Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Archipelago (SPSPA), one of the smallest and most isolated island groups in the world, is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, between Brazil and the African continent. SPSPA has low species richness and high endemism; nonetheless, the diversity of fishes from deep habitats (>30 m depth) had not been previously studied in detail. Several expeditions conducted between 2009 and 2018 explored the shallow and deep reefs of SPSPA using scuba, closed-circuit rebreathers, manned submersibles, baited remote underwater stereo-videos (stereo-BRUV) and fishing between 0 and 1050 m depth. These expeditions yielded 41 new records of fishes for SPSPA: 9 in open waters, 9 in shallow waters (0-30 m), 8 in mesophotic ecosystems (30-150 m) and 15 in deeper reefs (>150 m). Combined with literature records of adult pelagic, shallow and deep-reef species, as well as larvae, the database of the fish biodiversity for SPSPA currently comprises 225 species (169 recorded as adult fishes and 79 as larvae, with 23 species found in both stages). Most of them (112) are pelagic, 86 are reef-associated species and 27 are deep-water specialists. Species accumulation curves show that the number of fish species has not yet * These authors contributed equally to this study.

The oogenesis is a key stage in the reproductive development of an organism, which can be best understood from histological analysis of ovaries in different maturity stages. In order to provide information on the reproductive biology of the black triggerfish, M. niger, in particular on its oogenesis process, this study aimed at identifying and characterizing the oocyte development stages and its organization within the different stages of ovarian maturation based on specimens from São Pedro e São Paulo Archipelago. In this present report, a number of 294 ovaries were histologically analyzed. It was verified that they are composed of ovigerous lamellae containing oocytes at different development stages. Five different stages of oogenesis were identified: young cells, with an average size of 12.9 ìm; previtellogenic oocytes (perinucleolar), with an average size of 53.5 ìm; cortical-alveoli oocytes with an average size of 83.1 ìm; vitellogenic oocytes, with an average size of 160.4 ìm and mature oocytes, with an average size of 289.8 ìm. In addition to the germ cells, some somatic structures were also identified, such as: ovarian wall, follicular cells and blood vessels. Based on the type and number of oocytes observed, four stages of ovarian maturation were identified: early maturation, represented by only 2.2% of the sample; middle maturation, represented by 9.9%; mature, represented by 44.2% and resting, represented by 43.9%. The identification of five oocyte development stages in the ovarians from M. niger, suggested that the specie follows a pattern similar to that described for other marine fish.A oogênese é um estágio chave no desenvolvimento reprodutivo de um organismo, o qual pode ser melhor compreendido a partir de análises histológicas dos ovários em diferentes estágios de maturidade. A fim de fornecer informações sobre a biologia reprodutiva do cangulo-preto, M. niger, em especial sobre o seu processo de oogênese, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar e caracterizar as fases do desenvolvimento ovocitário e sua organização dentro dos diferentes estágios de maturação ovariana, baseado em espécimes do Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo. No presente estudo, um número de 294 ovários foram analisados histologicamente. Foi verificado que eles são constituídos por lamelas ovígeras contendo ovócitos em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. Foram identificados cinco diferentes estágios da oogênese: células jovens, com tamanho médio de 12,9 ìm; ovócitos pré-vitelogênicos (perinucleolares), com tamanho médio de 53,5 ìm; ovócitos alvéolo-corticais, com tamanho médio de 83,1 ìm; ovócitos vitelogênicos, com tamanho médio de 160,4 ìm e ovócitos maduros, com tamanho médio de 289,8 ìm. Além das células germinativas, algumas estruturas somáticas também foram identificadas, tais como: parede do ovário, células foliculares e vasos sanguíneos. Baseado no tipo e número de ovócitos observados, quatro estágios de maturação ovariana foram identificados: início de maturação, representado por apenas 2,2% da amostra; média...

