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A new species of the genus Hypleurochilus (Teleostei: Blenniidae) from Trindade Island and Martin Vaz Archipelago, Brazil

Authors:
Hudson Pinheiro at University of São Paulo
Hudson Pinheiro
João Gasparini at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
João Gasparini
Carlos A. Rangel at Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade
Carlos A. Rangel
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Abstract and Figures

A new species of the genus Hypleurochilus, endemic to Trindade Island and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, is described. Hypleurochilus brasil sp. n. differs from its congeners in color pattern and anal-ray counts. A recent study shows a close relationship between H. brasil sp. n. and H. fissicornis. This new species is recorded from 3 to 15 m depth, solitary or in small groups (up to 10 individuals), always in small holes or associated with sea-urchins and sponges on the rocky reefs. Hypleurochilus brasil sp. n. is the eleventh recognized species of Hypleurochilus and the third species of this genus reported from the Brazilian Province.
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Accepted by W. Holleman: 21 Aug. 2013; published: 3 Sept. 2013
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Copyright © 2013 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 3709 (1): 095–100
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http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3709.1.5
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A new species of the genus Hypleurochilus (Teleostei: Blenniidae) from Trindade
Island and Martin Vaz Archipelago, Brazil
HUDSON T. PINHEIRO1,3, JOÃO LUIZ GASPARINI1 & CARLOS A. RANGEL2
¹ Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Av Fernando Ferrari, 514, CEP 29041-970,
Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brasil. E-mail: htpinheiro@gmail.com; gaspa.vix@terra.com.br
² Pós-Graduação em Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Outeiro São João Batista, s/nº, CP: 100.644 -
CEP: 24001-970, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. E-mail: carangel@vm.uff.br
3 Corresponding author
Abstract
A new species of the genus Hypleurochilus, endemic to Trindade Island and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, is described.
Hypleurochilus brasil sp. n. differs from its congeners in color pattern and anal-ray counts. A recent study shows a close
relationship between H. brasil sp. n. and H. fissicornis. This new species is recorded from 3 to 15 m depth, solitary or in small
groups (up to 10 individuals), always in small holes or associated with sea-urchins and sponges on the rocky reefs.
Hypleurochilus brasil sp. n. is the eleventh recognized species of Hypleurochilus and the third species of this genus reported
from the Brazilian Province.
Key words: combtooth blenny, endemism, oceanic islands, reef fish, South Atlantic
Introduction
Ten species of the genus Hypleurochilus Gill, 1861 are currently recognized as valid. All are restricted to the
Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In the most recent review of the genus, Bath (1994) reports seven
species from the western Atlantic: H. bermudensis Beebe & Tee-Van, 1933, H. caudovittatus Bath, 1994, H.
fissicornis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), H. geminatus (Wood, 1825), H. multifilis (Girard, 1858), H.
pseudoaequipinnis Bath, 1994 and H. springeri Randall, 1966. Three other species occur in the eastern Atlantic: H.
aequipinnis (Günther, 1861), H. bananensis and H. langi (Fowler, 1923). Two species (H. fissicornis and H.
pseudoaequipinnis) are known from Brazil (Bath 1994; Floeter et al. 2008; Rangel & Guimarães 2010).
Hypleurochilus bananensis (Poll, 1959) is the only species of the genus that occurs in the Mediterranean Sea.
Trindade Island and the Martin Vaz Archipelago lie about 1 160 km off the Brazilian coast, making them the
most remote islands of Brazil (Figure 1). Fringing reefs of encrusting coralline algae and rocky boulders compose
the main shallow habitats of the islands, sheltering a high richness and biomass of reef fishes (Pinheiro et al. 2011).
There are four species of Blenniidae known to occur at these islands (Gasparini & Floeter 2001; Pinheiro et al.
2009): Ophioblennius trinitatis Miranda Ribeiro, 1919; Scartella poiti Rangel, Gasparini & Guimarães, 2004,
Entomacrodus sp. and Hypleurochilus sp.; the latter three being endemic to these islands. Herein, we describe the
species of Hypleurochilus as new, it being the 11th (eleventh) recognized species of Hypleurochilus known from the
Atlantic Ocean and the third from Brazilian waters.
Material and methods
All specimens were collected using hand nets. Methods of counting and measuring follow Bath (1994).
Morphometric and meristic data for the type series are presented in Table 1 and counts of dorsal- and anal-fin rays
for Brazilian species of Hypleurochilus are given in Table 2. In the description, meristic values for the holotype are
PINHEIRO ET AL.
