Synopsis of the knowledge on the Brazilian aplacophorans (Mollusca: Caudofoveata & Solenogastres)

Authors

  • Flávio Dias Passos Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8193-9874
  • Marcel Sabino Miranda Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal
  • Paulo Vinicius Ferraz Corrêa Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6474-7355

Keywords:

Aplacophora, molluscs, biodiversity, Southwestern Atlantic

Abstract

Abstract: Aplacophorans are well known as exclusively marine benthic molluscs with a vermiform body covered by aragonitic sclerites (also called spicules), whose species are widely distributed from the sublittoral down to the abyss. Currently, only nine species are known from Brazil (one Solenogastres and eight Caudofoveata), but these very few records are no longer a reflection of an existing low diversity. Sampling in deep waters has been conducted recently in oil-rich areas of the Brazilian coast, and the museum collections have now many aplacophoran lots. There is a need to learn about and/or install some microscopical facilities in Brazilian institutions, to form expertise for the investigations on these generally small animals. With studies on taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography and ecology, important questions will be surely answered about the diversity, distribution, and the relationship among the deep-sea fauna from Brazil and from other places.

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Published

2019-01-01

How to Cite

Passos, F. D., Miranda, M. S., & Corrêa, P. V. F. (2019). Synopsis of the knowledge on the Brazilian aplacophorans (Mollusca: Caudofoveata & Solenogastres). Biota Neotropica, 19(1). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/1593

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