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Corresponding author: José Martín Ramírez ( montevivo100@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Maria Elina Bichuette
© 2019 José Martín Ramírez, Ana Rosa Vázquez-Bader, Adolfo Gracia.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Ramírez JM, Vázquez-Bader AR, Gracia A (2019) Ichthyofaunal list of the continental slope of the southern Gulf of Mexico. ZooKeys 846: 117-132. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.846.31944
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Four oceanographic cruises were carried out between April 2011 and May 2013 on the continental slope of the southern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in a depth range of 290 to 1200 m on board the R/V JUSTO SIERRA. A total of 91 trawls covered a total swept area of 170.49 hectares. We recorded 177 fish species belonging to 80 families. Fifteen species extended their distribution into the south of the gulf and 37 increased their depth ranges. Five species could have commercial importance: Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839; Hydrolagus mirabilis (Collett, 1904); Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809); Lophius gastrophysus Miranda Ribeiro, 1915, and Merluccius albidus (Mitchill, 1818). The most abundant species were Polymixia lowei Günther, 1859; Parasudis truculenta (Goode & Bean, 1896); M. albidus, Chlorophthalmus agassizi Bonaparte, 1840; Dibranchus atlanticus Peters, 1876; Nezumia aequalis (Günther, 1878); Yarrella blackfordi Goode & Bean, 1896; and Laemonema barbatulum Goode & Bean, 1883. High values of fish species richness, diversity, and evenness were registered throughout the study area. A high percentage of the fish species (97%) collected during this project are distributed in the entire GoM. Most of the species showed a wide depth distribution; however, a vertical zonation of species can be observed.
Deep water, fishes, new records, species richness
The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is one of the most productive and economically important ecosystems in the world (
Few investigations about fish biodiversity have been conducted on the continental slope, and most have focused on different ecological aspects of demersal fish communities in the northern part of the GoM (
Since there were not studies of fish communities in the southern deep-water of the GoM, the ichthyological inventory of this ecosystem is not yet completed. The Mexican portion of the GoM deep water has recently become an area of interest because of its oil extraction potential (
In this study we present information of the fish biodiversity of the scarce explored continental slope of the southern GoM. Our study is the first one that systematically analyzes the deep-water fish fauna in this region.
The GoM is in a subtropical region that measures 1600 km from east-to-west and 1300 km from north-to-south. It is influenced by the Caribbean Sea due to the transport of water masses via the Loop Current flowing into the gulf through the Yucatan Channel and out of the gulf through the Straits of Florida. Winds, especially in winter also impact gulf circulation (
Locations of the oceanographic cruises: COBERPES 2; COBERPES 3; COBERPES 4; and COBERPES 5. Abbreviations: ne: north-east; nw: north-west; se: south-east; sw: south-west; Al: Alabama; Atl: Atlantic; Bl: Belize; Cp: Campeche; La: Louisiana; Ms: Mississippi; Mx: Mexico; Pac: Pacific; QR: Quintana Roo; Tb: Tabasco; Tm: Tamaulipas; Tx: Texas; US: United States; Vz: Veracruz; Yc: Yucatan. Gulf of Mexico division taken from
