Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental Stage
Elasmobranchs represent a group of species under considerable anthropic pressure because of the scale of industrial and artisanal fisheries and the loss of essential areas for nursery and feeding, which are causing substantial population losses around the world. Reproduction in an ex situ environmen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3291 |
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| author | Sérgio Ricardo Santos Veronica Takatsuka Shayra P. Bonatelli Nicole L. L. Amaral Matheus F. Goés Rafael F. Valle |
| author_facet | Sérgio Ricardo Santos Veronica Takatsuka Shayra P. Bonatelli Nicole L. L. Amaral Matheus F. Goés Rafael F. Valle |
| author_sort | Sérgio Ricardo Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Elasmobranchs represent a group of species under considerable anthropic pressure because of the scale of industrial and artisanal fisheries and the loss of essential areas for nursery and feeding, which are causing substantial population losses around the world. Reproduction in an ex situ environment enables a healthy population to be built and maintained in networks of public aquariums, increasing our knowledge of elasmobranch reproductive biology and offering the opportunity for reintroductions in areas where native populations have been removed. The study reports two successful pregnancies of the whitetip reef shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i>, considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Copulation and gestation data are provided, including ultrasound recordings of the late stage of embryo development. Ultrasonography was performed with the GE Logiq and convex transducer and revealed a fetus with defined fins and organogenesis, with definition of eyes, gills, liver, a heart with individualized chambers, partially defined kidneys, and a well-defined spiral intestine. A cartilaginous skeleton forming a posterior acoustic shadow was detailed, as well as a moving fetus with a biparietal diameter of 6.47 cm and a heart rate of 62 Beats Per Minute on spectral Doppler. This is the first successful reproduction of <i>T. obesus</i> in an aquarium in Brazil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:55:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1e8ed71f8494fab806c1cc3578ce9ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:55:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1e8ed71f8494fab806c1cc3578ce9ed2023-11-24T10:24:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-11-011223329110.3390/ani12233291Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental StageSérgio Ricardo Santos0Veronica Takatsuka1Shayra P. Bonatelli2Nicole L. L. Amaral3Matheus F. Goés4Rafael F. Valle5Instituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro—IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Gambôa, Rio de Janeiro 20220-360, BrazilInstituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro—IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Gambôa, Rio de Janeiro 20220-360, BrazilRADIUS—Centro Especializado em Diagnóstico por Imagem Veterinário, R. José Siqueira, 156—Sala 2, Dom Bosco, Itajaí 88307-310, BrazilRADIUS—Centro Especializado em Diagnóstico por Imagem Veterinário, R. José Siqueira, 156—Sala 2, Dom Bosco, Itajaí 88307-310, BrazilInstituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro—IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Gambôa, Rio de Janeiro 20220-360, BrazilInstituto Museu Aquário Marinho do Rio de Janeiro—IMAM/AquaRio, Praça Muhammad Ali, Gambôa, Rio de Janeiro 20220-360, BrazilElasmobranchs represent a group of species under considerable anthropic pressure because of the scale of industrial and artisanal fisheries and the loss of essential areas for nursery and feeding, which are causing substantial population losses around the world. Reproduction in an ex situ environment enables a healthy population to be built and maintained in networks of public aquariums, increasing our knowledge of elasmobranch reproductive biology and offering the opportunity for reintroductions in areas where native populations have been removed. The study reports two successful pregnancies of the whitetip reef shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i>, considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Copulation and gestation data are provided, including ultrasound recordings of the late stage of embryo development. Ultrasonography was performed with the GE Logiq and convex transducer and revealed a fetus with defined fins and organogenesis, with definition of eyes, gills, liver, a heart with individualized chambers, partially defined kidneys, and a well-defined spiral intestine. A cartilaginous skeleton forming a posterior acoustic shadow was detailed, as well as a moving fetus with a biparietal diameter of 6.47 cm and a heart rate of 62 Beats Per Minute on spectral Doppler. This is the first successful reproduction of <i>T. obesus</i> in an aquarium in Brazil.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3291ultrasoundelasmobranchgestationalaquariumconservation |
| spellingShingle | Sérgio Ricardo Santos Veronica Takatsuka Shayra P. Bonatelli Nicole L. L. Amaral Matheus F. Goés Rafael F. Valle Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental Stage Animals ultrasound elasmobranch gestational aquarium conservation |
| title | Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental Stage |
| title_full | Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental Stage |
| title_fullStr | Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental Stage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental Stage |
| title_short | Courtship and Reproduction of the Whitetip Reef Shark <i>Triaenodon obesus</i> (Carcharhiniformes: Carcharhinidae) in an Ex Situ Environment, with a Description of the Late Embryonic Developmental Stage |
| title_sort | courtship and reproduction of the whitetip reef shark i triaenodon obesus i carcharhiniformes carcharhinidae in an ex situ environment with a description of the late embryonic developmental stage |
| topic | ultrasound elasmobranch gestational aquarium conservation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3291 |
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