Synopsis of knowledge on Cnidaria Medusozoa from Brazil

Abstract

Synopsis of knowledge on Cnidaria Medusozoa from Brazil A synopsis of knowledge concerning Medusozoa (Cnidaria) along the Brazilian coast is presented. We generated a data list with all records of medusozoans from Brazil, including information on the distribution of the species and the phase (polyp or medusa) recorded. Currently the number of species of Medusozoa recorded from Brazil is 377 (205 genera and 82 families), with 348 species of hydrozoans, 22 scyphozoans, 3 cubozoans and 1 staurozoan. Geographical and historical analyses were carried out based on the data list. The geographical analysis reveals that knowledge on biodiversity of the group is most inadequate for the North and part of the Northeastern coast. Although the Southeastern coast is the best known region in number of species and representative suprageneric taxa recorded, in general there is a lack of knowledge of the fauna in other than shallow waters, a pattern also observed for all other regions. Historically, the rapid increase of records on hydrozoans began in the 1940s and accelerated during the last decade. Investigations on coronates are all concentrated in the last decade but, in general, other groups show slow and gradual accumulation of species records. Guidelines and policies for the study of medusozoan biodiversity are suggested. Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Cubozoa, Staurozoa, Fauna, South Atlantic, Polyp, Medusa, Brazil Key words: ResumoSinopse sobre o conhecimento dos Cnidaria Medusozoa do Brasil Uma sinopse sobre o conhecimento dos Medusozoa (Cnidaria) da costa brasileira é apresentada. Este estudo é baseado em uma lista com todos os registros de Medusozoa para o Brasil, incluindo informações sobre a distribuição das espécies e suas fases (pólipo ou medusa). O número de espécies de Medusozoa registradas para o Brasil até o momento é 377 (205 gêneros e 82 famílias), com 348 espécies de hidrozoários, 22 de cifozoários, 3 de cubozoários e 1 de estaurozoário. Análises geográfica e histórica também foram conduzidas. A análise geográfica mostra claramente a ausência de conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade da costa norte bem como de parte da costa nordeste do país. Embora a costa sudeste seja a melhor conhecida em termos de números de espécies e representantes de táxons supragenéricos registrados, há em geral ausência de conhecimento sobre ambientes diferentes das águas rasas, um padrão também observado para as outras regiões. Historicamente, o crescimento dos registros de hidrozoários iniciou-se após a década de 1940, com um aumento na última década; os estudos com coronados estão todos concentrados na última década mas, em geral, outros grupos mostram um acúmulo lento e gradual nos registros de espécies. Linhas gerais e políticas para o estudo da biodiversidade dos Medusozoa são sugeridas. cifozoários, cubozoários, estaurozoários, Fauna, Atlântico Sul, Pólipo, Medusa, Brasil Biota Neotropica v3 (n2) -http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v3n2/pt/abstract?inventory+BN01203022003 Palavras-chave:hidrozoários,

Macromedusae of Southern Brazil: temporal variation, population structure and biochemical composition

“…For Cubozoa, only 20 species have been described, with four recorded in Brazil (MORANDINI et al, 2005) and for hydrozoa, a more diverse class, the number of species may be higher than 348, according to the most recent revision, presented by MARQUES et al (2003).…”

A survey of the Scyphozoa and Cubozoa (Cnidaria, Medusozoa) from the Ceará coast (NE Brazil)

“…Concerning non-hydrozoan medusozoans, the fauna includes 22 species of Scyphozoa, four of Cubozoa, and one of Staurozoa (Migotto et al 2002, Morandini 2003. Marques et al (2003) discussed the distribution of medusozoans from a geographical and historical perspective, and highlighted the lack of knowledge in some areas, toward which studies should be focused. The Northeast region of Brazil is among the poorest known areas for both planktonic and benthic medusozoans.…”

Jellyfish (Chrysaora lactea, Cnidaria, Semaeostomeae) aggregations in southern Brazil and consequences of stings in humans

“…Ecological understanding of jellyfish populations is still in its early stages in Brazil (Migotto & Marques, 2006;Haddad & Marques, 2009). Around 100 species (polyps and medusae) are reported from the state of Paraná, of which 89 are hydrozoans (including hydromedusae, solitary and colonial hydroids), nine are scyphozoans (typical jellyfish) and two are cubozoans (box jellyfish) (Marques et al, 2003;Oliveira et al, in press).…”