Unique Aggregations of a Large Undescribed Solitary Tunicate in the Arabian Sea

We document aggregations of an undescribed benthic solitary tunicate of the family Pyuridae from the Arabian Sea. This new genus was found forming dense thickets in shallow rocky substrates around Masirah Island and the Dhofar area in Oman. Such aggregations of tunicates have not been reported before from coral reefs in the Indo-West Pacific region and the Atlantic. This observation contributes to our understanding of the ecology and biogeography of ascidians, setting the stage for a comprehensive species description and in-depth analysis of this species

Structure Elucidation and Anticancer Activity of 7-Oxostaurosporine Derivatives from the Brazilian Endemic Tunicate Eudistoma vannamei

The present study reports the identification of two new staurosporine derivatives, 2-hydroxy-7-oxostaurosporine (1) and 3-hydroxy-7-oxostaurosporine (2), obtained from mid-polar fractions of an aqueous methanol extract of the tunicate Eudistoma vannamei, endemic to the northeast coast of Brazil. The mixture of 1 and 2 displayed IC50 values in the nM range and was up to 14 times more cytotoxic than staurosporine across a panel of tumor cell lines, as evaluated using the MTT assay.CNPqCAPESInCBFAPES

"Ascidiacea (Chordata: Tunicata) from brazilian tropical coast"

Embora tenham sido muito estudadas em diversos pontos do globo, as ascídias do litoral brasileiro são pouco conhecidas. A maior parte do litoral brasileiro está incluída na região tropical, para qual as informações são mais escassas. Com o intuito de se conhecer a fauna de ascídias do litoral tropical brasileiro foram realizadas diversas coletas em diferentes pontos desta região, abrangendo desde a zona entremarés até o infralitoral raso. Outro objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de organizar as informações já existentes a partir de revisão bibliográfica e visitas a algumas instituições que continham coleções representativas. Foram realizadas ao todo 61 coletas em pontos distribuídos entre os estados do Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará. Os animais foram coletados, examinados e identificados até o nível de espécie. Para cada espécie se procurou fazer um extensa revisão taxonômica, tanto a partir da literatura como do exame de tipos depositados em diferentes instituições. O presente trabalho inclui listas sinonímicas, descrições e comentários para cada espécie estudada, com fotografias para a maior parte. Foram adicionadas ainda chaves dicotômicas para todos os táxons, em todas as categorias. Até a realização deste trabalho, 90 espécies de ascídias haviam sido registradas no litoral brasileiro, das quais 54 estão listadas para o estado de São Paulo. Com a realização das campanhas de coletas foram identificadas 67 espécies que, juntamente com uma revisão criteriosa da literatura e o exame de vários tipos e outros exemplares de outras regiões do mundo, fizeram com que a lista atualizada inclua 98 espécies. Estas espécies estão distribuídas entre as 2 ordens e 3 subordens da classe, com um total de 31 gêneros incluídos em 14 dentre as 23 famílias propostas atualmente. Como resultado imediato foram registradas 9 novas ocorrências para o litoral brasileiro, com a descrição de 1 gênero e 10 espécies novas. Além disso, 8 espécies tiveram sua situação alterada por sinonimia ou separação. Juntamente com outros dados da literatura, as tabelas de ocorrências foram submetidas a uma análise de agrupamento e uma análise de endemicidade por parcimônia. As análises evidenciaram um padrão de distribuição semelhante àquele observado para outros grupos bentônicos sésseis, com a divisão da região estudada em duas províncias, a Província Brasileira e a Província Paulista.Although ascidians are well known in many regions of the globe, information about the group on Brazilian coast are very scanty. Most of the Brazilian coastline is included on the tropical region, which is the poorest known. In order to obtain an inventory of ascidians species on the Brazilian tropical coast, surveys were conducted in different points, ranging from the intertidal to the shallow subtidal depths. Another goal of the present work was to organize all available information through a revision of bibliography and visits to institutions that held representative collections. 61 visits were conducted in places along the coast of the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará. Specimens were collected, examined and identified to the species level. An extensive taxonomic revision was made for every species, by means of literature as well as examination of types and other specimens deposited in different institutions. The present work includes synonymy lists, descriptions, pictures and remarks for each species studied. Keys for all taxa an every category were also included. Up to the present work, 90 species of ascidians had been recorded for Brazil, of which 54 are listed to the State of São Paulo. The surveys revealed a total of 67 species, expanding the list to 98 Brazilian species. Those species are distributed in 2 orders and 3 suborders of the class, with a total of 31 genera included in 14 of the 23 families currently accepted. As an immediate result, were registered 9 new records for Brazilian coast, along with the description of 1 new genus and 10 new species. Furthermore, 8 species have had its taxonomic situation altered by synonymy or separation. The present results, together with data from literature generated tables which were submitted to cluster analysis and a parsimony analysis of endemycity. These analyses revealed a distribution pattern similar to others observed for different benthic taxa. The region studied comprises two provinces, Brazilian Province and Paulista Province

