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Despite the great advances in research on the taxonomy and ecology of hydroids of the Brazilian coast, those studies are concentrated in the Southeast and South regions of the country, leaving a gap in knowledge from the North and Northeast regions. Aiming to fill part of this gap, we studied the hydroids communities in the state of Sergipe, Northeast Brazil, in the continental shelf and in three estuarine regions. In the continental shelf, samplings with fishing trawls took place during the dry and rainy seasons of 1999-2003 (8 campaigns), from 18 stations distributed at depths of 10, 20, and 30 m. In the estuaries of the rivers Japaratuba, Sergipe and Vaza-Barris three ropes with six polyethylene plates were installed in each place and left submerged for three months in the dry and rainy periods of 2017. Seventy-nine hydroid species of 26 families were identified. Sixteen of these have been assigned to nine Anthoathecata families and the remaining 63 species to 17 Leptothecata families. Among the identified species, 60 are new records from Sergipe and among those, nine are also new records from the Northeast region and two from the Brazilian coast. Our results increase the hydroid records from Sergipe and extend the range of some species inside the Brazilian coast and the Atlantic Ocean, showing the potential for future studies in other environments of the Sergipe coast.

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The Argentine continental margin is a poorly explored area as regards its benthic biodiversity. Few works have been made near the Brazil-Malvinas confluence (around 38° S) regarding corals, especially in deep waters (over 1000 m). Hitherto 17 species of stylasterids are known from southwestern Atlantic (SWA) off Argentina. Fourteen species of stylasterids collected from the Mar del Plata submarine canyon and adjacent area in years 2012 and 2013 at depths between 800 and 2200 m are discussed, including the descriptions of 13 of them. The geographic distribution of six species and bathymetric range of occurrence of two species are broadened in this work. Stations where most specimens were collected are located in areas where sedimentation is known to be scarce. Species in common between the study area and the Antarctic region, south of Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and New Caledonia suggest the Circumpolar Antarctic Current and the Malvinas Current are the means for dispersion. A key of identification of all stylasterid species off Argentina is included.

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Introducción: El Domo de Costa Rica es considerado como uno de los lugares de mayor importancia debido a que es una zona de afloramiento de agua, donde se desarrolla una alta productividad primaria. Los sifonóforos son organismos depredadores que constituyen uno de los grupos más abundantes de la biomasa zooplanctónica. Objetivo: Analizar la composición específica, la abundancia y la distribución de los sifonóforos. Métodos: Las muestras fueron obtenidas durante la campaña oceanográfica DOMO I realizadas en febrero y marzo de 1979 por el personal del Laboratorio de Oceanografía Física del Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Las muestras de zooplancton fueron recolectadas con una red estándar tipo CalCoFI elaborada con malla de 0.3 mm y analizadas en el Laboratorio de Invertebrados de la Facultad de Ciencias de la UNAM. Resultados: Se identificaron un total de 30 especies de las cuales 27 pertenecen al suborden Calycophorae y tres al suborden Physonectae. Eudoxoides mitra, Muggiaea atlantica, Chelophyes contorta y Lensia hotspur fueron las especies dominantes; C. Contorta mostró una amplía distribución con 85% de aparición, seguida por Eudoxoides mitra (82%), Agalma okeni (73%), Muggiaea atlántica (64%) y Abylopsis eschscholtzi (61%). La fase poligástrica fue predominante en las especies de calicóforos y la fase eudoxia solo fue observada en Diphyes dispar, Eudoxoides mitra, Chelophyes appendiculata, Ceratocymba dentata, Abylopsis eschscholtzi, Abylopsis tetragona, Bassia bassensis y Enneagonum hyalinum. Conclusión: La alta diversidad y densidad de los sifonóforos en esta investigación muestra su importancia en la gran productividad del Domo de Costa Rica.

