We have compiled available records in the literature for medusozoan cnidarians and ctenophores of South America. New records of species are also included. Each entry (i.e., identified species or still as yet not determined species referred to as "sp." in the literature) includes a synonymy list for South America, taxonomical remarks, notes on habit, and information on geographical occurrence. We have listed 800 unique determined species, in 958 morphotype entries: 5 cubozoans, 905 hydrozoans, 25 scyphozoans, 3 staurozoans, and 20 ctenophores. Concerning nomenclatural and taxonomical decisions, two authors of this census (Miranda, T.P. & Marques, A.C.) propose Podocoryna quitus as a nomen novum for the junior homonym Hydractinia reticulata (Fraser, 1938a); Euphysa monotentaculata Zamponi, 1983b as a new junior synonym of Euphysa aurata Forbes, 1848; and Plumularia spiralis Milstein, 1976 as a new junior synonym of Plumularia setacea (Linnaeus, 1758). Finally, we also reassign Plumularia oligopyxis Kirchenpauer, 1876 as Kirchenpaueria oligopyxis (Kirchenpauer, 1876) and Sertularella margaritacea Allman, 1885 as Symplectoscyphus margaritaceus (Allman, 1885).

Fehlauer-Ale, K.H. (2015). A phylogeny of Vesiculariidae (Bryozoa, Ctenostomata) supports synonymization of three genera and reveals possible cryptic diversity. -Zoologica Scripta, 44, 667-683. Compared to their calcified sister group, order Cheilostomata, uncalcified ctenostome bryozoans exhibit relatively simple and often inconsistent morphologies, making them particularly suitable candidates for the use of molecular tools to delimit species and examine their interrelationships. The family Vesiculariidae is composed of six genera, three of which, Zoobotryon, Avenella and Watersiana are monotypic, and one, Vesicularia, encompasses four species. The majority of vesiculariid diversity, however, is found in Amathia (39 species) and Bowerbankia (21 species). The respective monophyletic status for Amathia and Bowerbankia has recently been put into question by molecular evidence and is being further examined in this study. Multigene (ssrDNA, rrnL, cox1) phylogenetic analysis revealed that Bowerbankia is paraphyletic to the inclusion of Zoobotryon and Amathia, where the latter was resolved as non-monophyletic. Although Vesicularia also nested within this paraphyletic assemblage in some of the analyses, Bayesian topology testing did not support this result. Our results are discussed within the context of published morphological evidence and lead to the conclusion that Bowerbankia and Zoobotryon should be classified as junior subjective synonyms of Amathia. A revised nomenclature is provided. Furthermore, we examined genetic divergences between widely distributed supposed conspecific species and discovered possible cryptic diversity in the outgroup taxon Anguinella palmata and in Bowerbankia citrina, Amathia vidovici and Amathia crispa.

Species in the genus Bugula are globally distributed. They are most abundant in tropical and temperate shallow waters, but representatives are found in polar regions. Seven species occur in the Arctic and one in the Antarctic and species are represented in continental shelf or greater depths as well. The main characters used to define the genus include bird's head pedunculate avicularia, erect colonies, embryos brooded in globular ooecia and branches comprising two or more series of zooids. Skeletal morphology has been the primary source of taxonomic information for many calcified bryozoan groups, including the Buguloidea. Several morphological characters, however, have been suggested to be homoplastic at distinct taxonomic levels, in the light of molecular phylogenies. Our purpose was to investigate the phylogenetic interrelationships of the genus Bugula, based on molecular phylogenetics and morphology. A Bayesian molecular phylogeny was constructed using original and previously published sequences of the mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the large ribosomal RNA subunit (16S). Morphological characteristics from scanning electron and light microscopy were used to confirm the clades detected by the molecular phylogeny. Our results suggest that the genus is composed of four clades, for which we provide diagnoses: Bugula sensu stricto (30 species), Bugulina (24 species), Crisularia (23 species) and the monotypic Virididentula gen. n. Ten species could not be assigned to any of those genera, so they remain as genus incertae sedis. Our findings highlight the importance of using molecular phylogenies in association with morphological characters in systematic revisions of bryozoan taxa.

