ABSTRACT
Despite its importance in biogeographical, ecological, and commercial terms, the fish fauna of the northern Brazilian coast is still poorly known, representing the least sampled portion of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone. We collected Tonkin weakfish, Cynoscion similis specimens during extensive surveys of the northern Brazilian coast and concluded that C. similis is common in this region. While the species had not previously been reported for the northern Brazilian state of Pará, it may have been recorded in studies of industrial fisheries, being identified only as Cynoscion sp. or by the common name pescada negra. This reinforces the need for the reliable taxonomical identification of species, to guarantee the collection of accurate data on ecology and fisheries, and ultimately, support the development of effective conservation strategies. Here we provide additional morphological and molecular data to distinguish Cynoscion similis from the closely related Cynoscion jamaicensis, and other congeners. (AU)
Subject(s)
Fishing Industry , Classification , DNA Barcoding, TaxonomicABSTRACT
Despite its importance in biogeographical, ecological, and commercial terms, the fish fauna of the northern Brazilian coast is still poorly known, representing the least sampled portion of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone. We collected Tonkin weakfish, Cynoscion similis specimens during extensive surveys of the northern Brazilian coast and concluded that C. similis is common in this region. While the species had not previously been reported for the northern Brazilian state of Pará, it may have been recorded in studies of industrial fisheries, being identified only as Cynoscion sp. or by the common name pescada negra. This reinforces the need for the reliable taxonomical identification of species, to guarantee the collection of accurate data on ecology and fisheries, and ultimately, support the development of effective conservation strategies. Here we provide additional morphological and molecular data to distinguish Cynoscion similis from the closely related Cynoscion jamaicensis, and other congeners.(AU)
Apesar de sua importância em termos biogeográficos, ecológicos e comerciais, a ictiofauna da costa norte do Brasil ainda é pouco conhecida, representando a porção menos amostrada da Zona Econômica Exclusiva Brasileira. Durante extensivo esforço de inventário na costa norte do Brasil, nós obtivemos uma série de espécimes de Cynoscion similis e concluímos que a espécie é comum nesta região. Embora a espécie não tenha sido relatada anteriormente para o estado do Pará, ela pode ter sido registrada em estudos sobre a pesca industrial, sendo identificada apenas como Cynoscion sp. ou pelo nome comum pescada negra. Isso reforça a necessidade de identificação taxonômica confiável de espécies, com objetivo de garantir dados precisos de ecologia e pesca, e apoiar o desenvolvimento de estratégias efetivas de conservação. Aqui, nós fornecemos novos dados morfológicos e moleculares importantes para a diferenciação de Cynoscion similis e C. jamaicensis, a espécie mais próxima morfologicamente, assim como de outros congêneres.(AU)