Introduction: Costa Rica Dome is considered as a place with great importance, characterized by an upwelling event with high primary productivity. Siphonophores are predatory organisms that constitute one of the most abundant groups of the zooplankton biomass. Objective: To analyze the specific composition, abundance and distribution of siphonophores from the upwelling region of the central America. Methods: Samples were obtained during the oceanographic campaign DOMO I, which was carried out during February and March of 1979 by the 'Laboratorio de Oceanografía Física del Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)'. The zooplankton samples were collected with a standard CalCoFI net with 0.3 mm mesh, and then analyzed in the laboratory. Results: A total of 30 species were identified, of which 27 belong to the suborder Calycophorae and three to the suborder Physonectae. Eudoxoides mitra, Muggiaea atlantica, Chelophyes contorta and Lensia hotspur were dominant species. C. contorta was observed with a wide distribution in the study area occupying 85% of the stations. It is followed by Eudoxoides mitra (82%), Agalma okeni (73%), Muggiaea atlántica (64%) and Abylopsis eschscholtzi (61%). The poligastric stage of calycophores species was predominant and the eudoxie stage was only observed in Diphyes dispar, Eudoxoides mitra, Chelophyes appendiculata, Ceratocymba dentata, Abylopsis eschscholtzi, Abylopsis tetragona, Bassia bassensis and Enneagonum hyalinum. Conclusion: The high diversity and density of siphonophores in this research show their importance on the great productivity in the Costa Rica Dome.

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Two new Erenna species, E. insidiator sp. nov. and E. sirena sp. nov., are described from specimens collected in the vicinity of Monterey Bay, California, and also, for E. sirena at the southern end of the Gulf of California, Mexico. Further information on the three extant Erenna species is given, based on specimens collected in the same areas. These have enabled, for instance, the identification of three types of tentilla on the tentacles of E. cornuta Pugh, 2001, rather than the two noted on the single previously known specimen. The genus is remarkable for the presence of bioluminescent lures on the tentilla of all five species. In E. sirena sp. nov. the tentilla are also covered by a red-fluorescent layer, which was briefly described by Haddock et al. (2005), and further details are given herein. Another extraordinary feature of the colonies E. sirena sp. nov. is that the main part of the tentacle, with its tentilla, can be extended away from the siphosomal stem on a long peduncle. This phenomenon also appears to occur in E. laciniata Pugh, 2001, and has not been observed before for other physonect species.

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The siphonophores of the Brazilian coast are poorly studied, despite their abundance and ecological importance. Lensia is the most diverse genus within Siphonophora, with twenty-six valid species. A total of twenty species of Lensia are recorded for South American marine waters. This study presents morphological descriptions and an identification key to the species of Lensia that were collected in two oceanographic campaigns throughout the southeastern Brazilian coast. A total of sixty-one specimens were photographed, described, schematized and measured, and fifteen species of Lensia were identified.

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The siphonophores of the Brazilian coast are poorly studied, despite their abundance and ecological importance. Lensia is the most diverse genus within Siphonophora, with twenty-six valid species. A total of twenty species of Lensia are recorded for South American marine waters. This study presents morphological descriptions and an identification key to the species of Lensia that were collected in two oceanographic campaigns throughout the southeastern Brazilian coast. A total of sixty-one specimens were photographed, described, schematized and measured, and fifteen species of Lensia were identified.(AU)

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Thirty new species of benthic leptothecate hydroids were described and named from Patagonia in a 1991 PhD dissertation by Mohamed El Beshbeeshy. Although constituting nomina nuda under provisions of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), the names of some species were used in several scientific publications between 1991 and 2011. In 2011, the dissertation of El Beshbeeshy was published in accordance with Article 8 of the ICZN. Several species-group names appearing in that work nevertheless fail to fully comply with certain articles of the code. The goal of this contribution is to review the nomenclatural availability of the names of those 30 new taxa, and to clearly establish the current status of El Beshbeeshy's material. Two of them were made available in 1999 as part of studies other than those of El Beshbeeshy, and correct authorship and date is here noted. Twenty-one of the nomina nuda were made available in a work published by El Beshbeeshy in 2011, although some constitute junior synonyms. Six of the new species-group names appearing in both the 1991 and 2011 works, established following a literature review of Patagonian species, were proposed without re-description, or designation of name-bearing types, or locations of such types. Most of them do not meet criteria of availability and remain nomina nuda. The status of each is discussed to avoid additional nomenclatural errors and continued taxonomic confusion.