This research forms part of the project “Biodiversity and Potential Fishing Resources in Deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico," through which oceanographic cruises (Benthic communities and potential fishing resources in the Gulf of Mexico deep waters, COBERPES) were conducted on the Mexican continental slope of the GoM on board the R/VJUSTO SIERRA of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Four oceanographic cruises were carried out from April 2011 to May 2013: COBERPES 2 and COBERPES 3 on the Yucatan Slope; COBERPES 4, off the coast of Tamaulipas and COBERPES 5 on the Campeche Bank (Table
Cruise | Date | Geographic locations | Number of samples | Area (ha) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COBERPES 2 | 07–15 Apr 2011 | 23°02'46"N, 86°26'34"W | 23°30'98"N, 89°49'42"W | 24°22'60"N, 87°42'98"W | 22°53'05"N, 86°15'49"W | 28 | 46.79 |
COBERPES 3 | 13–19 Nov 2011 | 22°25'65"N, 91°26'49"W | 19°19'38"N, 93°02'54"W | 22°23'93"N, 91°37'41"W | 19°33'82"N, 93°01'46"W | 20 | 34.87 |
COBERPES 4 | 23–30 Aug 2012 | 23°30'73"N, 97°12'79"W | 25°47'30"N, 96°14'83"W | 24°54'93"N, 96°36'91"W | 25°45'97"N, 96°13'05"W | 20 | 38.58 |
COBERPES 5 | 22–31 May 2013 | 19°03'92"N, 94°05'53"W | 18°45'66"N, 94°22'13"W | 19°00'80"N, 93°50'35"W | 19°48'22"N, 92°59'11"W | 23 | 50.25 |
In the laboratory, fishes were identified to species level. The names, authorities, and years of the descriptions were cross-referenced against the
Ninety-one trawls covering a 290–1200 m depth range were done in the different regions of the southern GoM during the four oceanographic cruises. The numbers of successful trawls at each depth stratum were 300 m: 17; 400 m: 11; 500 m: 16; 600 m: 8; 700 m: 11; 800 m: 11; 900 m: 6; and 1000 m: 4, corresponding to 170 hectares total swept area. Seven trawls failed (Table
List of the fish community. Presence and depth distribution ranges of fish species in the different cruises and literature reported (
COBERPES cruises | Reported distribution and depth range (m) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specie | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Species depth range (m) | |
Antigonia capros Lowe, 1843 | X | 296 | entire/50–900 | |||
Antigonia combatia Berry & Rathjen, 1959 | X | 308 | Fl, Al, Bl/68–585 | |||
Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839 | X | 823 | Atl, Vz/200–2300 | |||
Apristurus laurussonii (Saemundsson, 1922) | X | 562–937 | Ms, Al, Tx, Fl, Mx/500–1000 | |||
Argentina georgei Cohen & Atsaides, 1969** | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/220–457 |
Argyropelecus aculeatus Valenciennes, 1850 | X | X | X | 436–825 | entire/100–2056 | |
Aristostomias tittmanni Welsh, 1923 | X | 974 | entire/100–2000 | |||
Astronesthes similus Parr, 1927 | X | 611 | entire/0–800 | |||
Atractodenchelys phrix Robins & Robins, 1970** | X | X | 534–600 | Cb, Fl, Cu, Vz/385–425 | ||
Baldwinella aureorubens (Longley, 1935) | X | X | 300–611 | Mx/91–610 | ||
Baldwinella vivanus (Jordan & Swain, 1885) | X | X | X | 300 | Mx/20–610 | |
Barathronus bicolor Goode & Bean, 1886 | 846 | entire/366–1561 | ||||
Barbantus curvifrons (Roule & Angel, 1931) | X | 953 | ne, nw, Fl/0–4500 | |||
