Distribution of deep-sea azooxanthellate scleractinians from southern Brazilian waters

Amongst organisms reported in deep waters (> 100 m) from southern Brazil, the azooxanthellate scleractinians are of particular importance due to their capacity to form habitats which attract many species of invertebrates and vertebrates. Through statistical analysis of distribution, identification of specimens deposited in scientific collections, and revision of all preterite records of azooxanthellate scleractinians from southern and part of southeastern coast of Brazil, was noted that the coordinates covered by the present study represent an transitional distributional area between the Caribbean and marginal Antarctic fauna, especially for the solitary species. From a vertical distribution analysis, an increase in the number of species in the sector between the external continental shelve and 500 m depth was observed. A grouping analysis was performed, allowing the discrimination of 6 association biotopes of corals. Thus, we present the first attempt to understand the distribution of this fauna from the continental shelf and continental slope of southern Brazil, between 24°S and 34°S.

South Atlanctic; deep-sea; latitudinal analysis; bathymetric analysis; grouping analysis; Scleractinia