Near‐term embryos in a Pristis pristis (Elasmobranchii: Pristidae) from Brazil

Abstract

This paper describes the record of a gravid Pristis pristis from the north coast of Maranhão State (Brazil) in May of 2009 by an artisanal vessel. Size, mass and rostrum length of the adult female were estimated at 5000 mm, 750000 g and 1536 mm, respectively. Total length (LT ) of miscarried embryos ranged from 755 to 800 mm and total mass from 890 to 1120 g. Although this is a single record, it indicates that P. pristis births may be taking place during May or coming months and there may be population differences between Central and South America.

First description of the embryos of the stingray Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae), a species at risk of extinction

“…The number of studies describing embryos in elasmobranchs has been growing (e.g. Nunes, Rincon, Piorski, & Martins, 2016). Morphometric data are important because they are useful to refine growth equations (Liu, Chin, Chen, & Chang, 2015), improves fishery management actions (Alkusairy et al, 2014) and helps identifying congenital malformations (Narváez & Osaer, 2016).…”

Life history of the Critically Endangered largetooth sawfish: a compilation of data for population assessment and demographic modelling

“…Estimates of size-at-birth are broadly similar between the Western Atlantic: 76 cm TL (Astorqui 1967) or 73−80 cm TL (Thorson 1976) and the Indo-West Pacific: 72−90 cm TL (Peverell 2009). From the Western Atlantic, near-term embryos have been reported at ~76 cm TL (Astorqui 1967) and 75.5−80 cm TL (Nunes et al 2016). In the Indo-West Pacific, the smallest sizes (free-living individuals) reported include 76.5 cm TL (Australian museum records; Pogonoski et al 2002), 77.8 cm TL (Sepik River, Papua New Guinea; Taniuchi et al 1991), 78.9 cm TL (Betsiboka River, Madagascar; Taniuchi et al 2003), 81.5 cm TL (Fitzroy River, Australia; Thorburn et al 2004Thorburn et al , 2007, 83 cm TL (Laloki River system, Papua New Guinea; Berra et al 1975), and 87 cm TL (central Sumatra; Tan and Lim 1998).…”

New Record of a Largetooth Sawfish Specimen from the Amazon River Estuary in Northern Brazil

“…Two sawfish species-Largetooth Sawfish and Smalltooth Sawfish Pristis pectinata-inhabit the coastal waters of Brazil (Thorson 1974;Faria et al 2013;Nunes et al 2016). A total of 141 reports are currently listed in the International Sawfish Encounter Database, with the most recent record being the aforementioned female Largetooth Sawfish from Maranhão.…”

“…Sawfishes have been caught accidentally or targeted actively in Brazil for decades, but the introduction of modern fishing practices and equipment has greatly accelerated the decline in their populations (Reis-Filho et al 2016). The large fins, rostra, and teeth yield high profits on foreign markets, and the meat is sold and consumed locally (Melo Palmeira et al 2013;Dulvy et al 2014;Nunes et al 2016) or even discarded at sea.…”