Microanatomia e sistemática das espécies de Zoanthus Lamarck, 1801 (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Zoanthidea) do litoral e ilhas oceânicas do Brasil

Abstract

The species of Zoanthus Lamarck, 1801, that occur on the coast and oceanic islands of Brazil are surveyed and redescribed. Four species are involved: Zoanthus sociatus (Ellis, 1767) is widely distributed from Ceará to São Paulo and also occur on Atol das Rocas, Fernando de Noronha Island and Abrolhos Reefs; Zoanthus nymphaeus (Lesueur, 1817) occurs along the coast from Bahia to Arraial do Cabo (Rio de Janeiro State); Zoanthus solanderi Lesueur, 1817 ranges from Espírito Santo to São Paulo, again only along the coast; and Zoanthus pacificus Walsh & Bowers, 1971, has so far been found at a single location in Espírito Santo. Morphological, anatomicial and cytological characters were used in the systematics, with major emphasis on nematocysts – one of the key taxonomic criteria in the group – and the position, size and appearance of the macrosept digestive-excretory zone. The known ranges of Zoanthus species are greatly expanded and three new area records are given: these are the first knowm ocurrences of Z. nymphaeus and Z. solanderi in the South Atlantic, and the first of Z. pacificus in the Atlantic Ocean. Certain ecological data are also recorded, including species zonation at Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro State.