RESEARCH ARTICLE

New record of the non-native bivalve Myoforceps aristatus in SE Brazil

Luiz E. O. Gomes1,2, Lucas B. Correa1 & Angelo F. Bernardino1

1 Base Oceanogr·fica de Aracruz, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Aracruz, Brazil.
2 Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Católica do Salvador. Salvador, Brazil.

Abstract

Myoforceps aristatus (Dillwyn, 1817) (Mytilidae) is an invasive species from the Western Atlantic currently reported from Ceará, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santa Catarina states in Brazil. Recently, specimens of M. aristatus were sampled at abundances of up to 23 individuals per square meter on shallow reefs and exposed rocky shores of the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo states. Myoforceps aristatus occupies all shore levels over rocky and biogenic hard substrates including calcareous reefs, mollusk shells, dead corals and artificial structures. Since its invasion on the Brazilian coast has been discovered only recently, there is a pressing need to understand how M. aristatus occupies available niches and changes the structure and ecology of local intertidal and subtidal assemblages.

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Cite as: Gomes L.E.O., Correa L.B. & Bernardino, A.F. (2014) New record of the non-native bivalve Myoforceps aristatus in SE Brazil. Strombus 21(1–2): 10–14.

Publication date: 31 December 2014.