The heart urchin Homolampas fragilis (A. Agassiz,1869) (Echinoidea: Echinodermata) from the Brazilian Coast

摘要

The echinoid Homolampas fragilis (A. Agassiz, 1869) (Echinodermata) is recorded for the first time in the Brazilian coast from the Continental shelf of the State of Ceara. The specimens were classified based on their distinct morphological characters, including the fragile test, primary tubercles non-crenulated and with deep areoles, absent peripetalous fasciole, without aboral tubercles on the interambulacrum 5, three to four genital pores, and posterior prolongation of the labrum, not reaching the second adjacent labral plate narrow and wedge-shaped, extending to second or third ambulacral plate; only just contacting sternal ambulacral plates. This species usually inhabits tropical waters from the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Florida Strait. Its bathymetry is expanded from 360-3550 to 34-3550 m deep. In the present work, we provide morphological and geographical updates on Homolampas fragilis found in the Brazilian coast.