Opportunistic sightings of manta rays on Brazil's Amazon Coast

Abstract

Little is known about the ecology and distribution of mobulid rays along Brazil's extensive coastline. Here we report opportunistic sightings of manta rays (Mobula cf. birostris) in the Brazilian Amazon estuaries and the Great Amazon Reef System (GARS). These sightings consist of manta ray individuals stranded in tide pools, caught in artisanal fisheries, and footage obtained with a submersible. Future investigations on the spatial, temporal, and environmental drivers of manta rays’ distribution on the northern Brazilian coast and the threats posed by fishing gear are warranted.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Occurrence, distribution and threats to mobulid rays in Brazil: A review and updated database

“…However, misidentifications with the putative new species are plausible. Despite increasingly accepted (Bucair, Francini-Filho, et al, 2021;Bucair, Venables, et al, 2021;Bucair et al, 2023;Hinojosa-Alvarez et al, 2016;Hosegood et al, 2020;Pate & Marshall, 2020;Stewart, Nuttall, et al, 2018;White et al, 2018). Our results highlight the occurrence of the putative new species in the oceanic systems of SPSP and Fernando de Noronha and the AM, NE, E and SE ecoregions.…”

“…Our results highlight the occurrence of the putative new species in the oceanic systems of SPSP and Fernando de Noronha and the AM, NE, E and SE ecoregions. Considering its occurrence in tropical and subtropical environments and in Amazonian estuaries with large salinity fluctuations (Bucair et al, 2023), we suggest that abiotic factors or ecological/environmental barriers are not major limiting factors for its distribution.…”

“…The decreased Amazon River discharge during the dry season changes the plume configuration and leads to a predominance of the oceanic current system. Therefore, the rich continental outflow remains more restricted to the coast and may influence mobulid distribution (Bucair et al, 2023). The occurrence of adult individuals (female and male), as well as the observation of an aborted foetus of M. hypostoma, suggests the AM ecoregion is an important area for this species.…”

“…(as Manta ehrenbergii Müller & Henle, 1841) from Southeast Brazil; Gadig & Sampaio (2002) presented the first record of Mobula mobular (Bonnaterre, 1788) and Mobula tarapacana (Philippi, 1892) in the Brazilian coast; Gadig et al (2003) reported the first occurrence of Mobula thurstoni (Lloyd, 1908) in the Western Atlantic; Casas et al (2006) analysed a pregnant M. thurstoni from Southeast Brazil; Luiz et al (2009) showed that the occurrence of Mobula birostris (Walbaum, 1792) in Southeast Brazil is seasonal, with most individuals sighted during the austral winter; Mendonça et al (2012Mendonça et al ( , 2018Mendonça et al ( , 2020 carried out extensive ecological studies on M. tarapacana in the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSP), also providing the record of pregnant M. thurstoni and M. birostris in the same site; Cintra et al (2015) reported on the occurrence of M. birostris (possibly Mobula cf. birostris) in the North Brazilian coast; Medeiros et al (2015Medeiros et al ( , 2021Medeiros et al ( , 2022 analysed the seasonal occurrence of M. birostris in a Southern Brazil, particularly focusing on breaching behaviour; Domit et al (2017) recorded the interaction between M. birostris and the cetacean Sotalia guianensis; Bucair, Venables, et al (2021); Bucair et al (2022Bucair et al ( , 2023 reported on the occurrence of M. thurstoni and Mobula cf. birostris in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, as well as Mobula cf.…”

“…Initially, it had a supposed distribution restricted to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (Hinojosa-Alvarez et al, 2016;Hosegood et al, 2020;Stevens et al, 2018;Stewart, Nuttall, et al, 2018;White et al, 2018). However, it is currently assumed to occur along the Brazilian coast, from the North (Amazon coast) to Southeastern Brazil (Bucair, Francini-Filho, et al, 2021;Bucair et al, 2023;Medeiros et al, 2021).…”