Families

Brazilian reef fish fauna: checklist and remarks
(updated Jan. 2003) [PDF] 199kb

Sergio R. Floeter¹, João Luiz Gasparini², Luiz A. Rocha³, Carlos E. L. Ferreira⁴, Carlos A. Rangel⁵, and Bertran M. Feitoza⁶.

¹Lab. de Ciências Ambientais, UENF, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28015-620, Brasil, E-mail: srfloeter@hotmail.com;
²Depto. de Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, UFES, Vitória, ES, 29060-900, Brasil, E-mail: gaspa.vix@terra.com.br;
³Dept Fish. Aquatic Sci., UF, 7922 NW 71^ST, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA, E-mail: rocha@mail.ifas.ufl.edu;
⁴Depto. de Oceanografia, IEAPM, Rua Kioto 253, Arraial do Cabo, RJ, 28930-000, Brasil, E-mail: kadu@alternex.com.br;
⁵Lab. de Biodiversidade de Recursos Pesqueiros, NIGP-UFRJ, Depto de Biologia Marinha, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-569, Brasil, E-mail: cagu@ig.com.br;
⁶Depto. de Sistemática e Ecologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil, E-mail: bert@netwaybbs.com.br.

The authors welcome suggestions or/and new records to be added in the next version.

Citation: Floeter SR, Gasparini JL, Rocha LA, Ferreira CEL, Rangel CA & Feitoza BM (2003) Brazilian reef fish fauna: checklist and remarks. Brazilian Reef Fish Project: www.brazilianreeffish.cjb.net

Introduction

The tropical fish fauna of the western Atlantic ranges from about 35°N to 28°S (Robins, 1971; Nunan, 1992; Floeter et al, 2001), and a considerable part of this region (4°N to 28°S) is included in Brazilian waters. Although the reef ichthyofauna of the western North Atlantic has been subject to substantial study, the reef fishes of the Brazilian coast and its oceanic islands have remained poorly known. A significant increase in sampling effort on Brazilian waters occurred only after the mid-1990s, when the growing use of SCUBA by Brazilian ichthyologists led to the extension of the known geographical range of many species (e.g. Nunan, 1992; Guimarães, 1996a,b; Rangel, 1997; Moura et al., 1999), the description of new species (e.g. Sazima et al., 1997, 1998; Gasparini et al., 1999; Rocha, 1999a; Gasparini et al., 2001; Feitoza, 2002), the first representative collections from major reef areas (e.g. Nunan, 1992; Rocha et al., 1998; Rocha, 1999b; Feitoza, 1999; Gasparini & Floeter, 2000); and biogeographic analysis (e.g. Guimarães, 1999; Floeter & Gasparini, 2000; Floeter et al., 2001).

Methods

This study was based on the tropical teleost species primarily associated with hard substrates in the continental shelf and oceanic islands down to 50m deep, here referred as ‘reef fishes’. The composition and species distribution of the reef ichthyofauna has been determined primarily through original field studies in several Brazilian reef sites by the authors and colleagues (see Table I), as well as by compilation of data from literature (e.g. Figueiredo & Menezes, 1978, 1980, 2000; Menezes & Figueiredo, 1980, 1985; Lubbock & Edwards, 1981; Nunan, 1992; Bölhke & Chaplin, 1993; Randall, 1996; Rosa & Moura, 1997; Carvalho-Filho, 1999) and museum collections [Museu Nacional Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ), Laboratório de Biodiversidade de Recursos Pesqueiros da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (LBRP), Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Museu de Biologia Professor Mello Leitão (MBML), British Museum Natural History (BMNH), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Laboratório de Ictiologia da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (LIUEFS), Museu de Zoologia da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (ZUEC), Smithsonian Institution - Natural History Museum (USNM)].

RESULTS

Table I. Checklist for the Brazilian reef fish fauna including a) occurrence sites, b) voucher specimens when available, c) known distribution, and d) remarks. Key to Sites: PM = Manuel Luiz Reefs (0°52’S; 44°15’W); AR = Atol das Rocas (3º50’S; 33º49’W); FN = Fernando de Noronha (3º51’S; 32º26’W); StP = St. Paul’s Rocks (0°55’N; 29°21’W); Zu = Zumbi Reefs** (5°S; 35°W); PB = Paraíba (7°S; 34°50W); BA = Bahia (12-16°S); Ab = Abrolhos Reefs (17º 20’S; 39ºW); TR = Trindade Island (20°30’S; 29°20’W); ES = Guarapari Islands, Espírito Santo (20º40’S; 40º22’W); AC = Arraial do Cabo (23°S; 42°W); RJ = Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro (23°05’S; 44°20’W; SP = São Paulo (24°30’S; 46°W); SC = Santa Catarina (27°30’S; 48°W). Museums: see Methods. Range: CT = Circumtropical; PA = Pan Atlantic; WA = Western Atlantic; WC = Western and Central Atlantic; CA = Central Atlantic. SW Atlantic endemics in blue. See photos from selected species in red (click on names).

