1. Introduction
Chimaeras (Order Chimaeriformes) are a group of poorly known, often strange-looking fish (known as rabbitfish, ghost sharks and elephantfish) that tend to live in deep waters [1]. This order is now getting a growing number of studies, with 22 new species that have been described in the past 25 years [2] [3]. They are recognized by the fusion between the upper jaw and the neurocranium, the anterior extension of the ethmoid region, and the branchial arches that are also more anterior, beneath the cranium [4]. Today, chimaeras include 51 described species in six genera (Callorhinchus, Harriotta, Rhinochimaera, Neoharriotta, Chimaera, Hydrolagus) and three families (Callorhinchidae, Chimaeridae, Rhinochimaeridae) [2] [5]. In Brazil, all three families and four genera (Callorhinchus, Harriotta, Rhinochimaera, Hydrolagus) are known to occur [1]. Typically, records of these chimaeras are accidental and come from deep water fishing. Thus, chimaeras natural history is poorly known and understanding the sustainability of this taxonomic group as a target for fishing is challenging [1].
The American elephantfish was first reported from the Brazilian state of São Paulo [6]. Thus, it was assumed that the elephantfish distribution included the vague “southern Brazil” [7], in the southwestern Atlantic, as far north as São Paulo (24˚S) [8]. Occasional records were reported from near Rio de Janeiro [9] [10] [11] and from the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul [12] [13].
2. Methods
We conducted regular visits to fishing unions and landing ports in Rio de Janeiro state, including twice a month visits to the urban Recreio dos Bandeirantes fish market, for an evaluation of the diversity of elasmobranchs landed under Project “Elasmobrânquios como ferramentas bioindicadoras de contaminação por metais no Sudeste Brasileiro: Impactos na saúde pública e no contexto socioambiental de populações vulneráveis locais” since March 2019. On site, interviews with key-informants and collection of selected species of elasmobranchs were conducted. In addition, literature review, media news and other open sources, were searched for records of chimaeras. We searched for “Callorhinchus callorynchus” + “American elephantfish (and/or peixe-elefante in Portuguese)” + “Holocephali” + “chimaera” (and/or quimeras) + “bycatch” + “southwest Atlantic Ocean” (and/or Atlântico Sul) in all major sources of media in Brazil including Google, YouTube, Facebook, G1, Globo.com, and O Dia.
3. Results
Here we report on a juvenile female elephantfish that was caught in a bottom-gillnet (55 mm mesh size) on February 14, 2020 and was retrieved from the Recreio dos Bandeirantes fishmarket in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The fish, approximately 30 cm long, was caught in coastal waters, ~2 km from shore (Figure 1, Figure 2). An additional observation of this species was one caught near Maricá just north of Rio de Janeiro, on April 22, 2014 in a gillnet set less than 2 km
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Figure 1. Map detailing the locations of the two recent captures of the American Elephantfish (Callorhinchus callorynchus) in coastal waters near the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including “Recreio dos Bandeirantes; 23.0307˚S; 43.4688˚W” on 14 Feb. 2020 and “Maricá; 22.9585˚S, 42.7568˚W” on April 22, 2014. Locations represent the extremes of Rio de Janeiro megalopolis.
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Figure 2. Photograph of the American Elephantfish (Callorhinchus callorynchus) from the fishmarket in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More dorsal view showing facial details. Note the very large pectoral fin and the dorsal spine.
from shore. Interestingly, in both cases (Recreio and Maricá), the fishes were soon eaten after being caught. These scattered records raised the question of the true distribution of the American elephantfish in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
Material Examined
Callorhinchus callorynchus (Linnaeus, 1758)
New record. BRAZIL • 1 ♀, Rio de Janeiro state, Rio de Janeiro, Recreio dos Bandeirantes; 23.0307˚S; 43.4688˚W; caught at approx. depth 30 m; 14 Feb. 2020; approx. 30 cm long; caught by fisher J. F. do Nascimento and reported to S. C. Moreira col. • 1; Rio de Janeiro state, Maricá; 22.9585˚S, 42.7568˚W; caught at approx. depth 40 m; approx. 30 cm long; 22 Apr 2014; reported by open source: http://g1.globo.com/rj/regiao-dos-lagos/noticia/2014/04/raro-no-brasil-peixe-elefante-e-fisgado-em-marica-no-rj.html.
