scholarly journals First record of the blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) from the Tropical Eastern Pacific

2017 ◽  
pp. 275-278
Author(s):  
Andrés López-Garro ◽  
Ilena Zanella ◽  
Geiner Golfín-Duarte ◽  
Maikel Pérez-Montero
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
National Park ◽  
First Record ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Juvenile Male ◽  
Eastern Tropical Pacific ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Reef Shark ◽  
Reef Sharks ◽  
Carcharhinus Melanopterus

The blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus, is one of the most common Indo-Pacific reef sharks. On April 29, 2012, a juvenile male blacktip reef shark measuring 89 cm total length (TL), was incidentally caught during a research expedition in Chatham Bay, Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica, located in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. This is the first record of the species from Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica, and from the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Citation: López-Garro, A., I. Zanella, G. Golfín-Duarte & M. Pérez-Montero. 2012. First record of the blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) from the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (Suppl. 3): 275-278. Epub 2012 Dec 01.

scholarly journals Elasmobranchs observed in deepwaters (45-330m) at Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica (Eastern Tropical Pacific)

2017 ◽  
pp. 257-273
Author(s):  
José Cortés ◽  
Astrid Sánchez-Jiménez ◽  
J. Alexander Rodríguez-Arrieta ◽  
Geovanna Quirós-Barrantes ◽  
Paula C. González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
National Park ◽  
First Record ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Tiger Shark ◽  
Eastern Tropical Pacific ◽  
Marine Fauna ◽  
Scalloped Hammerhead ◽  
Manta Birostris ◽  
Spotted Eagle Ray

Isla del Coco is an oceanic island 500km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is a National Park and its marine fauna has been relatively well protected. The island is famous for its elasmobranch (sharks, rays and skates) sightings in shallow waters. Here we present a catalogue of the deepwater elasmobranchs observed with the DeepSee submersible. Five species of sharks, six species of skates and one ray have been observed between 45 and 330m depth. Triaenodon obesus, the white tip reef shark, was commonly observed between 80 and 301m, but only in the afternoons. Sphyrna lewini, the scalloped hammerhead shark, was observed as deep a 303m, but commonly between 45 and 90m, and close to the island. Odontaspis ferox, the smalltooth sand tiger shark, was observed between 82 and 316m. Echinorhinus cookei, the prickly shark, was observed between 91 and 320m. Rhincodon typus, the whale shark, was observed only close to the island, between 77 and 80m. Taeniura meyeni, the marbled ray, was observed only close to the island, between 45 and 90m. A Dasyatis sp., similar to the the diamond stingray, was observed only once close to the island at 60m; this is the first report of this genus at Isla del Coco National Park. Manta birostris, the giant manta, was only observed close to the island at 90m. Mobula tarapacana, the sicklefin devil ray, was observed between 60 and 326m, extending its maximum depth almost 10 times what has been reported. Aetobatus narinari, the spotted eagle ray, was observed only close to the island between 60 and 82m. Torpedo peruana, the Peruvian torpedo ray, was observed only once at 313m, and is the first record of this species from Isla del Coco National Park. Citation: Cortés, J., A. Sánchez-Jiménez, J.A. Rodríguez-Arrieta, G. Quirós-Barrantes, P.C. González & S. Blum. 2012. Elasmobranchs observed in deepwaters (45-330m) at Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica (Eastern Tropical Pacific). Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (Suppl. 3): 257-273. Epub 2012 Dec 01.

Leptogorgia ignita, a new shallow-water coral species (Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) from the tropical eastern Pacific

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 893-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Odalisca Breedy ◽  
Hector M. Guzman
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Group 13 ◽  
Bright Orange ◽  
Gorgonian Species ◽  
Orange Colour ◽  
Water Coral

Leptogorgia ignita is a new gorgonian species characterized by its conspicuous bright orange colour, irregular branching pattern and combination of sclerite types in the coenenchyme, all of the same orange colour, with abundance of capstans and blunt spindles, and less abundant acute spindles. The species was found in a shallow water coral community, 4–12 m deep in Samara Bay, Pacific Costa Rica. Morphologically, L. ignita belongs to the L. rigida-group comprising eight species for the group; 13 Leptogorgia species are known for Costa Rica, and 23 for the entire eastern Pacific. The new species is described, illustrated and compared to the other valid taxa of the group.

scholarly journals Deepwater fish assemblages at Isla del Coco National Park and Las Gemelas Seamount, Costa Rica

