The pelagic copepod fauna of the South Atlantic includes more than 500 free-living copepod species. More than 70 species are apparently restricted to the Atlantic Ocean although some of these represent infrequently recorded species which may be revealed, in the future, to be more widespread.
Typical assemblages of South Atlantic epipelagic copepods, their horizontal distribution, and connection with water masses are given in Bjørnberg (1981); and in the set of subsequent publications (Campaner, 1985; Carola, 1994; De Decker, 1984; Brenning, 1981a, 1981b, 1982, 1983, 1985a, 1985b, 1986, 1987). Nevertheless, many of the species dealt with in this chapter have been recorded so infrequently that we cannot, with certainty, make a statement about their vertical and horizontal distribution and their relationships, if any, with the hydrographic circumstances in the South Atlantic. Although it is commonly thought that the Atlantic is the best studied ocean, it is clear from a review of our knowledge of the pelagic copepod fauna that large areas of the central South Atlantic have not been sampled, or if sampled, not comprehensively reported on. Thus the southern boundaries for many warm and temperate water species are hardly known.
Data on the little-known near bottom South Atlantic copepod fauna may be found mainly in taxonomic publications (Alvarez, 1984; 1985a, b; 1986; Andronov, 1976; 1979; Bjørnberg, 1975; Campaner, 1977, 1978a, b; 1979, 1986). Benthopelagic copepods are poorly known world wide which probably explains the apparent level of endemism in the South Atlantic near-bottom fauna.