First record of the genus Breviturma (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean

First record of the genus Breviturma (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article First record of the genus Breviturma (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean Cecília Damiano, Luciana Martins, Joel B. Mendonça, Marcos Tavares, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7547064/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Breviturma pusilla is redescribed and illustrated based on two specimens collected from the remote oceanic island of Trindade Island (Brazil). The species is distinguished from its congeners primarily by the presence of fragile, hollow and non-smooth arm spines. This constitutes the first record of the genus Breviturma and B. pusilla from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. A key to the species of Breviturma is also provided. The present record of B. pusilla from Trindade is consistent with the Indo-Pacific component of the island’s fauna. Taxonomy Brazil Trindade Island Biodiversity Ophiocomidae Brittle stars Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Introduction Ophiuroidea is the most diverse class within the echinoderms, comprising 2,136 valid species distributed across all oceans (Stöhr et al. 2012 ; Stöhr et al. 2024 ). Although knowledge of Brazil's benthic marine fauna remains limited – only 134 ophiuroid species have been documented along the Brazilian coast (Barboza & Borges 2012 ; Prata et al. 2016 ) – significant progress has been made in recent years, including the discovery of new species and previously undocumented occurrences (Gondim et al. 2010 , 2015 ; Prata et al. 2016 ; Santana et al. 2020 ; Serrano et al. 2023 ). Ongoing studies on the ophiuroid fauna of the remote oceanic island of Trindade, southwestern Atlantic, yielded two specimens of Breviturma pusilla (Brock, 1888), a species previously known from the tropical Indo-West Central Pacific Ocean, including the Red Sea and Mozambique, and South Africa (Aliwal Shoal to Kosi Bay) (Clark 1967 ; Olbers et al. 2019 ; Stöhr et al . 2025g). The genus Breviturma is characterized by a non-alternating number of arm spines; low, blunt, and uniformly sized disc granules; rounded (nearly oval) dorsal arm plates in adult specimens and more rounded-triangular in juveniles; and dental plates about twice as long as wide, with tooth papillae occupying approximately 25% of the plate length (Stöhr et al. 2013 ). The genus includes eight additional species: B. brevipes (Peters, 1851) from the Indian Ocean and the tropical Indo-West Pacific (Olbers et al. 2019 ; Stöhr et al . 2025a); B. dentata (Müller & Troschel, 1842 ) from the tropical Indo-West Pacific and western Indian Ocean (Olbers et al. 2019 ; Stöhr et al . 2025b); B. doederleini (de Loriol, 1899) from the Indian Ocean and the west-central Pacific Ocean (Olbers et al. 2019 ; Stöhr et al. 2025c ); B. krohi (Stöhr, Boissin & Hoareau, 2013 ) from the Indian and Pacific Oceans (Stöhr et al. 2013 ; Stöhr et al . 2025d); B. longispina (H.L. Clark, 1917 ) from the Pacific Ocean (H.L.Clark 1921 ), B. paucigranulata (Devaney, 1974 ) from the northwestern Atlantic Ocean (Devaney 1974 ; Hendler et al. 1995 ; Laguarda-Figueras et al. 2005 ; Hernández-Herrejón et al. 2008 ; Laguarda-Figueras et al. 2009 ; Stöhr et al. 2025e ); B. pica (Müller & Troschel, 1842 ) from the Indo-Pacific Ocean (Clark & Rowe 1971 ; Olbers et al. 2019 ; Stöhr et al. 2025f ) d securis Chang & Shih, 2025 from the Reunion Island, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea (Chang & Shih 2025 ). The newly found southwestern Atlantic specimens are herein redescribed and illustrated, and the arm microstructures (dorsal, ventral and lateral arm plates, vertebrae and arm spines) examined under a scanning electron microscope for the first time. Materials and Methods Study site and data collection The remote oceanic islands Trindade (20°30’S/29°20’W) and Martin Vaz (20°30’S/28°51’W) are part of the Vitória-Trindade Seamount Chain, a succession of volcanic guyots aligned West-East off the southwestern Brazilian coast. Trindade Island is about 10 km² with 16 beaches, while Martin Vaz is a small archipelago composed of one small rocky island and two islets (Souza & Abrantes 2017). Trindade and Martin Vaz are only 49 km away from each other and around 1.200 km off the Brazilian coast, east of Vitória city, Espírito Santo state (Fig. 1) (Souza & Abrantes 2017; Tavares & Mendonça 2022; Serrano et al . 2023, and references therein). From 2012 onward multiple expeditions have been conducted to explore the diversity of benthic invertebrates in Trindade and Martin Vaz. During these expeditions, two specimens of Breviturma were collected in Trindade in 2015 and 2016, on Ponta da Calheta beach and Ilha da Racha (see Tavares & Mendonça 2022: 7, fig 1). Morphological characters The specimens were initially identified based on external morphological structures, including disc cover, jaw characteristic, the number, size, and shape of arm spines, number of tentacle scales, and shape of the arm plates. Afterward, the disc diameter, length and width of the dorsal and ventral arm plate, length and width of the dorsalmost arm spine, and oral and adoral shields of the specimens were measured using the AxioVision VS. 40.4.8.20 program (Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Germany) attached to a stereomicroscope ZEISS Discovery V.8 (following Serrano et al . 2023 and Damiano et al . 2025). The densities of disc granules were measured from three squares of 0.2 mm 2 in the central part of the disc in images using the AxioVision VS. 40.4.8.20 program. We counted all complete granules inside the squares, then, the numbers were multiplied by five to estimate densities for 1 mm 2 (Stöhr et al . 2013). The arm spines were counted from the first arm segment under the disc to the last arm segment in the distalmost portion. For detailed studies of internal and external arm microstructure, the samples were taken from the fifth to twelfth arm segments. The fragments were immersed in regular household bleach (NaClO) until the tissue was removed and the ossicles were released (Stöhr et al . 2008). Then, the ossicles were washed in distilled water, air-dried, mounted on aluminum stubs, gold coated, examined, and photographed and examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) (model JEOL JSM5800LV) at the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the Institute of Biology - State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) (Alitto et al . 2018). The morphology of the Trindade specimens was initially compared with the descriptions of Breviturma and all nine species currently assigned to the genus to establish their genus and species identifications using the original descriptions and existing literature (Müller & Troschel 1842; Brock 1888; Farquhar 1897; Loriol 1899; Devaney 1968; Devaney 1970; Devaney 1974; Olbers & Samyn 2012; Stöhr et al . 2013; Olbers et al . 2019; Chang & Shih 2025). In addition, images of B. brevipes , B. dentata , B. doerdeleine , B. kroki , B. paucigranulata , B. pica and B. pusilla from the Florida Museum of Natural History (Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indo-West Pacific, Indo-West Central Pacific, Indo-Pacific, northwestern Atlantic Ocean), and B. pusilla from the Royal Museum for Central Africa (South Africa) and the iZiko South African Museum were compared with the Trindade specimens. The terminology and abbreviations used in all descriptions followed Stöhr et al . (2012), Thuy & Stöhr (2016), and Hendler (2018), and adopted the classification by O’Hara et al . (2017, 2018). Dates are written in the format day.month.year, with months in capital letters Roman numerals. Acronyms MDBio - ZUEC OPH = Ophiuroidea Collection, Museum of Biological Diversity of State University of Campinas, Campinas - São Paulo State, Brazil MZUSP = Ophiuroidea Collection, Museum of Zoology of University of São Paulo, São Paulo city - São Paulo State, Brazil UF = Invertebrate Zoology, Florida Museum of Natural History, Florida, United States of America RMCA = Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium SAMC = iZiko South African Museum, Cape Town, South Africa Results Class Ophiuroidea Gray, 1840 Order Ophiacanthida O'Hara, Hugall, Thuy, Stöhr & Martynov, 2017 Family Ophiocomidae Ljungman, 1867 Genus Breviturma Stöhr, Boissin & Hoareau, 2013 Type species. Breviturma brevipes (Peters, 1851) type by original designation Included species. [genera of the original combination indicated within brackets]: Breviturma brevipes (Peters, 1851) [ Ophiocoma ], Breviturma dentata (Müller & Troschel, 1842) [ Ophiocoma ], Breviturma doederleini (de Loriol, 1899) [ Ophiocoma ], Breviturma krohi (Stöhr, Boissin & Hoareau, 2013) [ Ophiocoma ( Breviturma )], Breviturma longispina (H.L. Clark, 1917) [ Ophiocoma ], Breviturma paucigranulata (Devaney, 1974) [ Ophiocoma ], Breviturma pica (Müller & Troschel, 1842) [ Ophiocoma ] and Breviturma pusilla (Brock, 1888) [ Ophiocoma ], Breviturma securis Chang & Shih, 2025. Breviturma pusilla (Brock, 1888) Figs 2 - 4 Ophiomastix pusilla Brock, 1888: 499; Clark 1967: 45, fig. 5. Ophiocoma latilanxa Murakami, 1943: 194, fig. 13. Ophiocoma pusilla – Devaney 1968: 144, pl 19, fig. 6; Devaney 1970: 25, fig. 29; Cherbonnier & Guille 1978: 173, pl 11, figs. 3, 4; Clark 1980: 544; Olbers & Samyn 2012: 147, pl 4; Olbers et al . 