title: Redescription of Hemieuryale pustulata von Martens, 1867 (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) based on Brazilian specimens, with notes on systematics and habitat association.
abstract: We redescribe Hemieuryale pustulata on the basis of 325 specimens obtained from the continental shelf off northeastern and southeastern Brazil. This is the first record of the species for Brazil. We illustrate for the first time details of the dental plate, oral plate, and vertebrae. Few morphological variations were observed in our extensive material. All specimens were associated with the gorgonian Nicella guadalupensis, suggesting an obligatory association in the Brazilian littoral. H. pustulata did not reveal a particular pattern of distribution on its host gorgonian, but larger gorgonians tend to support a larger number of ophiuroids. In addition to expanding the knowledge on morphology and ecology, we extend the known bathymetric distribution of the species, which is now known from 18 to 330 m.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Campus I, Cidade Universitária, CEP 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil; Email: anneisabelley@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Anne Isabelley
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gondim
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Laboratório de Biologia Marinha, CCBS, Departamento de Biologia, Campus I, Rua Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP 58429-500, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Thelma Lúcia Pereira
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Invertebrados Paulo Young, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Campus I, Cidade Universitária, CEP 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Martin Lindsey
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Christoffersen
authors.affiliation: Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Zoology, Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stöhr
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil; D004447:Echinodermata / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D009929:Organ Size