Mating sanctuary for whitespotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) in Brazilian southeastern waters
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/Keywords:
Autecology, Citizen science, Elasmobranchs, Marine protected areas, Endangered speciesAbstract
This article provides the first records of courtship behavior and a mating event of free-ranging whitespotted
eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) in Brazilian waters. These observations shed light on utilizing the marine
no-take zone surrounding the Anchieta Island State Park as a mating site in the South Atlantic region. Sightings
of the species in shallower areas notably increased throughout summer months (from January to March, 2023
and from January to February, 2024), which aligns with its known reproductive period. Specifically, the mating
event occurred in March 2023, followed by observations of courtship behavior in January 2024. While the
population dynamics and impact of fisheries remain poorly understood, the species is frequently captured by
traditional fishing fleets and traded locally. This reiterates the importance of the local Marine Protected Areas
(MPAs) and underlines the urgency for their expansion, alongside the need for further studies that support
specific management actions.
References
Ajemian, M. J., Powers, S. P. & Murdoch, T. J. T. 2012.
Estimating the potential impacts of large mesopredators
on benthic resources: Integrative assessment of spotted
eagle ray foraging ecology in Bermuda. PLoS ONE,
(7). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040227
Anderson, A. B., Fiuza, T. M. J., Araujo, G. S.,
Canterle, A. M., Canto, L. M. C., Freitas, R. H. A.,
Gadig, O. B. F. & Floeter, S. R. 2021. A safe haven
for potential reproductive aggregations of the critically
endangered Brazilian guitarfish (Pseudobatos horkelii).
Journal of Fish Biology, 99(6), 2030–2034. DOI: https://
doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14880
Angelini, R., Contente, R. F., Rossi-Wongtschowski, C. L.
D. B., Soares, L. S. H., Schaeffer-Novelli, Y., Lopes,
R. M., Mancini, P. L., Coll, M. & Amaral, A. C. Z.
Ecosystem modeling as a framework to convert
a multi-disciplinary research approach into a useful
model for the Araçá Bay (Brazil). Ocean and
Coastal Management, 164, 92–103. DOI: https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.02.007
Araújo, P. R. V., Oddone, M. C., Evêncio‐Neto, J. & Lessa, R.
Reproductive biology of the Whitespotted eagle
ray Aetobatus narinari (Myliobatiformes) captured in
the Coast of Paraíba and Pernambuco, Brazil. Journal
of Fish Biology, 0–1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/
jfb.15026
Araújo, P. R. V., Oddone, M. C. & Velasco, G. 2016.
Reproductive biology of the stingrays, Myliobatis goodei
and Myliobatis ridens (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatidae),
in southern Brazil. Journal of Fish Biology, 89(1),
–1067. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13015
Bassos-Hull, K., Wilkinson, K. A., Hull, P. T.,
Dougherty, D. A., Omori, K. L., Ailloud, L. E.,
Morris, J. J. & Hueter, R. E. 2014. Life history and
seasonal occurrence of the spotted eagle ray,
Aetobatus narinari, in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Environmental Biology of Fishes, 97(9), 1039–1056.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0294-z
Brazil. 2002. Regulamenta artigos da Lei no 9.985, de 18
de julho de 2000. http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/
decreto/2002/d4340.htm
Camhi, M. D., Valenti, S. V., Fordham, S. V., Fowler, S.
L. & Gibson, C. 2009. The Conservation Status of
Pelagic Sharks and Rays: Report of the IUCN Shark
Specialist Pelagic Shark Red List workshop. Oxford,
IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist
Group. Available from: http http://www.iucnssg.org/
uploads/5/4/1/2/54120303/ssg_pelagic_report_final.
pdf. Access date: 2023 may 29.
Compagno, L. J. V. 1990. Alternative life-history styles of
cartilaginous fishes in time and space. Environmental
Biology of Fishes, 28(1–4), 33–75. DOI: https://doi.
org/10.1007/BF00751027
Compagno, L. J. V. 2008. Sharks of the Open Ocean.