"Ascidiacea (Chordata: Tunicata) from brazilian tropical coast"

Embora tenham sido muito estudadas em diversos pontos do globo, as ascídias do litoral brasileiro são pouco conhecidas. A maior parte do litoral brasileiro está incluída na região tropical, para qual as informações são mais escassas. Com o intuito de se conhecer a fauna de ascídias do litoral tropical brasileiro foram realizadas diversas coletas em diferentes pontos desta região, abrangendo desde a zona entremarés até o infralitoral raso. Outro objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de organizar as informações já existentes a partir de revisão bibliográfica e visitas a algumas instituições que continham coleções representativas. Foram realizadas ao todo 61 coletas em pontos distribuídos entre os estados do Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará. Os animais foram coletados, examinados e identificados até o nível de espécie. Para cada espécie se procurou fazer um extensa revisão taxonômica, tanto a partir da literatura como do exame de tipos depositados em diferentes instituições. O presente trabalho inclui listas sinonímicas, descrições e comentários para cada espécie estudada, com fotografias para a maior parte. Foram adicionadas ainda chaves dicotômicas para todos os táxons, em todas as categorias. Até a realização deste trabalho, 90 espécies de ascídias haviam sido registradas no litoral brasileiro, das quais 54 estão listadas para o estado de São Paulo. Com a realização das campanhas de coletas foram identificadas 67 espécies que, juntamente com uma revisão criteriosa da literatura e o exame de vários tipos e outros exemplares de outras regiões do mundo, fizeram com que a lista atualizada inclua 98 espécies. Estas espécies estão distribuídas entre as 2 ordens e 3 subordens da classe, com um total de 31 gêneros incluídos em 14 dentre as 23 famílias propostas atualmente. Como resultado imediato foram registradas 9 novas ocorrências para o litoral brasileiro, com a descrição de 1 gênero e 10 espécies novas. Além disso, 8 espécies tiveram sua situação alterada por sinonimia ou separação. Juntamente com outros dados da literatura, as tabelas de ocorrências foram submetidas a uma análise de agrupamento e uma análise de endemicidade por parcimônia. As análises evidenciaram um padrão de distribuição semelhante àquele observado para outros grupos bentônicos sésseis, com a divisão da região estudada em duas províncias, a Província Brasileira e a Província Paulista.Although ascidians are well known in many regions of the globe, information about the group on Brazilian coast are very scanty. Most of the Brazilian coastline is included on the tropical region, which is the poorest known. In order to obtain an inventory of ascidians species on the Brazilian tropical coast, surveys were conducted in different points, ranging from the intertidal to the shallow subtidal depths. Another goal of the present work was to organize all available information through a revision of bibliography and visits to institutions that held representative collections. 61 visits were conducted in places along the coast of the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará. Specimens were collected, examined and identified to the species level. An extensive taxonomic revision was made for every species, by means of literature as well as examination of types and other specimens deposited in different institutions. The present work includes synonymy lists, descriptions, pictures and remarks for each species studied. Keys for all taxa an every category were also included. Up to the present work, 90 species of ascidians had been recorded for Brazil, of which 54 are listed to the State of São Paulo. The surveys revealed a total of 67 species, expanding the list to 98 Brazilian species. Those species are distributed in 2 orders and 3 suborders of the class, with a total of 31 genera included in 14 of the 23 families currently accepted. As an immediate result, were registered 9 new records for Brazilian coast, along with the description of 1 new genus and 10 new species. Furthermore, 8 species have had its taxonomic situation altered by synonymy or separation. The present results, together with data from literature generated tables which were submitted to cluster analysis and a parsimony analysis of endemycity. These analyses revealed a distribution pattern similar to others observed for different benthic taxa. The region studied comprises two provinces, Brazilian Province and Paulista Province

