Preliminary age and growth of the deep-water goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni (Jordan, 1898)

Author(s)

Caltabellotta, Fabio P. ^{[1, 2]} ; Siders, Zachary A. ^[2] ; Cailliet, Gregor ^[3] ; Motta, Fabio S. ^[4] ; Gadig, Otto B. F. ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Oregon State Univ, Coastal Oregon Marine Expt Stn, 2030 SE Marine Sci Dr, Newport, OR 97365 - USA

^[2] Univ Florida, Sch Forest Resources & Conservat, Fisheries & Aquat Sci Program, 118 Newins Ziegler Hall, POB 110410, Gainesville, FL 32611 - USA

^[3] Moss Landing Marine Labs, Pacific Shark Res Ctr, 8272 Moss Landing Rd, Moss Landing, CA 95039 - USA

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Marine Ecol & Conservat Lab, Rua Dr Carvalho de Mendonca 144, BR-11070100 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[5] Sao Paulo State Univ, Biosci Inst, Elasmobranch Lab, Praca Infante Dom Henrique S-N, Parque Bitaru, BR-11380972 Sao Vicente, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH; v. 72, n. 3 AUG 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Owing to poorly mineralising structures, ageing deep-water elasmobranchs requires unconventional techniques. The aim of the present study was to develop an ageing method for the goblin sharkMitsukurina owstoni(Jordan, 1898) using Alcian blue staining of the vertebral column. One vertebral centrum from a male individual measuring 315.2-cm total length (TL) was aged with a minimum age of 27 years. Using a Bayesian von Bertalanffy growth model informed by back-calculated length at age, a literature search of maximum male TL, the TL of the smallest free-swimming individuals and informative priors, we estimated males grow to 374 cm TL, mature at 16 years and live up to 60 years. Our results provide useful life history information, with the aim of elucidating the cryptic biology of this deep-water shark. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/02397-7 - Population dynamics of the guitarfishes Rhinobatos horkelli, Rhinobatos percellens and Zapteryx brevirostris (Chondrichthyes, Rhinobatidae)of the Sao Paulo Continental Shelf, Brazil
• Grantee: Fabio Prior Caltabellotta
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate