Revisão taxonômica das espécies brasileiras do gênero Pomadasys Lacépède, 1802 (Teleostei: Haemulidae)

Abstract

The taxonomy of the species of Pomadasys Lacépède from the coast of Brazil is reviewed. Of the 12 species of the genus, or of its synonyms recorded from Brazil, only Pomadasys corvinaeformis (Steindachner, 1868) and P. ramosum (Poey, 1860) were confirmed based on examined material. A third species, traditionally misidentified as P. crocro (Cuvier, 1830), revealed itself distinct from this species of the Caribbean Sea and is herein recognized as new. The study of the type material of P. crocro from Martinica, of specimens from a closely similar form from Panama, and the material of the Brazilian new species suggests that crocro may represent a species-group of allopatric and closely similar species. Problems related to, the existence of species-groups within Pomadasys are discussed. A diagnosis, a brief description, the geographic distribution based on examined specimens, and available information on species bioecology are given for each of the species recognized from Brazil. A key for the identification of the Brazilian species of Pomadasys is given.