Rays

This paper contains a collection of 1099 citations (685 articles and 414 conference abstracts) on topics related to extant and extinct Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) as well as a list of Chondrichthyan species and hosted parasites newly described in 2014. The list is the result of regular queries in numerous journals, books and online publications. It provides a complete list of publication citations as well as a database report containing rearranged subsets of the list sorted by the keyword statistics, extant and extinct genera and species descriptions from the years 2000 to 2014, list of descriptions of extinxt and extant species from 2014, parasitology, reproduction, distribution, diet, conservation, and taxonomy. The paper is intended to be consulted for information.

This paper contains a collection of 722 citations (no conference abstracts) on topics related to extant and extinct Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) as well as a list of Chondrichthyan species and hosted parasites newly described in 2018. The list is the result of regular queries in numerous journals, books and online publications. It provides a complete list of publication citations as well as a database report containing rearranged subsets of the list sorted by the keyword statistics, extant and extinct genera and species descriptions from the years 2000 to 2018, list of descriptions of extinct and extant species from 2018, parasitology, reproduction, distribution, diet, conservation, and taxonomy. The paper is intended to be consulted for information. In addition, we provide data information on the geographic and depth distribution of newly described species, i.e. the type specimens from the years 1990 to 2018 in a hot spot analysis. The subheader "biodiversity" comprising a complete list of all valid chimaeriform, selachian and batoid species, as well as a list of the top 20 most researched chondrichthyan species. Please note that the content of this paper has been compiled to the best of our abilities based on current knowledge and practice, however, possible errors cannot entirely be excluded.

Diversity and biogeographic affinities of sharks, rays and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii, Holocephali) of Mexico. The diversity of chondrychthyans in Mexico is described. The fauna is composed by 214 species (111 sharks, 95 rays and 8 chimaeras) and represents 17.3 % of the total number of species recorded worldwide. The families with the highest diversity comprise: Rajidae (14.5 %), Carcharhinidae (12.1 %), Pentanchidae, Triakidae, and Urotrygonidae (5.1 %). In terms of geographical distribution, the diversity on the Mexican Pacific slope reaches up to 56.1 % of those species inhabiting Mexican marine and brackish waters (120 species, 62 genera, 37 families and 14 orders); the diversity in the Atlantic slope resulted similar to that on the Mexican Pacific with 55.1 % of the species (118 species, 59 genera, 35 families and 13 orders). The biogeographical affinities of the Mexican chondrychthyan fauna are complex with 19.7 % of the species being circumglobal, 9.9 % transatlantic, 1.9 % transpacific, and 9.4 % endemic to the exclusive economic zone. Additionally, 36.6 % of the species recorded so far are endemic to the Eastern Pacific coast where the species are similar to those found in the Cortez biogeographic province (27.7 %), followed by the Californian (20.7 %), Panamanian (19.3 %), Galapagos (5.6 %) and Peruvian-Chilean (8.9 %). Likewise, 33.3 % are endemic of the Atlantic coast, where species are similar to those found in the Caribbean province (31.9 %), followed by the Carolinean (24.4 %) and the Brazilian (6.6 %). Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (4): 1469-1486. Epub 2016 December 01.

This paper contains a collection of 786 citations (no conference abstracts) on topics related to extant and extinct Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) as well as a list of Chondrichthyan species and hosted parasites newly described in 2015. The list is the result of regular queries in numerous journals, books and online publications. It provides a complete list of publication citations as well as a database report containing rearranged subsets of the list sorted by the keyword statistics, extant and extinct genera and species descriptions from the years 2000 to 2015, list of descriptions of extinct and extant species from 2015, parasitology, reproduction, distribution, diet, conservation, and taxonomy. The paper is intended to be consulted for information. In addition, we provide information on the geographic and depth distribution of newly described species, i.e. the type specimens from the year 1990- 2015 in a hot spot analysis.

This collection is the result of research in numerous journals, books and online publications. It contains 721 citations of papers about living/fossil sharks, rays and chimaeras (Chondrichtyes: Elasmobranchii, Holocephali) and a list of 2013 new described species and parasites of elasmobranchs.

