Carcharhinidae

Biscoito, Manuel, Ribeiro, Cláudia & Freitas, Mafalda, 2018, Annotated checklist of the fishes of the archipelago of Madeira (NE Atlantic): I-Chondrichthyes, Zootaxa 4429 (3), pp. 459-494 : 465-468

Familiy Carcharhinidae

Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839) —No common name in Madeira; Silky shark ( Fig. 4 )

Lowe 1839: 90 in part (as Carcharius falcipinnis )

Lowe 1843: 93 (as Charcharias falcipinnis )

Noronha & Sarmento 1934: 110 and 137 (as Carcharias faclcipinis sic.)

Compagno 1973: 24; 1984b: 470–472 | Sanches 1986: 69 | Lloris et al. 1991: 223 | Wirtz et al. 2008: 3 | Carneiro et al. 2014: 11.

Distribution in Macaronesia. Madeira, Azores ( Arruda 1997), Canary Islands ( Brito et al. 2002; Brito Hernández & Sancho Rafel 2003) and Cape Verde ( Wirtz et al. 2013).

Remarks. the record of this species has been controversial. Lowe (1839) describes C. falcipinnis as new to science, due to the absence of comparative material, and gives the vernacular Madeiran name of “Faqueita” which is currently used for C. galapagensis / C. obscurus (“Faquêta”). Later Lowe (1843) considered that his species was a synonym of C. melanopterus (Quoy & Gaymard, 1824) . This is very doubtful, not only because C. melanopetrus has not yet been recorded from the Atlantic Ocean, but also because Lowe himself did not mention the conspicuous black fin tips in the original description. Compagno (1973) considers C. falcipinnis in part as synonym of C. falciformis . Wirtz et al. (2008) state that this species needs confirmation and Carneiro et al. (2014) accept its presence in Madeira based on the known wide geographical distribution given by Ebert and Stehmann (2013). The holotype of C. falcipinnis is not known, but recently one of the authors (MB) examined a mounted specimen in The Natural History Museum collection (BMNH 1851.4.9.14), from Madeira and presented by R. T. Lowe in 1851, labelled as C. obscurus , and concluded, based mainly on the origin of first dorsal fin in relation to the pectoral fin’s free rear tip (the first well behind the latter), that it is C. falciformis , thus confirming the presence of the species in Madeira.

* Carcharhinus galapagensis (Snodgrass & Heller, 1905) —Faquêta; Galapagos shark

Compagno 1984b: 473–474 | Wirtz et al. 2008: 3 | Carneiro et al. 2014: 11.

Distribution in Macaronesia. Madeira, Azores ( Brum & Azevedo 1995; Santos et al. 1997; Arruda 1997; Porteiro et al. 2010), Canary Islands ( Brito et al. 2002; Brito Hernández & Sancho Rafel 2003) and Cape Verde ( Reiner 1996, 2005; Wirtz et al. 2013).

Remarks. one mounted specimen in MMF (MMF 023409) collection dated from ca. 1940, in poor state of preservation. Carneiro et al. (2014) mention the presence of this species in the Azores and Madeira, but pointed out that according to Ebert & Stehmann (2013), the species C. obscurus is very closely related with C. galapensis and difficult to distinguish from each other. Recent molecular studies suggested that these two species might in fact be a single one, with one of the two forms being found far from landmasses ( C. galapagensis ) and the other one ( C. obscuru s) occurring in association with continental shelves and upper slopes. Studies are currently on-going to determine the relationship between these two species ( Ebert & Stehmann 2013). For the time being we have opted to maintain this species in the Madeiran checklist, with the reserve stated above.

* Carcharhinus limbatus (Müller & Henle, 1839) —Tubarão, Anequim; Blacktip shark

Lowe 1841: 38; 1843: 93 | Noronha & Sarmento 1934: 133 and 137; 1948: 132 (as Carcharias microps )

Fowler 1936: 48 (as Eulamia limbatus )

Maul 1948: 138 (as Charcharias limbatus )

Albuquerque 1954 –56: 104 | Compagno 1973: 24; 1984b: 481–83 | Branstetter 1984a: 106 | Sanches 1986: 70 | Lloris et al. 1991: 223 | Wirtz et al. 2008: 3 | Carneiro et al. 2014: 12.

Distribution in Macaronesia. Madeira, Azores ( Arruda 1997), Canary Islands ( Brito et al. 2002; Brito Hernández & Sancho Rafel 2003) and Cape Verde ( Reiner 1996, 2005; Wirtz et al. 2013).

