First records of the Redfin Brotula, Petrotyx sanguineus (Meek & Hildebrand, 1928) (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), in the western South Atlantic

Abstract

The present study reports on the first records of the bythitid Redfin Brotula, Petrotyx sanguineus (Meek & Hildebrand, 1928), in the western South Atlantic, based on 7 specimens (50.8–152.8 mm SL) from 5 localities along the northeastern coast of Brazil: (1) Praia de Maracaípe, Ipojuca and (2) Praia de Tamandaré, Tamandaré, in Pernambuco state; and (3) Praia do Forte, Mata de São João, (4) Praia de Busca Vida, Camaçari, and (5) Barra do Pote, Vera Cruz, in Bahia state. This species was previously known only in the western Central Atlantic, from Bahamas to Trinidad and Tobago, including the Caribbean Sea. In addition to the new distributional information, morphological data are provided based on the specimens examined.