Abstract
The present study includes a list of elasmobranch species present in the Mexican Caribbean and the conservation status of each species with recommendations to improve the management strategies that are ongoing in the region. Since 2015, surveys were conducted in local fisheries, sighting reports were collected, and several published sources, including those from national and international collections and museums, were reviewed. Based on documents, collections, direct records by authors, and local sighting reports, we found 85 elasmobranch species (49 sharks and 36 rays) reported for the Mexican Caribbean, from which 65 species (37 sharks and 28 rays) have been confirmed. The present study increased the total number of elasmobranch species known to be in the Mexican Caribbean by 57. These species belong to 10 orders and 30 families. This represents 41% of the elasmobranch species known for Mexico and 47% of the species reported for the Wester Central Atlantic Ocean. This research provides important baseline information about elasmobranch biodiversity in the Mexican Caribbean with implications in the management and conservation of these species at national and international levels.