Ascidians from Rocas Atoll, northeast Brazil

Rocas Atoll is the only one of its kind in the South Atlantic—and the first Brazilian marine biological reserve. This is the first report about the ascidians from Rocas. A total of 12 species were found, 5 of them not hitherto described: Ascidia viridina sp. nov., Didemnum rochai sp. nov., Leptoclinides crocotulus sp. nov., Polysyncraton maurizeliae sp. nov., and Trididemnum rocasensis sp. nov.). One Caribbean species, Didemnum halimedae, was also discovered in the region for the first time. Further, this is the first record of Didemnum digestum in the Atlantic. The results indicate a high degree of endemism in the ascidian fauna from Rocas Atoll, where didemnids are presently the most important members

MORTALIDADE DO Ucides cordatus (LINNAEUS, 1763), DURANTE A COMERCIALIZAÇÃO NA CIDADE FORTALEZA, CEARÁ, BRASIL

A insuficiência dos estoques naturais de caranguejos do Ceará levou à importação de outras regiões. O comércio do caranguejo-uçá enfrenta elevadas taxas de mortalidade durante o transporte. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a mortalidade nos diferentes estágios da cadeia de transporte. A primeira etapa vai desde a captura do caranguejo no mangue até o embarque nos barcos dos fornecedores. A mortalidade média nesta etapa foi baixa, em torno de 3,30%. Na segunda etapa, os animais são transportados de Carnaubeiras (MA) para a cidade de Ilha Grande de Santa Isabel (PI). A mortalidade calculada nesta fase foi 6,14%, uma porcentagem que ainda pode ser considerada baixa. A terceira etapa apresentou a maior taxa de mortalidade, com 40,25% dos animais morrendo durante o processo. Essa etapa corresponde ao tempo de transporte em condições inadequadas do Piauí à cidade de Fortaleza (CE). A última etapa é a distribuição dos caranguejos aos restaurantes e barracas da praia, com uma mortalidade média de 18,15%

Sigmaxinella cearense Salani & Lotufo & Hajdu 2006, sp. nov.

