Abstract
Malformations of the Round stingray Urobatis hallerii, Cooper 1863 captured off the southwestern coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico are reported in this study. The ray was an adult male captured by artisanal fishery in the area of Estero Banderitas. Size measurements of total length and disk width were taken; the organism could be photographed when captured. Malformations of U. hallerii were found in the posterior part of the spine, a distortion in the upper part of the tail and in the left fin close to the tail. The specimen was considered able to reach the adult size usually reported in other specimens of this species despite the spine malformations because of its benthic habits and not losing its mobility completely. The observed malformations were likely due to genetic alterations although other studies are needed to see if other environmental factors could cause malformations in marine organisms mainly in fish and elasmobranchs.
Highlights
Malformations of the Round stingray Urobatis hallerii, Cooper 1863 captured off the southwestern coast of Baja California Sur, México are reported in this study
While observing the organism, malformations were found in the posterior part of the spine (Fig. 2a), a partial distortion in the left fin and upper part of the tail, and in the left fin close to the tail (Fig. 2b)
According to the malformations recorded in elasmobranchs, Berzins et al 2002 identified at least 35 cases of dorsal spine malformations in sharks in their environment and in those in captivity
Summary
Malformations of the Round stingray Urobatis hallerii, Cooper 1863 captured off the southwestern coast of Baja California Sur, México are reported in this study. Methods: The ray was an adult male captured by artisanal fishery in the area of Estero Banderitas. Size measurements of total length and disk width were taken; the organism could be photographed when captured. The specimen was considered able to reach the adult size usually reported in other specimens of this species despite the spine malformations because of its benthic habits and not losing its mobility completely. One of them is the Round stingray Urobatis halleri, Cooper 1863 that belongs to the family Urolophidae. The size of the species is small growing up to 55 cm (31 cm disk width) Allen & Robertson 1994.
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