Lucilia Souza Miranda

Federal University of Minas Gerais | UFMG · Departamento de Zoologia

Staurozoa is a cnidarian class represented by marine benthic animals, mainly observed in intertidal and subtidal cold waters. As one of the few exceptions, in this study we described a tropical species, Calvadosia festivala n. sp., from Dwarka, Gujarat, India. We combined the morphological description with molecular data, placing the new species in...

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian mega...

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classification. In this context, the B Brazilian meg...

Aim: Understanding the factors determining marine community variations is important for biogeography and conservation. Beta diversity is a metric for mapping species composition variations between communities and regionalizing biota. Ecoregions are commonly used for regionalization, but their empirical testing has been limited. Our aim is to map ma...

Aim Knowledge gaps and sampling bias can lead to underestimations of species richness and distortions in the known distribution of species. The goal of this study is to identify potential gaps and biases in marine organisms sampling at the Western Atlantic Ocean, determine their causes and assess its effect on biodiversity metrics. We tested the po...

The invasion of non-native species has been a chronic problem in reservoirs of hydroelectric plants. Among the species recorded in Brazil, the cnidarian Cordylophora caspia is often misidentified as macrophytes or completely overlooked, although reports state that the colonies obstruct structures and pipes in industrial plants, generating high main...

The total number of described, and known but undescribed, extant marine cnidarian species, from the Aotearoa New Zealand region, is 1420 (Table 6.1; Figs 6.1–6.3). In their first major inventory of the cnidarian fauna of New Zealand, Cairns et al. (2009) recorded 1112 marine species, of which 323 were undescribed or unidentified. Over the last deca...

Citizen science online platforms are increasingly making important sources of biological information available at the click of a button, allowing the interaction of volunteers and scientists to report and identify the world’s diversity. In this work, we combined the data available in citizen science platforms (iNaturalist and GelAvista) and the eff...

Data collection by citizen scientists is emerging as an important practice for biodiversity detection, mapping, and compilation of big data in open online platforms such as iNaturalist, acting as a source of biodiversity discovery. However, the validation of species identification is a central issue for the scientific use of these data. Here we com...

Haliclystus “ sanjuanensis ” nomen nudum is the most common staurozoan on the west coast of the United States and Canada. This species was described in the M.S. Thesis by Gellermann (1926) and although that name has been in use nearly continuously since that time, no published description exists. Furthermore, the most popular operative name for thi...

Medusozoa (Cnidaria) are characterized by diverse life cycles, with different semaphoronts (medusa, medusoid, fixed gonophore, polyp) representing the sexual phase and carrying the gametes. Although egg size is often considered a proxy to understand reproductive and developmental traits of medusozoans, understanding of the processes influencing egg...

Investigations on the internal anatomy of stalked jellyfishes (Staurozoa) are crucial for species descriptions and systematic studies on this taxon. Contrast-enhanced X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) has increased the opportunities for morphological descriptions of soft-bodied invertebrates in the last decade, but only few studies have fo...

Staurozoa es una clase de cnidarios con cerca de 50 especies. Durante su ciclo de vida, la estauromedusa conserva el pedúnculo del estauropólipo, y es por lo tanto una medusa bentónica, frecuentemente adherida a algas o rocas. La mayoría de sus especies están distribuidas en aguas frías, polares y templadas, pero hay excepciones. En este artículo p...

The presence of dark pigment spots associated with primary tentacles (or structures derived from them, i.e., rhopalioids) in Staurozoa was recently overlooked in a study on the evolution of cnidarian eyes (defined as a “region made of photoreceptor cells adjacent to pigment cells”, irrespective of image formation, i.e., including all photoreceptive...

The presence of dark pigment spots associated with primary tentacles (or structures derived from them, i.e., rhopalioids) in Staurozoa was recently overlooked in a study on the evolution of cnidarian eyes (defined as a “region made of photoreceptor cells adjacent to pigment cells”, irrespective of image formation, i.e., including all photoreceptive...

In this review, we present the current state of biodiversity knowledge for the class Staurozoa (Cnidaria), including richness estimates, geographical and bathymetric distributions, substrate use, feeding, behavior, life cycle, and conservation. Based on non-parametric, statistical incidence estimators, the global inventory of 50 known and accepted...

The presence of dark pigment spots associated with primary tentacles (or structures derived from them, i.e., rhopalioids) in Staurozoa was recently overlooked in a study on the evolution of cnidarian eyes (defined as a “region made of photoreceptor cells adjacent to pigment cells”, irrespective of image formation, i.e., including all photoreceptive...

The claustrum in Cnidaria is a tissue in the gastrovascular cavity delimited by a central layer of mesoglea surrounded by gastrodermis (i.e., gastrodermis-mesoglea-gastrodermis), without communication with epidermis. By dividing the gastrovascular cavity, the four claustra provide an additional level of complexity. The presence of claustra in Cuboz...

Stalked jellyfishes (Cnidaria: Staurozoa) are cryptic, benthic animals, known mainly from polar and temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere. We describe a new species, Calvadosia lewisi, from South Africa and review the staurozoan fauna of the region. Three other species are previously known from South Africa: Calvadosia capensis (Carlgren, 193...