96 · Zootaxa 3709 (1) © 2013 Magnolia Press
provided first, followed by the range of counts for all type specimens (holotype plus paratypes) in parentheses.
Clearing and staining — diafanization — follow Dingerkus & Uhler (1977). Type specimens were deposited in the
fish collections of Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (CIUFES), Universidade Estadual de Campinas
(ZUEC), Laboratório de Biologia do Nécton e Ecologia Pesqueira, Universidade Federal Fluminense (LNEP-UFF)
and California Academy of Sciences (CAS).
FIGURE 1. Map of the Brazilian Coast, Western South Atlantic. Square indicates Trindade Island and Martin Vaz
Archipelago, volcanic formations lying about 1160–1207 km, respectively, off Brazil. Type-locality of Hypleurochilus brasil.
TABLE 1. Occurrence percents of number of dorsal- and anal-fin rays of Hypleurochilus brasil sp. nov. (9 individuals
analyzed), H. pseudoaequipinnis (91) and H. fissicornis (22) (data for H. pseudoaequipinnis and H. fissicornis are from Bath
1994).
Taxonomy
Hypleurochilus brasil sp. n.
Brazil blenny (Figures 2–4, Tables 1 and 2)
Hypleurochilus fissicornis (non Quoy & Gaimard, 1824): Gasparini & Floeter 2001 (misidentification).
Holotype. CIUFES 1901, male, 30.85 mm SL, Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brasil, 20°30’S,
29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by T. Simon and R. Macieira, 19 Nov 2009.
Paratypes. ZUEC 6353, female, 26.9 mm SL, Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brazil,
20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 10 m, collected by H.T. Pinheiro, 03 May 2009; LNEP-UFF 300, male, 18.5 mm SL,
Species Segmented dorsal rays Segmented anal rays
11 13 14 15 14 15 16 17
H. brasil 55.5 44.4 33.3 66.6
H. pseudoaequipinnis 1.1 63.4 34.4 1.1 3.23 59.14 37.63
H. fissicornis 13.6 86.4 9.1 90.9
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NEW HYPLEUROCHILUS FROM TRINIDADE ISLAND
Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by H.T.
Pinheiro, 10 May 2009; CIUFES 1945, male, 21.45 mm SL, Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo,
Brazil, 20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by H.T. Pinheiro, 10 May 2009; CIUFES 1925, male, 17.6 mm SL,
Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by H.T.
Pinheiro, 10 May 2009; CIUFES 1946, male, 19.5 mm SL, Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo,
Brazil, 20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by H.T. Pinheiro, 10 May 2009; CIUFES 1938, female, 15.4 mm
SL, Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by H.T.
Pinheiro, 10 May 2009; CAS 235154, 21.45 mm SL, Ponta da Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brazil,
20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by H.T. Pinheiro, 10 May 2009; CAS 235155, 19.65 mm SL, Ponta da
Calheta, Ilha da Trindade, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 20°30’S, 29°20’W, depth 8 m, collected by H.T. Pinheiro, 10 May
2009.
Comparative material. Hypleurochilus fissicornis: CIUFES 1055, 1086, MNRJ 20822; Hypleurochilus
pseudoaequipinnis: CIUFES 783, MNRJ 20498, LNEP-UFF 087, 099.
Diagnosis. Hypleurochilus brasil differs from its congeners by the following combination of characters:
pelvic-fin rays I, 3, dorsal fin predominantly XII,13, anal fin II, 15 or 16 (usually 16), absence of blackened stripes,
nape green or white and presence of numerous tiny red spots along body, diminishing in size posteriorly (Figures 3
and 4).
FIGURE 2. Hypleurochilus brasil, Preserved holotype CIUFES 1901. Photo by R. Macieira.
FIGURE 3. Hypleurochilus brasil, Paratype (ZUEC 6353).Photographed shortly after death (up to 2 hours). Photo by H.
Pinheiro.
PINHEIRO ET AL.
98 · Zootaxa 3709 (1) © 2013 Magnolia Press
Description. Dorsal-fin rays XII, 13 or 14, 13 in 5 specimens and 14 in 4 specimens; anal-fin rays II, 15 or 16,
15 in 3 specimens and 16 in 6 specimens; branched caudal-fin rays 8, total segmented caudal-fin 12; pectoral-fin
rays 14; pelvic-fin rays I, 3; precaudal vertebrae 11, caudal vertebrae 25. Gill opening ending at or slightly above
dorsal end of the pectoral fin base. Lateral line straight and short, with 24 distinct tubes, never extending beyond
the first segmented dorsal ray. One to four cirri present on anterior nasal opening and one or two on top of eyes.
