Species, sex, size and male maturity composition of ... - Seaturtle.org

10 A. B. M. MOORE ET AL.
exceptions: (1) two subtly different species of cownose rays Rhinoptera sp., for
which field identification characters (Last et al., 2010b) only became available at the
end of the survey, and (2) a number of morphologically similar Carcharhinus species
in the initial part of the first survey (Kuwait in 2008). Undescribed taxa [whipray
Himantura sp. B sensu Manjaji, 2004; guitarfish Rhinobatos cf. punctifer (‘RHY’
sensu Henderson et al., 2007)] were also recorded, as was a cryptic species complex
[Himantura uarnak (Gmelin 1789)]. Preliminary examination of barcode data,
photographs and specimens indicates that taxonomic clarification is also required for
several more batoid species collected in this survey (White et al., 2010; R. D. Ward,
W. White, P. Last, pers. comms.).
TAXONOMIC COMPOSITION
A total of 39 elasmobranch species (including the H. uarnak species complex)
were recorded during the survey, comprising 21 shark, five guitarfish and 13 ray
species (Table I). These belonged to a total of 13 families, of which the most
species-rich were whaler sharks (Carcharhinidae, 14 species) and stingrays (Dasyatidae,
five species). The vast majority (c. 80%) of elasmobranchs were sharks, with
rays comprising c. 16%; guitarfishes were relatively unimportant overall (c. 4%).
Amongst the sharks, carcharhinids dominated (c. 73% of total individuals), with
weasel sharks (Hemigaleidae) and carpetsharks (Hemiscyllidae) comprising c. 3%
each. Houndsharks (Triakidae) and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae) each comprised