First record of Heptranchias perlo (Bonnaterre 1788) in Guatemala’s Caribbean Sea

Abstract

Background: This report represents the first record of the sharpnose sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo in Guatemala's Caribbean Sea. Methods: Two H. perlo specimens were captured by artisanal fishermen of the coastal community, El Quetzalito. All specimens were captured with a trammel net, in waters of 200 m depth Results: Both specimens were female with total lengths of 280 and 370 mm. Details regarding the identification and measurement of both specimens are presented. Conclusion: These specimens represent the first record of both species in Guatemalan waters. Also, this report further increases the species' range of distribution in the Caribbean and Central America.

Description and characterization of the artisanal elasmobranch fishery on Guatemala’s Caribbean coast

“…Additionally, landings monitoring in this area has resulted in at least eight new species records for several deep-sea chondrichthyes species in Guatemala´s Caribbean Sea such as: Hexanchus vitulus, Centrophorus spp., Cirrihigaleus spp., Squalus spp., etc. (this study; [20][21][22]). Although deep-sea sharks are not regularly targeted by fishers, they are occasionally caught.…”

Exploring the elusive deep‐sea sharpnose sevengill shark (Heptranchias perlo) in the Adriatic Sea: Novel records, health assessments and conservation implications

“…However, the increased number of records in the last few years underscores the imperative for ongoing monitoring and research to understand population trends and distribution patterns. Despite its ecological importance, the sharpnose sevengill shark lacks commercial value (Hacohen‐Domené et al, 2017) and is discarded as bycatch without reporting. Thus, collaboration between scientists and fishermen is needed to foster open communication and enhance fishery monitoring (Tiralongo et al, 2020).…”

New records and morphometry of the Atlantic sixgill shark Hexanchus vitulus in the Caribbean coast of Guatemala

“…However, these statements are beyond the scope of this paper and should be evaluated for future studies regarding deep-sea elasmobranchs of the Caribbean Sea. Future research related to the biodiversity of elasmobranchs in the Caribbean should include the use of non-lethal techniques, such as baited remote underwater video or environmental DNA analysis at different localities, depths and months (Hacohen-Domené et al, 2017;Daly-Engel et al, 2019), which could be useful to provide some insights about environmental conditions effects on elasmobranch's ecology. Artisanal fishers and deep-sea fisheries could increase in the area for the economic exploitation of sea bottom resources (Daly-Engel et al, 2019).…”