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The geographical distribution of sand flies in Brazil has been the subject of some studies, yet there is no information about the phlebotomine fauna in João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Brazil. The aim of this work is to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of sand flies in the Atlantic forest fragments and to evaluate a possible dispersion in 06 nearby districts. Light traps were used during three consecutive nights, supplemented by an aspirator during the dry period and rainy season. A total of 222 sand flies were found, 143 (130 males and 13 females) in the Atlantic forest, and 79 in urban areas. During the entire dry season, three species of phlebotomine sand flies were recorded in 11 forest fragments, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lu. migonei and Lu. whitmani. During the rainy season, only Lu. longipalpis was found. This was the only species identified in the studied neighborhoods during both seasons. The differences in diversity of sand flies encountered between natural habitats and urban areas may thus be correlated mostly with adaptations to particular habitats and availability of food. One species (Lu. longipalpis) appears to be rapidly adapting to urban areas because of deforestation.

Maldanids are tube-building polychaetes, known as bamboo-worms; inhabit diverse marine regions throughout the world. The subfamily Euclymeninae was proposed to include forms with anal and cephalic plates, a funnel-shaped pygidium, and a terminal anus. Euclymene, the type genus of Euclymeninae, has about 18 valid species. Euclymene vidali sp. nov. is defined and members of the species described from Northeastern Brazil. Members of this species have 23 chaetigers, and one pre-pygidial achaetous segment; nuchal grooves extend through three quarters of the cephalic plate, and there is one acicular spine with a denticulate tip. Euclymene africana, and E. watsoni, are here recognized, respectively, as Isocirrus africana comb. nov., and I. watsoni comb. nov. Three monotypic genera are invalid: Macroclymenella, Eupraxillella, and Pseudoclyemene; their species should be recognized as Clymenella stewartensis com. nov., Praxillella antarctica com. nov., and Praxillela quadrilobata com. nov., respectively. An identification key and a comparative table for all species of Euclymene are provided. A comparative table for all genera of Euclymeninae is also furnished. The paraphyletic status of Euclymene and Euclymeninae is discussed. The taxon Maldanoplaca is not code compliant and should only be regarded as an informal name.

Three new species of Androdeloscia Leistikow, 1999 from the Brazilian Amazonian rainforest are described. Androdeloscia bicornuata sp. nov., A. paraleilae sp. nov., and A. micropunctata sp. nov. were distinguished from the 26 other species of the genus mainly based on the shape of male pleopod I endopod. Androdeloscia bicornuata sp. nov. differs from all the species in the genus by the complex morphology of the distal portion of the male pleopod I endopod bearing hyaline lamella and two horn-like tips. Androdeloscia paraleilae sp. nov. is characterized by the male pleopod I endopod with simple distal portion, without hyaline lamella, and apex represented by a curved tip and inner margin serrate proximally; and by the concavity on the lateral margin of the first maxilla (except for the A. leilae that is related to other listed characteristics). Androdeloscia micropunctata sp. nov. differs from the remaining species of the genus by the male pleopod I endopod with simple distal portion, without hyaline lamella, and apex truncate bearing a small acute tip in the outer corner; and 5+5 teeth on the first maxilla. Some characters related to the genus are later discussed.

Knowledge of living crinoids from Brazil is chiefly restricted to the contributions of Dr Luis Roberto Tommasi between the decades of 1950 and 1970. Herein we present an updated catalogue of the crinoids occurring along the Brazilian coast, including data on synonyms, type localities, type material, geographical distribution, bathymetric ranges, and occurrences of species along the coast. The data is based on an extensive revision of the literature and on a survey of several databases. A total of 20 species were catalogued, of which two are endemic (Phrixometra longipinna var. brasiliensis and Thaumatometra minutissima). According to information from the literature, P. longipinna var. brasiliensis represents an undescribed taxon. Although Brazil supports the greatest number of crinoid species in the Southwestern Atlantic, its crinoid fauna remains understudied and likely underestimated. Research on crinoids remains a subject of great potential, not only for taxonomy but also for other areas of knowledge.

The study presents a review of the Dendrochirotida species from shallow waters of the northeastern coast of Brazil. A total of 1,268 specimens were analyzed and 24 species were recorded, which were classified into 16 genera of Cucumariidae, Psolidae, Phyllophoridae, and Sclerodactylidae. Detailed descriptions and figures of the taxonomic characters are provided to facilitate species identification. Notes on morphological variation, geographic distribution, and habitat are also provided. We suggest two new species for science, Thyone brasiliana sp. nov. and Havelockia nietae sp. nov., the new combination Parathyone braziliensis (Verrill, 1868) and the first record of Euthyonidiella trita (Sluiter, 1910) for the Brazilian coast. The bathymetric ranges are expanded for Coronatum baiensis, Euthyonidiella trita, Stolus cognatus, and Thyonidium seguroensis.