In: Camhi, M. D., Pikitch, E. K. & Babcock, E. A.
(Eds.). Sharks of the Open Ocean: Biology, Fisheries
and Conservation. Oxford, Wiley. DOI: https://doi.
org/10.1002/9781444302516
Dudley, N. 2008. Guidelines for Applying Protected Area
Management Categories. Gland, IUCN.
Dulvy, N. K., Pacoureau, N., Rigby, C. L., Pollom, R. A.,
Jabado, R. W., Ebert, D. A., Finucci, B., Pollock, C.
M., Cheok, J., Derrick, D. H., Herman, K. B., Sherman,
C. S., VanderWright, W. J., Lawson, J. M., Walls,
R. H. L., Carlson, J. K., Charvet, P., Bineesh, K. K.,
Mating sanctuary for whitespotted eagle rays
Ocean and Coastal Research 2024, v72:e24084 7
Karlovic et al.
Fernando, D., Ralph, G. M., Matsushiba, J. H., HiltonTaylor, C., Fordham, S. V. & Simpfendorfer, C. A. 2021.
Overfishing drives over one-third of all sharks and
rays toward a global extinction crisis. Current Biology,
(21), 4773-4787.e8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
cub.2021.08.062
Dulvy, N. K., Simpfendorfer, C. A., Davidson, L. N.
K., Fordham, S. V., Bräutigam, A., Sant, G. &
Welch, D. J. 2017. Challenges and Priorities in Shark and
Ray Conservation. Current Biology, 27(11), R565–R572.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.04.038
Euphrasen, A. B. 1790. Raja (narinari). Kongl Vet Acad
Handl, 11, 217–219.
Ferretti, F., Worm, B., Britten, G. L., Heithaus, M. R. &
Lotze, H. K. 2010. Patterns and ecosystem consequences
of shark declines in the ocean. Ecology Letters,
(8), 1055–1071. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-
2010.01489.x
Forestry Foundation. 2020. Plano de Manejo da Área
de Proteção Ambiental Marinha do Litoral Norte.
São Paulo, Forestry Foundation. Available from: https://
www.sigam.ambiente.sp.gov.br/sigam3/Repositorio/511/
Documentos/APAM_LN/APAMLN_Plano_de_manejo_
CTBio.pdf Access date: 2023 oct 16.
Forestry Foundation. 2021. Proposta de Criação Parque
Estadual Marinho Tartaruga-de-Pente. São Paulo,
Forestry Foundation.
Guillaumon, J. R., Marcondes, M. A. P., Negreiros, O. C. de,
Mota, I. S. da, Emmerich, W., Barbosa, A. F., Branco, I.
H. D. C., Camara, J. J. C. da, Ostini, S., Pereira, R. T. L.,
Filho, J. D. S., Shimomichi, P. Y., Silva, D. A. da & Neto,
J. E. de M. 1989. Plano de Manejo do Parque Estadual
Ilha Anchieta. São Paulo, Forestry Foundation.
Hazin, F. H. V., Vaske, T., Oliveira, P. G., Macena, B. C.
L. & Carvalho, F. 2008. Occurrences of whale shark
(Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828) in the Saint Peter and
Saint Paul archipelago, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of
Biology, 68(2), 385–389. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/
S1519-69842008000200021
ICMBio. 2016. Avaliação do risco de extinção dos
elasmobrânquios e quimeras no Brasil: 2010-2012.
Itajaí, ICMBio.
Imoto, R. D., Carneiro, M. H. & Ávila-da-Silva, A. O. 2016.
Spatial patterns of fishing fleets on the Southeastern
Brazilian Bight. Latin American Journal of Aquatic
Research, 44(5), 1005–1018. DOI: https://doi.
org/10.3856/vol44-issue5-fulltext-12
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cambridge, IUCN. https://www.iucnredlist.org.
Accessed: 13 March 2021.