FAMILIES

GERREIDAE

Families	Species	Brazilian Sites and Voucher Specimens	Distribution and Remarks

MORINGUIDAE	Moringua edwardsi (Jordan & Bollman, 1889)	AR MNRJ 11803; BA MZUSP 9089-90; TR MNRJ 11804	WA
MURAENIDAE	Anarchias similis (Lea, 1913)	StP	WA
	Channomuraena vittata (Richardson, 1844)	StP; BA LIUEFS 4411	CT
	Echidna catenata (Bloch, 1795)	AR MZUSP 11819; FN MNRJ 11806; PB; TR ZUEC 2831; SC	PA
	Enchelycore carychroa Böhlke & Böhlke, 1976	AR ANSP 123287; FN; StP, BA MZUSP 11826	WC
	Enchelycore nigricans (Bonaterre, 1788)	AR MNRJ 11810; MZUSP 48234; FN MNRJ 11809; StP MZUSP 14593; PB; TR ZUEC 2698; ES	PA
	Gymnothorax funebris Ranzani, 1840	PM, AR MZUSP 48224; PB, UFPB 3350; Ab; ES; AC; RJ; SP; SC	PA
	Gymnothorax miliaris (Kaup, 1856)	AR MNRJ 11819, FN; StP; PB; TR MNRJ 1922; ES	PA
	Gymnothorax moringa (Cuvier, 1829)	PM; AR; FN; ZU; PB, UFPB 3344; Ab; TR ZUEC 2832; ES; RJ; SP; SC	WC – Absent only from St. Paul’s Rocks
	Gymnothorax polygonius Poey 1876	TR	WC
	Gymnothorax vicinus (Castelnau, 1855)	FN BMNH 1888119156157; PB, UFPB 3490	PA
	Muraena melanotis (Kaup, 1860)	StP	PA?
	Muraena pavonina (Richarson, 1844)	AR MZUSP 48251; FN ANSP 142733; StP MZUSP 14594; PB	WC – only northeastern Brazil + mid-Atlantic ridge
	Uropterygius macularius (Lesueur, 1825)	AR	WA
OPHICHTIDAE	Myrophis sp.	TR UFPB 4487	Probably new species endemic to Trindade
	Myrichthys breviceps (Richardson, 1848)	AR; TR; ES ZUEC 3502; AC LBRP 5085	WA
	Myrichthys ocellatus (Kaup, 1856)	PM; AR MZUSP 48252; FN; Zu; PB UFPB 3335; Ab; ES; AC LBRP 5211; RJ; SP; SC	PA
CONGRIDAE	Heteroconger camelopardalis (Lubbock, 1980)	FN BMNH 1980244; PB	Found at F. de Noronha, Ascension Island and NE Brazil
	Heteroconger longissimus Günther, 1870	PB; ES; AC; RJ; SP	WA
SYNODONTIDAE	Synodus foetens (Linnaeus, 1758)	PB; BA; ES; RJ SP; SC	WA
	Synodus intermedius (Spix, 1829)	PM; BA MNRJ 10656; Ab; ES; AC LBRP 5202; SC	WA
	Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758)	Ab; TR MBML 206; ES ZUEC 3513; AC; SP	PA
	Trachinocephalus myops (Forster, 1801)	PM; BA; TR; ES; AC BMNH 19919255; RJ LBRP 5207; SP; SC	CT
OPHIDIIDAE	Brotula sp. n.	ES	New species probably endemic to the Brazilian Province
CARAPIDAE	Carapus cf. bermudensis (Jones, 1874)	ES LBRP 5381	WA - Found on cavities of sea cucumbers
BYTHITIDAE	Stignobrotula latebricola (Böhlke, 1957)	BA; ES	WA
BATRACHOIDIDAE	Amphichthys cryptocentrus (Valenciennes, 1837)	PM UFPB 4208; Ceará LBRP 5520; BA	WA
	Porichthys porosissimus (Cuvier, 1829)	ES LBRP 5365; AC LBRP 5335; RJ MNRJ 18962; SP; SC	WA – southeastern Brazil
	Porichthys kymosemeum Gilbert, 1968	PM UFPB 4235	WA
	Thalassophryne nattereri Steindachner, 1876	PM UFPB 4234; PB UFPB 3338; RJ; SP	WA
	Thalassophryne montevidensis Berg, 1893	AC LBRP 5350	Southeastern Brazil to Argentina
ANTENNARIIDAE	Antennarius multiocellatus (Valenciennes, 1837)	PM; AR MZUSP 48229; BA MZUSP 17121; ES; AC LBRP 5080	PA