Body moderately elongate, without scales. Head length 3.18 (2.98–4.14) in SL, orbit diameter 4.09 (2.84–4.64)
in head length, pectoral-fin length 3.74 (2.73–3.9) in SL and pelvic-fin length 6.11 (4.61–7.69) in SL (Table 2).
Horizontal mouth situated low on the head; maxilla reaching posteriorly to a vertical through the centre of eye.
Incisiform teeth 25 in the upper jaw and 24 or 25 in the lower jaw. Two large curved canine teeth posteriorly on
each side of dentary, at end of incisiform series, and in upper and lower jaws. Cephalic sensory pores arranged in
two rows inferior and posterior of eye, one row above superior lip, two rows below lower lip; two arrow-shaped
rows on nape, one right posterior to eyes and one slightly anterior to dorsal fin.
FIGURE 4. Hypleurochilus brasil in its natural habitat on the rocky reef of Trindade Island. Photo by R. Macieira.
Colour in life. Individuals shortly after death (approx 2 h) and alive are shown in Figures 3 and 4 to illustrate
the colour pattern of the new species. The body is translucent with pale brown tint in juveniles and strongly orange
in adults, both with many red spots along sides of body. Adults with transverse pale and dark bars on head and
posterior part of body. Nape variable in coloration, green or whitish in juveniles, black in adults. Black pupil
surrounded by red iris with black stripes giving the appearance of spokes in a wheel. Snout pale yellow with
whitish or bluish streaks. Operculum and pre-operculum bordered with series of white dots. Pectoral, pelvic and
anal fins, and basal part of caudal fin yellow, without dots or spots. Dorsal and caudal fins hyaline.
Colour in alcohol. Body pale brown, red spots in live specimens turn brown (Figure 2). Top of head dark
brown. Snout with brownish streaks. Fins pale. Series of white dots on the operculum and pre-operculum
disappear.
Etymology. The name of the new species refers to the vivid red spots that are like incandescent pieces of a
brazing. Brazil’s country name (Brasil in Portuguese), where the species is endemic, originally has a similar
Zootaxa 3709 (1) © 2013 Magnolia Press · 99
NEW HYPLEUROCHILUS FROM TRINIDADE ISLAND
derivation. The name of the country was given in recognition of the reddish colour of the wood of a large Brazilian
native tree (Caesalpinia echinata – “Pau-Brasil” in Portuguese), very abundant in the past. The name is treated as a
noun in apposition.
TABLE 2. Sex and measurements (in mm) of the holotype and paratypes of Hypleurochilus brasil sp. nov.
FIGURE 5. Type-locality of Hypleurochilus brasil, rocky shore at Trindade Island. Photo by R. Francini-Filho.
Distribution and habitat. Hypleurochilus brasil sp. n. is known only from the type locality (Figure 5), and is
considered to be endemic to Trindade Island and the Martin Vaz Archipelago. This species was recorded from 3 to
15 m depth, it was found either solitary or in small groups (up to 10 individuals), always in small holes or
associated with sea-urchins and sponges on the rocky reefs (Figure 4).
Sex Standard length Head length Eye diameter Pectoral fin length Pelvic fin length
Holotype Male 30.85 9.4 2.3 8.25 5.05
Paratype Female 26.9 6.5 1.4 6.9 3.5
Paratype Male 18.5 4.55 1.6 4.8 3
Paratype Male 21.45 6.15 1.95 6.5 3.5
Paratype Male 17.6 6 2.05 5.1 3
Paratype Male 19.5 6.55 1.8 5.8 3.9
Paratype Female 15.4 5.1 1.5 4 2.2
Paratype Juvenile 21.45 7.1 2 7.85 4.65
Paratype Juvenile 19.65 5.65 1.75 5.9 4.15
PINHEIRO ET AL.