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Siphonophores are poorly studied despite their abundance and ecological importance in marine ecosystems. The genus Lensia Totton, 1932 contains the highest number of species within Siphonophora, but systematic studies of these organisms are scarce in the literature. This study presents a phylogenetic analysis for fifteen species of Lensia based on morphological data. The material for this study was obtained during two oceanographic campaigns made along the southeastern Brazilian coast. A total of twenty two characters of the anterior nectophore morphology were scored. The shortest trees were searched using parsimony (under different weighting regimes). All analyses provided the same topology: (M. kochi (D. dispar + D. bojani) (L. leloupi (L. havock (L. conoidea (L. subtilis; L. meteori; L. hardy; L. fowleri; (L. subtiloides (L. hotspur; L. cossack; L. campanella)); (L. multicristata (L. hunter (L. lelouveteau + L. grimaldii))). The monophyly of the genus Lensia is supported by the hydroecium measuring up to 1/4 the height of the nectosac.

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Leptothecata are hydrozoans whose hydranths are covered by perisarc and gonophores and whose medusae bear gonads on their radial canals. They develop complex polypoid colonies and exhibit considerable morphological variation among species with respect to growth, defensive structures and mode of development. For instance, several lineages within this order have lost the medusa stage. Depending on the author, traditional taxonomy in hydrozoans may be either polyp- or medusa-oriented. Therefore, the absence of the latter stage in some lineages may lead to very different classification schemes. Molecular data have proved useful in elucidating this taxonomic challenge. We analyzed a super matrix of new and published rRNA gene sequences (16S, 18S and 28S), employing newly proposed methods to measure branch support and improve phylogenetic signal. Our analysis recovered new clades not recognized by traditional taxonomy and corroborated some recently proposed taxa. We offer a thorough taxonomic revision of the Leptothecata, erecting new orders, suborders, infraorders and families. We also discuss the origination and diversification dynamics of the group from a macroevolutionary perspective.

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The Christmas tree hydroid Pennaria disticha is listed as one of the most common introduced species in Hawaii. Firstly reported in Kaneohe Bay (Oahu) in 1928, it is now established throughout the entire archipelago, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a U.S. National Monument and World Heritage site. The Hawaiian population of P. disticha has also been reported as being the source of further introductions to Palmyra Atoll in the U.S. Line Islands. Using a phylogenetic hypothesis based on a 611 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial 16S barcoding gene, we demonstrate that P. disticha is a complex of cryptic species, rather than one species with cosmopolitan distribution. We also show that in Hawaii there are three species of Pennaria, rather than one introduced species. Two of these species share haplotypes with specimens from distant locations such as Florida and Panama and may have been introduced, possibly from the Atlantic Ocean. A third species could either represent a lineage with nearly cosmopolitan distribution, or another introduced species. Our dataset refutes the widely accepted idea that only one lineage of P. disticha is present in Hawaii. On the contrary, P. disticha in Hawaii may be the outcome of multiple independent introductions of several morphologically undistinguishable cryptic lineages. Our results uncover an unsuspected complexity within the very common hydroid P. disticha, and highlight the need for routine use of molecular tools, such as DNA barcoding, to improve the identification and recognition of non-indigenous species.

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The genus Nemopsis, a bougainvillid hydrozoan with a dominant medusa phase, currently includes three species (Nemopsis bachei, N. dofleini and N. hexacanalis), all characterized by the presence of a pair of club-shaped tentacles in the median portion of the marginal bulbs. In this paper, we describe a fourth species, based on the medusa collected off Dichato, central Chilean coast.

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The genus Orthopyxis is widely known for its morphological variability, making species identification particularly difficult. A number of nominal species have been recorded in the southwestern Atlantic, although most of these records are doubtful. The goal of this study was to infer species boundaries in the genus Orthopyxis from the southwestern Atlantic using an integrative approach. Intergeneric limits were also tested using comparisons with specimens of the genus Campanularia. We performed DNA analyses using the mitochondrial genes 16S and COI and the nuclear ITS1 and ITS2 regions. Orthopyxis was monophyletic in maximum likelihood analyses using the combined dataset and in analyses with 16S alone. Four lineages of Orthopyxis were retrieved for all analyses, corresponding morphologically to the species Orthopyxis sargassicola (previously known in the area), Orthopyxis crenata (first recorded for the southwestern Atlantic), Orthopyxis caliculata (= Orthopyxis minuta Vannucci, 1949 and considered a synonym of O. integra by some authors), and Orthopyxis mianzani sp. nov. A re-evaluation of the traditional morphological diagnostic characters, guided by our molecular analyses, revealed that O. integra does not occur in the study area, and O. caliculata is the correct identification of one of the lineages occurring in this region, corroborating the validity of that species. Orthopyxis mianzani sp. nov. resembles O. caliculata with respect to gonothecae morphology and a smooth hydrothecae rim, although it shows significant differences for other characters, such as perisarc thickness, which has traditionally been thought to have wide intraspecific variation. The species O. sargassicola is morphologically similar to O. crenata, although they differ in gonothecae morphology, and these species can only be reliably identified when this structure is present.

