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First Confirmed Record of the Longfin Mako Shark (Isurus paucus) for Puerto Rico
Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni1,2,*, Daritzel Cintrón-Nieves1, Glorimar Franqui-Rivera3, Raimundo Espinoza4, Juan M. Orcera-Iglesias1, Pedro J. Rivera-Ilarraza1, Carla I. Rivera-Pérez1,2, and Grisel Rodríguez-Ferrer3,5
1Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center, Inter American University of Puerto Rico, 500 Carretera John Will Harris, Bayamon, PR 00957, USA. 2Center for Conservation Medicine and Ecosystem Health, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies. 3Marine Genomics Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA. 4Conservación ConCiencia, 806 Calle Lafayette, San Juan, PR 00909, USA. 5Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico, PO Box 366147, San Juan, PR 00936, USA. *Corresponding author.
Caribbean Naturalist, No. 71 (2020)
Abstract
Isurus paucus (Longfin Mako) is a mesopelagic shark inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters. While records of Longfin Makos have been documented for the Western North Atlantic, only a few records exist for the Caribbean. On 3 March 2019, a large shark was found stranded off Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. We thoroughly examined the carcass and identified it as a 333-cm adult female shark with diagnostic characteristics consistent with that of a Longfin Mako. We analyzed collected skin for species identification, which confirmed the identification genetically. Longfin Makos are subjected to extensive fishing, both commercially and recreationally. Thus, they are of conservation concern due to their sparse distribution, low abundance, and external threats. International conservation measures need to be implemented to protect this squalid.
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