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...

Comparative efforts to understand the body plan evolution of stalked jellyfishes are scarce. Most characters, and particularly internal anatomy, have neither been explored for the class Staurozoa, nor broadly applied in its taxonomy and classification. Recently, a molecular phylogenetic hypothesis was derived for Staurozoa, allowing for the first b...

O colapso da barragem de rejeitos de Fundão, em Mariana (Minas Gerais, Brasil) iniciou uma enorme tragédia humana e, provavelmente, o mais grave desastre ambiental da história recente do Brasil. A barragem continha rejeitos do processamento de minério de ferro de minas de propriedade da Samarco, uma empresa controlada pela brasileira Vale S.A. e pe...

Staurozoan classification is highly subjective, based on phylogeny-free inferences, and suborders, families, and genera are commonly defined by homoplasies. Additionally, many characters used in the taxonomy of the group have ontogenetic and intraspecific variation, and demand new and consistent assessments to establish their correct homologies. Co...

Parsimony phylogenetic hypothesis based on the mitochondrial marker 16S. Single most parsimonious tree, length: 322.30 steps. Bootstrap indices under parsimony at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom; USA, the United States of America...

Parsimony phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nuclear marker ITS. Consensus (50% majority-rule) of two equally most parsimonious trees, length: 122.18 steps. Bootstrap indices under parsimony at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom;...

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nucler marker ITS. Bootstrap indices under maximum likelihood at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom; USA, the United States of America.

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nucler marker 18S. Bootstrap indices under maximum likelihood at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; USA, the United States of America.

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nucler marker 28S. Bootstrap indices under maximum likelihood at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; USA, the United States of America.

Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nuclear marker 18S. Posterior probability at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; USA, the United States of America.

Parsimony phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nuclear marker 28S. Single most parsimonious tree, length: 783.04 steps. Bootstrap indices under parsimony at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; USA, the United States of America.

Parsimony phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nuclear marker 18S. Consensus (50% majority-rule) of five equally most parsimonious trees, length: 312.48 steps. Bootstrap indices under parsimony at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; USA, the United States...

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic hypothesis based on the mitochondrial marker 16S. Bootstrap indices under maximum likelihood at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom; USA, the United States of America.

Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nuclear marker 28S. Posterior probability at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; USA, the United States of America.

Parsimony phylogenetic hypothesis based on the mitochondrial marker COI. Single most parsimonious tree, length: 163.59 steps. Bootstrap indices under parsimony at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom.

Maximum likelihood phylogenetic hypothesis based on the mitochondrial marker COI. Bootstrap indices under maximum likelihood at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom.

Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis based on the mitochondrial marker COI. Posterior probability at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom.

Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis based on the mitochondrial marker 16S. Posterior probability at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom; USA, the United States of America.

Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nuclear marker ITS. Posterior probability at each node. ANT, Antarctica; AUS, Australia; EPR, East Pacific Rise; GER, Germany; JAP, Japan; NZ, New Zealand; SAF, South Africa; UK, the United Kingdom; USA, the United States of America.

The benthic polyp phase of Medusozoa (Staurozoa, Cubozoa, Scyphozoa, and Hydrozoa) has endoskeletal or exoskeletal support systems, but their composition, development, and evolution is poorly known. In this contribution the variation in synthesis, structure, and function of the medusozoan exoskeleton was examined. In addition, an evolutionary hypot...

Haootia quadriformis was described from the lower Fermeuse Formation of the Bonavista Peninsula of Newfoundland (approx. 560 Ma) and its numerous regularly aligned impressions were interpreted as evidence of muscular tissue ([[1][1], figs 1 a and 3 b ]). Consequently, this fossil could represent the

Stauromedusae have relatively few macromorphological characters, making both their taxonomy and identification difficult. For this reason, histological characters are also employed in the taxonomy of the group. This study presents a detailed description of the histomorphology of Haliclystus antarcticus Pfeffer, 1889 (Cnidaria, Staurozoa). We make n...

The study of “jellyfish blooms” provides important data toward determining the causes and consequences of these phenomena; however, the definition of “bloom” remains controversial and different concepts have been adopted in recent works. By addressing the biological and convenience definitions, this study tested the adequacy of the different concep...

Supplementary Fig. 1 Kishinouyea corbini Larson 1980 in nature (at Espírito Santo, Brazil), camouflaged against the background of Sargassum sp., its substratum. Scale = 0.25 cm

Staurozoa is a class of Cnidaria comprising stalked, benthic jellyfishes (Marques & Collins 2004) that encompasses about 51 species (Mills 1999; Zagal et al. 2011). Stauromedusae are distributed worldwide, but are more common in temperate and polar waters (Mills & Hirano 2007). Taxonomic knowledge of these cnidarians is inadequate, as is informatio...

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. Genetic data from fast-evolving molecular markers (mitochondrial 16S, nucle...

Difficulties concerning the taxonomy of stauromedusae are long known, and there is a clear need for taxonomic revision of the genus Haliclystus, as well as the reevaluation of some species. Haliclystus antarcticus Pfeffer, 1889 is recorded from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Due to the lack of detailed information on this s...