Distribution of the species of Dipturus Rafinesque (Rajidae, Rajinae, Rajini) off Brazil and first record of the Caribbean skate D. teevani (Bigelow &amp; Schroeder), in the Western South Atlantic

Gomes, Ulisses Leite; Picado, Simone da Silva

doi:10.1590/S0101-81752001000100021

Abstract

The Caribbean skate Dipturus teevani (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951) is recorded for the first time from Brazilian waters. The specimen was collected in the continental slope off Bahia State. With this record, four species of Dipturus Rafinesque, 1810 are known from Brazil: D. chilensis (Guichenot, 1848), D. leptocauda (Kreft & Stehmann, 1975), D. trachyderma (Krefft & Stehmann, 1975) and D. teevani (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951). They are typical inhabitants of deep waters between the outer shelf edge (195-200m) and the slope (more than 500m). Although morphologically conservative, the species of Dipturus can be distinguished from each other by the number of dorsal and nuchal thorns, the number of caudal thorns, dorsal and ventral spinulation and specific total length. An identification key for the species of Dipturus recorded from Brazil is presented.

Rajidae; Dipturus; distribution; Brazil

Distribution of the species of Dipturus Rafinesque (Rajidae, Rajinae, Rajini) off Brazil and first record of the Caribbean skate D. teevani (Bigelow & Schroeder), in the Western South Atlantic

Ulisses Leite Gomes; Simone da Silva Picado

Departamento de Biologia Animal e Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Rua São Francisco Xavier 524,20559-900 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. E-mail: ulisses@uerj.br

ABSTRACT

The Caribbean skate Dipturus teevani (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951) is recorded for the first time from Brazilian waters. The specimen was collected in the continental slope off Bahia State. With this record, four species of Dipturus Rafinesque, 1810 are known from Brazil: D. chilensis (Guichenot, 1848), D. leptocauda (Kreft & Stehmann, 1975), D. trachyderma (Krefft & Stehmann, 1975) and D. teevani (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951). They are typical inhabitants of deep waters between the outer shelf edge (195-200m) and the slope (more than 500m). Although morphologically conservative, the species of Dipturus can be distinguished from each other by the number of dorsal and nuchal thorns, the number of caudal thorns, dorsal and ventral spinulation and specific total length. An identification key for the species of Dipturus recorded from Brazil is presented.

Key words: Rajidae, Dipturus, distribution, Brazil

Full text available only in PDF format.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The authors would like to thank Dr. Carolus Vooren (Fundação Universidade do Rio Grande); Drs. Zilda Lucena and Carlos Lucena (Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia da PUC; Rio Grande do Sul); Dr. José Figueiredo (Museu de Zoologia da USP); Dr. Gustavo Nunan (Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro); and Gustavo Chiaramonte (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia") for the loan of specimens or access to the fish collections under their care. Oceanographer Acácio Tomás (Instituto de Pesca de Santos) and Dr. Rosângela Lessa (Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco), for providing respectively infoimation on two specimens of

D. trachyderma

and on the occurrence of

Dipturus

in Pernambuco. MSc Frieda Marti who translated papers from German articles. Dr. Paulo Brito, Biologist Hugo Santos (Universidade do F.stado do Rio de Janeiro) and Dr. Gustavo Nunan, who kindly reviewed the manuscript and suggested pertinent improvements. Biologist Hugo Santos helped with the map on figure 2.

Recebido em 02.III.2000; aceito em 05.IV.2001.