100 · Zootaxa 3709 (1) © 2013 Magnolia Press
Remarks: Hypleurochilus brasil is distinguished from H. langi, H. bananensis, H. springeri, H. bermudensis,
H. aequipinnis and H. pseudoaequipinnis by having pelvic-fin rays I, 3 (versus I, 4). It differs from H.
caudovittatus, H. fissicornis, H. germinatus and H. multifilis by dorsal fin predominantly XII,13, anal fin II, 15 or
16 (usually 16), absence of black stripes and presence of numerous tiny red spots along body (Figures 3 and 4),
diminishing in size posteriorly. Its peculiar coloration (vivid orange spots, nape green or white) is different from all
congeners except H. springeri and some H. aequipinnis. A recent phylogenetic analysis shows a low level of
divergence between Hypleurochilus brasil sp. n. and H. fissicornis (0.6–0.8%; Levy et al. 2013). These two species
differ in number of dorsal and anal-fin rays (Table 1).
Hypleurochilus brasil was misidentified as H. fissicornis by Gasparini & Floeter (2001) and is considered as
Hypleurochilus n. sp. by Levy et al. (2013).
Acknowledgements
We thank the Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil – 1° Distrito Naval) and TAMAR/ICMBio Project for logistical
support; Flamar, Windive, Voz da Natureza and Fauna for diving support; R. Santos, T. Simon, R. Macieira for
collaboration on dives and collecting specimens; L. B. Stocco for the diafanization of specimens; R. Macieira, S.
Floeter, J.C. Joyeux and M. Gaither for revision and assistance; I. Sazima for ZUEC and L. Rocha and D. Catania
for CAS holdings; A.S. Martins, J.C. Joyeux and C. Pimentel for assistance at research labs and CIUFES. We are
especially grateful to A. Levy for sharing with us his preliminary DNA analysis, to R. Macieira and R. Francini-
Filho for the excellent photographs and V. Uhlig for the map elaboration. Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de
Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) provided a postdoctoral fellowship for one of the authors (CAR). This paper is
part of the project “Cadeia Vitória-Trindade: testando a teoria de conectividade por “stepping stones” em peixes
recifais” (grant CNPq 470725/2009-5 to J.C. Joyeux).
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... In the eastern Atlantic they range from the Mediterranean Sea, along the coast of Africa, to the mouth of the Congo River and in the western Atlantic they range from New Jersey, USA, throughout the Caribbean and south to Brazil (Fig. 1). There are currently 11 valid species broadly distributed across the western and eastern Atlantic tropical and temperate marine waters (Pinheiro et al., 2013). Eight of these species are reported in the western Atlantic, with H. pseudoaequipinnis being the only species within the genus reported on both sides of the Atlantic (Levy et al., 2013). ...
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... Two additional areas were taken from Briggs and Bowen (2013): 4) Brazil Coast; and 5) Eastern Atlantic. Hypleurochilus range information came from the literature (Bath 1994;Pinheiro et al., 2013) the STRI shorefishes database, and personal collections. The DEC model of range evolution was used to infer ancestral ranges (Ree and Smith 2008). ...
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Full-text available
  • Nov 2001
Trindade Island (20°30'S, 29°20'W) is located approximately 620 nautical miles (1160km) off the eastern Brazilian coast. Due to its geographical isolation, its ichthyofauna arouses great biogeographic interest. This work intends to provide the first comprehensive checklist for the shore fishes of Trindade Island. Six expeditions were undertaken (1995, 1997, two in 1998, 1999 and 2000—in total 86 days of fieldwork) to survey the ichthyofauna from tidal pools to reefs 30 m deep. A checklist of 97 species belonging to 44 families is presented, with information on the ecology and geographical distribution of each species. The most representative families were the Carangidae (nine species), Serranidae (nine), Labridae (seven), Pomacentridae (five) and Muraenidae (five). Trindade is zoogeographically related to the western Atlantic, since 32% of its species are also found in the continental margin and 12.3% are shared with the western and central Atlantic. Nearly thirty-five percent of the shore fish fauna of Trindade are widespread pan-Atlantic warm-water species. Another 14.6% are restricted to the Brazilian Province. At least six endemic species (6.2%) were found: Malacoctenus sp. (Labrisomidae), Scartella sp., Entomacrodus sp. (Blenniidae), Arcos sp. (Gobiesocidae), Elacatinus sp. and Lythrypinus sp. (Gobiidae). This endemism level is lower than that found on the tropical mid-Atlantic Ridge islands of St. Helena (13.9%), Ascension (15.7%) and St. Paul's Rocks (12.1%).
