Ocorrência de Mobula japanica no Atlântico Ocidental E Mobula tarapacana Em águas brasileiras, com comentários sobre a diversidade de raias-manta (CHONDRICHTHYES: MOBULIDAE) no Brasil

Abstract

n the present work, the occurrence of Mobula japanica in the western Atlantic and Mobula tarapacana on the Brazilian coast is recorded. The records of these species are based on specimens from the Northeast, Central and Southeast coast, both from material collected and deposited in scientific collections, as observed during fishing and scuba diving activities. This is the first record for the western Atlantic and confirms the pattern of global distribution of this species, probably inhabiting oceanic areas throughout the Brazilian coast. M. tarapacana had already been registered on the coast of Venezuela and the data presented here confirm its presence on the Brazilian coast, where it was, erroneously identified as M. hypostoma. Additionally, considerations about the diversity of manta rays in Brazilian waters are presented, since with these records the number of species of the Mabulidae family increases to six, making Brazil one of the most representative regions in the world with regard to the richness of rays of this family, composed of 10 species