Bellisio, N.B.; R.B. López & A. Torno. 1979. Peces Marinos Patagonicos. Buenos Aires, Ministerio Economia, Secretaria Estado de Interesses Marítimos, 279p.
Bigelow, H.B. & W.C. Schroeder. 1951. Three new skates and a new chimaerid fish from the Gulf of Mexico. Jour. Wash. Acad. Sei. 41(12):383-392.
______. 1953. Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Mem. Sears Found. Mar. Res. 1:1-558.
______. 1965. A further account of batoid fishes from the western Atlantic. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 132(5):445-477.
Chen, CT. & S.J. Joung. 1989. Fishes of the genus Raja (Rajiformes: Rajidae) from Taiwan. Jour. Taiwan Mus. 42(2):1-12.
Compagno, L.J.V.; D.A. Ebert & M.J. Smale. 1989. Guide to the Sharks and Rays of South Africa. Cape Town, Struik Publ., 160p.
Eschmeyer, W.N.; C.J. Ferraris Jr.; M.D. Hoang & D.J. Long. 1998. Catalog of Fishes, p. 7-958. In: W.N. Eschmeyer (Ed.). Introductory Materials, Species of Fishes, A-L. San Francisco, California Academy Sciences, Vol. 1, 958p.
Krefft, G. 1968. Neue und erstmalig nachgewiesene Knorpelfische aus dem Archibenthal des Südwestatlantiks, einschliesslich einer Diskussion einiger Etmopterus-Arten südlicher Meere. Arch. Fischereiwiss. 19(1):1-42.
Krefft, G. & M.D. Stehmann. 1975. Ergebnisse der Forschungereisen des FSS "Walther Herwig", nach Südamerika. XXXVI. Zwei weitere neue Rochenarten aus dem Sudwestatlantik: Raja (Dipturus) leptocauda und Raja (Dipturus) trachyderma spec. nov. (Chondrichthyes, Batoidei, Rajidae). Arch. Fischereiwiss. 25:77-97.
______. 1987. First Records of Raja (Dipturus) trachyderma Krefft & Stehmann, 1975 from the Southeastern Pacific off Chile, with first Descriptions of its clasper characters and additional skeletal and morphological detais (Pisces, Rajiformes, Rajidae). Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Environ. 22(4):169-188.
Leible, M.D. 1987. Descripción taxonómica de juveniles y adultos de Raja (Dipturus) flavirostris Phillipi, 1892 (Rajiformes, Rajidae) capturados frente a la costa de Chile Central. Gayana 51(1-4):131-176.
______. 1988. Revision de metodos para estudios taxonomicos de rayas (Rajiformes, Rajidae). Gayana Zool. 52(1-2):15-93.
Leible, M. & M. Stehmann. 1987. First records of Raja (Dipturus) trachyderma Krefft & Stehmann, 1975 from the Southeastern Pacific off Chile, with first descriptions of its clasper characters and additional skeletal and morphological details (Pisces, Rajiformes, Rajidae). Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Environ. 22(4):169-188.
Leible, M.D.; J. Carvajal & M. Fuentealba. 1990. Polimorfismo en Raja (Dipturus) flavirostris Phillipi, 1892: analisis morfologica y parasitario. Bol. Soc. Biol. Concepción 61:93-102.
McEachran, J.D. & T. Miyake. 1990. Zoogeographie and Bathymetry of skates (Chondrichthyes, Rajoidei). In: C.H.L. Pratt Jr.; T. Taniuchi & S.H. Gruber (Eds). Elasmobranchs as living resources advances in the biology, ecology, systematics and the status of the fisheries. NOAA Tech. Rep. Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv. 90:285-304.
McEachran, J.D. & K.A. Dunn. 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia(2):271-290.
Menni, R.C. 1973. Rajidae del litoral bonaerense. I. Especies de los generos Raja, Bathyraja y Sympterygia (Chondrichthyes). Physis, Buenos Aires, 32:413-439.
Menni, R.C. & A.E. Gosztonyl. 1977. Nuevas localidades para Raja trachyderma y Lamna nasus (Chondrichthyes, Rajidae y Lamnidae). Neotropica 23(69):65-68.
______. 1982. Benthic and semidemersal fish associations in the Argentine Sea. Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Envir. 17:1-29.
Norman, J.B. 1937. Coast fishes. Part.2. The Patagonian region. Disc. Rep. 16:1-150.
Sadowsky, V. 1973. Relação dos peixes cartilaginosos, p. 483-488. In: Relatório sobre a Segunda pesquisa oceanógrafica e pesqueira do Atlântico Sul entre Torres e Maldonado (lat. 29ºS - 35ºS). Programa Rio Grande do Sul II parte 1. Governo do Rio Grande do Sul, GEDIP, IOUSP, 534p.
Stehmann, M. 1970. Vergleichend morphologische und anatomische Untersuchungen zur Neuordnung der Systematik der nordostatlantischen Rajidae (Chondrichthyes, Batoidei). Arch. Fischereiwiss. 21:73-164.
Stehmann, M. & D.L. Bürkel. 1984. General remarks, explanation of terms and mode of presentation for Hypotremata (Rajiformes), p. 151-152. In: P.J.P. Whitehead; M.L. Bauchot; J.C. Hureau; J. Nielsen & E. Tortonese (Eds). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris, UNESCO, Vol. 1, 683p.
Uyeno, T. & T. Miyake. 1983. Rajidae, p. 73-78. In: T. Uyeno; K. Matsuura & E. Fujii (Eds). Fishes Trawled off Suriname and French Guiana. Tokio, Japan Marine Fishery Resource Center, 519p.
Vooren, CM. 1997. Demersal Elasmobranchs, p. 141-146. In: U. Seelinger; C. Odebrecht & J.P. Castello (Eds). Subtropical convergence environments: the coast and sea in the southwestern Atlantic. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 341p.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
30 Apr 2009
Date of issue
Mar 2001