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Ectopleura crocea (L. Agassiz, 1862) and Ectopleura ralphi (Bale, 1884) are two of the nominal tubulariid species recorded for the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWAO), presumably with wide but disjunct geographical ranges and similar morphologies. Our goal is to bring together data from morphology, histology, morphometry, cnidome, and molecules (COI and ITS1+5.8S) to assess the taxonomic identity of two populations of these nominal species in the SWAO. We have observed no significant difference or distributional patterns between the so-called Brazilian E. ralphi and Argentine E. crocea for both morphological and molecular data. Therefore, SWAO populations of Ectopleura belong to the same species. In a broader view, it is difficult to find decisive character distinguishing E. crocea from E. ralphi, and both species have indeed recently been synonymized, with the binomen E. crocea having nomenclatural priority. Geographically broader genetic analysis should be carried out in order to test the validity of this synonymy because taxonomical procedures such as studying type specimens and documenting broad phenotypic variability have not yet been conducted.

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The present report provides the first general account of the shallow-water hydroids (excluding Eudendriidae) of Martinique, French Lesser Antilles. Of a total of 92 species recorded, 10 athecates and 31 thecates are discussed here, with the remaining species having been the subject of earlier accounts. Six hydroids, namely Halecium discoidum, H. xanthellatum, Sertularella calderi, Antennellapeculiaris, A. similis, and A. tubitheca, are new. Previously unreported data on the nematocyst complement of Heterocoryne caribbensis Wedler & Larson, 1986, Ectopleura mayeri Petersen, 1990, Ralpharia gorgoniae Petersen, 1990, and seven hebellid species are provided.'The gonotheca and the gonophore of Hebellopsis communis Calder, 1991 are described for the first time, allowing a genus transfer to Anthohebella Boero et al., 1997. Thyroscyphus longicaulis Splettstbsser, 1929, a species whose gonosome remained unknown until now, is redescribed based on new, fertile material of both sexes. The occurrence of Antennella quadriaurita Ritchie, 1909 in the Caribbean is questioned upon comparison of its cnidome with that of specimens from Tristan da Cunha, the type locality of this species. An unexpectedly wide morphological variation is noted for Aglaophenia rhynchocarpa Allman, 1877. Specimens corresponding to the Caribbean Gymnangium longicaudum (Nutting, 1900), are shown to be indistinguishable morphologically from a taxon described earlier from Brazil, Gymnangium allmani (Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1890), the latter having priority. Thorough descriptions are provided for the new, lesser known or unidentifiable species, while the common taxa are accompanied by brief remarks and/or distributional data. Illustrations are provided for each species discussed in order to justify their identification, and to facilitate identification by others. A checklist at the end of this work incorporates records of 101 species of hydroids reported from Martinique, both occurring in the present collection and cited in the literature.

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The hydromedusae have an important role in marine trophic webs due to their predatory feeding habits. This is the first study of this group of gelatinous marine zooplankton in a coastal upwelling area of Central America. The composition and abundance variability of hydromedusae were studied during six months in 1999 at four stations in Culebra Bay, Gulf of Papagayo, Pacific coast of Costa Rica (10º37’ N-85º40’ W). A total of 53 species were identified, of which 26 are new records for Costa Rica, 21 are new records for Central America, and eight are new records for the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The more abundant species (more than 30% of the total abundance) were Liriope tetraphylla, Solmundella bitentaculata and Aglaura hemistoma. Six species occurred throughout the sampling period, 10 were present only during the dry season (December-April), and 17 were so during the rainy season (May-November). Significant differences of medusan abundances were found between seasons (dry vs. rainy). Maximum abundance (2.1±4.3ind./m³) was recorded when upwelled deeper water influenced the Bay, as indicated by local higher oxygen concentrations and lower water temperatures. The relatively high species richness of medusae found in Culebra Bay is probably related to factors like the pristine condition of the Bay, the arrival of oceanic species transported by the Equatorial Counter Current (ECC), the eastward shoaling of the Costa Rica Dome, and local currents. Illustrations of the 15 more important species are included to facilitate their identification and foster future work in the region.

