Este estudo retrata a fauna de equinodermos encontrada na Praia do Cabo Branco, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. Esta praia é formada por um terraço de abrasão marinha do tipo arenito-ferruginoso e está localizada no ponto mais oriental das Américas. Foram identificadas 32 espécies de equinodermos pertencentes a quatro classes (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea e Holothuroidea), distribuídas em 18 famílias e 24 gêneros. O número de táxons identificados corresponde a 9,7% das espécies registradas para o litoral Brasileiro e mostra a significativa diversidade das espécies de Echinodermata encontrada nesta área. A classe Ophiuroidea foi a mais diversa com 13 espécies, seguida por Holothuroidea (10 spp.), Asteroidea (5 spp.) e Echinoidea (4 spp). Do total de espécies registradas, as seguintes são novas ocorrências para o litoral do Estado da Paraíba: Ophiocnida scabriuscula, Ophiomyxa flaccida, Ophiactis lymani, Ophionereis reticulata, Ophioderma januarii, Ophiophragmus brachyatis, Thyone cognita, T. suspecta, Ocnus suspectus, Phyllophorus occidentalis, P. communis, Lissothuria sp. Holothuria grisea, H. arenicola, Chiridota rotifera, Synaptula hydriformis, Echinaster nudus, Linckia guildingii, Lytechinus variegatus, Mellita quinquiesperforata e Leodia sexiesperforata.

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. Ophiopsila hartmeyeri represents the first record for the northeastern region of Brazil, while Ophiolepis impressa, Ophiolepis paucispina, Amphiura stimpsoni, Amphiodia riisei, Ophiactis quinqueradia, Ophiocoma wendtii and Ophionereis olivaceae are new records for the State of Paraíba. The number of species known for the state was increased from 16 to 23, representing approximately 17% of the species known for Brazil and 54% of the species known for northeastern Brazil. The recorded fauna has a large geographical and bathymetrical distribution.

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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. Material described herein is housed at the collections of the Federal University of Paraíba, Federal University of Sergipe, and the Federal University of Bahia, Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo and Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro. Twenty-one species were identified, belonging to 12 genera, 10 families, and 5 orders. Descriptions of species are provided. Three new occurrences were recorded for northeast Brazil: Astropecten alligator, Luidia ludwigi scotti, and Mithrodia clavigera. Highest diversities of Asteroidea were encountered for the states of Bahia (n = 14 spp), Paraíba (n = 12 spp) and Pernambuco (n = 9 spp). No species were recorded for the states of Maranhão and Sergipe. Sandy substrates and depths below 10 m were the least sampled areas over the continental shelf. Herein we provide a first panorama on the fauna of Asteroidea occurring in the northeast region of Brazil, hopefully to function as a basic reference for biodiversity studies in this poorly studied area.

Abstract:The Areia Vermelha Marine State Park (Cabedelo Municipality, Paraiba State, Brazil) was established by the State Government to preserve the local biodiversity and to regulate touristic activities in the area. More than a decade after the creation of this park, we provide the first inventory of the benthic macrofauna of this single exclusively marine conservation unit in our State. Specimens were collected between February and April of 2008. Animals were sampled through intensive searches in the diverse microhabitats available on the reefs. A total of 102 species were identified belonging to Cnidaria (13 spp.), Mollusca (57 spp.), Crustacea (15 spp.), Echinodermata (15 spp.), and Ascidiacea (2 spp.). Fourteen out of these represent new occurrences for the coast of Paraiba State: Pennaria disticha, Encope emarginata, Aplysia dactylomela, Arene brasiliana, Hipponix leptus, Olivella nivea, Mancinella deltoidea, Notocochlis isabelleana, Pilsbryspira albocincta, Pilsbryspira zebroides, Cymatium cynocephalum, Mactrellona alata, Mactrotoma fragilis, and Mulinia cleryana. Three are endangered species according to the Brazilian legislation: Millepora alcicornis (hydrozoan coral), Echinaster (Othilia) echinophorus, and E. (O.) brasiliensis (sea stars). One species, the lobster Panulirus laevicauda, is considered over-exploited. Among the mollusks, Voluta ebraea and Turbinella laevigata are endemic to northeast Brazil; they are particularly vulnerable in the area of the park because of their relevance to the commerce of marine ornamental species. Our pilot study has revealed the presence of species of particular ecological and economic importance, confirming the special relevance of the studied area for conservation. It now becomes imperative that management entities delineate an efficient plan for the conservation and monitoring of this important conservation unit. Keywords: biodiversity, benthos, inventories, conservation units.