2019: 169, fig. 163. Type locality. Ambon, Indonesia. Diagnosis (based on the two specimens). Disc completely covered dorsally by small and rounded granules (Figs. 2A, 4A); granules density reaching more than 200 per mm². Two tentacle scales, outer scale largest (Figs. 2H, 4H). Up to five or six arm spines (Figs. 2I, 4I). Arms spines fragile, hollow, glassy, and non-smooth, decreasing in size dorsal-ventrally (Figs. 2I, 4I). Outer proximal edge of lateral arm plate with discernible band of different stereom over most of the proximal edge, inner side with single perforation in ventral-central portion (Figs. 3C-J, 4C-J). Material examined BRAZIL – Trindade Island, Espírito Santo State • 1 specimen (3.6 mm dd); Ponta da Calheta Beach, 20º 30'18.72" S, 29º 18'31.67" W; fauna attractor - 16.9 m; 25.VI.2015; Joel B. Mendonça; ZUEC OPH 3639 . • 1 specimen (5 mm dd); Ilha da Racha, 20º 30'26.5'' S, 29º 20'48.0'' W; 21.4 m; 01.VII.2016; Joel B. Mendonça; MZUSP 4252 . Comparative material ( images) Brevituma brevipes (Peters, 1851) - UF 022829 (Indian Ocean - Oman); B. dentata (Müller & Troschel, 1842) - UF 18135 (Indo-West Pacific - New Caledonia); B. doederleine (de Loriol, 1899) - UF 14145 (Indian Ocean - Saudi Arabia); B. krohi (Stöhr, Boissin & Hoareau, 2013) - UF 3522 (Pacific Ocean - Palau), UF 8117 (Pacific Ocean - Australia), UF 8377 (Pacific Ocean - Australia); B. paucigranulata (Devaney, 1974) - UF 18850 (northwestern Atlantic Ocean - Bahamas); B. pica (Müller & Troschel, 1842) - UF 19622 (Indo-Pacific - Kiribati), UF 20737 (Indo-Pacific - Hawaii); B. pusilla (Brock, 1888) - UF 7951 (Indo-Pacific - French Polynesia), UF 14436 (Indo-West Central Pacific Ocean - Papua New Guinea), UF 14694 (Indo-West Central Pacific Ocean - Papua New Guinea), SAMC A088266, SAMC A081592, RMCA 2153 (South Africa). Descriptions. ZUEC OPH 3639 Disc. (dd: 3.6 mm): Pentagonal, flat, completely covered dorsally by small, rounded granules (Fig. 2A), 280-295 granules per mm². Radial shields covered by granules (Fig. 2A). Circular to oval brown spots, surrounded by fine lines of white granules (Fig. 2A, I). Region of radial shields covered by white granules (Fig. 2A, I). Granules extending ventrally to median region of ventral interradius (Fig. 2C, E). Row of cone-shaped genital papillae in genital slits, close to oral shields (Fig. 2B, E). Mouth. Oral shield oval, 1.25 times as long as wide (Fig. 2C - E). Adoral shield triangular, not contiguous, laterally to oral shields, 1.5 times as wide as long (Fig. 2C - E). At each half-jaw a sequence of five oral papillae: Lyman’s ossicle elongated, partially covered by square adoral shield spine; square-shaped secondary adoral shield spine; oval infradental papilla; at ventralmost portion of dental plate, oval tooth papilla (Fig. 2E). Arms. 5 arms. Dorsal arm plate: entire, fan-shaped with rounded distal edge, straight proximal edge, 1.25 times as wide as long (Fig. 2F, 3A). Ventral arm plate: approximately square with rounded distal edge (Fig. 2H, 3B), plate with straight distal edge, rounded distal-lateral edge with small circular tip, proximal edge V-shaped, concave lateral-medial portion (Fig. 3B). First ventral arm plate square to rectangular (Fig. 2E). Tentacle scales: two, outer scale largest (Fig. 2H). Arm spines: Three to six arm spines, sequence: 3 - 3 - 4 - 5(or 6) - 5(or 6) - 5(or 6) - 5(or 6) - 5 - 5(or 4) - 5(or 4) - 4(or 5) - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4, from 11th arm segment 4 arm spines. Arms spines fragile, hollow, glassy, not smooth with brown dots (Fig. 2F, G, I), dorsalmost arm spine 10 times as long as wide, decreasing in size dorsal-ventrally (Fig. 2I), with perforations throughout (Fig. 3G). Ventralmost arm spines thicker from the first to 7th arm segment (Fig. 2H). Lateral arm plate: General outline: Arched position (wrapped around the arm); ventral portion projecting ventro-proximalwards (Fig. 3C). Outer proximal edge: surface lined by discernible band of different stereom over most of proximal edge, presenting an oblique, elongated spur on ventro-proximal tip (Fig. 3C). Arm spine articulations: four to five, on elevated portion of LAP bordered proximally by ridge, directly adjacent to distal edge of LAP, arranged over entire distal edge, similar in size, equidistant. Dorsal and ventral lobes merged at proximal tips by smooth connection, one lobe clearly larger than the other, parallel, nearly horizontal, sigmoidal fold fully developed (Fig. 3F). Inner side: dominated by more or less continuous ridge, single perforation in ventral-central portion (Fig. 3J). Vertebrae. Zygospondylous articulation. Proximal side: “V” shaped groove on dorsal portion (Fig. 3D). Distal side: zygosphene fused with pair of parallel zygocondyles (Fig. 3E). Dorsal side: groove not projecting beyond zygocondyles (Fig. 3H). Ventral side: zygosphene projecting beyond ventral edge of zygocondyles with projecting part shorter than zygocondyles, strong central depression (Fig. 3I). MZUSP 4252 Disc. (dd: 5 mm): Pentagonal, flat, covered dorsally by small, rounded granules (Fig. 4A), 195-245 granules per mm². Radial shields partially covered by granules (Fig. 4B). Granules extending ventrally to median region of ventral interradius (Fig. 4C, E). Mouth. Oral shield approximately rectangular with rounded edges, as wide as long (Fig. 4C - E). Adoral shield triangular, not contiguous, laterally to oral shields, 1.6 times as wide as long (Fig. 4C - E). At each half-jaw a sequence of five papillae: Lyman’s ossicle elongated, partially covered by square adoral shield spine; square-shaped secondary adoral shield spine; oval infradental papilla; at ventralmost portion of dental plate, oval tooth papilla (Fig. 4E). Arms. 5 arms. Dorsal arm plate: entire, fan-shaped with rounded distal edge, straight proximal edge, 1.2 times as wide as long (Fig. 4F, 5A). Ventral arm plate: approximately square with rounded distal edge (Fig. 4H, 5B), plate with straight distal edge, rounded to straight distal-lateral edge, proximal edge tapered with straight tip, concave lateral-medial portion (Fig. 5B). First ventral arm plate square to rectangular (Figura 4E). Tentacle scales: two, outer scale largest (Fig. 4H). Arm spines: Three to five arm spines, sequence: 3 - 3 - 3(or) - 4 - 4(or 5) - 4(or 5) - 4(or 5) - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4, from 8th arm segment 4 arm spines. Arms spines fragile, hollow, glassy, not smooth (Fig. 4G, H), dorsalmost 15 times as long as wide, decreasing in size dorsal-ventrally, with perforations throughout (Fig. 5G). Ventralmost arm spines thicker from the first to 7th arm segment (Fig. 4H). Lateral arm plate: General outline: Arched position (wrapped around the arm); ventral portion projecting ventro-proximalwards (Fig. 5C). Outer proximal edge: surface lined by discernible band of different stereom over most of proximal edge, presenting oblique, elongated spur on ventro-proximal tip (Fig. 5C). Arm spine articulations: four to five, on elevated portion of LAP bordered proximally by ridge, directly adjacent to the distal edge of LAP, arranged over entire distal edge, similar in size, equidistant. Dorsal and ventral lobes merged at their proximal tips by smooth connection, one lobe clearly larger than the other, parallel, nearly horizontal, sigmoidal fold fully developed (Fig. 5F). Inner side: dominated by more or less continuous ridge, single perforation in ventral-central portion (Fig. 5J). Vertebrae: Zygospondylous articulation. Proximal side: “V” shaped groove on dorsal portion (Fig. 5D). Distal side: zygosphene fused with pair of parallel zygocondyles (Fig. 5E). Dorsal side: groove not projecting beyond zygocondyles (Fig. 5H). Ventral side: zygosphene projecting beyond ventral edge of zygocondyles with projecting part shorter than zygocondyles, strong central depression (Fig. 5I). Ecological Notes. 0-32 m (Olbers et al . 2019). In the Indian Ocean (Pulau We, Sumatra), Breviturma pusilla has been found inhabiting coral reefs, and coral conglomerates, between 2-10 meters (Price & Rowe 1996). The Trindade specimens were found between 16.9 and 21.4 meters depth. Distribution. Southwestern Atlantic: Trindade Island, Brazil (present record). Indo–West Pacific: South Africa, from Aliwal Shoal to Kosi Bay; Mozambique; Red Sea; Ambon, Indonesia (type locality); and tropical Indo–West Central Pacific (Clark 1967; Clark & Rowe 1971; Olbers et al . 2019; Stöhr et al . 2024g). Morphological variations. The Trindade specimen differ slightly in granule density, with the smaller specimen (disc diameter 3.6 mm, ZUEC OPH 3639) bearing about 295 granules per mm² and the larger (5.0 mm, MZUSP 4252) about 245 granules, possibly reflecting size-related variation or artificial granule loss. Arm spine counts range from up to five (MZUSP 4252) to six (ZUEC OPH 3639). The distal edge of the ventral arm plate is rounded in ZUEC OPH 3639 (Fig. 3B) and straight in MZUSP 4252 (Fig. 5B), these may be associated with size differences. In ZUEC OPH 3639, the radial shields are fully covered by granules (Fig. 2B), whereas in MZUSP 4252 distal portions are exposed (Fig. 4B), likely due to granule loss. Remarks The southwestern Atlantic specimens are readily assignable to the genus Breviturma by possessing the diagnostic characters provided by Stöhr et al . (2013): by a non-alternating number of arm spines and low, blunt and uniform in size disc granules. Both specimens conform to the diagnostic features of Breviturma pusilla as described by Brock (1888), having fragile, hollow, non-smooth arm spines; small granules covering the disc; and small size. Compared to its congeners Breviturma pusilla differs from B. brevipes in having fan-shaped dorsal arm plates and more than 250 granules per mm², whereas B. brevipes has oval dorsal arm plates and up to 250 granules per mm² (Farquhar 1897; Stöhr et al . 2013; Olbers et al . 2019). It differs from B. dentata in possessing more than 250 granules per mm² and up to six arm spines, whereas B. dentata has fewer than 150 granules per mm² and rarely more than four arm spines (Stöhr et al . 2013). From B. doederleini , it is distinguished by having five arm spines between the 4th and 11th segments and non-annulated arm spines, in contrast to B. doederleini , which has five arm spines between the 6th and 10th segments and annulated arm spines (Stöhr et al . 2013). It differs from B. krohi by lacking annulation of arm spines and having a granule density above 250 per mm², whereas B. krohi has weakly annulated arm spines and fewer than 200 granules per mm² (Stöhr et al . 2013). Compared to B. longispina , B. pusilla has the outer tentacle scale largest and four arm spines from the 11th segment onward, while B. longispina has two tentacle scales of about equal length and four arm spines up to segment 18th (Devaney 1970). It is separated from B. paucigranulata by having radial shields fully covered by granules, whereas in B. paucigranulata the radial shields are partially exposed (Devaney 1974). From B. pica , it differs in having only four distal arm spines and a consistently smaller inner tentacle scale along the arm, whereas B. pica has five arm spines proximally and four to five distally, with the inner tentacle scale only slightly smaller basally (Devaney 1970; Olbers et al . 2019). Finally, it can be distinguished from B. securis by having fan-shaped dorsal arm plates, up to six arm spines, and non-annulated arm spines, whereas B. securis has elliptical dorsal arm plates, up to four arm spines, and annulated arm spines (Chang & Shih 2025). Key to Breviturma species 1. Radial shields and disc fully covered by granules…..…….…………………...……..2 − Distal portion of radial shields exposed and disc with visible scales……………………………………………….. B. paucigranulata (Devaney, 1974) 2. Arm spines solid and smooth ………………………………..….……………...…...3 −Arm spines hollow, fragile and non-smooth……………..…… B. Pusilla (Brock, 1888) 3. Dorsal arm plates fan-shaped in outline ………………………..……………..…….4 − Dorsal arm plates elliptical or oval in outline.…...……………..……………………5 4. Tentacle scales: about equal length…………….….... B. longispina (H.L. Clark, 1917) − Tentacle scales: inner smaller proximally...