How many species of shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea, Dendrobranchiata, Stenopodidea) in Brazil? Diversity, geographic distribution, and history of taxonomic studies based on the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna)

Abstract

Abstract The 4,461 shrimp species worldwide correspond to approximately 25% of the diversity of crustacean decapods. We surveyed the shrimp species known for Brazil based on the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna). A total of 373 shrimp species are so far recorded from Brazil, of which 79% are Caridea, 19% Dendrobranchiata, and 2% Stenopodidea. Caridea is represented by 24 families and 294 species, Dendrobranchiata by seven families and 72 species, and Stenopodidea by three families and seven species. The Brazilian representatives of the three taxa respectively represent 8%, 14%, and 7% of the global species diversity and 21%, 49%, and 29% of the global generic biodiversity. Forty-three species of Caridea, three of Stenopodidea, and one of Dendrobranchiata are endemic to Brazil. Twelve non-native, alien species belonging to seven genera are reported for Caridea and Dendrobranchiata. The vast majority of all species are marine and brackish-water (328 species), 112 of which are from deep water (> 500 m), and 45 from fresh water. Brazil is the confirmed type locality of 81 species, but this number may be higher. The authors of these species were only from Europe and the USA until 1950, but mostly Brazilian since. This compilation aims to provide information about Brazilian shrimps to assist future research in all areas and to help governmental or non-governmental (NGO) agencies in making decisions and recommendations about conservation issues.