New research on bryozoans has determined that formerly widespread species are in many cases complexes of similar, but distinct, species with more restricted distributions. Notwithstanding, the limits of distribution are still unresolved for many taxa, and occasionally a wide distribution is confirmed. Beania magellanica has been considered a widespread species, distributed throughout the Southern Hemisphere, parts of northern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. This study examines the Magellanic-type material, together with other historic samples and new specimens collected in the western Mediterranean and Adriatic, and for the first time, presents specimens from the European North Atlantic. Morphological comparisons and biometric analysis show the existence of three different species among the specimens studied. A redescription of B. magellanica based on the type specimen is presented, and two new species are described: B. serrata sp. nov. from the Northeast Atlantic and B. mediterranea sp. nov. from the Mediterranean Sea. These results indicate that B. magellanica s.l. is a large complex of species and that most specimens from different parts of the world must be revised.

ii Ao meu pai, Meu primeiro mestre.iii Depende daquele que passa Que eu seja tumba ou tesouro Que eu fale ou me cale Isso só depende de você Amigo, não entre sem desejo. Paul Valéry iv AgradecimentosSou imensamente grata àqueles que permitiram que este trabalho se realizasse:À Karin Fehlauer-Ale, a maior colaboradora desta pesquisa, por todos os ensinamentos durante os últimos anos, por toda dedicação, paciência e incentivo.Por ter me permitido fazer parte da sua equipe de trabalho e me mostrado o quão maravilhoso e intrigante é a área da biologia molecular. Sem ela esse projeto não teria se tornado possível.Ao professor Alvaro Migotto, pela orientação e pela riquíssima oportunidade que me concedeu ao me permitir realizar este projeto. Pelas calmas conversas durante o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, as quais foram tão importantes pro meu crescimento pessoal e acadêmico. Ao Instituto de Biociências (IB-USP), pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação emZoologia, no qual esse mestrado foi realizado e ao Centro de Biologia Marinha (CEBIMar-USP), pela infraestrutura na qual esse projeto foi desenvolvido.Ao Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) pela bolsa concedida a mim (Processo: 130112/2013-5) e ao Programa de Excelência Acadêmica (PROEX), do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, pela verba disponibilizada aos custos de coleta e material de laboratório.Ao Bruno Sayão, por ter me incentivado desde o início a ingressar neste mestrado, e por toda a cooperação que me ofereceu, sobretudo, nas coletas de espécimes.Ao Leandro Vieira, por ser sempre tão solícito em todo o tipo de ajuda que eu precisasse e pela contribuição em algumas despesas.Ao Marcelo Kitahara e à Kátia Capel, pelas dicas e auxílios no laboratório, sobretudo com a tentativa de amplificar o genoma mitocondrial do briozoário deste projeto.Ao Rodolfo Petersen e à Daniele Hemmer, por terem me recebido tão bem em seu laboratório e me ensinado valiosas técnicas acerca de sequenciamento de microssatélites.v Aos pesquisadores Carlo Cunha, Chiara Lombardi, Cláudio Tiago, Etiene Clavico, Judith Winston, Kevin Tilbrook, Larissa Santos, María Tovar-Hernández, Oscar Reverter-Gil, Rafael Duarte e Rosana Rocha, pela colaboração nas coletas e/ou pela doação de espécimes.Aos meus pais, Tadeu Nascimento e Adriana Santos, pelos ensinamentos que me fizeram ser quem sou e chegar até aqui com objetividade e clareza.Ao meu avô, Clóvis Nascimento, por toda a confiança que tem depositado em mim, e por toda a ajuda que me ofereceu nesse período.Aos meus tios, Miriam Nascimento e Fúlvio Delicato, e ao meu primo, Gabriel Delicato, pelas estadias em São Paulo nos períodos de seleção e de disciplinas, e por todo o carinho e conforto que me proporcionaram durante os dias em que me receberam.Aos amigos, Anna Carolina Chaaban, Jaqueline Siquitelli, Katherine Amorim, Lydian Costa, Lícia Sales, Mariana Bueno, Nilvea Ramalho e Rafael Duarte, por (mesmo algumas estando geograficamente tão distantes) estarem sempre tão presentes, seja com uma ajudinha extra ou com uma en...