Unusual record of a multiple predation of the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus by the Narrownose smooth-hound Mustelus schmitti in Argentine coastal waters

Authors

  • Mauro Belleggia Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP), Paseo Victoria Ocampo Nº 1, Escollera Norte, B7602HSA - Mar del Plata, Argentina - Laboratorio de Biología de Peces, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, B7602AYL - Mar del Plata, Argentina - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
  • María G. Pujol Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales “Lorenzo Scaglia”, Libertad 3099, B7600 - Mar del Plata, Argentina
  • María L. Estalles Instituto de Formación Docente Continua - San Antonio Oeste, Islas Malvinas 1190, R8520 - San Antonio Oeste, Argentina
  • Daniel E. Figueroa Laboratorio de Biología de Peces, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Funes 3350, B7602AYL - Mar del Plata, Argentina - Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
  • Diego C. Luzzatto Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47193/mafis.3422021010604

Keywords:

Crypsis, diet, ‘El Rincón’, Syngnathidae, Triakidae

Abstract

Seahorses (Genus Hippocampus) are rarely reported as prey items. Their low population numbers, their ability to blend with the environment and their low palatability are the features making them an unsuitable option for predators. Five individuals of the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus were found in the stomach of a single narrownose smooth-hound shark Mustelus schmitti from a sample of 959 stomachs analyzed. This rare record in a single stomach out of hundreds analyzed suggests that these individuals might have clustered in a group which was detected by the opportunistic M. schmitti.

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References

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Published

2021-07-01

How to Cite

Belleggia, M., Pujol, M. G., Estalles, M. L., Figueroa, D. E. and Luzzatto, D. C. (2021) “Unusual record of a multiple predation of the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus by the Narrownose smooth-hound Mustelus schmitti in Argentine coastal waters”, Marine and Fishery Sciences (MAFIS), 34(2), pp. 269–274. doi: 10.47193/mafis.3422021010604.

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