History

Accepted
05 Apr 2001
Received
02 Mar 2000

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] Bellisio, N.B.; R.B. López & A. Torno. 1979. Peces Marinos Patagonicos. Buenos Aires, Ministerio Economia, Secretaria Estado de Interesses Marítimos, 279p.

[2] Bigelow, H.B. & W.C. Schroeder. 1951. Three new skates and a new chimaerid fish from the Gulf of Mexico. Jour. Wash. Acad. Sei. 41(12):383-392.

[3] ______. 1953. Fishes of the western North Atlantic. Mem. Sears Found. Mar. Res. 1:1-558.

[4] ______. 1965. A further account of batoid fishes from the western Atlantic. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 132(5):445-477.

[5] Chen, CT. & S.J. Joung. 1989. Fishes of the genus Raja (Rajiformes: Rajidae) from Taiwan. Jour. Taiwan Mus. 42(2):1-12.

[6] Compagno, L.J.V.; D.A. Ebert & M.J. Smale. 1989. Guide to the Sharks and Rays of South Africa. Cape Town, Struik Publ., 160p.

[7] Eschmeyer, W.N.; C.J. Ferraris Jr.; M.D. Hoang & D.J. Long. 1998. Catalog of Fishes, p. 7-958. In: W.N. Eschmeyer (Ed.). Introductory Materials, Species of Fishes, A-L. San Francisco, California Academy Sciences, Vol. 1, 958p.

[8] Krefft, G. 1968. Neue und erstmalig nachgewiesene Knorpelfische aus dem Archibenthal des Südwestatlantiks, einschliesslich einer Diskussion einiger Etmopterus-Arten südlicher Meere. Arch. Fischereiwiss. 19(1):1-42.

[9] Krefft, G. & M.D. Stehmann. 1975. Ergebnisse der Forschungereisen des FSS "Walther Herwig", nach Südamerika. XXXVI. Zwei weitere neue Rochenarten aus dem Sudwestatlantik: Raja (Dipturus) leptocauda und Raja (Dipturus) trachyderma spec. nov. (Chondrichthyes, Batoidei, Rajidae). Arch. Fischereiwiss. 25:77-97.