Karlovic, T. C., Gomes, R. R., Paiva, P. C., Babcock,
E. A. & Dias, J. F. 2021. Functionality and Effectiveness
of Marine Protected Areas in Southeastern Brazilian
Waters for Demersal Elasmobranchs. Frontiers in
Marine Science, 8, 1–18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/
fmars.2021.694846
Lessa, R. P., Vooren, C. M. & Lahaye, J. 1986.
Desenvolvimento e ciclo sexual das fêmeas, migrações
e fecundidade da viola, Rhinobatos horkelii ( Müller &
Henle, 1841) do Sul do Brasil. Atlântica, 8, 5–34.
McCallister, M., Mandelman, J., Bonfil, R., Danylchuk, A.,
Sales, M. & Ajemian, M. 2020. First observation of
mating behavior in three species of pelagic myliobatiform
rays in the wild. Environmental Biology of Fishes,
(2), 163–173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-
-00943-x
Motta, F. S., Moura, R. L., Neves, L. M., Souza, G. R. S.,
Gibran, F. Z., Francini, C. L., Shintate, G. I., Rolim,
F. A., Marconi, M., Giglio, V. J. & Pereira-Filho, G. H.
Effects of marine protected areas under different
management regimes in a hot spot of biodiversity
and cumulative impacts from SW Atlantic. Regional
Studies in Marine Science, 47, 101951. DOI: https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101951
Pincinato, R. B. M. & Gasalla, M. A. 2019. Exploring simple
ecological indicators on landings and market trends
in the South Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem.
Fisheries Management and Ecology, 26(3), 200–210.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12340
Rangel, B. S., Rodrigues, A. & Moreira, R. G. 2021. Capture
and handling stress in incidentally captured rays from
small-scale fishing: A physiological approach. Oecologia
Australis, 25(1), 190–196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4257/
OECO.2021.2501.20
Rangel, B. S., Rodrigues, A. & Moreira, R. G. 2018. Use
of a nursery area by cownose rays (Rhinopteridae) in
southeastern Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology, 16(1),
–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20170089
Rodrigues, N. T., de Souza, M. R., Peixer, J. & de Amorim, A. F.
Identification of elasmobranchs in Caraguatatuba
City, São Paulo State (2018-19). Brazilian Journal of
Animal and Environmental Research, 4(1), 452–466.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34188/bjaerv4n1-039
Sales, J. B. L., de Oliveira, C. N., dos Santos, W. C. R.,
Rotundo, M. M., Ferreira, Y., Ready, J., Sampaio, I.,
Oliveira, C., Cruz, V. P., Lara-Mendoza, R. E. & da
Silva Rodrigues-Filho, L. F. 2019. Phylogeography
of eagle rays of the genus Aetobatus: Aetobatus
narinari is restricted to the continental western Atlantic
Ocean. Hydrobiologia, 836, 169–183. DOI: https://doi.
org/10.1007/s10750-019-3949-0
São Paulo. 2008. Decreto nº 53.528, de 8 de outubro de
Mosaico das Ilhas e Áreas Marinhas Protegidas
do Litoral Paulista. São Paulo, Alesp. Available
from: https://www.al.sp.gov.br/repositorio/legislacao/
decreto/2008/decreto-53528-08.10.2008.html. Access
date: 2021 mar 13
São Paulo. 2018. Declara as espécies da fauna silvestre
no Estado de São Paulo regionalmente extintas, as
ameaçadas de extinção, as quase ameaçadas e as com
dados insuficientes para avaliação, e dá providências
correlatas. https://www.al.sp.gov.br/repositorio/legislacao/
decreto/2018/decreto-63853-27.11.2018.html. Accessed:
August 2023.
Schluessel, V., Bennett, M. B. & Collin, S. P. 2010. Diet and
reproduction in the white-spotted eagle ray Aetobatus
narinari from Queensland, Australia and the Penghu
Islands, Taiwan. Marine and Freshwater Research,
(11), 1278–1289. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/
MF09261
SiBBr (Sistema da Informação sobre a Biodiversidade
Brasileira). 2023. Sistema da Informação sobre a
Mating sanctuary for whitespotted eagle rays
Ocean and Coastal Research 2024, v72:e24084 8
Karlovic et al.
