Jorge Luiz Silva Nunes

Invasion of the Indo-Pacific blenny Omobranchus punctatus (Perciformes: Blenniidae) on the Atlantic Coast of Central and South America

We examined 308 specimens of the Indo-Pacific blenniid Omobranchus punctatus deposited in four museum collections, and analyzed data on their collection locations to assess its invasion on the Atlantic coast of Central and South America. This species occurs in shoreline estuarine and marine habitats in the Indo-West Pacific. Previous sampling and recent records in the Tropical West Atlantic from 1930 to 2004 produced 20 records for: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Brazil. In this work, we provide data on 17 new records for the Gulfs of Venezuela and Paria in Venezuela, as well as four records for Maranhao and Para states in NE Brazil. The temporal pattern of collections (1930 - 2009) and the proximity of most localities to ports and zones of ship traffic indicate that O. punctatus was initially introduced to the Atlantic by ships travelling from India to Trinidad. Within Brazil the introduction is linked to shipping connected to petroleum platforms. In Maranhao and Para the

A case of albinism in Batrachoides surinamensis (Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae) from north-eastern Brazil

This paper reports the occurrence of a specimen of the toadfish Batrachoides surinamensis caught from the Ilha do Maranhao, State of Maranhao, north-eastern Brazil, which exhibited total albinism features.

A dorsal fold in Gymnura micrura (Bloch and Scheneider, 1801) (Chondrichthyes: Gymnuridae)

This paper reports a dorsal fold which is a membranous structure located on the tail of two juvenile butterfly rays, Gymnura micrura (Bloch & Scheneider, 1801), caught through artisanal fishery in the shallow waters of Maranhao State (Brazil).

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

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.

DNA-based identification reveals illegal trade of threatened shark species in a global elasmobranch conservation hotspot

Here, we report trading of endangered shark species in a world hotspot for elasmobranch conservation in Brazil. Data on shark fisheries are scarce in Brazil, although the northern and northeastern regions have the highest indices of shark bycatch. Harvest is made primarily with processed carcasses lacking head and fins, which hampers reliable species identification and law enforcement on illegal catches. We used partial sequences of two mitochondrial genes (COI and/or NADH2) to identify 17 shark species from 427 samples being harvested and marketed on the northern coast of Brazil. Nine species (53%) are listed under some extinction threat category according to Brazilian law and international authorities (IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature; CITES – Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The number increases to 13 (76%) if we also consider the Near Threatened category. Hammerhead sharks are under threat worldwide, and composed 18.7% of samples, with Sphyrna mokarran being the fourth most common species among samples. As illegal trade of threatened shark species is a worldwide conservation problem, molecular identification of processed meat or specimens lacking diagnostic body parts is a highly effective tool for species identification and law enforcement.

Feeding habits of Macrodon ancylodon (Actinopterygii, Sciaenidae) in northeast, Brazil

Se estudiaron los habitos alimenticios de la pescadilla real Macrodon ancylodon basado en 280 muestras en la costa de la provincia de Maranhao, noreste de Brasil. La dieta mostro un predominio de peces, crustaceos y ocasionalmente cefalopodos. Las dietas de los machos y hembras fueron similares y se encontraron diferencias en la proporcion de presas entre los juveniles, subadultos y adultos. Durante la temporada de lluvias las presas fueron mas diversas que en la temporada seca. En la estacion seca M. ancylodon se alimenta mas de Penaeidae (Penaeus sp. y Penaeus schmitti), Callinectes sp. y Engraulidae (Cetengraulis sp.). Se observo un aumento del espectro de alimentos en la temporada de lluvias, con presas de 5 especies de peces (Anchovia clupeoides, Cetengraulis edentulus, Macrodon ancylodon, Mugil curema y Sardinella brasiliensis), 3 especies de crustaceos (Penaeus schmitti, Parapenaeus politus y Callinectes sp.) y 2 cefalopodos (Loligo sp. y Loligo plei). Las diferencias en la ingestion de presas se encontraron durante el ano, en la estacion de lluvia, donde los individuos de esta especie presentaron mayores contenidos estomacales. El canibalismo se encontro con mayor intensidad para los peces maduros.

Analysis of the supply chain and conservation status of sharks (Elasmobranchii: Superorder Selachimorpha) based on fisher knowledge

Increasing fishing effort has caused declines in shark populations worldwide. Understanding biological and ecological characteristics of sharks is essential to effectively implement management measures, but to fully understand drivers of fishing pressure social factors must be considered through multidisciplinary and integrated approaches. The present study aimed to use fisher and trader knowledge to describe the shark catch and product supply chain in Northeastern Brazil, and evaluate perceptions regarding the regional conservation status of shark species. Non-systematic observations and structured individual interviews were conducted with experienced fishers and traders. The demand and economic value of shark fins has reportedly decreased over the last 10 years while the shark meat trade has increased slightly, including a small increase in the average price per kilogram of meat. Several threatened shark species were reportedly often captured off shore and traded at local markets. This reported and observed harvest breaches current Brazilian environmental laws. Fishing communities are aware of population declines of several shark species, but rarely take action to avoid capture of sharks. The continuing capture of sharks is mainly due to a lack of knowledge of environmental laws, lack of enforcement by responsible authorities, and difficulties encountered by fishers in finding alternative income streams. National and regional conservation measures are immediately required to reduce overfishing on shark populations in Northeastern Brazil. Social and economic improvements for poor fishing communities must also be implemented to achieve sustainable fisheries.

Human envenomations caused by Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis) in urban beaches of São Luis City, Maranhão State, Northeast Coast of Brazil

INTRODUCTION: The clinical and epidemiological aspects associated with Portuguese man-of-war envenomation were investigated and characterized. METHODS: Data from recorded envenomation events between 2005 and 2013 were provided by the GBMar (Group of Firemen Maritime of Maranhão State) and SEMUSC (Municipal Secretary of Security with Citizenship). RESULTS: Most victims were children, and clinical manifestations included intense pain, edema, erythema, and rare systemic manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: The envenomation events were predictable and based on patterns involving multiple factors (environmental and/or human behavior); however, the initially applied measures did not match the current recommendations of the Health Ministry of Brazil.

Pisces, Gobiiformes, Gobiidae, Ctenogobius boleosoma (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882): first record for Maranhão state, northeastern Brazil

This study presents Ctenogobius boleosoma from the Sao Luis estuarine region, the first record from the state of Maranhao, northeastern Brazil. This species may have gone unrecorded from Maranhao due to the difficulties in collecting gobies by the usual sampling methods, such as gill nets, corking nets, and longlines, even when using nets with an appropriate mesh size.

New records of Macrobrachium Spence Bate, 1868 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) from the northern coast of Brazil

Among the species belonging to the genus Macrobrachium Spence Bate, 1868, M. carcinus (Linnaeus, 1758) and M. olfersii (Wiegmann, 1836) are geographically widespread in the western Atlantic from the Gulf Coast to southern Brazil. We describe the current geographic distribution of M. carcinus and M. olfersii and include records of these species in the state of Maranhão, Brazil.