Bathyclupea argentea Goode & Bean, 1896** | X | X | X | 300–677 | entire/366–677 | |
Bathycongrus dubius (Breder, 1927) | X | 327 | entire/120–886 | |||
Bathycongrus vicinalis (Garman, 1899) | X | 477 | Mx, US, Cb/101–503 | |||
Bathygadus favosus Goode & Bean, 1886 | X | X | 904–1068 | entire/770–2745 | ||
Bathygadus macrops Goode & Bean, 1885** | X | X | X | X | 494–1068 | entire/200–777 |
Bathygadus melanobranchus Vaillant, 1888 | X | X | X | X | 602–1071 | entire/400–2600 |
Bathypterois bigelowi Mead, 1958 | X | X | 534–780 | entire/377–986 | ||
Bathypterois grallator (Goode & Bean, 1886) | X | 953 | entire/878–4720 | |||
Bathypterois quadrifilis Günther, 1878 | X | 865 | entire/462–1408 | |||
Bathypterois viridensis (Roule, 1916) | X | X | X | 593–904 | entire/476–1477 | |
Bathyuroconger vicinus (Vaillant, 1888) | X | X | 477 | ne, nw, Tm/100>1000 | ||
Bembrops anatirostris Ginsburg, 1955** | X | X | X | X | 300–611 | entire/82–538 |
Bembrops gobioides (Goode, 1880)** | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/82–740 |
Benthodesmus simonyi (Steindachner, 1891)* | X | X | 436–500 | ne/200–900 | ||
Benthodesmus tenuis (Günther, 1877) | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | nw, ne, Mx/200–850 |
Bolinichthys supralateralis (Parr, 1928) | X | X | X | 599–677 | entire/40–850 | |
Bregmaceros atlanticus Goode & Bean, 1886 | X | 300–462 | entire/50–2000 | |||
Bregmaceros cantori Milliken & Houde, 1984*** | X | 812 | ne/0–475 | |||
Bregmaceros houdei Saksena & Richards, 1986*** | X | X | 346–611 | ne/>50 | ||
Brotulotaenia nigra Parr, 1933*** | X | X | 800–953 | Atl/1000–1100 | ||
Caulolatilus cyanops Poey, 1866 | X | 300–500 | entire/45–459 | |||
Chascanopsetta lugubris Alcock, 1894 | X | 358–426 | entire/60–3210 | |||
Chauliodus sloani Bloch & Schneider, 1801 | X | X | X | X | 300–953 | entire/0–4700 |
Chaunax pictus Lowe, 1846 | X | X | X | X | 321–865 | ne, nw, Tb/200–978 |
Chiasmodon sp. | X | 780 | ne, Tb, QR | |||
Chlorophthalmus agassizi Bonaparte, 1840 | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/50–3000 |
Citharichthys dinoceros Goode & Bean, 1886 | X | 336–423 | ne, QR, Bl, Cu/180–2000 | |||
Coccorella atlantica (Parr, 1928) | X | 995 | entire/50–1000 | |||
Coelorinchus caribbaeus (Goode & Bean, 1885)** | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/200–700 | |
Coelorinchus caelorhincus (Risso, 1810) | X | X | X | 436–800 | entire/90–1485 | |
Coelorinchus occa (Goode & Bean, 1885) | X | X | X | 321–820 | entire/400–2220 | |
Coelorinchus ventrilux Marshall & Iwamoto, 1973 | X | X | X | X | 300–534 | se, sw/300>500 |
Coloconger meadi Kanazawa, 1957 | X | X | 494–846 | Tm, Vz, ne, nw/366–925 | ||
Conocara macropterum (Vaillant, 1888)** | X | X | X | 354–1071 | Mx/800–2200 | |
Coryphaenoides alateralis Marsahll & Iwamoto, 1973 | X | 904 | Mx/1035–1116 | |||
Coryphaenoides mexicanus (Parr, 1946) | X | 534–937 | Mx/110–1600 | |||
Coryphaenoides zaniophorus (Vaillant, 1888) | X | X | X | 677–1065 | entire/400–2775 | |
Cruriraja rugosa Bigelow & Schroeder, 1958 | X | X | X | 321–825 | Mx/366–1007 | |
Cyttopsis rosea (Lowe, 1843) | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | Mx/100>1000 |
Dactylobatus clarkii (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1958) | X | 626 | Mx/366–1000 | |||
Diaphus dumerilii (Bleeker, 1856) | X | X | 423–823 | entire/0–850 | ||
Diaphus fragilis (Tåning, 1928) | X | 823 | entire/15–1313 | |||