…….… B. Pica (Müller & Troschel, 1842) 5. Arm spines annulated ……………………………………………………...….....…6 − Arm spines non-annulated, with a solid color or a pattern other than annulated……………………………………………………………………..….………7 6. More than 200 granules per mm² on disc………………………………………..……8 − Less than 150 granules per mm² on disc….... B. krohi (S töhr, Boissin & Hoareau, 2013) 7. Dorsal arm plate oval, 4 to 5 arm spines, up to 250 granules per mm² on disc…………………………………………………………….. B.brevipes (Peters, 1851) − Dorsal arm plate elliptical in outline, rarely 5 arm spines, less than 150 granules per mm² on disc………………………….…………….. B.dentata (Müller & Troschel, 1842) 8. 4 arm spines at proximal arm segments.…..……..…… B. securis Chang & Shih 2025 − 5 arm spines at proximal arm segments......……..…… B. doederleini (de Loriol, 1899) Discussion The genus Breviturma is predominantly Indo-West Pacific, with B. paucigranulata as the only previously known Atlantic (northwest) species (Devaney 1974; Hendler et al . 1995; Laguarda-Figueras et al . 2009). The occurrence of B. pusilla in Trindade Island represents the first record of the species in the southwestern Atlantic, extending the known range of the genus. This species, described from Ambom, Indonesia, is otherwise known from the coast of South Africa from Aliwal Shoal to Kosi Bay, Mozambique, the Red Sea, and the tropical Indo-West CentralPacific (Clark 1967; Clark & Rowe 1971;Olbers et al . 2019; Stöhr et al . 2025g). Its presence in Trindade adds to the list of shallow-water Indo-Pacific taxa occurring naturally on Brazilian oceanic islands, including the echinoid Pseudoboletia maculata Troschel, 1869 (Martins et al . 2016); the alpheid shrimps Alpheopsis aequalis Coutière, 1897 s.l., Alpheopsis chalciope de Man, 1910 s.l., Alpheus crockeri (Armstrong, 1941), Alpheus paracrinitus Miers, 1881 s.l., Automate dolichognatha de Man, 1888 s.l., Metalpheus rostratipes (Pocock, 1890) (Anker et al . 2016); the brachyuran crab Cyclograpsus integer H. Milne Edwards, 1837; and the flyingfish Hirundichthys affinis (Günther, 1866) (Pinheiro et al . 2015). Strong evidence shows that the Trindade shallow-water fauna is more closely related to the western Atlantic fauna, yet it contains eastern Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and Indo-West Pacific elements. The present record of B. pusilla from Trindade fits into the Indo-Pacific component of the island’s fauna. Future research may reveal that the amphi-American, amphi-Atlantic, and Indo-West Pacific faunal components actually comprise more than one species currently regarded as having much broader geographic distributions. Abbreviations DD disc diameter LAP lateral arm plate Declarations Data availability All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. Acknowledgments We thank Dr. Jennifer M. Olbers for kindly sending us images of specimens of Breviturma pusilla from South Africa, and Dr. Sabine Stöhr for the conversation related to genus identification. We also thank the access to equipment and assistance provided by the Electron Microscope Laboratory (LME/UNICAMP). Author contributions Cecília de J. S. Damiano – conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review, and editing. Luciana Martins – conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing – review and editing, funding acquisition, and supervision. Joel Braga de Mendonça Junior - funding acquisition. Marcos Tavares – writing – review, editing, and funding acquisition. Michela Borges – conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing – review and editing, funding acquisition, and supervision. Financial support This study was funded by CAPES, (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil) – Finance Code 001. This work was also supported by the BIOTA-Collections Project (Process nº 2018/10313-0), in part, by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil (Process nº 2021/06442-1 to LM) and the ProTrindade Project (Process nº 443278/2019-9). We thank the Brazilian Navy (1st District) and SECIRIM (Interministerial Secretariat for Marine Resources) for all the support provided in Trindade and Martin Vaz. This is contribution number 18 of the ProTrindade Marine Invertebrates Project. Conflict of Interests The authors declare none. Ethical standards The study was registered at the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge–SisGen SisGen (Sistema Nacional de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético e do Conhecimento Tradicional Associado), according to Brazilian legislation Law number 13.123/2015 and Decree 8772/2016. The approval ID for this study was ACDD39A. References Alitto RAS, Bueno ML, Guilherme PDB, Di Domenico M, Christensen AB, Borges M (2018) Shallow-water brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Araçá Bay (Southeastern Brazil), with spatial distribution considerations. Zootaxa 4405:1–66. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4405.1.1 Anker A, Tavares M (2016) Alpheid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) of the Trindade & Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records, description of a new species of Synalpheus and remarks on zoogeographical patterns in the oceanic islands of the tropical southern Atlantic. 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Mar Biodivers Records 3:e34. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755267210000096 Gondim A, Dias TP, Christoffersen M (2015) First record of basket stars Astrocyclus caecilia (Lütken, 1856) and Astrophyton muricatum (Lamarck, 1816) (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea, Euryalida) for the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Check List 11(1): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.15560/11.1.1541 Hendler G (2018) Armed to the teeth: A new paradigm for the buccal skeleton of brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). Contrib Sci 526:189–311. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.324539 Hendler G, Miller JE, Pawson DL, Kier PM (1995) Sea stars, sea urchins, and allies: echinoderms of Florida and the Caribbean. Smithsonian Institution, Washington Hernández-Herrejón LA, Solis-Marín FA, Laguarda-Figueiras A (2008) Ofiuroideos (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) de las aguas mexicanas del golfo de México. Revista de Biología Trop 56(3):83–167. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v56i3.27082 Laguarda-Figueras A, Solís-Marín FA, Durán-González A, Gust-Ahearn C, Buitrón-Sánchez BE, Torres-Vega J (2005) Equinodermos (Echinodermata) del Caribe Mexicano. Revista de Biología Trop 53:109–122 Laguarda-Figueras A, Hernández-Herrejón LA, Solís-Marín FA, Durán-González A (2009) Ofiuroideos del Caribe Mexicano y Golfo de México. Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia del Mexico Loriol P 1899. Notes pour servir a l'histoire des Echinodermes. VII. Mémoires de la Société de Physique et d'Historie Naturelle de Genève 33: 1–34. Available from https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36246661 Martins L, Souto C, Braga J, Tavares M (2016) Echinoidea and Holothuroidea (Echinodermata) of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Archipelago, off Brazil, with new records and remarks on taxonomy and species composition. J Mar Biol Association United Kingd 98:521–555. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315416001569 Müller J, Troschel FH (1842) System der Asteriden.1. Asteriae. 2. Ophiuridae. Vieweg: Braunschweig 12:1–134. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.11715 Murakami S (1943) Report on the Ophiurans of Palao Caroline Islands. J Department Agric Kyusyu Imperial Univ 7:159–204 O’Hara TD, Stöhr S, Hugall AF, Thuy B, Stöhr S, Martynov A (2017) Restructuring higher taxonomy using broad-scale phylogenomics: The living Ophiuroidea. Mol Phylogenet Evol 107:415–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.12.006 O’Hara TD, Stöhr S, Hugall AF, Thuy B, Martynov A (2018) Morphological diagnoses of higher taxa in Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) in support of a new classification. Eur J Taxonomy 416:1–35. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2018.416 Olbers JM, Samyn Y (2012) The Ophiocoma species (Ophiurida: Ophiuroidea) of South Africa. Western Indian Ocean J Mar Sci 10:137–154 Olbers JM, Griffiths CL, O’Hara TD, Samyn Y (2019) Field Guide to the brittle and basket stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) of South Africa. Abc Taxa 19:1–352 Pinheiro HT, Mazzei E, Moura RL, Amado-Filho GM, Carvalho-Filho A, Braga AC, Costa PAS, Ferreira BP, Ferreira CEL, Floeter SR, Francini-Filho RB, Gasparini JL, Macieira RM, Martins AS, Olavo G, Pimentel CR, Rocha LA, Sazima I, Simon T, Teixeira JB, Xavier LB, Joyeux JC (2015) Fish Biodiversity of the Vitória-Trindade Seamount Chain, Southwestern Atlantic: An Updated Database. PLoS ONE 10(3):e0118180. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118180 Prata J, Manso CLC, Christoffersen ML (2016) Occurrence of Ophioderma brevicauda Lütken, 1856 (Ophiuroidea: Echinodermata) from the Brazilian coast. Marine Biodivers 48:1595–1599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-016-0584-0 Price ARG, Rowe FWE (1996) Indian Ocean echinoderms collected during the Sindbad voyage (1980-81): 3. Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea. Bull Nat History Museum Lond (Zoology) 62:71–82 Santana A, Manso CL, Almeida AC, Alves OF (2020) Taxonomic review of Ophiothrix Müller & Troschel, 1840 (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Brazil, with the description of four new species. Zootaxa 4808(1): 51–78. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4808.1.3 Serrano H, Damiano CJS, Alitto RAS, Guilherme PDB, Cerqueira WRP, Mendonça JB, Tavares M, Borges M (2023) A new species of Ophiocoma (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Archipelago Trindade and Martin Vaz, Southeastern Atlantic, and redescription of Ophiocoma echinata . J Mar Biol Association United Kingd 103:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315423000383 Souza CL, Abrantes SC (2017) A Ilha da Trindade e o ProTrindade. ProTrindade: programa de pesquisas científicas na Ilha da Trindade – 10 anos de pesquisas. SECIRM, Brasília, pp 17–23 Stöhr S, Conand C, Boissin E (2008) Brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from La Réunion and the systematic position of Ophiocanops Koehler, 1922. Zool J Linn Soc 153:545–560. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00401.x Stöhr S, O’Hara TD, Thuy B (2012) Global diversity of Brittle Stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea). PLoS ONE 7:e31940. