Publisher : Bulletin of Marine Science
Place of publication :
Publication year : 2005
Thematic : Coral Reef
Language : English
Note
With the advent of SCUBA, the reef fish fauna has been substantially studied
around the world, but the great majority of in situ studies have focused exclusively
on a limited portion of this fauna, to depths of < 30 m. The present study represents
the first SCUBA- based survey of the deep reef fishes off the Brazilian coast between
35 and 70 m. A species list was compiled based on visual observations, collections,
video recording, and fishes obtained from commercial fishing boats. A total of 158
fish species belonging to 49 families was recorded. Thirty-two species were formally
recorded for the first time from the study area, four of which [Apogon robbyi Gilbert,
1997; Coryphopterus eidolon Böhlke & Robins, 1960; Psilotris batrachodes
Böhlke, 1963; and Xanthichthys ringens (Linnaeus, 1758)] represent new records for
the western South Atlantic. Fifty-seven species had their depth range extended to
depths > 40 m. The most species rich families were Carangidae (14 species), Gobiidae
(12), Lutjanidae (11), Labridae (11), Serranidae (10), Haemulidae (8), and Scaridae
(7). The presence of several species previously considered to have disjunct, or
anti-equatorial distribution, indicates that the deep reefs may function as a faunal
corridor between habitats in southeastern Brazil and the Caribbean.
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Keywords : Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje