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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)

Articles published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the research grant:
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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, . (12/02349-8, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 12/22692-9)
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, . (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, . (12/02349-8, 02/06459-0, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 11/03952-7)
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, . (13/13137-4, 12/02349-8, 12/07712-3, 12/05391-5, 12/09877-0, 12/22692-9)
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, . (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, . (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, . (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 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, . (12/05391-5, 12/02349-8, 12/09877-0)
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, . (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., . (12/02349-8, 12/05391-5, 12/22692-9, 12/09877-0)