Inferência de padrões de distribuição da família Veneridae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) no Brasil através de base secundária de dados

Abstract

Veneridae is one of the largest families of Recent, also one of the most diverse within Bivalvia, being found in marine and estuarine environments. Biogeographic studies are important for the management and conservation of the biodiversity. This paper aims at inferring the latitudinal and longitudinal distribution patterns, gathering and listing Vene-ridae composition for the Brazilian coast through secondary database. The composition and geographical distribution were determined through literature, as well as access to online databases, and classified as current distribution patterns (latitudinal and longitudi-nal). According to the collected data, there are 40 species of the family recorded in Brazil; there were similarities among Brazil, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Veneridae species was classified into eight latitudinal and five longitudinal patterns. This work points to a probable family distribution and highlights the need for better understanding of the malacofauna in the country.