Elasmobranch fauna of the Curu River estuary, Ceará State, Brazil

Abstract

Estuaries are environments with relevant ecological interactions with surrounding habitat and relatively high  species diversity. There are only few studies citing the occurrence of elasmobranchs on estuaries along Ceara’s coastline.  The goal of the present study was to characterize the elasmobranch fauna of the Curu River estuary. Between September  2004 and December 2007, small-scale fisheries conducted in the estuary were monthly monitored. Six species were  recorded:  Rhizoprionodon porosus (n=4),  Carcharhinus limbatus (n=2),  Dasyatis guttata (n=130),  D. marianae (n=6),  Gymnura micrura (n=8) and  Aetobatus narinari  (fishermen’s account). Based on these results, the number  of elasmobranch species recorded for the Curu River estuary was tripled (from two to six), while the number for overall  State stuaries increased 50% (from six to nine species). Nearly all specimens were neonates. The Curu estuary follows, at  least in part, one of the three criteria defining elasmobranch nursery areas. Confirming this status will depend on further  research.