Sigmaxinella cearense sp. nov. Figs. 2, 3, 4 Holotype. MNRJ 8687, Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio (ca. 03°34'399 S-38°22'840 W, off Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil) 23m depth, flat sandstone reef, coll. E. Hajdu, 15.vii.2004. Diagnosis. Sigmaxinella cearense sp.nov. is the only Sigmaxinella in the Atlantic Ocean, and the only species in the genus with absence of raphides/microxea. Further, it still is the only species with a single category of styles as megascleres (mean length 435µm, mean width 12µm), and sigmas (mean length 21µm). Description. The single specimen collected is 105mm high and 65mm in maximum diameter. Its live colour was yellow, which turned into beige after preservation in 70% ethanol. It has the form of a short bush on top of a narrow peduncle, 20mm across, with a wider base, 50mm in diameter (Fig. 2). The bushy part is composed of six main, slightly fusiform branches which run parallel to the main axis of the sponge. The tallest of these branches is 55mm long, the smallest, 40mm long. Each branch is composed by a collection of smaller, coalescent, secondary branchlets. The overall aspect of the bush is rather spiny, due to the erect-oblique, conulose or spatuliferous projections which abound at the surface of the branchlets. Similar but shorter projections are also found on the peduncle and base. Consistency is hard but compressible and elastic. Oscules were not clearly seen, but small (1–2mm diameter) apertures occur here and there, some of which might be oscules. Skeleton. Ectosomal architecture unspecialized, made by the slightly divergent terminations of ascending choanosomal spiculo fibres. Isolated spicules are frequent, spread in a criss-crossed fashion, some of which may pierce the surface up to 300µm (Fig. 3A). Sigmas are abundant in the choanosome, in between the spiculo fibres. Choanosomal skeleton axially compressed. Axial skeleton only slightly visible in longitudinal sections of the spatuliferous projections, ca. 350µm across, composed of ramifying, multispicular tracts of styles coated by abundant spongin. The overall pattern is plumo-reticulate. From this central axis, multispicular, slightly plumose, slightly echinated tracts of styles run towards the surface. The axial skeleton in the peduncle bears in transverse section, a much denser, reticulate arrangement of ascending spiculo-fibres (mostly around 200µm thick, but up to 625µm in diameter), coated by a much stouter layer of spongin (Fig. 3B, longitudinal section), when compared to the spatuliferous projections. In spite of the abundant spaces spread in between these thick spongin coated spiculo fibres, the arrangement is quite firm and rather hard and friable when sectioned. Sigmas are common, but not so much as in the spatuliferous projections. Spicules (Table 1): Megascleres — Styles (Fig. 4A), smooth, mostly slightly bent just below the middle portion, equally thick on most of its length, but tapering very gradually to a sharp point (Fig. 4B), 320- 434.9 - 764µm long (S.D. 78.4µm) and 2.6- 12.1 - 15µm thick. They are mostly around 400µm long, with a very few spicules reaching over 500µm in length. Microscleres. Sigmas (Fig. 4C), variably slender, smooth along the wider curve in its shaft, abruptly bent, with sharp apices, 15- 21.2 - 25µm. Both terminations bear a few barblike, Paresperella - type spines on their outer edge. to be continued. Ecology and distribution. The single specimen was collected from a small horizontal crevice, with its upper part fully exposed to light. Five ophiuroids are still in place within the bushy part of the sponge. The species is probably rare, as only a single specimen was found in four dives. The area is characterized by warm waters year round, but strong swell may occur when winds blow stronger (August – January, Silva et al., 2002). During this time the abundant sand deposited on top and around the sandstone reefs may be suspended in the water column and increase stress for sponges, which are common occurrences on beach worn debris, at nearby beaches. Etymology. “Cearense” is the name of those born in the state of Ceará. The species’ name, cearense, is a name in apposition. Remarks. Table 1 compares the spicule measurements, collecting locality and depth of occurrence of all 12 known species of Sigmaxinella including the new species. It is a compilation of data presented by Hooper (1984), in addition to data from Carter (1883, 1885), Kirkpatrick (1903) and Brøndsted (1924). Sigmaxinella ramosa, from SE Australia, is most similar to the new species in its spicule set. Both possessing a single category of style and sigmas of comparable dimensions. Important points of distinction are the much stouter megascleres, and much smaller sigmas in the Australian species, as well as its possession of raphides. Sigmaxinella dendroides, another SE Australian species, is also close to the Brazilian species as far as spicule dimensions are concerned. That species, nevertheless, has two categories of sigmas, and possesses microxeas. The overall external morphology also sets all these species apart. Sigmaxinella ramosa has a digitiform, ramose shape with compressed, tapering branches; Sigmaxinella dendroides has cylindrical, dichotomous branches, disposed mostly in a single plane; and the new species has a pedunculate bushy form, with slightly fusiform branches which frequently anastomose. Other species in the genus have markedly distinct external morphologies as well as spicule dimensions. From a biogeographic perspective, the most diverse areas for Sigmaxinella are the waters surrounding Australia and New Zealand (Hajdu & Van Soest, 2002). The occurrences of species in the Gulf of Aden and South Africa are nearly as unlikely as the new finding reported here from the south western Atlantic, representing a widely disjunct distribution of the genus across the entire Indian Ocean. There are no records for any Southeast Asian locality, the Indian subcontinent or any of the many archipelagoes in the Indian Ocean. Curiously, the species which appears morphologically the closest to the new Atlantic species described here occurs in SE Australia, which supports a transpacific track (Sluys, 1994) for the colonization of the South Atlantic Ocean (around Cape Horn), rather than a colonization via the shorter Agulhas track (around Cape of Good Hope). Alternatively, as already pointed out by Hajdu & Van Soest (2002), the recognition of Sigmaxinella depends on the value attached to the axial condensation of its skeleton as a synapomorphic trait. It is quite conceivable that the genus may be polyphyletic, with axial condensations arising independently several times in its history. In this scenario, S. cearense sp. nov. would most likely be closer to Tropical western Atlantic species of Biemna, than to species currently assigned to Sigmaxinella, all of which occurring on widely distant areas of the globe. Mothes et al. (2004) described Biemna microacanthosigma from northern Brazil, which at first glance would appear as a likely sister-species. Nevertheless, the terminations of the sigmas in this species are more rugose than properly acanthose. The species bears also microxea and raphides, as well as styles in a much narrower size range (418–494µm length), which render it quite distinct from S. cearense sp. nov. The barb-like spines on the outer margin of the new species reported here are similar to those seen on Mycale (Paresperella) Dendy, 1905 (Van Soest & Hajdu, 2002), which could be suggestive of the need for a necessarily much broader review of the Mycalina classification.Published as part of Salani, Sula, Lotufo, Tito Monteiro Da Cruz & Hajdu, Eduardo, 2006, Sigmaxinella cearense sp. nov. from sandstone reefs off Fortaleza (Ceará State, Brazil) (Desmacellidae, Mycalina, Poecilosclerida, Demospongiae), pp. 43-53 in Zootaxa 1369 (1) on pages 45-51, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1369.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/507134