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0031940 Stöhr S, Boissin E, Hoareau TB (2013) Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the Ophiocoma brevipes group (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea), with description of a new subgenus ( Breviturma ) and a new species. Eur J Taxonomy 68:1–26. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2013.68 Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B (eds) (2024) World Ophiuroidea Database. Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/ophiuroidea [accessed 28 Aug. 2024]. https://doi.org/10.14284/358 Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B (eds). World Ophiuroidea Database. Breviturma brevipes (Peters (2025a) 1851). Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1214744 [accessed 18 April 2025] Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B (eds). World Ophiuroidea Database. Breviturma dentata (Müller & Troschel (2025b) 1842). Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1214745 [accessed 18 April 2025] Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B (eds) (2025c) World Ophiuroidea Database. Breviturma doederleini (de Loriol, 1899). Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1214746 [accessed 18 April 2025] Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B (eds). World Ophiuroidea Database. Breviturma krohi (Stöhr B, Hoareau (2025d) 2013). Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1214747 [accessed 18 April 2025] Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B (eds) (2025e) World Ophiuroidea Database. Breviturma paucigranulata (Devaney, 1974). Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1306673 [accessed 18 April 2025] Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B.(Eds) (2025f) &. World Ophiuroidea Database. Breviturma pica (Müller & Troschel, 1842). Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1306674 [accessed 18 April 2025] Stöhr S, O’Hara T, Thuy B (eds). World Ophiuroidea Database. Breviturma pusilla (Brock (2025g) 1888). Available from https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1306676 [accessed 18 April 20 Tavares M, Mendonça JBDJ (2022) Brachyuran crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda) from the remote oceanic Archipelago Trindade and Martin Vaz, South Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa 5146(1):1–129. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5146.1.1 Thuy B, Stöhr S (2016) A new morphological phylogeny of the Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) accords with molecular evidence and renders microfossils accessible for cladistics. PLoS ONE 11:e0156140. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156140 Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7547064","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":510968816,"identity":"8e4342e4-ce98-4958-8e5a-6b1c84e8d752","order_by":0,"name":"Cecília Damiano","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABFklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCA2AEZT8wYOBhbG8AMg0siNSSYMAgw9wD4htI4NWCAAkMDDbsMxJATNxa+I6fTjzwc4cNA39788MDCQV2PLwzn1/d8KNAAijSnYBNi+SZ3A0He8+kMUicOWYAdFgyj+TsnLKbPUCHSZw5uwGbFoMDuRsO8LYdBjo+B+QXZh7D2TlpN3iAWgwkcrFrOf92w8G/IC3yb0Ba6nnsb55Ju/kHn5YbuRsOQ2zhAWk5zMM4g/3YbXy2SN54u+GwbFsaj8SZNJBfjvMw9uSw3ZYBmoDLL3znczd/fNtmI8fffvjxhw9/qu0Z248/u/nmD0ikF6sWGOBBZhugixAE7A9IUT0KRsEoGAXDHwAAeGBrRcDWfbsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"State University of Campinas","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Cecília","middleName":"","lastName":"Damiano","suffix":""},{"id":510969095,"identity":"7d28c425-c37f-460e-b458-f56036915aa0","order_by":1,"name":"Luciana Martins","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of São Paulo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Luciana","middleName":"","lastName":"Martins","suffix":""},{"id":510969096,"identity":"89df0d05-81b2-42f5-b557-ee4cdaa2a67f","order_by":2,"name":"Joel B. 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Online satellite views (A, B) from Google Earth (2021).\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure1101.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7547064/v1/640192912a88e9e0c216624c.jpg"},{"id":92062252,"identity":"f85e736e-0cbe-42f5-bbd7-d1919fdaa1f0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-24 08:24:01","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1007806,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003epusilla\u003c/em\u003e (Brock, 1888), morphological external features of specimen\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003eZUEC OPH 3639 (3.6 mm dd). \u003cstrong\u003eA.\u003c/strong\u003e Dorsal view; \u003cstrong\u003eB.\u003c/strong\u003e Dorsal view – detail of granules; \u003cstrong\u003eC.\u003c/strong\u003e Ventral view; \u003cstrong\u003eD. \u003c/strong\u003eVentral view - jaws; \u003cstrong\u003eE.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of papillae; \u003cstrong\u003eF.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of dorsal arm; \u003cstrong\u003eG.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of hollow arm spine; \u003cstrong\u003eH.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of ventral arm; \u003cstrong\u003eI.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of arm spines. Abbreviations: 2° AdShSp = secondary adoral shield spine; AdSh = adoral shield; AdShSp = adoral shield spine; ASp = arm spine; DAP = dorsal arm plate; GP = genital papillae; IPa = infradental papilla; LyOs = Lyman’s ossicle; OSh = oral shield; TPa = tooth papilla; TSc = tentacle scale; VAP = ventral arm plate; VAP-1 = first ventral arm plate.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure2201.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7547064/v1/93aeed78635af5067adfdf4c.jpg"},{"id":92062249,"identity":"96a678df-056d-4b54-b9ef-80c0f645d076","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-24 08:24:00","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1016000,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla \u003c/em\u003e(Brock, 1888), internal and external microstructural features of specimen ZUEC OPH 3639 (3.6 mm dd). \u003cstrong\u003eA.\u003c/strong\u003e Dorsal arm plate – outer side; \u003cstrong\u003eB.\u003c/strong\u003e Ventral arm plate – outer side; \u003cstrong\u003eC.\u003c/strong\u003e Lateral arm plate – outer side; \u003cstrong\u003eD.\u003c/strong\u003eVertebra – proximal surface; \u003cstrong\u003eE.\u003c/strong\u003e Vertebra – distal surface; \u003cstrong\u003eF.\u003c/strong\u003e Lateral arm plate – spine articulation; \u003cstrong\u003eG.\u003c/strong\u003e Arm spine; \u003cstrong\u003eH.\u003c/strong\u003e Vertebra – dorsal surface; \u003cstrong\u003eI.\u003c/strong\u003e Vertebra – ventral surface; \u003cstrong\u003eJ.\u003c/strong\u003e Lateral arm plate – inner side. Abbreviations: d = dorsal; di = distal; ddi = dorso-distal; DGr = dorsal groove; dp = dorso-proximal; lb = lobes; p = proximal; sa = spine articulation; sf = sigmoidal fold; slp = single large perforation; spr = spur; v = ventral; vdi = ventro-distal; VGr = ventral groove; vp = ventro-proximal; zd = zygocondyles; zp = zygosphene.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure3101.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7547064/v1/4cdcd6957100ad270f39ee71.jpg"},{"id":92062287,"identity":"f96b9de5-eb33-4e9a-9a1c-f602964556f4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-24 08:24:02","extension":"jpg","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1320760,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla \u003c/em\u003e(Brock, 1888), morphological external features of specimen MZUSP 4252 (5 mm dd). \u003cstrong\u003eA.\u003c/strong\u003e Dorsal view; \u003cstrong\u003eB.\u003c/strong\u003eDorsal view – detail of granules; \u003cstrong\u003eC. \u003c/strong\u003eVentral view; \u003cstrong\u003eD.\u003c/strong\u003e Ventral view - jaws; \u003cstrong\u003eE.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of papillae; \u003cstrong\u003eF. \u003c/strong\u003eDetail of dorsal arm; \u003cstrong\u003eG.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of hollow arm spine; \u003cstrong\u003eH.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of ventral arm; \u003cstrong\u003eI.\u003c/strong\u003e Detail of arm spines. Abbreviations:\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e2° AdShSp = secondary adoral shield spine; AdSh = adoral shield; AdShSp = adoral shield spine; ASp = arm spine; DAP = dorsal arm plate; IPa = infradental papilla; LyOs = Lyman’s ossicle; OSh = oral shield; TPa = tooth papilla; TSc = tentacle scale; VAP = ventral arm plate; VAP-1 = first ventral arm plate; VG = ventral granules.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure4101.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7547064/v1/612be0148c489f32b12bc0ee.jpg"},{"id":92062255,"identity":"816f2408-4f62-47c2-a7ff-cef04b55c74c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-24 08:24:02","extension":"jpg","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1113148,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla \u003c/em\u003e(Brock, 1888), internal and external microstructural features of specimen MZUSP 4252 (5 mm dd). \u003cstrong\u003eA.\u003c/strong\u003eDorsal arm plate – outer side; \u003cstrong\u003eB.\u003c/strong\u003eVentral arm plate – outer side; \u003cstrong\u003eC. \u003c/strong\u003eLateral arm plate – outer side;\u003cstrong\u003e D.\u003c/strong\u003e Vertebra – proximal surface; \u003cstrong\u003eE.\u003c/strong\u003e Vertebra – distal surface; \u003cstrong\u003eF.\u003c/strong\u003e Lateral arm plate – spine articulation;\u003cstrong\u003e G.\u003c/strong\u003e Arm spine; \u003cstrong\u003eH.\u003c/strong\u003e Vertebra – dorsal surface; \u003cstrong\u003eI. \u003c/strong\u003eVertebra – ventral surface;\u003cstrong\u003e J. \u003c/strong\u003eLateral arm plate – inner side. Abbreviations: d = dorsal; di = distal; ddi = dorso-distal; DGr = dorsal groove; dp = dorso-proximal; lb = lobes; p = proximal; sa = spine articulation; sf = sigmoidal fold; slp = single large perforation; spr = spur; v = ventral; vdi = ventro-distal; VGr = ventral groove; vp = ventro-proximal; zd = zygocondyles; zp = zygosphene.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure501.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7547064/v1/f555f4f6efeb93de43c93bc9.jpg"},{"id":92062534,"identity":"a8aa1965-d409-46b3-a708-ac6b54b6b9de","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-24 08:24:15","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":5639466,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7547064/v1/e866e8c3-d868-4475-a927-ac69769a016e.