Deep-sea coral communities are poorly known in the Southwestern Atlantic (SWA), particularly in the equatorial/subequatorial latitudes embraced by the northeastern Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Such knowledge gap has lead to the idea that the latter has low species richness when compared to southern Brazilian regions. Recent studies, however, indicate the northeastern slope as highly suitable for deep-sea coral habitats. Herein, based on recent sampling efforts, we confirm that deep-sea coral richness in that region is higher than previously thought. Trawl surveys carried out in 2011 at the Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande do Norte State, yielded the identification of at least 51 coral species, including 28 octocorals, 16 scleractinians, and seven antipatharians, including five new records for the South Atlantic and 11 new occurrences for the northeastern Brazilian waters. Comprising 29 species, the upper slope communities (102–200 m) showed the highest richness. Species richness between northeastern and southern Brazil is briefly compared, indicating a decrease of species richness southwards. Since most of the studied area is under influence of the same water masses, proximity to the Caribbean fauna may explain the species richness found in the northern Brazilian external shelf and slope. Finally, we suggest that biogeographic units within the Brazilian upper and middle slope are closer to shallow-water provinces than to deep-sea ones.

深海珊瑚群落在西南大西洋（SWA）中鲜为人知，特别是在巴西东北部专属经济区（EEZ）所包围的赤道/赤道纬度地区。这种知识鸿沟导致人们认为，与巴西南部地区相比，后者的物种丰富度较低。但是，最近的研究表明，东北坡非常适合深海珊瑚栖息地。在此，根据最近的采样工作，我们确认该地区的深海珊瑚丰富度高于先前的想象。2011年在北里奥格兰德州的波提瓜盆地进行的拖网调查发现，至少鉴定出51种珊瑚，其中包括28种八爪鱼，16种巩膜藻和7种抗病菌，包括南大西洋的五项新记录和巴西东北部水域的11项新记录。包括29种，上坡群落（102–200 m）显示了最高的丰富度。简要比较了巴西东北部和南部之间的物种丰富度，这表明巴西南部的物种丰富度有所降低。由于大多数研究区域都受到相同水团的影响，因此靠近加勒比海动物区系可以解释在巴西北部外陆架和斜坡发现的物种丰富度。最后，我们建议巴西上坡和中坡内的生物地理单位更靠近浅水省，而不是深海省。简要比较了巴西东北部和南部之间的物种丰富度，这表明巴西南部的物种丰富度有所下降。由于大多数研究区域都受到相同水团的影响，因此靠近加勒比海动物区系可以解释在巴西北部外陆架和斜坡发现的物种丰富度。最后，我们建议巴西上，中坡内的生物地理单位更靠近浅水省，而不是深海省。简要比较了巴西东北部和南部之间的物种丰富度，这表明巴西南部的物种丰富度有所降低。由于大部分研究区域都受到相同水团的影响，因此靠近加勒比海动物区系可以解释在巴西北部外陆架和斜坡发现的物种丰富度。最后，我们建议巴西上，中坡内的生物地理单位更靠近浅水省，而不是深海省。