Biology of the elephantfish (Callorhinchus callorynchus) in the coastal of Chubut province and adjacent waters of Argentina, Southwest Atlantic.

BOVCON NELSON DARIO; RUIBAL NÚÑEZ JULIÁN; GÓNGORA MARÍA EVA; VUCICA MARÍA; COCHIA PABLO DANIEL

Joao Pessoa

Conferencia; Sharks International Conference; 2018

Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo de Elasmobrânquios - American Elasmobranch Society Squalus - Squalus - Fundación colombiana para la investigación y conservación de tiburones y rayas

Of the species of holocephalans in the Southwest Atlantic, the elephantfish Callorhinchus callorynchus (Linneaeus, 1758) is the most important species in the landings of the commercial fleets that operate in different ports of Argentina. Moreover, the elephantfish is a target species in the recreational fishing that takes places in the Patagonian coastline between spring and summer (between 40º S and 48º S). from the monitoring of the coastal recreational fishing and the commercial fleets, samplings of catches of both fisheries were carried out to obtain biological information of the elephantfish. In the recreational fishing 1500 specimens were sampled of which 78% were juveniles. The body length was considered from the tip of the snout to the origin of the upper caudal lobe; this length ranged from 90 mm to 680 mm with an average of 328.6 mm. Six hundred specimens were sampled from commercial fishery and 60% were juveniles. The length range were 90 mm and 690 mm and the mean length was 362.0 mm. The body length is considered from the tip of the snout (flattened) to the origin of the upper caudal lobe (LPa-PC). The size at first maturity (L50) in males was 379.19 mm and in females was 419.18 mm. The females have spermatophores in their cloaca between the months of November and April, while the presence of egg capsules in the uterus was observed between October and Abril. Of the total egg capsules recorded in the seabed, 92,4% were layed in depths between 20 and 50 meters. Between the months of October and April the adults congregate in the coastal area of Bahía Engaño and San Jorge gulf for mating and egg laying. The egg-laying period is not in a specific time and occurs continuously over year. So far the data obtained would indicate that this reproductive events would take place for at least six months and the coastal area of the Chubut province in Patagonia function as mating, egg-laying and breeding areas for neonates and juveniles.