they represent distinct species. T...

This study presents the species of echinoderms found inside rhodolith branches from Seixas Beach, State of Paraíba, Brazil, during one year of rhodolith sampling. A total of 64 specimens were analyzed and identified into 12 species, belonging to 11 genera, eight families and three classes. Brief taxonomic descriptions, figures and ecological notes...

The fireworm Hermodice carunculata is an active predator of many benthic organisms from coral reefs. We present a first record for the South America of the predation by this polychaete on a colony of Palythoa caribaeorum, in Maracajaú reefs, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Obituary: André Souza dos Santos (1983–2015) - Volume 97 Issue 5 - José Eriberto De Assis, Ana Claudia Dos Santos Brasil, Martin Lindsey Christoffersen

p align="justify">Uma espécie de picnogonídeo classificada na família Pallenopsidae Fry, 1978 e no gênero Pallenopsis Wilson, 1881 é registrada neste estudo para a costa do estado da Paraíba (nordeste do Brasil), com base na identificação de três espécimes fêmeas coletadas na zona infralitoral em profundidades de 12 a 34 metros. Pallenopsis flumine...

p align="justify">O estudo apresenta a primeira lista de espécies de holotúrias para a costa do Estado da Paraíba, região nordeste do Brasil. A lista de espécies foi elaborada com base no estudo de espécimes depositados na coleção de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Um total de 16 espécies pertencentes a sete famílias for...

A grande transição evolutiva entre animais do ambiente aquático para a terra firme intriga as pessoas que aceitam o processo evolutivo como responsável pelas mudanças das espécies biológicas ao longo do tempo geológico. A espécie humana faz parte do grupo de espécies que possuem coluna vertebral nas costas. Podemos perceber que os animais popularme...

This review assesses the current knowledge of polychaetes from Brazil, focusing on its historical development, known diversity, available human resources and collections. Despite advances made over the last few decades, the diversity of polychaetes in Brazil remains poorly known, since most of the eight marine ecoregions in the country are not prop...

Coastal ecosystems of northeastern Brazil have important biodiversity with regard to marine mollusks, which are insufficiently studied. Here we provide an inventory of mollusks from two sites in the estuary of the Paraíba River. Mollusks were collected in 2014 and 2016 on the coast and sandbanks located on the properties of Treze de Maio and Costin...

We present herein a first synthesis of the available literature, together with an evaluation of the status of polychaete research in Brazil, but without providing an exhaustive list of the Brazilian polychaete literature, although most of the taxonomic papers on the local fauna are included in the bibliographic section. Although we have not include...

A catalogue of the terrestrial Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae is provided, with 10 genera and 18 species reported to date from South America. In addition, we provide the valid names, their synonyms, and the original citation. Eudrilidae and Megascolecidae contain members that have a global distribution, probably as a result of human dispersion. The...

Termites are important components of tropical ecosystems, as decomposers and for their outstanding role in feeding guilds. There are about 2,800 species of termites in terrestrial ecosystems, organized into seven families. Factors that determine abundance in termite colonies are soil type, quality of microhabitat, humidity, and availability of food...

O presente estudo apresenta a lista das espécies de poliquetas coletados na Praia do Seixas, Município de João Pessoa, Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Um total de 21 famílias, 36 gêneros e 49 espécies foram identificados. Os espécimes foram coletados durante o ano de 2015, bimestralmente, dentro de amostras de rodolitos. As Famílias Eunicida...

Pentamera paraibanensis sp. n. 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...

About 133 species of Ophiuroidea are known from the Brazilian coast. Of these, seven belong to the family Ophiodermatidae Ljungman, 1867 and six to the genus Ophioderma Müller & Troschel, 1840. The aim of this study is to record the presence of Ophioderma brevicauda Lütken, 1856 for the Brazilian coast. The specimens were collected, identified usin...

We report the first documented association of the gastropods Stramonita brasiliensis Claremont and D. G. Reid, 2011 and Pugilina tupiniquim Abbate and Simone, 2015 based on specimens found in the intertidal zone off the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. In total, 206 specimens of P. tupiniquim were observed and 91 had S. brasiliensis species...

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 C....

The Abrolhos Archipelago is the most complex and diversified reef complex of the Southern Atlantic, being characterized by high levels of endemism. It belongs to the least studied area of the Brazilian littoral. Although the study of Pycnogonida from this area started in 1881, just three species are known for this archipelago up to now. This area h...

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...

The genus Hesione includes many nominal species throughout the world, of which the first described was the species Hesione splendida, from the Red Sea. Subsequently, during the last eighty years, some polychaetes researchers have been proposed many synonyms for this taxon. We revised all synonyms of H. splendida based on type material, Brazilian sp...

The genus Penelope is a group of guans of the family Cracidae, Order Galliformes, which is widely distributed in Brazil, totaling seven species (Penelope jacquacu, P. jacucaca, P. marail, P. pileata, P. obscura, P. ochrogaster and P. superciliaris). Each guan species has a particular distribution, with the exception of the Rusty-margined Guan (P. s...

Nomenclatural observations of the family Hesionidae Grube, 1850 (Annelida, Polychaeta), and according to the “Principle of Priority”, International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, demonstrate that some current names present in this family are invalid. Firstly, the name of the subfamily Ophiodrominae, which is based on genus Ophiodromus Sars, 1862,...

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014 Sea stars of the genus Echinaster are common in reef habitats along the whole Brazilian coastline, being also rarely found in estuarine environments. Because of their intensive exploitation for ornamental purposes, magical-religious rituals, and medical applicati...

An inventory of the gastropods associated with three species of reef macroalgae having different thallus structures are provided. We discuss how algal architecture influences diversity patterns, abundance and species richness. Fronds of the macroalgae Gracilaria domingensis (Kützing) Sonder ex Dickie, 1874, Padina pavonica (Linnaeus) Thivy, 1960, a...