Fishing for oil and meat drives irreversible defaunation of deepwater sharks and rays.

The deep ocean is the last natural biodiversity refuge from the reach of human activities. Deepwater sharks and rays are among the most sensitive marine vertebrates to overexploitation. One-third of threatened deepwater sharks are targeted, and half the species targeted for the international liver-oil trade are threatened with extinction. Steep population declines cannot be easily reversed owing to long generation lengths, low recovery potentials, and the near absence of management. Depth and spatial limits to fishing activity could improve conservation when implemented alongside catch regulations, bycatch mitigation, and international trade regulation. Deepwater sharks and rays require immediate trade and fishing regulations to prevent irreversible defaunation and promote recovery of this threatened megafauna group.

Ergasilus lyraephorus n. sp. (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Ergasilidae) parasitic on the Longtail Knifefish Sternopygus macrurus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Actinopterygii: Sternopygidae) from Northeast Brazil.

The cyclopoid family Ergasilidae Burmeister, 1835, is the most common group of parasitic copepods infesting fish in Brazil, and the type-genus Ergasilus von Nordmann, 1832 comprises the highest number of species. During a survey of freshwater fish in Northeast Brazil, a new species of Ergasilus was found on the gills of the Longtail Knifefish Sternopygus macrurus (Bloch & Schneider) (Actinopterygii: Sternopygidae) in the Viana lake system, State of Maranhão. Ergasilus lyraephorus n. sp. can be distinguished from its closest congeners mainly because it has a lyre-shaped ornamentation on the ventral surface of first pedigerous somite, a feature that has never been reported in the family. In addition, the new species differs from closely related congeners by having a maxillule bearing three elements, by the large spinules on the interpodal plates of legs 1, 2 and 3, and by having leg 5 reduced to a single seta of moderate size. The present study is the first report of an ergasilid parasitizing S. macrurus, as well as the first parasitic copepod found on a host belonging to the family Sternopygidae Cope.

Opportunistic sightings of manta rays on Brazil's Amazon Coast.

Little is known about the ecology and distribution of mobulid rays along Brazil's extensive coastline. Here we report opportunistic sightings of manta rays (Mobula cf. birostris) in the Brazilian Amazon estuaries and the Great Amazon Reef System. These sightings consist of manta ray individuals stranded in tide pools, caught in artisanal fisheries, and footage obtained with a submersible. Future investigations on the spatial, temporal, and environmental drivers of manta rays' distribution on the northern Brazilian coast and the threats posed by fishing gear are warranted.

Distribution and New Records of the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark, Hexanchus griseus (Hexanchiformes: Hexanchidae), from the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic.

The bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus, is a widely distributed demersal species found in tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, inhabiting continental shelves and slopes, islands, and mid-ocean ridges at depths ranging from 200 to 1100 m. In the Southwestern Atlantic, this species has been recorded from northeastern to southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Despite this, the known distribution of this species in the Southwestern Atlantic is very patchy and, in some cases, still mostly ignored in the literature, such as in northeastern Brazil. This study, therefore, aimed to report 23 new records of Hexanchus griseus in the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic and highlight the presence of this species off the northeastern Brazilian coast. So far, Hexanchus griseus was officially reported from the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, and the state of Ceará along the northeast coast of Brazil. Herein, the known distribution is extended to the continental shelf breaks and upper slopes of other Brazilian states, reinforcing the previously reported occurrence of the species near the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago.

Avaliação da eficácia das ações preventivas adotadas pela Gevaz-Brasília-DF, visando o controle da transmissão da leishmaniose visceral canina / Effectiveness evaluation of preventive actions taken by Gevaz-Brasília-DF, aiming at the control of transmission canine visceral leishmaniasis

Objetivo ­ Analisar as medidas preventivas para diminuir o número de casos de Leishmaniose Visceral Canina na Gerência de Vigilância Ambiental de Zoonoses (GEVAZ) em Brasília ­ Distrito Federal. Métodos ­ O estudo é do tipo retrospectivo descritivo que foi desenvolvido na Gerência de Vigilância Ambiental de Zoonoses em Brasília/DF em outubro de 2013. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de um questionário claro e conciso apresentado por escrito aos médicos veterinários, farmacêuticos, biólogos e funcionários do local. Resultados ­ Investigou-se para o cumprimento do Programa Nacional de Controle Leishmaniose Visceral que a GEVAZ tem realizado ações de vigilância, prevenção, controle e monitoramento sistemático, a fim de evitar surtos, epidemias e desacelerar a dispersão da doença para outras localidades. Conclusão ­ Observou-se, neste estudo, que as ações preventivas para o controle da Leishmaniose Visceral Canina à população não foram suficientes para reduzir os casos da doença. Entretanto, torna-se imprescindível um apoio governamental para realização dessas ações.

Objective ­ To analyze preventive measures to decrease the number of cases of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis in Management Environmental Surveillance Zoonoses in Brasília ­ Distrito Federal. Methods ­ The study was a retrospective developed in Management Environmental Surveillance Zoonoses in Brasília/DF in October 2013. Os November data were obtained through a questionnaire clear and concise writing presented to veterinarians, pharmacists, biologists and local officials. Results ­ We investigated for the fulfillment of the National Program for the Control Visceral Leishmaniasis Gevaz has performed for surveillance, prevention, control, and systematic monitoring in order to prevent outbreaks, epidemics and slow the spread of disease to other locations. Conclusion ­ Observed in this study that the preventive actions to control Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis the population were not enough to reduce cases of the disease, however, it becomes essential government support to carry out these actions.

Stomach contents and notes on the reproduction of the Onefin Skate Gurgesiella dorsalifera (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) off Southern Brazil

The Brazilian endemic deep-water onefin skate (Gurgesiella dorsalifera) is a rare small species recently described in the 80's. No biological information is available on this species and its extremely restricted geographic distribution has been used to classify it as a vulnerable species under IUCN red list criteria. Twenty four specimens (115 to 207 mm disc width) were captured off southern Brazilian coast at the region of Cape Santa Marta Grande (State of Santa Catarina) by deep-water otter trawl (430-524 m). The analysis of stomach contents revealed an apparent opportunistic predation on juveniles of Urophycis brasiliensis (IRI = 6944), with an average total length of 21 mm, followed by mysidaceans (IRI = 2938), unidentified teleosts (IRI = 1969), the copepod Bradyidius plinioi (IRI = 393), and decapod crustaceans (IRI = 297). One mature female with 207 mm DW had two egg cases in its uteri.

A raia endêmica brasileira de profundidade Gurgesiella dorsalifera é uma espécie rara e de pequeno porte recentemente descrita nos anos 80. Não há informações disponíveis sobre a sua biologia e sua distribuição geográfica extremamente restrita tem sido utilizada para classificá-la como uma espécie vulnerável sob os critérios da Lista Vermelha da IUCN. Vinte e quatro espécimes (larguras de disco entre 115-207 mm) foram capturados na costa do sul do Brasil na região do Cabo de Santa Marta Grande (Estado de Santa Catarina) por arrasto de fundo de profundidade (430-524 m). A análise dos conteúdos estomacais revelou um aparente oportunismo predatório sobre juvenis de Urophycis brasiliensis (IRI = 6944) com comprimento total médio de 21 mm, seguido por crustáceos misidáceos (IRI = 2938), teleósteos não identificados (IRI = 1969), o copépode Bradyidius plinioi (IRI = 393) e crustáceos decápodes (IRI = 297). Uma fêmea adulta com 207 LD apresentava dois ovos, um em cada útero.