Parrotfishes of the genus Scarus in southwestern Atlantic oceanic reef environments: occasional pulse or initial colonization?

• Published in: Marine biodiversity Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 555 - 561
• Main Authors: Mazzei, E. F., Pinheiro, H. T., Morais, R. A., Floeter, S. R., Veras, D. P., Queiroz, L. V., Joyeux, J-C., Ferreira, C. E. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adults; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Archipelagoes; Atolls; Biodiversity; Biogeography; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Coasts; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Islands; Juveniles; Life Sciences; Marine fishes; New records; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Predation; Scandals; Scarus; Seamounts; Short Communication; United States > US; Atlantic Ocean; Vitoria-Trindade seamount chain; Brazilian province; Endemism; Parrotfishes; Oceanic islands; Reef fishes
• ISSN: 1867-1616; 1867-1624
• DOI: 10.1007/s12526-017-0827-8

Two Brazilian endemic parrotfishes of the genus Scarus are recorded for the first time in oceanic reef environments of the Southwestern Atlantic. A few juveniles, and initial and terminal adults of Scarus trispinosus were observed at Rocas Atoll and one adult was recorded at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. Conversely, an established population of Scarus zelindae was found in the middle of the Vitória-Trindade Chain, at the Davis seamount. Since dispersal potential is not a limitation for the pantropical distribution of the genus Scarus , historical and contemporary ecologic features are possibly the main processes driving these unique records in the Southwestern Atlantic. Here, we highlight the potential ecological reasons of such intriguing biogeographic pattern.