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst record of the genus \u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBreviturma\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eOphiuroidea is the most diverse class within the echinoderms, comprising 2,136 valid species distributed across all oceans (St\u0026ouml;hr et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Although knowledge of Brazil's benthic marine fauna remains limited \u0026ndash; only 134 ophiuroid species have been documented along the Brazilian coast (Barboza \u0026amp; Borges \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e; Prata et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e) \u0026ndash; significant progress has been made in recent years, including the discovery of new species and previously undocumented occurrences (Gondim et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Prata et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Santana et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Serrano et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOngoing studies on the ophiuroid fauna of the remote oceanic island of Trindade, southwestern Atlantic, yielded two specimens of \u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e (Brock, 1888), a species previously known from the tropical Indo-West Central Pacific Ocean, including the Red Sea and Mozambique, and South Africa (Aliwal Shoal to Kosi Bay) (Clark \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1967\u003c/span\u003e; Olbers et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2025g).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe genus \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e is characterized by a non-alternating number of arm spines; low, blunt, and uniformly sized disc granules; rounded (nearly oval) dorsal arm plates in adult specimens and more rounded-triangular in juveniles; and dental plates about twice as long as wide, with tooth papillae occupying approximately 25% of the plate length (St\u0026ouml;hr et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). The genus includes eight additional species: \u003cem\u003eB. brevipes\u003c/em\u003e (Peters, 1851) from the Indian Ocean and the tropical Indo-West Pacific (Olbers et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2025a); \u003cem\u003eB. dentata\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1842\u003c/span\u003e) from the tropical Indo-West Pacific and western Indian Ocean (Olbers et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2025b); \u003cem\u003eB. doederleini\u003c/em\u003e (de Loriol, 1899) from the Indian Ocean and the west-central Pacific Ocean (Olbers et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025c\u003c/span\u003e); B. \u003cem\u003ekrohi\u003c/em\u003e (St\u0026ouml;hr, Boissin \u0026amp; Hoareau, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e) from the Indian and Pacific Oceans (St\u0026ouml;hr et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2025d); \u003cem\u003eB. longispina\u003c/em\u003e (H.L. Clark, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1917\u003c/span\u003e) from the Pacific Ocean (H.L.Clark \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1921\u003c/span\u003e), \u003cem\u003eB. paucigranulata\u003c/em\u003e (Devaney, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1974\u003c/span\u003e) from the northwestern Atlantic Ocean (Devaney \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1974\u003c/span\u003e; Hendler et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1995\u003c/span\u003e; Laguarda-Figueras et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e; Hern\u0026aacute;ndez-Herrej\u0026oacute;n et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e; Laguarda-Figueras et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025e\u003c/span\u003e); B. \u003cem\u003epica\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1842\u003c/span\u003e) from the Indo-Pacific Ocean (Clark \u0026amp; Rowe \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1971\u003c/span\u003e; Olbers et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e; St\u0026ouml;hr et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025f\u003c/span\u003e)\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003ed\u003c/span\u003e \u003cem\u003esecuris\u003c/em\u003e Chang \u0026amp; Shih, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e from the Reunion Island, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea (Chang \u0026amp; Shih \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe newly found southwestern Atlantic specimens are herein redescribed and illustrated, and the arm microstructures (dorsal, ventral and lateral arm plates, vertebrae and arm spines) examined under a scanning electron microscope for the first time.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStudy site and data collection\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe remote oceanic islands Trindade (20\u0026deg;30\u0026rsquo;S/29\u0026deg;20\u0026rsquo;W) and Martin Vaz (20\u0026deg;30\u0026rsquo;S/28\u0026deg;51\u0026rsquo;W) are part of the Vit\u0026oacute;ria-Trindade Seamount Chain, a succession of volcanic guyots aligned West-East off the southwestern Brazilian coast. Trindade Island is about 10 km\u0026sup2; with 16 beaches, while Martin Vaz is a small archipelago composed of one small rocky island and two islets (Souza \u0026amp; Abrantes 2017). Trindade and Martin Vaz are only 49 km away from each other and around 1.200 km off the Brazilian coast, east of Vit\u0026oacute;ria city, Esp\u0026iacute;rito Santo state (Fig. 1) (Souza \u0026amp; Abrantes 2017; Tavares \u0026amp; Mendon\u0026ccedil;a 2022; Serrano \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2023, and references therein). From 2012 onward multiple expeditions have been conducted to explore the diversity of benthic invertebrates in Trindade and Martin Vaz. During these expeditions, two specimens of \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e were collected in Trindade in 2015 and 2016, on Ponta da Calheta beach and Ilha da Racha (see Tavares \u0026amp; Mendon\u0026ccedil;a 2022: 7, fig 1).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMorphological characters\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe specimens were initially identified based on external morphological structures, including disc cover, jaw characteristic, the number, size, and shape of arm spines, number of tentacle scales, and shape of the arm plates. Afterward, the disc diameter, length and width of the dorsal and ventral arm plate, length and width of the dorsalmost arm spine, and oral and adoral shields of the specimens were measured using the AxioVision VS. 40.4.8.20 program (Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Germany) attached to a stereomicroscope ZEISS Discovery V.8 (following Serrano \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2023 and Damiano \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2025). The densities of disc granules were measured from three squares of 0.2 mm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e in the central part of the disc in images using the AxioVision VS. 40.4.8.20 program. We counted all complete granules inside the squares, then, the numbers were multiplied by five to estimate densities for 1 mm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e (St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2013). The arm spines were counted from the first arm segment under the disc to the last arm segment in the distalmost portion.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor detailed studies of internal and external arm microstructure, the samples were taken from the fifth to twelfth arm segments. The fragments were immersed in regular household bleach (NaClO) until the tissue was removed and the ossicles were released (St\u0026ouml;hr\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;et al\u003c/em\u003e. 2008). Then, the ossicles were washed in distilled water, air-dried, mounted on aluminum stubs, gold coated, examined, and photographed and examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) (model JEOL JSM5800LV) at the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the Institute of Biology - State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) (Alitto \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2018).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe morphology of the Trindade specimens was initially compared with the descriptions of \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e and all nine species currently assigned to the genus to establish their genus and species identifications using the original descriptions and existing literature (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel 1842; Brock 1888; Farquhar 1897; Loriol 1899; Devaney 1968;\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eDevaney 1970;\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eDevaney 1974; Olbers \u0026amp; Samyn 2012; St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2013; Olbers\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;et al\u003c/em\u003e. 2019; Chang \u0026amp; Shih 2025). In addition, images of \u003cem\u003eB. brevipes\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eB. dentata\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eB. doerdeleine\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eB. kroki\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eB. paucigranulata\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eB. pica\u003c/em\u003e and B. \u003cem\u003epusilla\u003c/em\u003e from the Florida Museum of Natural History (Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indo-West Pacific, Indo-West Central Pacific, Indo-Pacific, northwestern Atlantic Ocean), and \u003cem\u003eB. pusilla\u003c/em\u003e from the Royal Museum for Central Africa (South Africa) and the iZiko South African Museum were compared with the Trindade specimens.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe terminology and abbreviations used in all descriptions followed St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (2012), Thuy \u0026amp; St\u0026ouml;hr (2016), and Hendler (2018), and adopted the classification by O\u0026rsquo;Hara \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (2017, 2018).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDates are written in the format day.month.year, with months in capital letters Roman numerals.