Dibranchus atlanticus Peters, 1876 | X | X | X | X | 300–1071 | entire/22–1300 |
Dicrolene introniger Goode & Bean, 1883 | X | X | X | 321–1071 | entire/200–1785 | |
Diplacanthopoma brachysoma Günther, 1887 | X | X | 494–766 | entire/439–1670 | ||
Dipturus oregoni (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1958) | X | 611 | Mx/369–1079 | |||
Dipturus teevani (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951) | X | 540–800 | Cp/311–940 | |||
Diretmoides pauciradiatus (Woods, 1973)** | X | X | X | X | 321–800 | entire/0–600 |
Epigonus denticulatus Dieuzeide, 1950 | X | X | X | 354–800 | Mx/130–830 | |
Epigonus macrops (Brauer, 1906) | X | 766–823 | entire/550–1300 | |||
Epigonus occidentalis Goode & Bean, 1896 | X | X | 573–700 | Vz, Tm/360–737 | ||
Epigonus oligolepis Mayer, 1974 | X | 540–619 | Mx/380–660 | |||
Epigonus pandionis (Goode & Bean, 1881) | X | X | X | 419–494 | Cp/200–600 | |
Epigonus pectinifer Mayer, 1974 | X | 346–677 | Mx/100–1200 | |||
Eptatretus caribbeaus Fernholm, 1982*** | X | 597 | Cb/300–400 | |||
Espringeria folirostris Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951 | X | X | X | 354–800 | ne, nw, se, sw/50–1052 | |
Etmopterus schultzi Bigelow, Schroeder & Springer, 1953 | X | X | X | X | 300–852 | entire/200–1000 |
Etmopterus virens Bigelow, Schroeder & Springer, 1953 | X | X | X | X | 392–800 | Mx/100–1000 |
Gadella imberbis (Vaillant, 1888) | X | X | X | X | 300–974 | Mx, Cb, Cu/70>900 |
Gadomus arcuatus (Goode & Bean, 1886)** | X | X | X | X | 321–1068 | entire/610–1370 |
Gadomus dispar (Vaillant, 1888) | X | X | 611–677 | Tm/548–1105 | ||
Gadomus longifilis (Goode & Bean, 1885)** | X | X | X | X | 321–1071 | entire/630–2168 |
Galeus arae (Nichols, 1927) | X | X | 358–780 | Mx/250–750 | ||
Gibberichthys pumilus Parr, 1933 | X | 746 | entire/300–1100 | |||
Gigantura chuni Brauer, 1901 | X | 540 | entire/0–1830 | |||
Gymothorax kolpos Böhlke & Böhlke, 1980 | X | 336 | entire/30–300 | |||
Halieutichthys aculeatus (Mitchill, 1818) | X | 611 | entire/8–820 | |||
Halosaurus ovenii Johnson, 1864 | X | X | X | X | 321–1068 | entire/300>2000 |
Helicolenus dactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809) | X | 426 | Mx/50–1100 | |||
Hemantias leptus (Ginsburg, 1952) | X | 611 | entire/35–640 | |||
Heptranchias perlo (Bonnaterre, 1788) | X | 436 | entire/0–1000 | |||
Hollardia hollardi Poey, 1861 | X | X | X | 300–800 | Mx/230–915 | |
Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, 1829* | X | X | X | 354–800 | ne/100–1750 | |
Hoplunnis tenuis Ginsburg, 1951** | X | X | 302–611 | entire/30>400 | ||
Hydrolagus alberti Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951 | X | X | X | 494–1068 | entire/348–1470 | |
Hydrolagus mirabilis (Collett, 1904) | X | X | X | 462–812 | entire/450–1933 | |
Hygophum reinhardtii (Lütken, 1892) | X | 611 | entire/0–1100 | |||
Hymenocephalus aterrimus Gilbert, 1905 | X | 354–540 | entire/340–1348 | |||
Hymenocephalus billsam Marshall & Iwamoto, 1973 | X | 573–711 | entire/400–900 | |||
Hymenocephalus italicus Giglioli, 1884 | X | X | X | X | 428–800 | entire/100–1400 |
Ijimaia antillarum Howell Rivero, 1935** | X | X | X | X | 462–1068 | entrire/439>700 |
Laemonema barbatulum Goode & Bean, 1883* | X | X | X | X | 426–937 | QR/50–1620 |
Leptoderma macrops Vaillant,1886 | X | X | X | X | 700–1065 | Mx/500–2000 |
Leucoraja garmani (Whitley, 1939)** | X | X | X | X | 300–800 | Mx/37–530 |