Almost all Rajiformes are viviparous without placentas, and their embryos are nourished by yolk sacks accompanied in
some cases by uterine milk. However, there are few studies of biological aspects of the species in this group in Colombia.
This study aimed to analyze some reproductive aspects of Narcine bancroftii (Griffith y Smith, 1834), Diplobatis guamachensis
Martin, 1957, and Rhinobatos percellens (Walbaum, 1792), captured as bycatch of the shrimp trawling fishery in
two zones (north and south) of the Colombian Caribbean during the second semester of 2004. Samples were caught from
the same fleet’s fishing tasks, and corresponded to one-fifth of the homogenized discard, taken randomly from one of the
four nets in the ship. Individuals of the three species were brought to the laboratory for further morphometry measurements,
taxonomic identification and determination of the maturity state. The maturity state differentiation was based on claspers
development and sperm presence for males, and in the size and development of the ovaries, eggs, and embryos for females.
Females of N. bancroftii showed immaturity and spawned states, while the males were mature. The individuals of D.
guamachensis were represented by maturity females with embryos, and maturity males, whereas those of R. percellens were
characterized as maturity females with embryos and spawned states, and maturity males. The presence of uterine milk in
individuals of N. bancroftii, and embryos in D. guamachensis were the first known reports in the literature for this country.

A rich assemblage of elasmobranch teeth of Early Miocene age (Ottnangian, Upper Marine Molasse) is described from the Heigelsberger Ditch near Teisendorf (Upper Bavaria, Germany). The fauna includes 13 shark and 4 batoid species, including Centrophorus cf. granulosus, Isistius triangulus, Squalus sp., Pristiophorus suevicus, Squatina sp., Mitsukurina lineata, Alopias exigua, Carcharhinus priscus, Hemipristis serra, Chaenogaleus affinis, Iago angustidens, Premontreia sp., Carcharias acutissimus, Raja sp., Dasyatis rugosa, Dasyatis probsti, and Myliobatis sp., which are reported for the first time from the Upper Bavarian part of the Subalpine Molasse Basin.

Per rintracciare notizie certe sulla pesca del tonno nella Calabria jonica è dunque necessario fare un salto indietro fino alla prima metà del Settecento, proprio nei pressi del promontorio poco distante da quello in cui sorge la chiesetta della Madonna di Porto Salvo (e quindi nei pressi tempio di Capo Colonna); queste due propaggini creano un’insenatura protetta in qualche modo dai venti e dalle correnti marine, in cui venne con caparbietà intrapresa questa attività di pesca, costruendovi un grande magazzino di tonnara, i cui resti, ancora oggi visibili,
risultano già segnalati come “vecchi” nella carta del Rizzi-Zannoni, redatta a metà dell’Ottocento, con il toponimo «Magazzini della vecchia Tonnara». Per sovraintendere l’audace tentativo di pesca del tonno in quella parte jonica della Calabria vennero assoldati Rajs e marinai di Pizzo, Parghelia e Tropea, centri della Calabria tirrenica, noti per la loro esperienza nel gestire efficacemente ogni fase di quella specialissima attività. Una interessante «migrazione di esperta manovalanza interna» alla regione, nel settore della pesca, che si distingueva da quella più frequente e ben documentata di Rajs e tonnaroti migranti dalle
coste siciliane verso l’area tirrenica calabrese.

This is the first version of an “Host - Parasites List” of cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichtyes: Elasmobranchii, Holocephali). This first edition records more than 1.500 different species of parasites recovered from more than 400 species of sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras. All information about the parasites are also available at http://shark-references.com/index.php/species/listValidRecent/A
(weekly update).

34 patients with locally advanced (T4) or recurrent rectal cancer have been treated with: 1. external beam radiotherapy (45-48 Gy) + 5FU(1000 mg/m2/daily iv continuous infusion day 1-4) + MMC (10 mg/m2/daily iv, day 1); 2. surgical resection (if feasible) + IORT (10-15 Gy); 3. adjuvant chemotherapy (5FU+leucovorin, 6-8 cycles). Grade 3 acute hematological toxicity was observed in 1 case only. 23 of 34 patients underwent radical surgery. Perioperative mortality and morbidity was 0% and 17% respectively. In the 23 operated patients with a mean follow-up of 18.6 months there were 2 local recurrences, 5 blood metastases, (1 death of disease). 16 patients were shown to be NED (3-36 months).

