Niche modeling remarks of Luidia senegalensis (Lamarck, 1816) (Asteroidea, Luidiidae) after 30 years of its first capture in the northeastern Brazilian coast

Abstract

<jats:p>After more than 30 years of species' first capture on the Brazilian northeast coast, we report the second occurrence of the starfish Luidia senegalensis with niche modeling remarks on its distribution. Bottom trawl net collected specimens with artisanal fishery boat in Rio Grande do Norte State, northeast Brazil. It was noted the existence of a large number of regions, with high suitability for the occurrence of this species, in South America taking into account the ecological niche modeling, when compared to North and Central American continents. Benthic salinity range, calcite, and benthic minimum temperature were the most relevant for modeling. The northeastern, eastern, and southeastern Brazil ecoregions showed the most considerable amount of areas with high suitability for L. senegalensis. The niche modeling revealed essential aspects of the species and its distribution, raising concerns with regards to its future stability.</jats:p>

DISTRIBUTION EXTENSION OF THE SEA SLUG Bursatella leachii BLAINVILLE, 1817 (GASTROPODA, HETEROBRANCHIA) ON RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, NORTHEAST BRAZIL

“…Recent studies on benthic biodiversity in the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte reveal that it is much richer than previously observed in specialized literature. Recent efforts have provided new diversity information on echinoderms (Alencar et al 2017;Puppin-Gonçalves et al 2020), crustaceans (Moraes et al 2014;França et al 2020), and ecological relationships (Alencar et al 2014) for the state of Rio Grande do Norte. In conclusion, we hope that the new records presented here can contribute to advancing the knowledge of the distribution of B. leachii and Heterobranchia mollusks in the Northeast Brazil Ecoregion.…”

Ontogenetic variation of the odontophore of Luidia superba (Asteroidea: Paxillosida) and its taxonomic implications

“…Some species have a wider distribution, while others have a more restricted one DOI 10.15517/rbt.v69iSuppl.1.46330 (Sladen, 1889;A.M. Clark & Downey, 1992;Puppin-Gonçalves, Rocha, Alencar, Moraes, Araújo & Freire, 2020). The known morphological characteristics of the organisms that are associated with the particulate nature of the substrate they inhabit are mainly the shape and arrangement of the ambulacral feet and paxillae.…”