[10] ______. 1987. First Records of Raja (Dipturus) trachyderma Krefft & Stehmann, 1975 from the Southeastern Pacific off Chile, with first Descriptions of its clasper characters and additional skeletal and morphological detais (Pisces, Rajiformes, Rajidae). Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Environ. 22(4):169-188.

[11] Leible, M.D. 1987. Descripción taxonómica de juveniles y adultos de Raja (Dipturus) flavirostris Phillipi, 1892 (Rajiformes, Rajidae) capturados frente a la costa de Chile Central. Gayana 51(1-4):131-176.

[12] ______. 1988. Revision de metodos para estudios taxonomicos de rayas (Rajiformes, Rajidae). Gayana Zool. 52(1-2):15-93.

[13] Leible, M. & M. Stehmann. 1987. First records of Raja (Dipturus) trachyderma Krefft & Stehmann, 1975 from the Southeastern Pacific off Chile, with first descriptions of its clasper characters and additional skeletal and morphological details (Pisces, Rajiformes, Rajidae). Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Environ. 22(4):169-188.

[14] Leible, M.D.; J. Carvajal & M. Fuentealba. 1990. Polimorfismo en Raja (Dipturus) flavirostris Phillipi, 1892: analisis morfologica y parasitario. Bol. Soc. Biol. Concepción 61:93-102.

[15] McEachran, J.D. & T. Miyake. 1990. Zoogeographie and Bathymetry of skates (Chondrichthyes, Rajoidei). In: C.H.L. Pratt Jr.; T. Taniuchi & S.H. Gruber (Eds). Elasmobranchs as living resources advances in the biology, ecology, systematics and the status of the fisheries. NOAA Tech. Rep. Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv. 90:285-304.

[16] McEachran, J.D. & K.A. Dunn. 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia(2):271-290.

[17] Menni, R.C. 1973. Rajidae del litoral bonaerense. I. Especies de los generos Raja, Bathyraja y Sympterygia (Chondrichthyes). Physis, Buenos Aires, 32:413-439.

[18] Menni, R.C. & A.E. Gosztonyl. 1977. Nuevas localidades para Raja trachyderma y Lamna nasus (Chondrichthyes, Rajidae y Lamnidae). Neotropica 23(69):65-68.

[19] ______. 1982. Benthic and semidemersal fish associations in the Argentine Sea. Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Envir. 17:1-29.

[20] Norman, J.B. 1937. Coast fishes. Part.2. The Patagonian region. Disc. Rep. 16:1-150.

[21] Sadowsky, V. 1973. Relação dos peixes cartilaginosos, p. 483-488. In: Relatório sobre a Segunda pesquisa oceanógrafica e pesqueira do Atlântico Sul entre Torres e Maldonado (lat. 29ºS - 35ºS). Programa Rio Grande do Sul II parte 1. Governo do Rio Grande do Sul, GEDIP, IOUSP, 534p.

[22] Stehmann, M. 1970. Vergleichend morphologische und anatomische Untersuchungen zur Neuordnung der Systematik der nordostatlantischen Rajidae (Chondrichthyes, Batoidei). Arch. Fischereiwiss. 21:73-164.

[23] Stehmann, M. & D.L. Bürkel. 1984. General remarks, explanation of terms and mode of presentation for Hypotremata (Rajiformes), p. 151-152. In: P.J.P. Whitehead; M.L. Bauchot; J.C. Hureau; J. Nielsen & E. Tortonese (Eds). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris, UNESCO, Vol. 1, 683p.

[24] Uyeno, T. & T. Miyake. 1983. Rajidae, p. 73-78. In: T. Uyeno; K. Matsuura & E. Fujii (Eds). Fishes Trawled off Suriname and French Guiana. Tokio, Japan Marine Fishery Resource Center, 519p.

[25] Vooren, CM. 1997. Demersal Elasmobranchs, p. 141-146. In: U. Seelinger; C. Odebrecht & J.P. Castello (Eds). Subtropical convergence environments: the coast and sea in the southwestern Atlantic. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 341p.