Levantamento e revisão bibliográfica das espécies de esponjas amazônicas “cauixi”, porifera: no distrito do Zé Açu, município de Parintins – leste do Amazonas

Abstract

Sponges are typically marine animals. The presence of this group in freshwater environments draws the attention of researchers and locals, who are often unaware that the cauixi is an animal. What is generally observed in Amazonian rivers, when the river is in the dry season, is a skeleton composed of calcium carbonate spicules and spongin fibers, a protein extracellular matrix, conspicuous in sponges. This “skeleton” contains gemmules, reproductive structures that ensure the survival of the species. The objective of this study was to identify the species of freshwater sponges present in the region of Bom Socorro do Zé Açú, in the region of Parintins/Am, a municipality located in the eastern region of the state of Amazonas, and to conduct a bibliographic survey on the group, reporting the species most commonly found in Brazil, with a focus on the Amazon. The animals were collected using a knife with a thin, sharp blade; scissors to section parts of the vegetation; machete for cutting tree branches or small trunks submerged on the banks; filter paper (paper towel) and machete. A total of 12 samples were collected during the low-water period on the banks of the Andirá River, in the district of Zé Açú, municipality of Parintins-AM. The animals were found in various substrates, such as submerged branches, roots, trunks and leaves, seeking to represent the variability of habitats where these organisms develop. The specimens were identified using specific keys and articles. Twelve individuals were collected during the low-water period on the banks of the Andirá River, in the district of Zé Açú, municipality of Parintins-AM. The samples of Drulia brownii collected, for the most part, presented a corpuscular, oblong or rounded characteristic, and presented gemmules. They were abundant at the collection site, being easily visualized and collected. Scientific approaches to the group in the northern region of the country are still scarce; this study contributes to expanding knowledge about the group and expanding the geographic distribution of the species.