OCCURRENCE OF MICROGOBIUS CARRI FOWLER 1945 (TELEOSTEI: GOBIIDAE) IN THE COAST OF PARAÍBA, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL, WITH NOTES ON ITS ECOLOGY

Resumo

The genus Microgobius Poey 1986 is comprised of 14 species of gobies distributed in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific. These fish species exhibit a wide range of habitat preferences from low salinity stuaries to reef environments. Collections and underwater observations made at an artificial reef off Paraíba coast represent the first record of Microgobius carri Fowler 1945 from northeastern Brazil. The species inhabits moderataly deep water ranging from 5 to 32 m near reef environments and apparently is less tolerant of turbid waters and reduced salinities. The record of M. carri from northeastern Brazil suggests a continous distribution of the species from North Carolina to southeastern Brazil.

Keywords: Teleostei, Gobiidae, Microgobulus, distribution, northeastern Brazil, reef fishes.