	Antennarius striatus (Shaw & Nodder, 1794)	ES ZUEC 3505; AC MNRJ 10627; RJ MNRJ 10623	CT– southeastern Brazil
	Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758)	AC; RJ; SP; SC	PA – Sargassum banks
OGCOCEPHALIDAE	Halieuticthis aculeatus (Mitchill, 1818)	ES	WA – southeastern Brazil
	Ogcocephalus notatus (Valenciennes, 1837)	Ab; ES; BA MNRJ 10662	WA
	Ogcocephalus vespertilio (Linnaeus, 1758)	PM MZUSP 53167; PB; BA; ES; AC LBRP 5171; AC MNRJ 12324; RJ; SP	Endemic to SWA
HOLOCENTRIDAE	Adioryx bullisi (Woods, 1955)	ES; AC MNRJ 11843	WA
	Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck, 1765)	PM UFPB 4207; AR MZUSP 47414; FN MZUSP 14618; StP; Zu; PB UFPB 3491; BA; Ab; TR UFPB 3578; ES; AC; RJ; SP; SC	PA
	Myripristis jacobus Cuvier, 1829	PM MZUSP 53091; AR MNRJ 11842; FN MZUSP 14619; StP MZUSP 14595; Zu; R.G. do Norte LBRP 5497; PB; TR ZUEC 2681; ES; AC; SP	PA
	Plectrypops retrospinis (Guichenot, 1853)	FN; Zu; PB; BA MNRJ 7980; ES; AC; RJ; SP	WA
SYNGNATHIDAE	Bryx sp.n.	AC; RJ; SC MNRJ 11847	Endemic to Brazil
	Cosmocampus albirostris (Kaup, 1856)	AC LBRP 5265; AC MNRJ 12451; RJ; SP	WA
	Halicampus crinitus (Jenyns, 1842)	AR MNRJ 11848; FN USNM 213529; BA MZUSP 9409; Ab USNM 43391; ES LBRP 5394; AC LBRP 5170; RJ LBRP 5083; SC	WA
	Hippocampus erectus Perry, 1810	ES; AC LBRP 0773, BMNH 199192519; RJ LBRP 3478; SC MNRJ 11852	WA
	Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933	PB; BA; ES LBRP 5363; AC LBRP 5030; AC BMNH 199192520; RJ LBRP 5019; SP; SC	WA
	Micrognathus erugatus Herald & Dawson, 1974	BA MZUSP 9408	Known only from the type locality, in Bahia - Provisionally considered a Brazilian endemic
AULOSTOMIDAE	Aulostomus strigosus Wheeler, 1955	FN MZUSP 14617; StP MHNG 201421; Ab; TR; ES ZUEC 3497; AC; RJ MNRJ 11844	PA – Bowen et al., 2001
FISTULARIIDAE	Fistularia petimba Lacepede, 1803	ES; AR MNRJ 11845; AC LBRP 5351; RJ; SP	PA – southeastern Brazil
	Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus, 1758	BA MNRJ 8082; Ab; ES; AC; RJ; SP; SC	PA
DACTYLOPTERIDAE	Dactylopterus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)	AR MNRJ 11857; FN; StP; Zu; PB; Ab; ES; AC BMNH 1991925281; RJ LBRP 5424; SP; SC MNRJ 11858	PA
SCORPAENIDAE	Scorpaena brasiliensis Cuvier, 1829	PB; BA; ES; AC LBRP 5413; RJ USNM 83177; SP; SC	WA
	Scorpaena dispar Longley & Hildebrand, 1940	BA LBRP 5415; AC; RJ LBRP 5079	WA – southeastern Brazil
	Scorpaena grandicornis Cuvier, 1829	BA USNM 6944; ES	WA
	Scorpaena isthmensis Meek & Hildebrand, 1928	ES; AC MNRJ 11859; RJ LBRP 5044; SP; SC MNRJ 11861	WA – southeastern Brazil
	Scorpaena plumieri Bloch, 1789	PB UFPB 3337; BA 5420; TR ZUFES 131368; ES ZUEC 3501; RJ LBRP 5056; SP SC MNRJ 11863	WC
	Scorpaenodes insularis Eschmeyer, 1971	StP MZUSP 14599	CA – only mid-Atlantic Ridge islands
	Scorpaenodes tredecimspinosus (Metzelaar, 1919)	PB; AC LBRP 5089; RJ; SP LBRP 5609	WA
SERRANIDAE	Anthias salmopunctatus Lubbock & Edwards, 1981	StP MZUSP 14596 Holotype	Endemic to St. Paul’s Rocks. Below 30m