Biodiversidade Brasileira (SiBBr). Available from:
https://www.sibbr.gov.br/ Access date: 2023 June 22.
SUDEPE (Superintendência do Desenvolvimento da
Pesca). 1983. Portaria SUDEPE N° N-56, 10 de
Novembro de 1983 (1983). Brazil. Available from: https://
sigam.ambiente.sp.gov.br/sigam3/Repositorio/472/
Documentos/Mural_PlanosdeFiscalizacao/pesca_
costeira/portaria_sudepe_56_1983.pdf Access date:
sep 21.
Tagliafico, A., Rago, N., Rangel, S. & Mendoza, J. 2012.
Exploitation and reproduction of the spotted eagle ray
(Aetobatus narinari) in the Los Frailes Archipelago,
Venezuela. Fishery Bulletin, 110(3), 307–316.
Tricas, T. C. 1980. Courtship and Mating-Related Behaviors
in Myliobatid Rays. Copeia, (3), 553–556. DOI: https://
doi.org/10.2307/1444540
Uchida, S., Toda, M. & Kamei, Y. 1990. Reproduction of
Elasmobranchs in Captivity. In: Pratt Jr, H. L., Gruber,
S. H., & Taniuchi, T. (eds.). Elasmobranchs as Living
Resoucers: Advances in Biology, Ecology, Systematics,
and the Status of the Fisheries (Vol. 90; pp. 211–237).
Washington, DC, NOAA. Available from: http://scholar.
google.com/scholar?hl=en&btnG=Search&q=intitle:Ela
smobranchs+as+Living+Resources+:+Advances+in+th
e+Biology+,+Ecology+,+Systematics+,+and+the+Statu
s+of+the+Fisheries#0 Access date: 2023 nov 7.
Wetherbee, B. M., Gruber, S. H. & Rosa, R. S. 2007.
Movement patterns of juvenile lemon sharks Negaprion
brevirostris within Atol das Rocas, Brazil: A nursery
characterized by tidal extremes. Marine Ecology
Progress Series, 343, 283–293. DOI: https://doi.
org/10.3354/meps06920
Yano, K., Sato, F. & Tomoko, T. 1999. Observations of
mating behavior of the manta ray, Manta birostris, at the
Ogasawara Islands, Japan. Ichthyological Research,
, 289–296.
Yokota, L. & Lessa, R. P. 2006. A nursery area for sharks
and rays in Northeastern Brazil. Environmental Biology
of Fishes, 75(3), 349–360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/
s10641-006-0038-9
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Ocean and Coastal Research is an open-access journal available through SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online).
Ocean and Coastal Research journal title abbreviation is Ocean Coast. Res. and should be used in footnotes, references, and bibliographic entries.
All Ocean and Coastal Research scientific articles are freely available without charge to the user or institution. In accordance with the BOAI definition of open access, all contents are available to readers free of charge. Users may read, download, copy, and link to the full texts of the articles. They may be used for any lawful purpose without prior authorization from the publisher or the author, as long as proper credit is given to the original publication.
All Ocean and Coastal Research published scientific articles receive an individual Digital Object Identifier (DOI) persistent digital document identification.
All the content of the journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons License type BY. Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions.
More information on intellectual property can be found here and on Scielo's Open Acess Statement.
Ocean and Coastal Research is listed in Publons and reviewers and editors can add their verified peer review and editing history to their Publons profile.
Ocean and Coastal Research is indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and complies with principles of transparency and best practice for scholarly publications.
Ocean and Coastal Research is committed to the best standards in open-access publishing by adopting ethical and quality standards throughout the publishing process - from initial manuscript submission to the final article publication. This ensures authors that their work will have visibility, accessibility, reputation, usage, and impact in a sustainable model of scholarly publishing.
