Ascidians (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) from the northern and north-eastern Brazilian Shelf

Abstract

Summary Benthic material from a series of surveys of the Brazilian Shelf from approximately 04°N to 11°S contained 35 species of ascidian, of which 15 are positively and 4 doubtfully identified as known species, 11 are described as new species and 5 are identified only to the genus. Two patterns of distribution are found, corresponding to the N.E. Brazilian Shelf and the Amazonian Complex. Comparisons are made with the ascidian fauna of the Patagonian Shelf.