Deep sea Caridea (Crustacea, Decapoda) from Campos Basin, RJ, Brazil

Abstract

During the Campos Basin Deep Sea Environmental Project coordinated by CENPES/PETROBRAS two collecting campaigns were performed. Both used the N/RB Astrogaroupa and fishery nets to collect samples from the continental slope in Campos Basin, RJ (21º48'S to 22º48'S). Campaign Oceanprof I occurred in February, 2003 and collected 18 samples at depths between 1074 and 1649 m. Oceanprof II occurred in August, 2003 and collected 22 samples at depths between 1059 and 1640 m. A total of 14 caridean species were collected: Parapontophilus sp. (Crangonidae); Glyphocrangon longirostris (Smith, 1882) (Glyphocrangonidae); Lebbeus sp. (Hippolytidae); Nematocarcinus ensifer (Smith, 1882) (Nematocarcinidae); Acanthephyra eximia Smith, 1884; A. quadrispinosa Kemp, 1939; A. stylorostratis (Bate, 1888); Janicella spinicauda (A. Milne Edwards, 1883); Meningodora vesca (Smith, 1887); Notostomus elegans A. Milne Edwards, 1881; Oplophorus spinosus (Brullé, 1839); and Systellaspis debilis (A. Milne Edwards, 1881) (Oplophoridae); Heterocarpus inopinatus Tavares, 1999 and Plesionika sp. (Pandalidae). Three out of these 14 species, Parapontophilus sp., Lebbeus sp. and Plesionika sp. are still under investigation and were not included in the present study. From the 11 species identified Nematocarcinus ensifer is a new record for the Brazilian continental slope.