Leucoraja lentiginosa (Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951)** | X | X | X | X | 346–852 | entire/53–538 |
Lophiodes beroe Caruso, 1981* | X | X | X | 462–735 | ne/347–860 | |
Lophiodes monodi (Le Danois , 1971)** | X | X | X | 419–800 | ne, se/366–549 | |
Lophiodes reticulatus Caruso & Suttkus, 1979 | X | 590–619 | entire/64–820 | |||
Lophius gastrophysus Miranda Ribeiro,1915 | X | 599 | entire/40–700 | |||
Luciobrotula corethromycter Cohen,1964 | X | X | 606–846 | Mx/220–1830 | ||
Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758)* | X | 308 | ne, nw, Cu/25–600 | |||
Malacocephalus laevis (Lowe, 1843) | X | X | X | X | 300–800 | entire/200–1000 |
Malacocephalus occidentalis Goode & Bean, 1885 | X | X | X | X | 308–800 | entire/140–1495 |
Merluccius albidus (Mitchill, 1818) | X | X | X | X | 300–852 | entire/80–1170 |
Monolene sessilicauda Goode, 1880 | X | X | 336–1046 | ne, nw, sw/0>3000 | ||
Monomitopus agassizii (Goode & Bean, 1896) | X | X | X | X | 300–1071 | entire/48–1125 |
Myctophum nitidulum Garman,1899 | X | 823 | entire/0–1537 | |||
Nemichthys scolopaceus Richardson, 1848 | X | 321 | ne, nw, Yc, Cu/100–4337 | |||
Neoepinnula americana (Grey, 1953) | X | X | 300–370 | Yc/0–600 | ||
Neoscopelus macrolepidotus Johnson, 1863* | X | X | X | X | 300–852 | ne, nw, Cu, Tb/300–1180 |
Neoscopelus microchir Matsubara, 1943* | X | X | 300–814 | ne, nw, Cu, Bh/60>900 | ||
Nettastoma melanurum Rafinesque, 1810 | X | X | X | X | 300–852 | entire/37–1647 |
Nezumia aequalis (Günther, 1878) | X | X | X | X | 321–973 | entire/200–2320 |
Nezumia cyrano Marshall & Iwamoto, 1973** | X | X | X | X | 321–1071 | entire/400–1324 |
Nezumia suilla Marsahll & Iwamoto, 1973 | X | 904–1046 | entire/860–1500 | |||
Oxinotus caribbaeus Cervigón, 1961** | X | 800 | Yc/402–457 | |||
Parasudis truculenta (Goode & Bean, 1896) | X | X | X | X | 300–846 | entire/0>1000 |
Parazen pacificus Kamohara, 1935 | X | 300 | Cp, Cu/145–512 | |||
Peristedion ecuadorense Teague, 1961* | X | X | 392–814 | ne, nw/324–910 | ||
Peristedion greyae Miller, 1967** | X | X | X | X | 300–1071 | entire/60–914 |
Peristedion longispatha Goode & Bean, 1886 | X | X | 302–553 | entire/101–787 | ||
Peristedion miniatum Goode, 1880 | X | X | X | 300–500 | entire/64–910 | |
Peristedion thompsoni Fowler, 1952* | X | 358–423 | ne, nw, Cu/115–475 | |||
Peristedion truncatum (Günther, 1880) | X | X | X | 336–852 | Vz, Yc/155–910 | |
Photostomias guernei Collett, 1889 | X | 540–772 | entire/500–3100 | |||
Poecilopsetta beanii (Goode, 1881) | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/155–1636 |
Polyipnus asteroides Schultz, 1938* | X | X | 300–820 | ne, nw/0>1000 | ||
Polymetme thaeocoryla Parin & Borodulina, 1990 | X | X | X | X | 300–953 | entire/165–1400 |
Polymixia lowei Günther, 1859 | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/0>2000 |
Pontinus longispinis Goode & Bean, 1896** | X | X | X | 300–611 | entire/50–440 | |
Prionotus alatusGoode&Bean,1883** | X | 611 | Yc/35–457 | |||
Prionotus stearnsi Jordan & Swain, 1885 | X | X | X | 308–346 | entire/11–549 | |
Pristipomoides macrophthalmus (Müller & Jelks, 1848)** | X | 611 | ne, nw, Cp/110–550 | |||
Promethichthys prometheus (Cuvier, 1832) | X | X | 540–609 | ne, Cu, Yc/80–800 | ||
Pseudomyrophis frio (Jordan & Davis, 1891)** | X | 494 | sw, Atl, Yc/0–180 | |||
Pseudoraja fischeri Bigelow & Schroeder, 1954 | X | 534–580 | Yc/412–576 | |||
