Caecidae (Gastropoda: Truncatelloidea) Associated with Unconsolidated Carbonate Substrates of the Abrolhos Coral Bank (Bahia State, Brazil)

Abstract

In this study, we present mollusks of the family Caecidae Gray, 1850 collected between 2007 and 2008 from unconsolidated carbonate substrates of the Abrolhos coral bank during the PROABROLHOS Project (Productivity, Sustainability and Use of the Abrolhos Bank Ecosystem). A total of 649 individuals belonging to two genera and six species were collected from nine stations at depths of 15.6 to 22 m in the dry and rainy seasons. The most abundant species were Caecum brasilicum de Folin, 1874 and Caecum floridanum Stimpson, 1851. Caecum circumvolutum de Folin, 1867, Caecum metamorphosicum Lima, Santos & Absalao, 2013, Meioceras cubitatum de Folin, 1868 and Meioceras nitidum (Stimpson 1851) altogether comprised approximately 6.5% of the total number of individuals collected. Among the 14 species previously recorded for the Abrolhos coral reef area, Caecum metamorphosicum is for the first time registered in the area in this study. This calls attention that, overall, there is a need for more researches focused on the carbonate substrate in coral areas, especially on micro specimens.