Echinodermata Collection from the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi: new research on the Amazonian biodiversity heritage
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46357/bcnaturais.v21i1.1088Keywords:
Amazon coast, Catalogue, Checklist, Marine invertebrates, Mouth of the Amazon, EchinodermsAbstract
Natural history museums play a vital role in biodiversity research and conservation by preserving the natural heritage and documenting historical and current biodiversity. The Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG) is the oldest scientific institution in the Amazon, and one of its main focuses is the maintenance of scientific collections with a strong regional character. This study introduces the first data on echinoderms from the MPEG scientific collection, including valuable information for the northern region of Brazil. In preparing the checklist, a thorough inventory of all echinoderms specimens in the collection was conducted. The taxonomy was reviewed, and specimens were identified at the lowest possible taxonomic level. The survey recorded 281 specimens belonging to five classes, 13 orders, 20 families, 24 genera, and 32 species, with 15 new records for the Amazon. Specimens were recorded from a variety of habitats, ranging from the intertidal zone of sandy beaches to the Great Amazon Reef System. The taxonomic list (including images for each identified species) and ecological information provided on echinoderms are an important base for future research in the Atlantic Amazon, representing the first catalogue in this biome, which is a strategic area for conservation of global marine biodiversity.
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