This is the first version of an “Host - Parasites List” of cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichtyes: Elasmobranchii, Holocephali). This first edition records more than 1.500 different species of parasites recovered from more than 400 species of sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras. All information about the parasites are also available at http://shark-references.com/index.php/species/listValidRecent/A (weekly update).

The longnose stingray (Dasyatis guttata) is a target species in the artisanal fisheries of the Southern Gulf of Venezuela. Despite its economic importance nowadays, studies about its status are lacking. During six continuous months (18 working days in total), we followed the artisanal fishery activities from Zapara Island and evaluated morphometric characteristics, sex ratio, and the capture per unit effort (CPUE/individuals/1000 hooks) of D. guttata. Biological sampling included: disc widths (AD), body mass total (PT), and sex. Using statistical analysis we assessed: a) the length-weight relationships by sex; b) monthly body condition, using the Fulton Index (K); and c) the CPUE. We evaluated 210 individuals of D. guttata. The mean values of our results were: AD= 64.14 cm (SD= 13.18; range= 32-95); PT= 8.36 Kg (SD= 4.87; range= 0.80-24.50). The sexual proportion was (2.26♀: 1♂) (X2= 31.716; P < 0.05); hence we presume a spatial segregation occurred between females and males in the studied area. Length-Weight relationship was statistically significant (P < 0.0001), and also varied according to the sex ♀: PT(Kg)= [(0.00027)*(AD(cm)2.46)]; ♂: PT(Kg)= [(0.00035)*(AD(cm)2.34)]. The K value showed differences between sex during November and December. We obtained a CPUE of 4.88 individuals/1000 hooks. We compared our findings with previous research carried out in the Southern Caribbean. Further research about this species in the area is recommended.

Stingrays of family Dasyatidae are highly adapted and successful family that occur in tropical and temperate areas worldwide (Last & Stevens 1994; Last & Compagno 1999). Members of the family are found in marine, brackish, and freshwaters, and are known in Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Ocean (Luciflora et al. 2015; Nelson et al. 2016). Several species are euryhaline and ascend rivers, while some species are confined to freshwaters (Compagno & Cook 1995; Last & Compagno 1999). Stingrays are well known for their inherent vulnerability to population decline and collapse (Compagno et al. 2002; Grant et al. 2019). Many of stingrays species have been evaluated for extinction risk, due to their occurrence in overfishing and restricted habitats (White et al. 2010; Last et al. 2016a). The Longnose marbled whipray Fluvitrygon oxyrhyncha (Sauvage, 1878) is one of the few stingrays that is truly in freshwaters (Last et al. 2016b). This species was noted as F. oxyrhynchus on FishBase, but it was submitted to The IUCN Red List in 2016 as F. oxyrhyncha (Compagno 2016). Previously, F. oxyrhyncha was considered as a junior synonym of Himantura uarnak (Gmelin, 1789) (Compagno & Roberts 1982). Re-examination of the holotype of F. oxyrhyncha by Deynat & Fermon (2001) confirmed that F. oxyrhyncha is distinct from H. uarnak, and a senior synonym of H. krempfi (Chabanaud 1923). This species is very rare, only five specimens in museum collections worldwide (Compagno 2016).

The food habits and trophic ecology of Urotrygon rogersi were analysed to ascertain sexual, ontogenetic, temporal and spatial effects on the diet. These effects were examined with contingency tables, simple correspondence analysis and MANOVA. The trophic relationships of the species were determined with Levin&amp;#39;s niche amplitude index and Pianka&amp;#39;s diet overlap index. Urotrygon rogersi is a predator of benthic organisms, especially shrimp and polychaetes. Analysis of sex and time showed no significant differences, but differences among class sizes were found. A strong trend towards diet specialization and a strong overlap between sexes and between class sizes were found. Finally, fishing activity on shrimps in the study area could force U. rogersi to change its trophic spectrum over time as an adaptation to the considerable reduction in its principal prey.