Identification. The family Callorhinchidae is distinct from the other chimaeras due to its long rostrum in the shape of a plow, in which a cartilaginous rod or shaft supports the dorsal surface, and with the distal extremity end in the structure that resembles the plow. It also has a fusiform body, heterocercal tail (i.e., lobes unequal in size), and a large, cartilaginous, anal fin [14]. This family has only one genus with three species: Callorhinchus milii Bory de St. Vincent, 1823 from New Zealand and Australia, C. capensis Dumeril, 1865 from South Africa, and C. callorynchus (Linnaeus, 1758), from southern South America [5] [15]. These three species look similar, and they are identified by frontal tentacles in the males, or egg cases [4]. The American elephantfish, C. callorynchus, is a neritic fish (from 10 - 115 m depth), ranging from around 23˚S in the Atlantic Ocean (state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil) to 1˚33'S in the Pacific Ocean [9] [16] [17] [18]. The presence of very large pectoral fins and one dorsal spine is diagnostic: https://www.fishbase.se/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=8399&lang=english and https://shark-references.com/species/view/Callorhinchus-callorynchus and https://shark-references.com/species/view/Callorhinchus-callorynchus.
4. Discussion
Recent observations of artisanally landed elasmobranchs along several ports in Rio de Janeiro [19] [20] do not cite chimaeras in their extensive lists. In fact, [19] surveyed from 2003 to 2005 the Recreio dos Bandeirantes fish market and observed 27 species of sharks and rays, not reporting on any chimaera. This agrees with the fisher (Mr. J. F. do Nascimento) who mentioned that it was the first time that such a conspicuous fish as the American elephantfish was caught in the area.
The recovery of the American elephantfish in bycatch of net fishing off the coast of the city of Rio de Janeiro (Figure 1) that is clearly identified as C. callorynchus (Figure 2, Figure 3), along with previous reports nearby (Rio de Janeiro, [9] and Macaé, [10] ) suggests that this species may be a common, bottom-feeding species at these latitudes. Indeed, [10] comments that C. callorynchus is known in the region of Macaé as “cação-borboleta” (“butterfly shark”). The authors mentioned that it is usually caught at night in gillnets and is sold as “cação” meat in local markets. Accordingly, [10] informs that the
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Figure 3. The same specimen in a slightly ventral view, in which the female has a cloacal prolapse. Courtesy of Mr. J. F. do Nascimento.
American elephantfish seems to be a regular, albeit uncommon, inhabitant of the region of Macaé, thus representing a range extension of c. 300 km northeast from the supposed northern limit of distribution of the species in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Perhaps fishing has become more intensive, explaining why these fish have been caught more recently. Observations were performed in summer and early autumn (February and April) which may suggest some seasonality of occurrence of C. callorynchus in SE Brazil.
We strongly recommend long-term monitoring of the local fisheries as a tool to monitor and gain better understanding of local chimaera abundance and population patterns along the SE Brazilian coast. Why there are no more reported landings of this species in local fish markets is a matter of speculation. As such, we suggest that notifications be placed at the local fisheries markets, reporting on landings and explaining that these fish should not be consumed because of the potential for heavy-metals ingestion and other complex chemicals that are likely to accumulate in the tissues of this species [21]. If these fish are not consumed, then researchers may be notified that they have been caught which would be extremely helpful for a long-term monitoring program. Thus, the potential exists for better understanding the biology of a locally unusual, and poorly known species of an ancient lineage of fascinating fish, the American elephantfish.
Acknowledgements
We thank the fisher Mr. Jailson Francisco do Nascimento for providing information on the specimen caught of Recreio dos Bandeirantes. This is a contribution under “Programa Fiocruz de Fomento à Inovação (INOVA): Elasmobrânquios como ferramentas bioindicadoras de contaminação por metais no Sudeste Brasileiro: Impactos na saúde pública e no contexto socioambiental de populações vulneráveis locais (VPPIS-004-FIO-18).” S. Siciliano is supported by CNPq (Produtividade em Pesquisa: 306076/2019-5) and INOVA Fiocruz. The text was translated by James J. Roper, Ph.D.
Authors’ Contributions
SS, GR, MLVB-F, JLSN and AROP-N wrote and reviewed the manuscript; GR, MLVB-F, JLSN and AROP-N confirmed species identification and revised the literature, SCM collected material in the field, analyzed data, prepared the map, and wrote the manuscript.