Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 935 No. 1: 8 Apr. 2005
Type: Articles
Published: 2005-04-08
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.935.1.1
Page range: 1–28
Abstract views: 34
PDF downloaded: 2

Leptocephali collected off the eastern coast of Brazil (12°–23°S)

Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, Ilha do Fundão. 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, Ilha do Fundão. 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Pisces Eastern Brazilian coast leptocephali occurrence distribution

Abstract

Although leptocephali are very conspicuous in plankton samples little is known about their occurrence and distribution along the Brazilian coast. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the leptocephali and their distribution pattern along the eastern Brazilian coast, which is limited in the north by Real River (12°S) and in the south by São Tomé Cape (23°S). Samples were collected during three oceanographic cruises conducted on October–December 1998, May–July 1999 and March–May 2000. Samplings were done using a bongo net with mesh apertures of 330 and 500 µm. The net was towed obliquely and the maximum depth was 200 m. A total of 13 families, 12 genera and 29 species of leptocephali were identified in the study area. Most taxa identified had already been recorded as adult, but the larval phase of some of them had not been identified for this region yet. Among them, Derichthyidae, Avocettina paucipora and Tiluropsis had not been recorded for this region either as adult or as larvae. Most taxa occurred mainly along the Bahia coast but some species were collected strictly in the southern region of the study area.

References

  1. Böhlke, E.B. (1989) Volume Two. Leptocephali. Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 1 pt 9, 657–1055.

    Charter, S.R. (1996a) Ophichthidae: Snake eels and worn eels. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, 93–99.

    Charter, S.R. (1996b) Congridae: Conger eels. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp.100–117.

    Charter, S.R. (1996c) Derichthyidae: Longneck eels. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 119–121.

    Charter, S.R. (1996d) Nemichthyidae: Snipe Eels. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 122–129.

    Charter, S.R. (1996e) Serrivomeridae: Sawtooh eels. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 131–133.

    Charter, S.R. (1996f) Nettastomatidae: Duckbill eels. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 135–139.

    Charter, S.R. & Moser, H.G. (1996a) Elopidae: Tenpounders. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 75–77.

    Charter, S.R. & Moser, H.G. (1996b) Albulidae: Bonefishes. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 79–81.

    Charter, S.R. & Moser, H.G. (1996c) Anguilliformes. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 86–87.

    Charter, S.R. & Moser, H.G. (1996d) Muraenidae: Morays. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 88–91.

    Ekau, W. & Matsuura, Y. (1996) Diversity and distribution of ichthyoplankton in the continental shelf waters of East Brazil. In: Ekau, W.; Knoppers, B.A., (Eds.): Sedimentation processes and productivity in the continental shelf waters off east and Northeast Brazil. Cruise Report and first results of the Brazilian German project JOPS-II (Joint Oceanographic Projects). Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, Bremen, pp. 135–147.

    Figueiredo, J.L. & Menezes, N.A (1978) Manual de Peixes Marinhos do Sudeste do Brasil. II. Teleostei (1). Museu de Zoologia. Universidade de São Paulo, 110 pp.

    Figueiredo, J.L., Santos, A.P. dos, Yamaguti, N., Bernardes, R.A. & Rossi-Wongtschowski, C.L.D.B. (2002) Peixes da Zona Econômica Exclusiva da Região Sudeste-Sul do Brasil. Levantamento com Rede de Meia Água. São Paulo, Editora da Universidade de São Paulo –EDUSP, 242 pp.

    Froese, R. & Pauly, D. 2004. Fishbase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (10/2004).

    Leiby, M.M. (1989) Family Ophichthidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine ResearchMemoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 764–897.

    Moser, H.G. & Charter, S.R. (1996) Notacanthidae: Spinyeels. In: Moser, H.G. (Ed.), The Early Stages of Fishes in the California Current Region. La Jolla, Calcofi. Atlas no. 33, pp. 82–85.

    Nelson, J.R. (1994) Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons. 3a edition, 600 pp.

    Nunan, G.W. (1992) Composition, Species Distribution and Zoogeographical Affinities of the Brazilian Reef-fish Fauna. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Newcastle upon Tyne. United Kingdom, 584 pp.

    Richards, W.J. (1969) Elopoid leptocephali from Angolan waters. Copeia, 1969(3), 515–518.

    Schmid, C., Schäfer, H., Podestá, G. & Zenk W. (1995) The Vitória Eddy and its relation to the Brazil Current. Journal of Physical Oceanography. 25, 2532–2546.

    Smith, D.G. (1969) Xenocongrid eel larvae in the western North Atlantic. Bulletin of Marine Science, 19(2), 377–408.

    Smith, D.G. (1970) Notacanthiform leptocephali in the western North Atlantic. Copeia, 1970(1), 1–9.

    Smith, D.G. (1979) Guide to the Leptocephali (Elopiformes, Anguilliformes, and Notacanthiformes). U. S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Technical Report NMFS Circular 424, 39 pp.

    Smith, D.G. (1980) Early larvae of the tarpon, Magalops atlantica Valenciennes (Pisces: Elopidae), with notes on spawning in the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Channel. Bulletin of Marine Science, 30(1), 136–141.

    Smith, D.G. (1989a) Introduction to leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. , pp. 657–668.

    Smith, D.G. (1989b) Order Elopiformes. Families Elopidae, Megalopidae, and Albulidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 961–972.

    Smith, D.G. (1989c) Order Notacanthiformes: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 955–959.

    Smith, D.G. (1989d) Family Moringuidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 699–703.

    Smith, D.G. (1989d) Family Moringuidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 699–703.

    Smith, D.G. (1989e) Family Chlopsidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 933–942.

    Smith, D.G. (1989f) Family Synaphobranchidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 682–698.

    Smith, D.G. (1989g) Family Derichthyidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 917–920.

    Smith, D.G. (1989h) Family Nemichthyidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 925–932.

    Smith, D.G. (1989i) Family Nettastomatidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 704–722.

    Smith, D.G. (1989j) Family Muraenidae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 900–916.

    Smith, D.G. (1989k) Family Congridae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 723–763.

    Smith, D.G. & Castle, P.H.J.C. (1982) Larvae of the Nettastomatid Eels: Systematics and Distribution. Dana Report, 90, 1–44.

    Tighe, K.A. (1989). Family Serrivomeridae: Leptocephali. In: Böhlke, E.B. (Ed.), Fishes of the Western North Atlantic. Memoir Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2 Pt. 9, pp. 921–924.