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcronyms\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMDBio - ZUEC OPH = Ophiuroidea Collection, Museum of Biological Diversity of State University of Campinas, Campinas - S\u0026atilde;o Paulo State, Brazil\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMZUSP = Ophiuroidea Collection, Museum of Zoology of University of S\u0026atilde;o Paulo, S\u0026atilde;o Paulo city - S\u0026atilde;o Paulo State, Brazil\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUF = Invertebrate Zoology, Florida Museum of Natural History, Florida, United States of America\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRMCA = Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSAMC = iZiko South African Museum, Cape Town, South Africa\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClass Ophiuroidea Gray, 1840\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrder Ophiacanthida O\u0026apos;Hara, Hugall, Thuy, St\u0026ouml;hr \u0026amp; Martynov, 2017\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily Ophiocomidae Ljungman, 1867\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenus \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e St\u0026ouml;hr, Boissin \u0026amp; Hoareau, 2013\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType species.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreviturma brevipes\u003c/em\u003e (Peters, 1851) type by original designation\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded species.\u003c/strong\u003e [genera of the original combination indicated within brackets]: \u003cem\u003eBreviturma brevipes\u003c/em\u003e (Peters, 1851) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u003c/em\u003e], \u003cem\u003eBreviturma dentata\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, 1842) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u003c/em\u003e], \u003cem\u003eBreviturma doederleini\u003c/em\u003e (de Loriol, 1899) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u003c/em\u003e], \u003cem\u003eBreviturma krohi\u003c/em\u003e (St\u0026ouml;hr, Boissin \u0026amp; Hoareau, 2013) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(\u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e)], \u003cem\u003eBreviturma longispina\u003c/em\u003e (H.L. Clark, 1917) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u003c/em\u003e], \u003cem\u003eBreviturma paucigranulata\u003c/em\u003e (Devaney, 1974) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u003c/em\u003e], \u003cem\u003eBreviturma pica\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, 1842) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u003c/em\u003e] and \u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e (Brock, 1888) [\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma\u003c/em\u003e], \u003cem\u003eBreviturma securis\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eChang \u0026amp; Shih, 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e (Brock, 1888)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFigs 2 - 4\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOphiomastix pusilla\u003c/em\u003e Brock, 1888: 499; Clark 1967: 45, fig. 5.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma latilanxa\u003c/em\u003e Murakami, 1943: 194, fig. 13.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOphiocoma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e \u0026ndash; Devaney 1968: 144, pl 19, fig. 6; Devaney 1970: 25, fig. 29; Cherbonnier \u0026amp; Guille 1978: 173, pl 11, figs. 3, 4; Clark 1980: 544; Olbers \u0026amp; Samyn 2012: 147, pl 4; Olbers \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2019: 169, fig. 163.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType locality.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eAmbon, Indonesia.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiagnosis (based on the two specimens).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eDisc completely covered dorsally by small and rounded granules (Figs. 2A, 4A); granules density reaching more than 200 per mm\u0026sup2;. Two tentacle scales, outer scale largest (Figs. 2H, 4H). Up to five or six arm spines (Figs. 2I, 4I). Arms spines fragile, hollow, glassy, and non-smooth, decreasing in size dorsal-ventrally (Figs. 2I, 4I). Outer proximal edge of lateral arm plate with discernible band of different stereom over most of the proximal edge, inner side with single perforation in ventral-central portion (Figs. 3C-J, 4C-J).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial examined\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRAZIL \u003cstrong\u003e\u0026ndash;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eTrindade Island, Esp\u0026iacute;rito Santo State \u0026bull; 1 specimen (3.6 mm dd); Ponta da Calheta Beach, 20\u0026ordm; 30\u0026apos;18.72\u0026quot; S, 29\u0026ordm; 18\u0026apos;31.67\u0026quot; W; fauna attractor - 16.9 m; 25.VI.2015; Joel B. Mendon\u0026ccedil;a; \u003cstrong\u003eZUEC OPH 3639\u003c/strong\u003e. \u0026bull; 1 specimen (5 mm dd); Ilha da Racha, 20\u0026ordm; 30\u0026apos;26.5\u0026apos;\u0026apos; S, 29\u0026ordm; 20\u0026apos;48.0\u0026apos;\u0026apos; W; 21.4 m; 01.VII.2016; Joel B. Mendon\u0026ccedil;a; \u003cstrong\u003eMZUSP 4252\u003c/strong\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComparative material\u003c/strong\u003e (\u003cstrong\u003eimages)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBrevituma brevipes\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Peters, 1851)\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;-\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eUF 022829 (Indian Ocean - Oman); \u003cem\u003eB. dentata\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, 1842) - UF 18135 (Indo-West Pacific - New Caledonia); \u003cem\u003eB. doederleine\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(de Loriol, 1899) - UF 14145 (Indian Ocean - Saudi Arabia); \u003cem\u003eB. krohi\u003c/em\u003e (St\u0026ouml;hr, Boissin \u0026amp; Hoareau, 2013) - UF 3522 (Pacific Ocean - Palau), UF 8117 (Pacific Ocean - Australia), UF 8377 (Pacific Ocean - Australia); \u003cem\u003eB. paucigranulata\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Devaney, 1974) - UF 18850 (northwestern Atlantic Ocean - Bahamas); \u003cem\u003eB. pica\u003c/em\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, 1842) - UF 19622 (Indo-Pacific - Kiribati), UF 20737 (Indo-Pacific - Hawaii); \u003cem\u003eB. pusilla\u003c/em\u003e (Brock, 1888) - UF 7951 (Indo-Pacific - French Polynesia), UF 14436 (Indo-West Central Pacific Ocean - Papua New Guinea), UF 14694 (Indo-West Central Pacific Ocean - Papua New Guinea), SAMC A088266, SAMC A081592, RMCA 2153 (South Africa).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescriptions.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eZUEC OPH 3639\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eDisc.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e (dd: 3.6 mm): Pentagonal, flat, completely covered dorsally by small, rounded granules (Fig. 2A), 280-295 granules per mm\u0026sup2;. Radial shields covered by granules (Fig. 2A). Circular to oval brown spots, surrounded by fine lines of white granules (Fig. 2A, I). Region of radial shields covered by white granules (Fig. 2A, I). Granules extending ventrally to median region of ventral interradius (Fig. 2C, E). Row of cone-shaped genital papillae in genital slits, close to oral shields (Fig. 2B, E).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eMouth.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e Oral shield oval, 1.25 times as long as wide (Fig. 2C - E). Adoral shield triangular, not contiguous, laterally to oral shields, 1.5 times as wide as long (Fig. 2C - E). At each half-jaw a sequence of five oral papillae: Lyman\u0026rsquo;s ossicle elongated, partially covered by square adoral shield spine; square-shaped secondary adoral shield spine; oval infradental papilla; at ventralmost portion of dental plate, oval tooth papilla (Fig. 2E).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eArms.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e 5 arms. \u003cu\u003eDorsal arm plate:\u003c/u\u003e entire, fan-shaped with rounded distal edge, straight proximal edge, 1.25 times as wide as long (Fig. 2F, 3A). \u003cu\u003eVentral arm plate:\u003c/u\u003e approximately square with rounded distal edge (Fig. 2H, 3B), plate with straight distal edge, rounded distal-lateral edge with small circular tip, proximal edge V-shaped, concave lateral-medial portion (Fig. 3B). First ventral arm plate square to rectangular (Fig. 2E). \u003cu\u003eTentacle scales:\u003c/u\u003e two, outer scale largest (Fig. 2H). \u003cu\u003eArm spines:\u003c/u\u003e Three to six arm spines, sequence: 3 - 3 - 4 - 5(or 6) - 5(or 6) - 5(or 6) - 5(or 6) - 5 - 5(or 4) - 5(or 4) - 4(or 5) - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4, from 11th arm segment 4 arm spines. Arms spines fragile, hollow, glassy, not smooth with brown dots (Fig. 2F, G, I), dorsalmost arm spine 10 times as long as wide, decreasing in size dorsal-ventrally (Fig. 2I), with perforations throughout (Fig. 3G). Ventralmost arm spines thicker from the first to 7th arm segment (Fig. 2H). \u003cu\u003eLateral arm plate:\u003c/u\u003e General outline: Arched position (wrapped around the arm); ventral portion projecting ventro-proximalwards (Fig. 3C). Outer proximal edge: surface lined by discernible band of different stereom over most of proximal edge, presenting an oblique, elongated spur on ventro-proximal tip (Fig. 3C). Arm spine articulations: four to five, on elevated portion of LAP bordered proximally by ridge, directly adjacent to distal edge of LAP, arranged over entire distal edge, similar in size, equidistant. Dorsal and ventral lobes merged at proximal tips by smooth connection, one lobe clearly larger than the other, parallel, nearly horizontal, sigmoidal fold fully developed (Fig. 3F). Inner side: dominated by more or less continuous ridge, single perforation in ventral-central portion (Fig. 3J). \u003cu\u003eVertebrae.\u003c/u\u003e Zygospondylous articulation. \u003cu\u003eProximal side:\u003c/u\u003e \u0026ldquo;V\u0026rdquo; shaped groove on dorsal portion (Fig. 3D). \u003cu\u003eDistal side:\u003c/u\u003e zygosphene fused with pair of parallel zygocondyles (Fig. 3E). \u003cu\u003eDorsal side:\u003c/u\u003e groove not projecting beyond zygocondyles (Fig. 3H). \u003cu\u003eVentral side:\u003c/u\u003e zygosphene projecting beyond ventral edge of zygocondyles with projecting part shorter than zygocondyles, strong central depression (Fig. 3I).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMZUSP 4252\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eDisc.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e (dd: 5 mm): Pentagonal, flat, covered dorsally by small, rounded granules (Fig. 4A), 195-245 granules per mm\u0026sup2;. Radial shields partially covered by granules (Fig. 4B). Granules extending ventrally to median region of ventral interradius (Fig. 4C, E).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eMouth.