Ebert, D. A., Mostarda, E.

Identification guide to the deep-sea cartilaginous fishes of the Indian Ocean

2013

Rome, Italy

UN FAO Deep-Sea Fisheries Programme and FAO FishFinder

76

Identification Guide for Deep-Sea Species

"This guide covers the deep-sea Indian Ocean, primarily FAO Fishing Areas 51 and 57, and that part of Area 47 that extends from Cape Point, South Africa to the east, e.g. the extreme southwestern Indian Ocean. It includes a selection of species of major, moderate and minor importance to fisheries as well as those of doubtful or potential use to fisheries. It also covers those little known species that may be of research, educational, and ecological importance. The Indian Ocean deep-sea chondrichthyan fauna is currently represented by 117 shark, 61 batoid and 17 chimaera species. This guide includes full species accounts for 36 shark species selected as being the more difficult to identify and/or commonly caught. Each species is described, depicted with a color illustration and photo, and key distinguishing features of similar-looking species occurring in the same area are highlighted allowing for easy and accurate identification in the field. An additional 16 shark species, that have very particular characteristics and/or are rarely caught, are displayed with a simplified account that includes a line drawing and other information useful for their correct identification. Finally, short accounts of 52 shark species that could be misidentified with more common species occurring in the area are also included. The batoids, as the information available on the species being caught in the Indian Ocean is scanty and in order to avoid confusion among users, are dealt with at the family level, whereas the chimaeras at the genus level. Therefore, in order to improve knowledge on the latter groups it is recommended that the caught specimens be preserved for further investigation following the instructions here included. This guide is intended to help fishery workers collecting catch data in the field in the identification of the cartilaginous fish species they might encounter. It is conceived to be updatable, offering the possibility to add new species accounts as new species are described."