Rinoctes nasutus (Koefoed, 1927) | X | 1068 | ne, nw, Yc/1000–4337 | |||
Rouleinia maderensis Maul, 1948 | X | X | X | 852–1068 | ne, Cu/595–1450 | |
Saurida caribbaea Breder, 1927 | X | X | 308–422 | entire/4–460 | ||
Saurida normani Longley, 1935 | X | X | X | 300–611 | entire/25–550 | |
Scopelosaurus smithii Bean, 1925 | X | 953 | ne, Vz/50>3000 | |||
Scorpaena dispar Longley & Hildebrand, 1940** | X | X | X | X | 300–812 | entire/0>500 |
Scyliorhinus retifer (Garman, 1881) | X | X | 300–812 | entire/36–750 | ||
Setarches guentheri Johnson, 1862 | X | 392 | ne, nw, Yc, QR/150–780 | |||
Sigmops elongatum (Günther, 1878) | X | X | X | X | 494–1068 | entire/25–1463 |
Sphagemacrurus grenadae (Parr, 1946)** | X | X | X | X | 820–1071 | entire/1000–1960 |
Squalogadus modificatus Gilbert&Hubbs,1916 | X | X | 865–995 | entire/50–1740 | ||
Squalus cubensis Howell Rivero, 1936** | X | X | X | X | 300–608 | entire/60>500 |
Squatina dumeril Lesueur, 1818 | X | 354–370 | entire/0–1375 | |||
Steindachneria argentea Goode & Bean, 1886 | X | X | 300–370 | entire/350–550 | ||
Stephanoberyx monae Gill, 1883 | X | X | X | 628–953 | entire/945–4777 | |
Sternoptyx diaphana Hermann, 1781 | X | X | X | 577–1065 | entire/300–3676 | |
Sternoptyx pseudobscura Baird, 1971 | X | X | 628–953 | entire/0>3000 | ||
Stomias affinis Günther, 1887 | X | X | 611–772 | entire/0–3180 | ||
Symbolophorus rufinus (Tåning, 1928) | X | 327 | entire/0–3000 | |||
Synagrops bellus (Goode & Bean, 1896) | X | X | X | X | 300–974 | entire/00>900 |
Synagrops spinosus Schultz, 1940** | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/0–544 |
Synaphobranchus affinis Günther, 1877 | 820 | entire/290–2400 | ||||
Synaphobranchus oregoni Castle, 1960 | X | X | X | X | 377–1071 | entire/45–1900 |
Synchiropus agassizii (Goode & Bean, 1888) | X | X | 336–426 | Mx, Cb, Cp/0–500 | ||
Tetronarce nobiliana (Bonaparte, 1835) | X | 540 | ne, nw, Cp, Yc/0–530 | |||
Thaumatichthys binghami Parr, 1927** | X | 820 | ne, nw, Cb/1100–4032 | |||
Trachonurus sulcatus (Goode & Bean, 1885)** | X | X | X | X | 626–1068 | entire/700–1500 |
Trachyscorpia cristulata (Goode & Bean, 1896) | 619–628 | ne, Cb, Mx/130–1100 | ||||
Urophycis cirrata (Goode & Bean, 1896)** | X | X | X | 300–825 | entire/27>700 | |
Venefica procera (Goode & Bean, 1883) | X | X | X | 327–953 | ne, nw, Tm, Vz/326–2340 | |
Ventrifossa macropogon Marshall, 1973** | X | X | X | 300–846 | Tm, Yc/439–1000 | |
Ventrifossa mucocephalus Marshall, 1973*** | X | X | X | X | 300–814 | ne, Cb/450–732 |
Xenocephalus egregius (Jordan & Thompson, 1905) | X | X | 370–423 | entire/180–440 | ||
Xenodermichthys copei (Gill, 1884) | X | X | 590–865 | ne, nw, Vz, Tb/100–2650 | ||
Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi Gilchrist, 1922 | X | X | 346–547 | Tm, Cp/90–900 | ||
Yarrella blackfordi Goode & Bean, 1896 | X | X | X | X | 321–1071 | entire/350–1000 |
Zalieutes mcgintyi (Fowler, 1952) | X | 300–394 | entire/70–500 | |||
Zenion hololepis (Goode & Bean, 1896)** | X | X | X | X | 300–825 | Cp, Tb/180–700 |
The most abundant species were P. lowei (1206 individuals), P. truculenta, M. albidus, C. agassizi, D. atlanticus, N. aequalis, Y. blackfordi, and L. barbatulum. Among these, P. lowei and C. agassizi are outstanding, with a relative abundance greater than 10%, and D. atlanticus, and M. albidus with a relative frequency of more than 50% (Fig.