One hundred seventeen specimens of sharks were caught along the coast of Pernambuco State, Northern Brazil, between May 2004 and May 2007, among which 86 were blacknose sharks, Carcharhinus acronotus, enabling a more detailed study of the species. Blacknose sharks were caught in the 2 study areas along the Boa Viagem/Piedade and Paiva beaches, accounting for the highest relative abundance among the species caught (73.5% of total). Potentially dangerous sharks, tiger and bull sharks, were also caught in the same areas, whereas hammerhead and blacktip sharks were only captured off Boa Viagem/Piedade. Concerning the blacknose shark, the total length (TL) ranged from 39.0 to 180.0 cm. Among the 38 females analysed, 32 were juveniles, 11 were maturing, 2 were pre-ovulatory and 21 were pregnant. Sexing was possible for 75 of the 83 embryos, 38 of which were males and 37 were females, with a sex proportion of 1:0.9 and total length ranging between 6.4 and 63.5 cm. Ovarian fecundity ranged from 5 to 10 and uterine fecundity from 1 to 3, with an estimated gestational period of 9 months. Among the 48 males, 6 were juveniles and 42 were adults. Both males and females seem to reach sexual maturity at about 105.0 cm TL. Among the 86 stomachs analysed, only 22.1% had contents, with teleosts as the most frequent item.Keywords: biology, abundance, sharks, Pernambuco. Aspectos da biologia dos tubarões capturados na Costa de Pernambuco, Brasil ResumoEntre maio de 2004 e maio de 2007, foram capturados 117 exemplares de tubarões na costa de Pernambuco. Desses, 86 eram tubarões-flamengo, Carcharhinus acronotus, possibilitando um estudo mais detalhado da espécie. Esta espécie foi capturada nas duas áreas estudadas, nas praias de Boa Viagem/ Piedade e Paiva, apresentando a maior abundância relativa entre os tubarões capturados (73,5% do número total). Tubarões potencialmente perigosos (tigre e cabeça-chata) foram também capturados nas duas áreas, enquanto os tubarões-martelo e galha-preta foram capturados apenas em frente à Boa Viagem/ Piedade. O comprimento total (CT) dos tubarões-flamengo variou de 39,0 a 180,0 cm CT. Das 38 fêmeas analisadas, 32 eram jovens, 11 em maturação, 2 pré-ovulatórias e 21 prenhes. Dos 83 embriões, foi possível a sexagem de 75, dos quais 38 eram machos e 37 fêmeas, com proporção sexual de 1:0,9, e CT entre 6,4 e 63,5 cm. A fecundidade ovariana variou entre 5 e 10 e a uterina entre 1 e 3, com período gestacional estimado em 9 meses. Dos 48 machos, 6 eram jovens e 42 adultos. Tanto machos quanto fêmeas parecem alcançar a maturação sexual em torno de 105,0 cm CT. Dos 86 estômagos de tubarões-flamengo analisados apenas 22,1% apresentavam conteúdo, com teleósteos sendo o item mais frequente.Palavras-chave: biologia, abundância, tubarões, Pernambuco.Fischer, AF. et al.

Isopods from the Cirolanidae family are scavenger species that occur both in temperate and tropical regions, in deep waters of all seas. One of the genres of the Cirolanidae family is Bathynomus, which includes large species, up to 50 cm length, mainly inhabiting deep sea from 200 to 2100 m depth. The first record of the giant deep-sea isopod Bathynomus miyarei in Brazilian waters was made by Lemos de Castro (1978), who described its distribution as spanning from Rio Grande do Norte to Rio Grande do Sul, in depths ranging between 80 to 800 m. In Northeastern Brazil, the specie was recorded from Piauí, Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, and from Bahia. This last record was made during the REVIZEE Program (Program for the Assessment of the Living Resources of Brazilian Economic Exclusive Zone). Recent samples caught off Pernambuco State adds a new site of occurrence for this species, enlarging its distribution. Specimens of B. miyarei were caught in the upper slope of the continental shelf of Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil, by baited traps, set at depths ranging from 300 to 500 m. Collected specimens were photographed immediately after boarding, being then labeled and stored in ice, for posterior examination in the Fisheries Oceanography Laboratory, of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, of UFRPE. Identifications were made following the descriptions made by Lemos de Castro (1978) and Magalhães & Young (2003). Bathynomus miyarei is characterized by a reduced number of spines (9) in the posterior margin of pleotelson, while B. giganteus have 13 spines, and B. obtusus have 7 great spines in the medial region, followed by 2 little lateral spines. This species was described by Lemos de Castro (1978) with a discontinuous distribution off Brazilian coast (Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte e Rio Grande do Sul). Cintra et al., (1998) extended its distribution from off Amapá e Pará, North Brazil, and Soto & Mincarone (2001) recorded the species off Santa Catarina, South Brazil, indicating its occurrence throughouth the entire Brazilian coast. These new samples confirmed its presence in the continental shelf of Pernambuco.