2017 ◽  
pp. 347-362
Author(s):  
Richard M. Starr ◽  
Kristen Green ◽  
Enric Sala
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Rocky Habitats

The deepwater faunas of oceanic islands and seamounts of the Eastern Tropical Pacific are poorly known. From 11-22 September 2009 we conducted an exploration of the deepwater areas of the Isla del Coco Marine Conservation Area, Costa Rica and a nearby seamount using a manned submersible. The goal of the exploration was to characterize the habitats and biota, and conduct quantitative surveys of the deepwater portions of Isla del Coco National Park and Las Gemelas Seamount, located about 50km southwest of Isla del Coco. We completed a total of 22 submersible dives, spanning more than 80hr underwater, and collected a total of 36hr of video. We surveyed habitats from 50-402m and observed more than 45 species of fishes, some of which have not yet been described and are likely new to science. The diversity of fish species in deep water at Isla del Coco National Park was lower than the diversity of fishes in shallow water, and eight species groups accounted for more than 95% of the total fish biomass. The combined density of all fish species was higher at Las Gemelas Seamount (253 fishes/100m2) than at Isla del Coco National Park (138 fishes/100m2). The combined density of fishes in habitats comprised primarily of bedrock or large boulders outcrops was more than three times as high at Las Gemelas Seamount as it was at Isla del Coco National Park. This discrepancy was caused by the extremely high concentration of Anthiinae fishes in rocky habitats at Las Gemelas Seamount. Densities of fishes in the other habitats were similar between the two sites. Similarly, when estimates of fish density were plotted by slope categories the density was much greater on steep slopes, which were usually comprised of rock habitats. Also, the density of fishes was greatest on high rugosity habitats. Results of these submersible surveys indicate that seamounts in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean may be an important source of biodiversity and that more quantitative surveys are needed to characterize the fauna of the region. Citation: Starr, R.M., K. Green & E. Sala. 2012. Deepwater fish assemblages at Coco Island National Park and Las Gemelas Seamounts, Costa Rica. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (Suppl. 3): 347-362. Epub 2012 Dec 01.

scholarly journals A new Lepeophtheirus (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from Isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica, Eastern Tropical Pacific

2017 ◽  
pp. 235-242
Author(s):  
Eduardo Suárez-Morales ◽  
Rebeca Gasca
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
National Park ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Eastern Tropical Pacific ◽  
Genital Complex

Among the several groups of copepods that are teleost parasites, the siphonostomatoid family Caligidae is by far the most widespread and diverse. With more than 108 nominal species, the caligid genus Lepeophtheirus von Nordmann is one of the most speciose. There are no reports of this genus in Costa Rican waters. A new species of Lepeophtheirus is herein described based on female specimens collected from plankton samples in waters off Bahía Wafer, isla del Coco, an oceanic island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The new species, L. alvaroi sp. nov., has some affinities with other congeners bearing a relatively short abdomen, a wider than long genital complex and a 3-segmented exopod of leg 4. it differs from most of these species by the presence of an unbranched maxillular process and by the relative lengths of the terminal claws of leg 4, with two equally long elements. it is most closely related to two other Eastern Pacific species: L. dissimulatus Wilson, 1905 and L. clarionensis Shiino, 1959. it differs from these species by the proportions and shape of the genital complex, the shape of the sternal furca, the relative length of the maxillar segments, the absence of a pectiniform process on the distal maxillar segment, the length of leg 4 and the armature of leg 5. The new species represents the first Lepeophtheirus described from Costa Rican waters of the Pacific. The low diversity of this genus in this tropical region is explained by its tendency to prefer hosts from temperate latitudes. Until further evidence is found, the host of this Lepeophtheirus species remains unknown. Citation: Suárez-Morales, E. & R. Gasca. 2012. A new Lepeophtheirus (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from isla del Coco National Park, Costa Rica, Eastern Tropical Pacific. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (Suppl. 3): 235-242. Epub 2012 Dec 01.

scholarly journals Ophioderma hendleri sp. nov. (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea: Ophiodermatidae) and its congeners from the Eastern Pacific

2020 ◽  
Vol 729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebeca Granja-Fernández ◽  
Tania Pineda-Enríquez ◽  
Francisco Alonso Solís-Marín ◽  
Alfredo Laguarda-Figueras
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Type Material ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Eastern Tropical Pacific ◽  
The World ◽  
Cocos Island

