Spotting the "small eyes": using photo-ID methodology to study a wild population of smalleye stingrays (Megatrygon microps) in southern Mozambique.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The smalleye stingray (Megatrygon microps) is a large and rare dasyatid ray, patchily distributed across the Indo-West Pacific. Free-swimming individuals have regularly been recorded in Southern Mozambican coastal waters utilizing different inshore environments. Distinctive features of the species include latitudinal rows of white spots on the dorsal surface of their pectoral disc.

Methods

This study aimed to determine if the natural spot patterns on M. microps are sufficiently unique and stable to use in photo-identification studies of wild populations. Research dive logs were combined with opportunistic photographs from local dive centers and recreational divers to create a photographic database from the Inhambane Province coastline.

Results

SUBMITTER: Boggio-Pasqua A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6568249 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature