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Genetic evidence for cryptic species in the vulnerable spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela (Rajiformes: Gymnuridae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2022

Anderson Vilasboa Open the ORCID record for Anderson Vilasboa [Opens in a new window] ,
Felipe Lamarca Open the ORCID record for Felipe Lamarca [Opens in a new window] ,
Antônio M. Solé-Cava Open the ORCID record for Antônio M. Solé-Cava [Opens in a new window]  and
Marcelo Vianna Open the ORCID record for Marcelo Vianna [Opens in a new window]
Anderson Vilasboa*
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Laboratório de Genética Pesqueira e da Conservação, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Felipe Lamarca
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Laboratório de Genética Pesqueira e da Conservação, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Department of Marine Biology, Laboratório de Biologia e Tecnologia Pesqueira, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Antônio M. Solé-Cava
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Centro Nacional para a Identificação Molecular do Pescado, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Marcelo Vianna
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Biology, Laboratório de Biologia e Tecnologia Pesqueira, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Rio de Janeiro Marine Aquarium Research Center (IMAM, AquaRio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Anderson Vilasboa, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus 1758) is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) and considered Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean Sea and South-west Atlantic. Despite its status, few studies on the population biology and genetics for the species are available, undermining conservation efforts. In the present study, we evaluated the taxonomic status of Gymnura altavela along both sides of the Atlantic using COI sequences. Our genetic data support the existence of two genetically differentiated G. altavela lineages (West and East Atlantic) and further studies are required to evaluate the hypothesis that these lineages could, in fact, be cryptic species within this endangered batoid's genus.

Keywords

Barcodeconservationcytochrome oxidase IEastern AtlanticElasmobranchMediterraneanWestern Atlantic
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 102 , Issue 5 , August 2022 , pp. 345 - 349
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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