ANÁLISE DA COMPOSIÇÃO E DISTRIBUIÇÃO DA FAUNA DE PEIXES DEMERSAIS DA PLATAFORMA CONTINENTAL DA PARAIBA E ESTADOS VIZINHOS

Abstract

The hypothesis of discontinuity of miniature demersal fish fauna from The tropical Western Atlantic is taken into consideration, in opposition to the general concept of the homogeneity of this fauna. A list of 48 demersal fish species from the northeastern Brazilian continental shelf is presented and their geographical and bathymetric distribution are commented upon. The morphological variation observed in Paraconger caudilimbatus, Paraclinus nigripinnis, Scorpaena bergi e Gobionellus boleosoma is compared with data of the literature. Several new species of demersal fish discovered in this study are morphologically distinct from, and possibly related to Caribbean species Hoplunnis sp., Opistognathus sp., Gillellus sp., Emblemaria sp. A, Emblemaria sp. B and Psilotris sp. apparently are endemic species from the northeastern coast of Brazil. The verification of endemism of the fish species from the northeastern continental shelf of Brazil, as well as among the species from northeastern tropical Atlantic, including species of genera represented in both hemispheres, reveals the existence, particularly amidst the miniature demersal fish, of a discontinuity between the faunas of these two areas.