Sistemática e Evolução - Comunicações orais

Sea anemones (order Actiniaria) are organisms of the phylum Cnidaria, one of the most biodiverse groups of anthozoans, and they are characterized by being sedentary, solitary marine animals with a polypoid shape. At present, little is known about the actiniarians in the state of São Paulo. Only 14 species of sea anemones have been recorded at the specific level, and 2 at the genus level, representing about 30% of the total number of species known in shallow waters (<25 m depth) along the Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the available data on their distribution are still inconsistent. Many of these species were found associated with rocky areas between Ubatuba and Ilhabela. However, several species that were previously reported in São Paulo are currently being synonymized or invalidated due to incomplete descriptions. This study aims to characterize the species richness from the intertidal zone, distributed in the localities of Ubatuba and São Sebastião in the state of São Paulo. Three specimens of each morphotype will be collected, and their external and internal structures, cnidocysts, will be described, along with the amplification of three mitochondrial markers (12S, 16S, COIII) and two nuclear markers (18S and 28S). According to our preliminary results, 64 specimens were collected and identified, including 10 at the species level, 5 to genus, and one to superfamily. The presence and potential description of five new species (Actinostella, Antholoba, Anthopleura, and cf. Aulactinia), two invasive species, new records for Brazil, and the revalidation of Anthopleura cascaia. This information not only contributes to the knowledge of sea anemone biodiversity but also can be used as a tool to identify species in adjacent states and emphasize the importance of better management and conservation measures in the region.