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Biological Notes and Distribution of Tetronarce californica (Ayres 1855) (Elasmobranchii: Torpediniformes: Torpedinidae) from the Gulf of California, Mexico

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Abstract

New findings of the Pacific torpedo from the southern portion of the Gulf of California herein reported, were based on two specimens collected in Bahía de La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico: a female [97.5 cm of total length (TL); 21,400 g] and male (67.0 cm of TL; 6400 g). Thus, this study provides -for the first time- the record of a mature female which suggest the presence of a reproductive population of this batoid fish in the gulf. Also, updated information on its biology and distribution is provided in this study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank to the artisanal fisherman Juan Higuera, for the donation the specimens from Bahía de La Paz, through the commercial fishing permit SAGARPA-CONAPESCA (103053993316-1). To Dr. Rick Feeney for his help on the review of specimens housed in LACM. This study was funded by the Project SEP-CONACyT (180894) and SIP-IPN (20181403), received by Dr. Víctor C. Escalona. AFGA and VHCE thank the support of the COFAA and EDI-IPN, and SNI-CONACyT programs. MIBV thanks the support of the CONACyT scholarship.

Funding

This study was funded by the Project SEP-CONACyT (180894) and SIP-IPN (20181403), received by Dr. Víctor C. Escalona.

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Correspondence to María Itzigueri Burgos-Vázquez.

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Burgos-Vázquez, M.I., Cruz-Escalona, V.H. & González-Acosta, A.F. Biological Notes and Distribution of Tetronarce californica (Ayres 1855) (Elasmobranchii: Torpediniformes: Torpedinidae) from the Gulf of California, Mexico. Thalassas 35, 369–374 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-019-00136-4

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