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e Oral shield approximately rectangular with rounded edges, as wide as long (Fig. 4C - E). Adoral shield triangular, not contiguous, laterally to oral shields, 1.6 times as wide as long (Fig. 4C - E). At each half-jaw a sequence of five papillae: Lyman\u0026rsquo;s ossicle elongated, partially covered by square adoral shield spine; square-shaped secondary adoral shield spine; oval infradental papilla; at ventralmost portion of dental plate, oval tooth papilla (Fig. 4E).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eArms.\u003c/u\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e 5 arms. \u003cu\u003eDorsal arm plate:\u003c/u\u003e entire, fan-shaped with rounded distal edge, straight proximal edge, 1.2 times as wide as long (Fig. 4F, 5A). \u003cu\u003eVentral arm plate:\u003c/u\u003e approximately square with rounded distal edge (Fig. 4H, 5B), plate with straight distal edge, rounded to straight distal-lateral edge, proximal edge tapered with straight tip, concave lateral-medial portion (Fig. 5B). First ventral arm plate square to rectangular (Figura 4E). \u003cu\u003eTentacle scales:\u003c/u\u003e two, outer scale largest (Fig. 4H). \u003cu\u003eArm spines:\u003c/u\u003e Three to five arm spines, sequence: 3 - 3 - 3(or) - 4 - 4(or 5) - 4(or 5) - 4(or 5) - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4, from 8th arm segment 4 arm spines. Arms spines fragile, hollow, glassy, not smooth (Fig. 4G, H), dorsalmost 15 times as long as wide, decreasing in size dorsal-ventrally, with perforations throughout (Fig. 5G). Ventralmost arm spines thicker from the first to 7th arm segment (Fig. 4H). \u003cu\u003eLateral arm plate:\u003c/u\u003e General outline: Arched position (wrapped around the arm); ventral portion projecting ventro-proximalwards (Fig. 5C). Outer proximal edge: surface lined by discernible band of different stereom over most of proximal edge, presenting oblique, elongated spur on ventro-proximal tip (Fig. 5C). Arm spine articulations: four to five, on elevated portion of LAP bordered proximally by ridge, directly adjacent to the distal edge of LAP, arranged over entire distal edge, similar in size, equidistant. Dorsal and ventral lobes merged at their proximal tips by smooth connection, one lobe clearly larger than the other, parallel, nearly horizontal, sigmoidal fold fully developed (Fig. 5F). Inner side: dominated by more or less continuous ridge, single perforation in ventral-central portion (Fig. 5J). \u003cu\u003eVertebrae:\u003c/u\u003e Zygospondylous articulation. \u003cu\u003eProximal side:\u003c/u\u003e \u0026ldquo;V\u0026rdquo; shaped groove on dorsal portion (Fig. 5D). \u003cu\u003eDistal side:\u003c/u\u003e zygosphene fused with pair of parallel zygocondyles (Fig. 5E). \u003cu\u003eDorsal side:\u003c/u\u003e groove not projecting beyond zygocondyles (Fig. 5H). \u003cu\u003eVentral side:\u003c/u\u003e zygosphene projecting beyond ventral edge of zygocondyles with projecting part shorter than zygocondyles, strong central depression (Fig. 5I).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEcological Notes.\u003c/strong\u003e 0-32 m (Olbers \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2019).\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eIn the Indian Ocean (Pulau We, Sumatra), \u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003ehas been found\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003einhabiting coral reefs, and coral conglomerates, between 2-10 meters (Price \u0026amp; Rowe 1996). The Trindade specimens were found between 16.9 and 21.4 meters depth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistribution.\u003c/strong\u003e Southwestern Atlantic: Trindade Island, Brazil (present record).\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eIndo\u0026ndash;West Pacific: South Africa, from Aliwal Shoal to Kosi Bay; Mozambique; Red Sea; Ambon, Indonesia (type locality); and tropical Indo\u0026ndash;West Central Pacific (Clark 1967; Clark \u0026amp; Rowe 1971;\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003eOlbers \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2019; St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2024g).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMorphological variations.\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp; The Trindade specimen differ slightly in granule density, with the smaller specimen (disc diameter 3.6 mm, ZUEC OPH 3639) bearing about 295 granules per mm\u0026sup2; and the larger (5.0 mm, MZUSP 4252) about 245 granules, possibly reflecting size-related variation or artificial granule loss. Arm spine counts range from up to five (MZUSP 4252) to six (ZUEC OPH 3639). The distal edge of the ventral arm plate is rounded in ZUEC OPH 3639 (Fig. 3B) and straight in MZUSP 4252 (Fig. 5B), these may be associated with size differences. In ZUEC OPH 3639, the radial shields are fully covered by granules (Fig. 2B), whereas in MZUSP 4252 distal portions are exposed (Fig. 4B), likely due to granule loss.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRemarks\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe southwestern Atlantic specimens are readily assignable to the genus \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e by possessing the diagnostic characters provided by St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. (2013): by a non-alternating number of arm spines and low, blunt and uniform in size disc granules. Both specimens conform to the diagnostic features of \u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e as described by Brock (1888), having fragile, hollow, non-smooth arm spines; small granules covering the disc; and small size.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompared to its congeners \u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e differs from \u003cem\u003eB. brevipes\u003c/em\u003e in having fan-shaped dorsal arm plates and more than 250 granules per mm\u0026sup2;, whereas \u003cem\u003eB. brevipes\u003c/em\u003e has oval dorsal arm plates and up to 250 granules per mm\u0026sup2; (Farquhar 1897; St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2013; Olbers \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2019). It differs from \u003cem\u003eB. dentata\u003c/em\u003e in possessing more than 250 granules per mm\u0026sup2; and up to six arm spines, whereas \u003cem\u003eB. dentata\u003c/em\u003e has fewer than 150 granules per mm\u0026sup2; and rarely more than four arm spines (St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2013). From \u003cem\u003eB. doederleini\u003c/em\u003e, it is distinguished by having five arm spines between the 4th and 11th segments and non-annulated arm spines, in contrast to \u003cem\u003eB. doederleini\u003c/em\u003e, which has five arm spines between the 6th and 10th segments and annulated arm spines (St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2013). It differs from \u003cem\u003eB. krohi\u003c/em\u003e by lacking annulation of arm spines and having a granule density above 250 per mm\u0026sup2;, whereas \u003cem\u003eB. krohi\u003c/em\u003e has weakly annulated arm spines and fewer than 200 granules per mm\u0026sup2; (St\u0026ouml;hr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2013). Compared to \u003cem\u003eB. longispina\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eB. pusilla\u003c/em\u003e has the outer tentacle scale largest and four arm spines from the 11th segment onward, while \u003cem\u003eB. longispina\u003c/em\u003e has two tentacle scales of about equal length and four arm spines up to segment 18th (Devaney 1970). It is separated from \u003cem\u003eB. paucigranulata\u003c/em\u003e by having radial shields fully covered by granules, whereas in \u003cem\u003eB. paucigranulata\u003c/em\u003e the radial shields are partially exposed (Devaney 1974). From \u003cem\u003eB. pica\u003c/em\u003e, it differs in having only four distal arm spines and a consistently smaller inner tentacle scale along the arm, whereas \u003cem\u003eB. pica\u003c/em\u003e has five arm spines proximally and four to five distally, with the inner tentacle scale only slightly smaller basally (Devaney 1970; Olbers \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2019). Finally, it can be distinguished from \u003cem\u003eB. securis\u003c/em\u003e by having fan-shaped dorsal arm plates, up to six arm spines, and non-annulated arm spines, whereas \u003cem\u003eB. securis\u003c/em\u003e has elliptical dorsal arm plates, up to four arm spines, and annulated arm spines (Chang \u0026amp; Shih 2025).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey to \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003especies\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Radial shields and disc fully covered by granules\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;.\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;...\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..2\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003eDistal portion of radial shields exposed and disc with visible scales\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB. paucigranulata\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e(Devaney, 1974)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Arm spines solid and smooth \u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;.\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;...\u0026hellip;...3\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus;Arm spines hollow, fragile and non-smooth\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB. Pusilla\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e(Brock, 1888)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Dorsal arm plates fan-shaped in outline \u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;.4\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus; Dorsal arm plates elliptical or oval in outline.\u0026hellip;...\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;5\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Tentacle scales: about equal length\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;.\u0026hellip;....\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB. longispina\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e(H.L. Clark, 1917)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus; \u0026nbsp;Tentacle scales: inner smaller proximally...\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;.\u0026hellip;\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB. Pica\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e(M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, 1842)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Arm spines annulated \u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;...\u0026hellip;.....