	Acanthistius brasilianus (Cuvier, 1828)	AC LBRP 5199; RJ MNRJ 18779; SP	Southeastern Brazil and Argentina
	Alphestes afer Bloch, 1793	PB; BA; ES; AC MNRJ 11866; RJ; SP	WA
	Cephalopholis fulva (Linnaeus, 1758)	PM; AR MZUSP 47416; FN MZUSP 14620; StP; Zu; Ceará LBRP 5508; PB; Ab; TR MBML 210; ES ZUEC 3492; AC; RJ; SP	WC
	Dermatolepis inermis (Valenciennes, 1833)	PM; AR MZUSP 48219 MNRJ 11870; FN; Ab; TR MNRJ 11871; ES	WA
	Diplectrum formosum (Linnaeus, 1766)	PB; AC LBRP 5204; AC BMNH 1991925; RJ LBRP 5426; SC MNRJ 11864	WA
	Diplectrum radiale (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)	ES MBML 374; RJ MNHN 7015 Holotype; SP; SC	WA – Only South America, and in Brazil restricted to the southeastern coast.
	Dules auriga (Cuvier, 1829)	ES; AC LBRP 5328; RJ MNRJ 8358; SP; SC	Restricted to South America
	Epinephelus adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765)	TR ZUEC 2820; TR LBRP 5221	PA
	Epinephelus guttatus (Linnaeus, 1758)	PB	WA – northeastern Brazil
	Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822)	PM; Zu; PB; BA USNM 23241; Ab; ES; RJ USNM 23241; SP	PA – Risk of extinction on many localities due to spearfishing
	Epinephelus marginatus (Linnaeus, 1758)	AC MNRJ 11868; RJ; SP; SC MNRJ 11869	PA – southeastern Brazil
	Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes, 1828)	PM; BA USNM 43332; Ab; ES; AC BMNH 199192530; SP USNM 123135; SC MNRJ 11872	WA
	Epinephelus niveatus (Valenciennes, 1828)	ES; AC BMNH 199192531; SP; SC MNRJ 11873	WA and Eastern Pacific - southeastern Brazil
	Gonioplectrus hispanus (Cuvier, 1828)	TR	WA
	Liopropoma carmabi (Randall, 1963)	ES MNRJ 19146	WA – Recently collected at Escalvada Is. – southeastern Brazil
	Mycteroperca acutirostris (Valenciennes, 1828)	Ab; ES; AC MNRJ 11876; SP; SC MNRJ 11877	PA
	Mycteroperca bonaci (Poey, 1861)	PM UFPB 4210; AR; FN; Zu; PB; BA MNRJ 10681; Ab; TR; ES ZUEC 3522; AC; RJ; SP; SC	WA
	Mycteroperca interstitialis (Poey, 1861)	BA USNM 43388; TR; ES; AC; SP; SC MNRJ 11874	WA
	Mycteroperca microlepis (Goode & Bean, 1879)	ES; AC; RJ MCZ 10126; SP; SC MNRJ 11875	WA – Antitropical distribution – southeastern Brazil
	Mycteroperca tigris (Valenciennes, 1833)	ES; RJ MNRJ 6523; SP; SC	WA – southeastern Brazil
	Mycteroperca venenosa (Linnaeus, 1758)	PM; Maranhão MCZ 10148; Ab; TR; ES MNRJ 10473; AC; SP	WA
	Paranthias furcifer (Valenciennes, 1828)	AR MNRJ 11878; FN. Zu; ES; AC; RJ LBRP 5606; SP	PA and Eastern Pacific
	Rypticus bistrispinus (Mitchill, 1818)	BA BMNH 1879514157; ES; AC LBRP 2204; AC MNRJ 11881	WA – southeastern Brazil
	Rypticus randalli Courtney, 1967	PB; BA MNRJ 10685; ES; AC LBRP 3037; RJ LBRP 5041; SP	WA
	Rypticus saponaceus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)	PM; AT; FN; StP; Zu; PB; BA MNHN 7844; Ab; TR MNRJ 11882; ES ZUEC 3508; AC MNRJ 11883	PA
	Rypticus subbifrenatus Gill, 1861	PB UFPB 3340; BA MZUSP 9110; ES; AC	PA

Distribution and Remarks