Las hidromedusas tienen un papel importante en redes tróficas marinas debido a sus hábitos alimenticios depredadores. Este es el primer estudio de este grupo del zooplancton gelatinoso en un area de afloramiento costero en América Central. Durante seis meses de 1999, se estudió la abundancia de hidromedusas en cuatro estaciones en Bahía Culebra, Golfo de Papagayo, costa Pacífica de Costa Rica (10º 37’N-85º40’W). Se identificó un total de 53 especies de las que 26 son registros nuevos para Costa Rica, 21 son registros nuevos para América Central y 8 son nuevos registros para el Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Las especies más abundantes durante el estudio (con más de 30% de la abundancia total) fueron Liriope tetraphylla, Solmundella bitentaculata y Aglaura hemistoma. Seis especies se presentaron en todos los muestreos, 10 especies se presentaron únicamente durante la época seca y 17 se presentaron únicamente durante la época lluviosa. Se mostraron diferencias significativas entre las épocas lluviosa y seca. La máxima abundancia promedio de hidromedusas (2.1±4.3 ind./m³) fue encontrada durante las fechas que se espera el afloramiento costero, indicado por alta concentración de oxígeno y baja temperatura. La rica composición de especies encontrada en Bahía Culebra puede ser el resultado de varios factores, incluyendo la condición prístina de la bahía, el transporte de especies por la Contra Corriente Nor-Ecuatorial (NECC) y los aportes de origen terrestre. Se incluyen ilustraciones de las 15 especies más importantes para facilitar su identificación y promover estudios futuros en la región.

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The hydromedusae have an important role in marine trophic webs due to their predatory feeding habits. This is the first study of this group of gelatinous marine zooplankton in a coastal upwelling area of Central America. The composition and abundance variability of hydromedusae were studied during six months in 1999 at four stations in Culebra Bay, Gulf of Papagayo, Pacific coast of Costa Rica (10 degrees 37' N-85 degrees 40' W). A total of 53 species were identified, of which 26 are new records for Costa Rica, 21 are new records for Central America, and eight are new records for the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The more abundant species (more than 30% of the total abundance) were Liriope tetraphylla, Solmundella bitentaculata and Aglaura hemistoma. Six species occurred throughout the sampling period, 10 were present only during the dry season (December-April), and 17 were so during the rainy season (May-November). Significant differences of medusan abundances were found between seasons (dry vs. rainy). Maximum abundance (2.1 +/- 4.3ind./m3) was recorded when upwelled deeper water influenced the Bay, as indicated by local higher oxygen concentrations and lower water temperatures. The relatively high species richness of medusae found in Culebra Bay is probably related to factors like the pristine condition of the Bay, the arrival of oceanic species transported by the Equatorial Counter Current (ECC), the eastward shoaling of the Costa Rica Dome, and local currents. Illustrations of the 15 more important species are included to facilitate their identification and foster future work in the region.

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BACKGROUND: Life cycles of medusozoan cnidarians vary widely, and have been difficult to document, especially in the most recently proposed class Staurozoa. However, molecular data can be a useful tool to elucidate medusozoan life cycles by tying together different life history stages. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Genetic data from fast-evolving molecular markers (mitochondrial 16S, nuclear ITS1, and nuclear ITS2) show that animals that were presumed to be a hydrozoan, Microhydrula limopsicola (Limnomedusae, Microhydrulidae), are actually an early stage of the life cycle of the staurozoan Haliclystus antarcticus (Stauromedusae, Lucernariidae). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Similarity between the haplotypes of three markers of Microhydrula limopsicola and Haliclystus antarcticus settles the identity of these taxa, expanding our understanding of the staurozoan life cycle, which was thought to be more straightforward and simple. A synthetic discussion of prior observations makes sense of the morphological, histological and behavioral similarities/congruence between Microhydrula and Haliclystus. The consequences are likely to be replicated in other medusozoan groups. For instance we hypothesize that other species of Microhydrulidae are likely to represent life stages of other species of Staurozoa.

