Taxonomy of the Brazilian Apodida (Holothuroidea), with the description of two new genera

Abstract

ABSTRACT Here, we review the taxonomy of the Apodida species from the Brazilian coast and oceanic islands. Eleven species are reported, four Chiridotidae (including Chantalia conandae gen. et sp. nov.) and seven Synaptidae (including Yemoja gen. nov.). Chantalia conandae gen. et sp. nov. is a shallow-water species diagnosed by having 12 tentacles, 4–6 Polian vesicles and vase-shaped ciliated funnels along the mesenteries, and by lacking a calcareous ring, sensory cups and ossicles. Based on the morphology of the calcareous ring (dumbbell-shaped plates) and of the tentacles (12, simple), we propose the new genus Yemoja gen. nov. to accommodate Leptosynapta brasiliensis (Yemoja brasiliensis comb. nov.). To date, there are no records of Myriotrochidae in Brazil. In addition to species descriptions and photographs, we provide novel data on the calcareous ring stereom and a discussion about the calcareous ring morphology in Apodida, an identification key for the Brazilian species, a synoptic table with morphological characteristics of the Brazilian genera, and a synoptic table comparing the ossicleless Apodida genera. Finally, we provide the geographic and bathymetric distribution of the Apodida species reported for the South Atlantic and adjacent Southern Ocean. Based on our compendium, the Synaptidae is most diverse in warmer waters, while the Myriotrochidae is most diverse in colder waters. Also, the Atlantic coasts of South America and Africa have a surprisingly low with their adjacent Antarctic waters. We expect that dedicated holothuroid research will greatly increase the diversity of Apodida throughout the South Atlantic Ocean, especially off the continental shelf. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:40375FE3-DA69-4900-9F6E-C96D212FA131 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:763EA694-506A-4831-8C15-32B0DC5D9877 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:395238EE-4240-461E-BD13-975AB561A480