Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata): four new records for Brazil

The ophiuroids were collected during the Programs "Biodiversidade Bentica Marinha no Estado de Sao Paulo" - BIOTA/FAPESP-Marine Benthos, "Avaliacao do Potencial Sustentavel dos Recursos Vivos da Zona Economica Exclusiva" - REVIZEE/Score South - Benthos and "Utilizacao Racional dos Ecossistemas Costeiros da Regiao Tropical Brasileira: Estado de Sao Paulo" - INTEGRADO/Subproject Benthos. Samples were obtained from the continental shelf and slope off southeast and south Brazil, between 10 and 800 m. Four species of the Ophiuroidea are described and they are new records for Brazil. Two species belong to the family Ophiuridae, and the others belong to Amphluridae and Ophiochitonidae. The family Ophiochitonidae is recorded for the first time in Brazil. Amphiodia trychna (Amphiuridae) was sampled in the inner continental shelf (depth < 50 m). The other three species were collected deeper (between 314 and 808 m).