Checklist of the fish fauna of the Araçá Bay, São Sebastião Channel, northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

This paper presents for the first time a checklist of the fish fauna of Araça Bay, São Sebastião Channel, northern coast of São Paulo state, Brazil. Fishes were sampled in five surveys from October 2012 to February 2014 using nine different types of sampling gear during high tide. Tide pool fishes were also sampled in four surveys from March to October 2014. Geographic distribution and conservation status of each species are reported. A total of 126 species was recorded in Araçá Bay, including two non-native species and new records in the São Sebastião region for 16 species. The fish species richness found in Araçá Bay was greater than the previously recorded for the São Sebastião Channel and other adjacent areas. Most of the Araçá fish species show a wide distribution along the western Atlantic Ocean (32%). Few species are included in the international (29%) and Brazilian (3.3%) official lists of threatened species.