Remarks. Lowe’s specimen is unknown. One formalin preserved specimen in MMF collections dated from 2008 from the Seine Seamount (MMF 39543). Although Wirtz et al. (2008) considered a very doubtful record, the existence of a preserved specimen in MMF collections confirms the presence of the species in the area of Madeira. * Carcharhinus longimanus (Poey, 1861) —No common name in Madeira; Oceanic whitetip shark

Maul 1955: 4 | Compagno 1973: 24; 1984b: 484–486 | Cadenat & Blache 1981: 265–267 | Branstetter 1984a: 107 | Sanches 1986: 71 | Lloris et al. 1991: 223 | Wirtz et al. 2008: 3 | Carneiro et al. 2014: 12.

Distribution in Macaronesia. Madeira, Azores ( Santos et al. 1997; Arruda 1997; Porteiro et al. 2010), Canary Islands ( Brito et al. 2002; Brito Hernández & Sancho Rafel, 2003) and Cape Verde ( Reiner 1996, 2005; Wirtz et al. 2013).

Remarks. five specimens in MMF collections (one mounted specimen and formalin preserved specimens), first collected in 1938 and last one in 1953. Its occurrence in Madeiran waters is rare.

* Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur, 1818) —Faqueta; Dusky shark ( Fig. 5 )

Lowe 1839: 90 in part (as Charcharius falcipinnis )

Günther 1870: 366 | Belloc 1934: 131 | Noronha & Sarmento 1948: 106 | Maul 1948: 138 (as Carcharias obscurus )

Fowler 1936: 49 (as Eulamia obscurus )

Albuquerque 1954 –56: 103 | Compagno 1973: 25; 1984b: 489–4 | Cadenat & Blache 1981: 268–270 | Sanches 1986: 72 | Lloris et al. 1991: 223 | Wirtz et al. 2008: 3 | Carneiro et al. 2014: 12.

Distribution in Macaronesia. Madeira, Azores ( Arruda 1997), Canary Islands ( Brito et al. 2002; Brito Hernández & Sancho Rafel 2003) and Cape Verde ( Reiner 1996, 2005; Wirtz et al. 2013).

Remarks. a skin sample in MMF collection identified by G. E. Maul, but with no indication about collection date and location and two specimens preserved in BMNH (1895.5.8.143 and 2015.11.11.1), the former from the Selvagens Islands and the latter from Madeira, possibly sent by R. T. Lowe and with an indication on the label as a possible syntype of C. falcipinnis Lowe, 1839 . Both specimens were seen by one of the authors (MB) and bear all C. obscurus diagnostic characters given by Ebert & Stehmann (2013). On the validity of this species, see remarks on C. galapagensis above. Maul, 1948 refers as rare, pelagic at surface and coastal.

* Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)—Tintureira; Blue shark

Lowe 1838: 194 | Belloc 1934: 131 | Noronha & Sarmento 1934: 131 and 137; 1948: 129 | Nunes 1953: 235 (as Carcharias glaucus )

Fowler 1936: 54 | Albuquerque 1954 –56: 100 (as Glyphis glaucus )

Compagno 1973: 30, 1984b: 521–24 | Branstetter 1984a: 113 | Cadenat & Blache 1981: 237–239 | Sanches 1986: 74 | Lloris et al. 1991: 236 | Wirtz et al. 2008: 3 | Carneiro et al. 2014: 12 | Almada et al. 2015: 4.

Distribution in Macaronesia. Madeira, Azores ( Santos et al. 1997; Arruda 1997; Porteiro et al. 2010), Canary Islands ( Brito et al. 2002; Brito Hernández & Sancho Rafel 2003) and Cape Verde ( Reiner 1996, 2005; Wirtz et al. 2013).

Remarks. seven specimens in MMF collections. Maul (1948) refers as frequent, pelagic from surface. Frequently seen on the South coast of Madeira, where small individuals have been seen nearshore (MF personal observation).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Carcharhinus falciformis (BMNH 1851.4.9.14). Specimen from Madeira presented to The Natural History Museum, London, by the Rev. Richard Thomas Lowe in 1851.

FIGURE 5. Carcharhinus obscurus (BMNH 1895.5.8.143). Male specimen (855 mm TL), caught at Selvagem Grande in 1895 and presented to The Natural History Museum, London, by Cecil Baring and Ogilvie Grant.