\u0026hellip;6\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003eArm spines non-annulated, with a solid color or a pattern other than annulated\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;.\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;7\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. More than 200 granules per mm\u0026sup2; on disc\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;8\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus; Less than 150 granules per mm\u0026sup2; on disc\u0026hellip;.... \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB. krohi\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails\u0026id=1214747\"\u003e(S\u003c/a\u003et\u0026ouml;hr, Boissin \u0026amp; Hoareau, 2013)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Dorsal arm plate oval, 4 to 5 arm spines, up to 250 granules per mm\u0026sup2; on disc\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB.brevipes\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e(Peters, 1851)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus; Dorsal arm plate elliptical in outline, rarely 5 arm spines, less than 150 granules per mm\u0026sup2; on disc\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;.\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB.dentata\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e (M\u0026uuml;ller \u0026amp; Troschel, 1842)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. 4 arm spines at proximal arm segments.\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB. securis\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e Chang \u0026amp; Shih 2025\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e5 arm spines at proximal arm segments......\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;..\u0026hellip;\u0026hellip;\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eB. doederleini\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e (de Loriol, 1899)\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe genus\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;Breviturma\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003eis predominantly Indo-West Pacific, with \u003cem\u003eB. paucigranulata\u003c/em\u003e as the only previously known Atlantic (northwest) species (Devaney 1974; Hendler \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 1995; Laguarda-Figueras \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2009). The occurrence of \u003cem\u003eB. pusilla\u003c/em\u003e in Trindade Island represents the first record of the species in the southwestern Atlantic, extending the known range of the genus. This species, described from Ambom, Indonesia, is otherwise known from the coast of South Africa from Aliwal Shoal to Kosi Bay, Mozambique, the Red Sea, and the tropical Indo-West CentralPacific (Clark 1967; Clark \u0026amp; Rowe 1971;Olbers \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2019; Stöhr \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2025g). Its presence in Trindade adds to the list of shallow-water Indo-Pacific taxa occurring naturally on Brazilian oceanic islands, including the echinoid \u003cem\u003ePseudoboletia maculata\u003c/em\u003e Troschel, 1869 (Martins \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2016); the alpheid shrimps \u003cem\u003eAlpheopsis aequalis\u003c/em\u003e Coutière, 1897 s.l., \u003cem\u003eAlpheopsis chalciope\u003c/em\u003e de Man, 1910 s.l., \u003cem\u003eAlpheus crockeri\u003c/em\u003e (Armstrong, 1941), \u003cem\u003eAlpheus paracrinitus\u003c/em\u003e Miers, 1881 s.l., \u003cem\u003eAutomate dolichognatha\u003c/em\u003e de Man, 1888 s.l., \u003cem\u003eMetalpheus rostratipes\u003c/em\u003e (Pocock, 1890) (Anker \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2016); the brachyuran crab \u003cem\u003eCyclograpsus integer\u003c/em\u003e H. Milne Edwards, 1837; and the flyingfish \u003cem\u003eHirundichthys affinis\u003c/em\u003e (Günther, 1866) (Pinheiro \u003cem\u003eet al\u003c/em\u003e. 2015).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrong evidence shows that the Trindade shallow-water fauna is more closely related to the western Atlantic fauna, yet it contains eastern Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and Indo-West Pacific elements. The present record of \u003cem\u003eB. pusilla\u003c/em\u003e from Trindade fits into the Indo-Pacific component of the island’s fauna. Future research may reveal that the amphi-American, amphi-Atlantic, and Indo-West Pacific faunal components actually comprise more than one species currently regarded as having much broader geographic distributions.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionList\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eDD\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edisc diameter\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"DefinitionListEntry\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Term\"\u003eLAP\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"Description\"\u003e\u003cp\u003elateral arm plate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe thank Dr. Jennifer M. Olbers for kindly sending us images of specimens of \u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003efrom South Africa, and Dr. Sabine Stöhr for the conversation related to genus identification. We also thank the access to equipment and assistance provided by the Electron Microscope Laboratory (LME/UNICAMP).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCecília de J. S. Damiano – conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review, and editing. Luciana Martins – conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing – review and editing, funding acquisition, and supervision. Joel Braga de Mendonça Junior - funding acquisition. Marcos Tavares – writing – review, editing, and funding acquisition. Michela Borges – conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing – review and editing, funding acquisition, and supervision.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinancial support\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study was funded by CAPES, (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil) – Finance Code 001. This work was also supported by the BIOTA-Collections Project (Process nº 2018/10313-0), in part, by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil (Process nº 2021/06442-1 to LM) and the ProTrindade Project (Process nº 443278/2019-9). We thank the Brazilian Navy (1st District) and SECIRIM (Interministerial Secretariat for Marine Resources) for all the support provided in Trindade and Martin Vaz. This is contribution number 18 of the ProTrindade Marine Invertebrates Project.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare none.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical standards\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study was registered at the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge–SisGen SisGen (Sistema Nacional de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético e do Conhecimento Tradicional Associado), according to Brazilian legislation Law number 13.123/2015 and Decree 8772/2016. The approval ID for this study was ACDD39A.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlitto RAS, Bueno ML, Guilherme PDB, Di Domenico M, Christensen AB, Borges M (2018) Shallow-water brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Ara\u0026ccedil;\u0026aacute; Bay (Southeastern Brazil), with spatial distribution considerations. 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Zootaxa 5146(1):1\u0026ndash;129. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5146.1.1\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.11646/zootaxa.5146.1.1\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThuy B, St\u0026ouml;hr S (2016) A new morphological phylogeny of the Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) accords with molecular evidence and renders microfossils accessible for cladistics. PLoS ONE 11:e0156140. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156140\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1371/journal.pone.0156140\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[{"identity":"59279135-3e20-4a61-b743-78ae37aa0595","identifier":"10.13039/501100001807","name":"Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo","awardNumber":"2018/10313-0","order_by":0},{"identity":"8c364833-8f6e-4a32-9625-226ff6aee150","identifier":"10.13039/501100001807","name":"Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo","awardNumber":"2021/06442-1","order_by":1},{"identity":"0b859fa6-3298-4fad-9946-4d8943980249","identifier":"10.13039/501100003593","name":"Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico","awardNumber":"443278/2019-9","order_by":2},{"identity":"8ad60039-4795-4218-9b3a-0740033fbcc3","identifier":"10.13039/501100002322","name":"Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior","awardNumber":"001","order_by":3}],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"State University of Campinas","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Brazil, Trindade Island, Biodiversity, Ophiocomidae, Brittle stars","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7547064/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7547064/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBreviturma pusilla\u003c/em\u003e is redescribed and illustrated based on two specimens collected from the remote oceanic island of Trindade Island (Brazil). The species is distinguished from its congeners primarily by the presence of fragile, hollow and non-smooth arm spines. This constitutes the first record of the genus \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eB. pusilla\u003c/em\u003e from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. A key to the species of \u003cem\u003eBreviturma\u003c/em\u003e is also provided. The present record of \u003cem\u003eB. pusilla\u003c/em\u003e from Trindade is consistent with the Indo-Pacific component of the island\u0026rsquo;s fauna.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"First record of the genus Breviturma (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-24 08:23:38","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7547064/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b63618ac-9eee-4f85-bedc-f6b24abe6dc1","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 24th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":54280622,"name":"Taxonomy"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-09-24T08:23:38+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-24 08:23:38","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7547064","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7547064","identity":"rs-7547064","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}