Taxonomic review of the family Gymnuridae (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatoidei)

• Grant number: 12/02349-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Rodrigues de Carvalho
• Grantee: Marcelo Rodrigues de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Leandro Yokota

Abstract

The family Gymnuridae is represented by marine, demersal and coastal rays. The butterfly-rays occur in three main geographic regions: Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region, Eastern Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean (including Mediterranean). Although these rays are easily distinguished from other batoids, their representatives are very similar morphologically and, at the same time, exhibit considerable intraspecific variation. These factors have led to taxonomic confusion at the generic and specific levels within the family. Currently the family is represented by two genera and 10 to 13 valid species (out of some 25 available nominal species), however the validity of the genus Aetoplatea has been questioned. In general, the species have available only superficial and brief descriptions, and taxonomic uncertainties involving the identification and distinction of these rays are common. There are questionable species, populations that have been treated as the same species but that in reality may represent different taxonomic units, as well as populations considered as distinct taxonomic units that may, in fact, be the same species. This study aims to review taxonomically the family Gymnuridae through multivariate analysis and morphological investigative techniques (morphometry, meristic analysis, and comparative morphology of the skeleton, laterosensory system and muscles), considering specimens from different geographic regions within the supposed distribution of the species. Uncertainty about the taxonomic status of species limits the development of basic research that subsidizes the management and conservation of populations. (AU)

Scientific publications

(16)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DA SILVA, JOAO PAULO C. B.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Morphology and phylogenetic significance of the pectoral articular region in elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 175, n. 3, p. 525-568, NOV 2015. (12/02349-8, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 12/22692-9)

FONTENELLE, JOAO PEDRO; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Systematic revision of the Potamotrygon scobina Garman, 1913 species-complex (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae), with the description of three new freshwater stingray species from Brazil and comments on their distribution and biogeography. Zootaxa, v. 4310, n. 1, p. 1+, AUG 21 2017. (12/02349-8, 12/19479-1, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 11/03952-7)

SOARES, KARLA D. A.; GOMES, ULISSES L.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Taxonomic review of catsharks of the Scyliorhinus haeckelii group, with the description of a new species (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae). Zootaxa, v. 4066, n. 5, p. 501-534, JAN 19 2016. (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 12/09877-0, 14/20316-5)

DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.; WHITE, WILLIAM T.. Narcine baliensis, a new species of electric ray from southeast Asia (Chondrichthyes: Torpediniformes). Zootaxa, v. 4127, n. 1, p. 149-160, JUN 22 2016. (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 12/09877-0)

FONTENELLE, JOAO PEDRO; DA SILVA, JOAO PAULO C. B.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Potamotrygon limai, sp nov., a new species of freshwater stingray from the upper Madeira River system, Amazon basin (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae). Zootaxa, v. 3765, n. 3, p. 249-268, FEB 18 2014. (12/02349-8, 02/06459-0, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 11/03952-7)

CARVALHO, MURILO; BOCKMANN, FLAVIO ALICINO; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO RODRIGUES. Homology of the Fifth Epibranchial and Accessory Elements of the Ceratobranchials among Gnathostomes: Insights from the Development of Ostariophysans. PLoS One, v. 8, n. 4, APR 18 2013. (09/54931-0, 12/02349-8, 12/05391-5, 12/05152-0, 04/09219-6, 12/09877-0)

DA SILVA, JOAO PAULO C. B.; VAZ, DIEGO F. B.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Phylogenetic inferences on the systematics of squaliform sharks based on elasmobranch scapular morphology (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii). ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. 182, n. 3, p. 614-630, MAR 2018. (13/13137-4, 12/02349-8, 12/07712-3, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 12/22692-9)

PETEAN, FLAVIA DE FIGUEIREDO; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Comparative morphology and systematics of the cookiecutter sharks, genus Isistius Gill (1864) (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes: Dalatiidae). PLoS One, v. 13, n. 8, AUG 20 2018. (12/09877-0, 13/09270-0, 12/07668-4, 12/05391-5, 12/02349-8)

DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.; ROSA, RICARDO S.; DE ARAUJO, MARIA LUCIA G.. A new species of Neotropical freshwater stingray (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) from the Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil: the smallest species of Potamotrygon. Zootaxa, v. 4107, n. 4, p. 566-585, MAY 4 2016. (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 12/09877-0)

DA SILVA, JOAO PAULO C. B.; VAZ, DIEGO F. B.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Systematic Implications of the Anterior Pectoral Basals in Squaliform Sharks (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii). Copeia, v. 103, n. 4, p. 874-885, DEC 2015. (13/13137-4, 12/02349-8, 12/07712-3, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 12/22692-9)

JONES, CHRISTIAN M.; HOFFMAYER, ERIC R.; HENDON, JILL M.; QUATTRO, JOSEPH M.; LEWANDOWSKI, JUSTIN; ROBERTS, MARK A.; POULAKIS, GREGG R.; AJEMIAN, MATTHEW J.; DRIGGERS, III, WILLIAM B.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.; et al. Morphological conservation of rays in the genus Rhinoptera (Elasmobranchii, Rhinopteridae) conceals the occurrence of a large batoid, Rhinoptera brasiliensis Muller, in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa, v. 4286, n. 4, p. 499-514, JUL 4 2017. (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 12/09877-0)

DA SILVA, JOAO PAULO C. B.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Systematics and morphology of Potamotrygon orbignyi (Castelnau, 1855) and allied forms (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae). Zootaxa, v. 3982, n. 1, p. 1-82, JUL 8 2015. (12/02349-8, 08/09436-8, 02/06459-0, 05/01299-3, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0)

VIANA, SARAH T. DE F.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.; GOMES, ULISSES L.. Taxonomy and morphology of species of the genus Squalus Linnaeus, 1758 from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes: Squalidae). Zootaxa, v. 4133, n. 1, p. 1-89, JUL 4 2016. (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 12/09877-0)

YOKOTA, LEANDRO; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO RODRIGUES. Taxonomic and morphological revision of butterfly rays of the Gymnura micrura (Bloch & Schneider 1801) species complex, with the description of two new species (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae). Zootaxa, v. 4332, n. 1, p. 1-74, OCT 12 2017. (11/23759-7, 12/02349-8, 12/09620-9, 13/06999-0)

FONTENELLE, JOAO PEDRO; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Systematic Implications of Brain Morphology in Potamotrygonidae (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes). Journal of Morphology, v. 277, n. 2, p. 252-263, FEB 2016. (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 12/09877-0, 10/01240-7)

DA SILVA, JOAO PAULO C. B.; DE CARVALHO, MARCELO R.. Morphology and phylogenetic significance of the pectoral articular region in elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes). ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. 175, n. 3, p. 44-pg., 2015-11-01. (12/02349-8, 12/05391-5, 12/22692-9, 12/09877-0)