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Ports are important locations for the introduction of marine species, while marinas and pontoons often serve as secondary habitats for these species. In a marina near Paranaguá Port, a major international port in southern Brazil, the encrusting community was studied to (i) identify possibly introduced species, and (ii) examine the use of artificial substrata by these species. Samples (20 x 20 cm) were taken from fibreglass floats (boardwalks and boat hulls) and concrete columns. A total of 85 species were found of which 50 were classified into three categories: four introduced, 33 cryptogenic and 13 native. The introduced species were the hydrozoan Garveia franciscana (on floats, boats and submerged concrete), the polychaete Polydora cornuta (more abundant on floats and submerged concrete) and the barnacles Amphibalanus reticulatus (equally abundant on the three substrata) and Striatobalanus amaryllis (only on floats and submerged concrete). Organisms were most abundant on floating boardwalks, while species richness and composition were similar to that on boat hulls (32 and 37, respectively), which are an important vector for intraregional transport. All substrata supported at least three of the four introduced, and many of the cryptogenic species. The proportion of introduced to the total number of species was greater than observed in other ports. This demonstrates that the introduction potential is great in Paranaguá Bay, especially considering that this study was restricted to one site and sampled only hard substrata. None of the introduced species has yet been identified as invasive, but all are generalists with respect to substratum, indicating their invasive potential. The ability to colonise stable concrete walls shows that they could also colonise the natural granite rocky substrata in the bay, and the ability to colonise floating surfaces indicate their capability of spreading in the region on the hulls of recreational boats.

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The occurrence of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii (=sowerbyi) Lankester, 1880 was recorded in April 2006 in the Lagoa Misteriosa water body, a calcareous lake (doline) in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Only Rotifera composed the zooplankton community was composed only of Rotifera and the environment was meso-eutrophic system. The nomenclature of C. sowerbii is discussed with regard to the use of the correct spelling and an alternative one. The distributions of C. sowerbii in Brazil include eight states and in South America the distribution includes four countries.

A ocorrência da água-viva de água doce Craspedacusta sowerbii (=sowerbyi) Lankester, 1880 foi registrada em abril de 2006, na lagoa Misteriosa, um lago calcário (dolina) no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. A comunidade zooplanctônica foi composta apenas por Rotifera e a qualidade da água do sistema apresentou uma classificação de meso-eutrófico. A nomenclatura foi discutida quanto às formas usuais de grafia do nome e proposta uma alternativa. A distribuição da C. sowerbii no Brasil inclui oito estados e na América do Sul a distribuição apontou quatro países onde a espécie foi registrada.

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This study aimed to collect information on the diversity of corals and calcified hydroids of the Manuel Luiz Marine State Park (state of Maranhão, Northeast Brazil) to aid in the development of a management plan for the park. A total of 21 cnidarian species were identified, of which 16 were corals and calcified hydroids. The bathymetric and geographic distribution of each of these species was extended. This area has a rich coral fauna in relation to other parts of Brazil and is comparable in diversity to the Abrolhos Islands (Bahia State) - an unexpected result considering the region's proximity to the Amazon River Basin. Most of the specimens of corals and calcified hydroids observed were bleached.

O objetivo deste estudo foi obter informação sobre a diversidade dos corais e dos hidróides calcários do Parque Estadual Marinho do Parcel do Manuel Luiz (Estado do Maranhão, Nordeste do Brasil) para dar subsídios no desenvolvimento do plano de manejo do parque. Um total de 21 espécies de cnidários foi identificado, dos quais 16 eram corais e hidróides calcários. A distribuição batimétrica e geográfica de cada uma das espécies foram ampliadas. Esta área tem uma fauna coralínea rica com relação a outras partes do Brasil e é comparável em diversidade ao Arquipélago de Abrolhos (Estado de Bahia), um resultado inesperado considerando a proximidade da região à Bacia do Rio Amazonas. A maioria dos espécimes dos corais e dos hidróides calcários observados estava branqueada.

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