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Phylogeny of Parablennius Miranda Ribeiro, 1915 reveals a paraphyletic genus and recent Indo-Pacific diversification from an Atlantic ancestor
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2012
  • MOL PHYLOGENET EVOL
A molecular phylogeny of 15 (out of 26 recognized) species of Parablennius Miranda Ribeiro, 1915 was constructed based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear gene fragments, and using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. The closely related genera Hypleurochilus, Salaria and Scartella were also studied to ascertain their relationship with Parablennius. Phylogenetic analyses were compared with morphology-based taxonomical studies. Hypleurochilus, Salaria and Scartella appear well supported within a clade including all Parablennius, indicating that this genus is paraphyletic. The species pairs P. parvicornis-P. sanguinolentus and P. gattorugine-P. ruber are well-supported and relatively distant from remaining Parablennius. Remaining Parablennius form two distinct well-supported groups: (1) a clade of Atlantic-Mediterranean Parablennius (P. pilicornis, P. marmoreus, P. rouxi, P. salensis and P. tentacularis); (2) a clade including Hypleurochilus, the Indo-Western Pacific Parablennius (P. cornutus, P. intermedius, P. tasmanianus and P. yatabei) and the Atlantic P. incognitus and P. zvonimiri. Use of a relaxed molecular clock suggests that Indo-Pacific Parablennius originated recently from an Atlantic Parablennius that may have dispersed via southern Africa, rather than via the Tethys seaway.
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Phylogenetic relationships of the North-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean blenniids
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2005
  • BIOL J LINN SOC
The phylogenetic relationships of 27 north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean blennioids are analysed based on a total of 1001 bp from a combined fragment of the 12S and 16S mitochondrial rDNA. The most relevant results with implications in current blenniid taxonomy are: (1) Lipophrys pholis and Lipophrys (= Paralipophrys) trigloides are included in a well-supported clade that by the rule of precedence must be named Lipophrys ; (2) the sister species of this clade are not the remaining species of the genus Lipophrys but instead a monotypic genus comprising Cory-phoblennius galerita ; (3) the smaller species of Lipophrys were recovered in another well-supported and independent clade, which we propose to be recognized as Microlipophrys ; (4) although some authors included the genera Salaria and Lipophrys in a single group we have never recovered such a relationship. Instead, Salaria is more closely related to the genera Scartella and Parablennius ; (5) the genus Parablennius , which was never recovered as a monophyletic clade, is very diverse and may include several distinct lineages; (6) the relative position of Aidablennius sphynx casts some doubts on the currently recognized relationships between the different blenniid tribes. Meristic, morphological, behavioural and ecological characters support our results and are also discussed. The possible roles of the tropical West African coast and the Mediterranean in the diversification of blenniids are discussed.
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Atlantic reef fish biogeography and evolution
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2008
  • J BIOGEOGR
Aim To understand why and when areas of endemism (provinces) of the tropical Atlantic Ocean were formed, how they relate to each other, and what processes have contributed to faunal enrichment. Location Atlantic Ocean. Methods The distributions of 2605 species of reef fishes were compiled for 25 areas of the Atlantic and southern Africa. Maximum‐parsimony and distance analyses were employed to investigate biogeographical relationships among those areas. A collection of 26 phylogenies of various Atlantic reef fish taxa was used to assess patterns of origin and diversification relative to evolutionary scenarios based on spatio‐temporal sequences of species splitting produced by geological and palaeoceanographic events. We present data on faunal (species and genera) richness, endemism patterns, diversity buildup (i.e. speciation processes), and evaluate the operation of the main biogeographical barriers and/or filters. Results Phylogenetic (proportion of sister species) and distributional (number of shared species) patterns are generally concordant with recognized biogeographical provinces in the Atlantic. The highly uneven distribution of species in certain genera appears to be related to their origin, with highest species richness in areas with the greatest phylogenetic depth. Diversity buildup in Atlantic reef fishes involved (1) diversification within each province, (2) isolation as a result of biogeographical barriers, and (3) stochastic accretion by means of dispersal between provinces. The timing of divergence events is not concordant among taxonomic groups. The three soft (non‐terrestrial) inter‐regional barriers (mid‐Atlantic, Amazon, and Benguela) clearly act as ‘filters’ by restricting dispersal but at the same time allowing occasional crossings that apparently lead to the establishment of new populations and species. Fluctuations in the effectiveness of the filters, combined with ecological differences among provinces, apparently provide a mechanism for much of the recent diversification of reef fishes in the Atlantic. Main conclusions Our data set indicates that both historical events (e.g. Tethys closure) and relatively recent dispersal (with or without further speciation) have had a strong influence on Atlantic tropical marine biodiversity and have contributed to the biogeographical patterns we observe today; however, examples of the latter process outnumber those of the former.
