First documented sightings of shortnose guitarfish, Zapteryx brevirostris in Uruguayan coastal waters

• Vögler, Rodolfo ^[1] ; Loureiro, Agustín ^[2] ; Milessi, Andrés C. ^[2] ; Demicheli, Álvaro ^[3]
  1. [1] Universidad de la República

     Universidad de la República

     Uruguay

     
  2. [2] Iniciativa Mar Azul Uruguayo
  3. [3] Servicio de Oceanografía, Hidrografía y Meteorología de la Armada.

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• Localización: Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, ISSN-e 0718-560X, ISSN 0716-1069, Vol. 54, Nº. 1, 2026, págs. 110-113
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • For the first time, underwater videos and photos recorded the presence of shortnose guitarfish (Zapteryx brevirostris) in shallow waters of the Uruguayan Atlantic coast. Sightings of this endangered species were scientifically confirmed by current (2025) and previous records (1999, 2024), which highlight the daytime presence of alive specimens at La Paloma (Rocha Province) and José Ignacio (Maldonado Province). Isolated individuals were detected over rocky formations, while aggregations were associated with sandy bottom. The undefined aggregations could occur year-round or seasonally in this zone. However, more research is required to ecologically link these aggregations to the species' possible life-history activity in the area.