The class Echinoidea contains among the best-known echinoderms. The group has left the most complete fossil record of this phylum, and contains about 1000 living species, of which 51 are recorded along the Brazilian coast. Although the first record of echinoids in Brazil was made 369 years ago, the knowledge of this fauna remains quite unsatisfactory from a taxonomic and ecological point of view, particularly in the north and northeastern regions of the country. This study provides the first annotated list of echinoids from northeastern Brazil. The studied material largely belongs to collections of the Federal University of Paraíba (CIPY), Federal University of Sergipe (LABIMAR-UFS), Federal University of Bahia (MZUFBA), University of São Paulo (MZUSP), and National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (MNRJ). Thirty-two species from 29 genera, 18 families, and 10 orders were identified. Descriptions of species are provided. Highest diversities of Echinoidea were encountered for the states of Bahia (19 spp.), Alagoas (11 spp.), Paraíba (10 spp.), Ceará (7 spp.), Rio Grande do Norte (7 spp.), and Pernambuco (6 spp.). On the basis of the data analysed, Maranhão (2 spp.), Piauí (2 spp.), and Sergipe (3 spp.) have the lowest diversity. Sandy substrates and depths below 10 m were the least sampled areas over the continental shelf. Although the studied species are common, some taxonomic problems were encountered and discussed. We also provide ecological information and comments on status of the species from the studied region. As a result of this inventory, we were able to provide the first assessment of the echinoid fauna of northeastern Brazil.

A new species of Anoplodactylus was discovered in coral reefs from the State of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. A. mirim sp. nov. is very small and is characterized for having 3 teeth on the cheliphores and a very small cement gland. It belongs to the A. pygmaeus complex, which contains very small species. A. batangensis is recorded for the first time along the Brazilian coast, and A. eroticus is recorded for the first time in the South Atlantic. We record the fifth known case of gynandromorphism, the fourth for Anoplodactylus, based on two specimens of A. eroticus.

This is a taxonomic work on the aspidochirotid sea cucumbers from shallow waters in Northeast Brazil. We studied 165 specimens, classified into 2 families, 3 genera, 7 subgenera and 9 species. Descriptions, illustrations and literature data are included for each species, in addition to ecological notes and information on their distribution in the northeast coast of Brazil. A taxonomic key is provided for the identification of the species.

Members of the polychaete taxon Sabellariidae Johnston, 1865 are known to live in sand tubes cemented onto rocky substrata, mollusk shells, or sea grasses. Of 37 known Sabellaria species, only nine were reported for the Brazilian coast, in all cases being associated with aggregates of other species. The genus is considered cosmopolitan. Herein we describe for the first time an aggregate of sabellariids composed by Sabellaria nanella and Sabellaria wilsoni. In addition, we describe a new species of Sabellaria. Lygdamis are represented by solitary species. None of the 17 known species were previously reported from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. We report Lygdamis rayrobertsi for the first time in the South Atlantic.

Monokalliapseudes schubarti is an endemic tanaidacean microcrustacean from southeastern Brazil to Uruguay inhabiting low energy estuaries. Saco da Fazenda is located in the estuary of the Itajaí-Açú River, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It is exposed to strong anthropic impact and receives intensive flows of domestic wastewater, solid residues, and drainage activities. Specimens of M. schubarti were collected monthly, in the intertidal and subtidal regions of Saco da Fazenda, in four stations defined as a function of the physiography of the environment during the period of July 2003 to June 2004. Fecundity values were high, with continuous reproductive activity during the whole period of study. The greatest population densities were observed in the intertidal region, where they are nevertheless intensely consumed by birds, swimming crabs, and fish. This species represents a fundamental link in the food chain of Saco da Fazenda, transferring energy from the detritus level to higher trophic levels. Habitat disturbance and high organic matter may represent factors controlling the distribution of populations of M. schubarti. For this reason, the species may be used to monitor anthropic effects in estuarine areas.

The genus Diadema presently consists of seven species, two of which are known from the Brazilian coast: D. antillarum and D. ascensionis. The first is usually known for shallow coastal areas, while the second was apparently restricted to oceanic islands. In February 2011, a dense population of D. ascensionis was observed on the coastal reefs of Praia do Francês (Alagoas State, northeastern Brazil). Five specimens were collected and transported to the laboratory where morphological studies of the test and pedicellariae were conducted. Subsequently, visits were made to scientific collections in order to compare and confirm species identifications. Our observations confirm the presence of tridentate pedicellariae with narrow and strongly curved valves. The axial cavity in the tips of the spines is filled with dense nonreticular tissue. This taxonomic data confirms the occurrence of D. ascensionis in coastal areas. On the coastal reefs of Praia do Francês, animals were observed from the beach to the reef formations about 200 m offshore in areas with a sandy substrate and in reef cavities, usually in clear and well illuminated waters. Solitary individuals or groups of up to 15 individuals formed dense populations in the area. We stress the importance of pedicellariae for the specific identification of the Diadematidae, considering that they are quite constant and reliable at this taxonomic level. Our results demonstrate that D. ascensionis is not restricted to insular environments and that this species may be common in shallow coastal habitats.

Cephalobaenidae constitutes one of the main pentastomid groups infecting the respiratory tract of snakes. Six specimens of Liophis lineatus, a colubrid, were collected by active capture and pitfalls installed on the banks of the Batateiras river, close to its source, in the APA - Area de Proteção Ambiental (a protected environmental area of the IBAMA - Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources), and in a remnant of the humid tropical forest FLONA - Floresta Nacional do Araripe, both in the municipality of Crato, state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. Out of the six specimens of L. lineatus examined, only one had its lung infected by the pentastomid Cephalobaena tetrapoda. This represents the first record of C. tetrapoda as a parasite of a snake in Northeast Brazil, as well as the first record of a colubrid, L. lineatus, as a new host for the pentastomid in Brazil.