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MEGA4: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software version 4.0
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2007
We announce the release of the fourth version of MEGA software, which expands on the existing facilities for editing DNA sequence data from autosequencers, mining Web-databases, performing automatic and manual sequence alignment, analyzing sequence alignments to estimate evolutionary distances, inferring phylogenetic trees, and testing evolutionary hypotheses. Version 4 includes a unique facility to generate captions, written in figure legend format, in order to provide natural language descriptions of the models and methods used in the analyses. This facility aims to promote a better understanding of the underlying assumptions used in analyses, and of the results generated. Another new feature is the Maximum Composite Likelihood (MCL) method for estimating evolutionary distances between all pairs of sequences simultaneously, with and without incorporating rate variation among sites and substitution pattern heterogeneities among lineages. This MCL method also can be used to estimate transition/transversion bias and nucleotide substitution pattern without knowledge of the phylogenetic tree. This new version is a native 32-bit Windows application with multi-threading and multi-user supports, and it is also available to run in a Linux desktop environment (via the Wine compatibility layer) and on Intel-based Macintosh computers under the Parallels program. The current version of MEGA is available free of charge at (http://www.megasoftware.net).
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Reef fish structure and distribution in a south-western Atlantic Ocean tropical island
Article
The community structure of the reef fish fauna of Trindade Island, a volcanic oceanic island located 1160 km off the coast of Brazil, is described based on intensive visual censuses. Seventy-six species were encountered in 252 censuses, with mean ± S.E. of 99 ± 3 individuals and 15.7 ± 0.3 species 40 m(-2) transect. The average fish biomass, calculated from length-class estimation, was 22.1 kg 40 m(-2) transect. The species contributing most to biomass were, in decreasing order, Melichthys niger, Cephalopholis fulva, Kyphosus spp., Holocentrus adscensionis, Sparisoma amplum, Sparisoma axillare, Acanthurus bahianus and Epinephelus adscensionis. Carnivorous fishes were the largest trophic group in terms of biomass, followed by omnivores and roving herbivores. The two predominant types of reef habitat, fringing reefs built by coralline algae and rocky reefs made of volcanic boulders, showed significant differences in the biomass and the abundance of the trophic guilds. Within each habitat type, significant differences in species richness, density and biomass were detected among crest, slope and interface zones. Although similar in overall species composition to coastal reefs in Brazil, the fish fauna of Trindade Island shares certain characteristics, such as a high abundance of planktivores, with other Brazilian oceanic islands. Despite comparatively high fish biomass, including the macro-carnivorous species habitually targeted by fisheries, signs of overfishing were evident. These findings highlight the urgency for a conservation initiative for this isolated, unique and vulnerable reef system.
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Enzyme Clearing of Alcian Blue Stained Whole Small Vertebrates for Demonstration of Cartilage
Article
  • Aug 1977
  • Stain Tech
Preparation of small vertebrates cleared after alcian blue staining of cartilage is facilitated by trypsin digestion. Specimens are fixed in formation, washed, skinned, and eviscerated. After staining in a solution of alcian blue in acetic acid-alcohol for 24-48 hours, they are transferred to water through graded alcohols. Excess alcian blue is removed over a period of up to three weeks by changes every 2-3 days of 1% trypsin in approximately one-third-saturated sodium borate. Bony tissues may be stained after this in a solution of alizarin red S in 0.5% KOH. Specimens are bleached if necessary and dehydrated through graded KOH-glycerine mixtures for storage in glycerine. Since alcohol treatment in addition to formalin fixation does not affect results with this method, it should be useful to researchers who want to study the cartilage or cartilaginous skeletons in museum specimens, which are routinely fixed in formalin and stored in alcohol.
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Taxonomia e distribuição da família Blenniidae (Teleostei: Blennioidei) na costa leste do Brasil
  • Jan 2010
  • 17-41
  • C A Rangel
  • R Z P Guimarães
Rangel, C.A. & Guimarães, R.Z.P. (2010) Taxonomia e distribuição da família Blenniidae (Teleostei: Blennioidei) na costa leste do Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoociências, 12 (1), 17-41.