Stranding of a filter-feeding giant: a case report of Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in the Southwestern Equatorial Atlantic

Lucas Werner; Aline da Costa Bomfim Ventura; Ana Bernadete Lima Fragoso; Diogo Mickael Rolim e Silva; Flávio José de Lima Silva; Heloisa Cristina de Morais e Sá Leitão; Radan Elvis Matias de Oliveira; Simone Almeida Gavilan; Daniel Solon Dias de Farias

Authors

Lucas Werner Associação Tubarões da Costa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5588-9095
Aline da Costa Bomfim Ventura Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4678-7534
Ana Bernadete Lima Fragoso Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8648-3212
Diogo Mickael Rolim e Silva Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3863-4098
Flávio José de Lima Silva Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6521-9367
Heloisa Cristina de Morais e Sá Leitão Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8279-2042
Radan Elvis Matias de Oliveira Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0370-4447
Simone Almeida Gavilan Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6790-1696
Daniel Solon Dias de Farias Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5923-8625

Abstract

Abstract The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world and occurs predominantly in tropical and subtropical waters. In Brazil, the species has a wide distribution, but data on its biology and ecology remain scarce. This study reports the first confirmed stranding of an adult whale shark on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. The animal, an 11.5-m-long male, stranded alive in August 2014. Despite rescue efforts, it died naturally, with no evidence of anthropogenic impacts. Necropsy findings confirmed natural death due to multiple organ failure. This case study helps to fill existing knowledge gaps regarding the specie´s biology and ecology in Brazil, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring and research to support whale shark conservation, as well as the importance of strandings records as a management tool for these populations.

Stranding of a filter-feeding giant: a case report of Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in the Southwestern Equatorial Atlantic

Authors

Abstract

Downloads

Published

How to Cite

Issue

Section

Most read articles by the same author(s)