The widespread Ophioderma hendleri sp. nov., from the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Mexico to Colombia) is distinguished from its congeners by having radial shields covered by granules, naked adoral shields, up to 11 arm spines, and by its brown and beige coloration. Ophioderma hendleri sp. nov. belongs to the group of species with naked adoral shields (i.e., O. pentacanthum H.L. Clark, 1917, O. variegatum Lütken, 1856), and it has frequently been misidentified as O. panamense Lütken, 1859 or O. variegatum. Therefore, the main aim of the present work was to describe Ophioderma hendleri sp. nov. and differentiate it from its congeners. The original description of O. panamense was incomplete; thus, we provide a redescription. Due to the confusion in previous designations of its type material, we designate a lectotype and paralectotype of O. variegatum. Finally, we expand the distribution range of O. pentacanthum to Cocos Island, Costa Rica. With this work, the total number of valid species of Ophioderma Müller & Troschel, 1840 in the world increases to 33 and in the Eastern Pacific to nine species.

scholarly journals First report of naturalization of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. 1783 (Piperales: Saururaceae) in South America

Check List ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruy José Válka Alves ◽  
Débora Medeiros ◽  
Ricardo Loyola de Moura ◽  
Luiza Carla Trindade de Gusmão ◽  
Nílber Gonçalves da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
South America ◽  
Central America ◽  
National Park ◽  
First Record ◽  
Houttuynia Cordata ◽  
First Report ◽  
Houttuynia Cordata Thunb ◽  
Established Population

A relatively large and established population of Houttuynia cordata from Itatiaia National Park in Brazil represents the first record of naturalized Saururaceae in South America. Although the species is potentially invasive, unknown mechanisms have prevented its spread to other localities between 1940, when it was recorded in cultivation in Brazil, and the present. The nearest known naturalized population is situated 5,600 km away, in Costa Rica, Central America.

scholarly journals Filling the gaps: first record of the Crown-of-thorns Starfish, Acanthaster planci (Linnaeus, 1758) (Spinulosida: Acanthasteridae), at Gorgona Island, Colombia, Tropical Eastern Pacific

Check List ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 2112
Author(s):  
Fernando A. Zapata ◽  
María Del Mar Palacios ◽  
Valentina Zambrano ◽  
Melina Rodríguez-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
First Record ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Pocillopora Damicornis ◽  
Acanthaster Planci ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific

We report the occurrence of a major corallivore, the Crown-of-thorns Starfish Acanthaster planci, on the coral reefs of Gorgona Island, Tropical Eastern Pacific. Three individuals were sighted on opposite sides of the island, where they fed on small coral colonies of Pavona varians and Pocillopora damicornis. These sightings are noteworthy in light of reports that have demonstrated that the geographic distribution of A. planci is gradually increasing in the equatorial eastern Pacific, particularly south of the Gulf of Chiriquí (Panama) where it was previously absent.

Squat lobsters (Crustacea: Decapoda: Galatheoidea and Chirostyloidea) collected during the TALUD XIV cruise in the Gulf of California, Mexico, and rediscovery of Gastroptychus perarmatus (Haig, 1968) in the eastern Pacific

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3418 (1) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHEL E. HENDRICKX
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of California ◽  
California Current ◽  
First Record ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Squat Lobster ◽  
Distribution Limit ◽  
Water Species ◽  
Squat Lobsters

Seven species of squat lobsters were collected during the TALUD XIV cruise in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Gastrop-tychus perarmatus (Haig, 1968) was collected for the second time since it was described and represents a first record ofthe genus in the tropical eastern Pacific. Its association with gorgonians is also noted from color pictures taken during adeep-water dive in another cruise in the area. Janetogalathea californiensis (Benedict, 1902) was captured in four sam-pling stations, in the same area where it has been previously reported. Three species of Munida Leach, 1820 were collected(M. bapensis Hendrickx, 2000, M. mexicana Benedict, 1902, and M. tenella Benedict, 1902). Records of M. bapensis ofthis cruise combined with additional captures of this species in 2007 in the same area indicate that it is the most abundantdeep-water species of squat lobster in the northern part of the central Gulf of California. Among the species of Munida,M. tenella was second in abundance and included specimens much larger than previously known. The single record forM. mexicana fits within the currently known depth and geographical ranges. Only one species of Munidopsis Whiteaves,1874 (M. depressa Faxon, 1892) was collected, in one of the deeper sampling stations visited during the cruise and itsnorthernmost distribution limit within the Gulf of California is increased by ca two degrees of latitude. The seventh speciescollected during this survey, Pleuroncodes planipes Stimpson, 1860, is a common inhabitant of the California Current and the Gulf of California.

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