The lowest richness was found in the Yucatan slope area near the Caribbean Sea (COBERPES 2), with a total of 27 species and a mean of 11.81 ± 5.71 (SD) species per trawl, whereas, the highest one was registered in the Campeche Bay (COBERPES 5) with 39 species (17.26 ± 9.06 species per trawl), however, a high fish species richness (>30 species) was recorded at different sites throughout the GoM (Fig.
Fifteen species extended their distribution into the continental slope of the southern GoM: Eptatretus caribbeaus Fernholm, 1982; Ventrifossa mucocephalus Marshall, 1973; L. barbatulum; Brotulotaenia nigra Parr, 1933; Lophiodes beroe Caruso, 1981; Hoplostethus mediterraneus Cuvier, 1829; Benthodesmus simonyi (Steindachner, 1891); Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758); Bregmaceros cantori Milliken & Houde, 1984; Bregmaceros houdei Saksena & Richards, 1986; Peristedion ecuadorense Teague, 196; Peristedion thompsoni Fowler, 1952; Polyipnus asteroides Schultz, 1938; Neoscopelus microchir Johnson, 1863, and Neoscopelus macrolepidotus Matsubara, 1943 (Table
Thirty seven species increased its depth range distribution (Table
The species accumulation curve suggests that we registered most of the fish species found on soft bottoms of the continental slope of the southern GoM. Nevertheless, since the species accumulation curve continued to increase, the inventory still appears to be inconclusive. This situation is congruent with the fact that the sampling effort in the GoM deep waters has been low, particularly in the south. We identified 177 species which represent 12% of the total fish species (1541) reported for all habitats in continental shelf and deep waters including demersal and pelagic fishes of the GoM (
Based on the fish list elaborated by
The highest species richness recorded in the continental slope of the Campeche Bay (COBERPES 5), is probably influenced by the high freshwater discharge of the largest hydrological system in the southern GoM: Grijalva-Usumacinta during summer, which inputs 62% of the total freshwater to the mexican GoM (
Five species captured in this survey are of commercial importance in other parts of the world. M. albidus was one of the second most frequent species (50%) which accounted greatly to total biomass (72.296 kg) and presented relatively large sizes (total length = 103–555 mm). This species could have a fishing potential in the GoM, as it was an important fishing resource in the US Atlantic in the early 1990s, but its production decreased significantly over a 10-year period of exploitation (
Compiling data of fish species of this study as well as from the literature (
This result is consistent with the distribution of deep water fishes inhabiting large bathymetric areas due to more stable environmental conditions in these habitats (
Our results suggest that a high number of species dwelling on the continental slope are shared between the north and south of the GoM. We recorded an extension in distribution into the south of the GoM and also bathymetrically of several fish species. New records are highly likely to be increased if sampling effort continues both geographically and bathymetrically, since the species cumulative curve did not reach an asymptote. This research contributes to the knowledge of the deep water fish community of the GoM, never studied before in the southern region. However, information needs to be enhanced since deep water natural resources of the southern GoM could be subject to increasing human pressures in the near future.
Our acknowledgements are due to Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT), Proyecto IN223109-3 of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and to the crew of the R/V Justo Sierra for their support in conducting the cruises. The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) is greatly appreciated for the PhD scholarship. Particularly, we extended thanks to our colleagues of the laboratory of Ecología Pesquera de Crustáceos, ICML, UNAM: Rosa María Hernández Díaz, Diana Torres Galíndez, Magaly Galván Palmerín, Linda Trejo Torres, Sandra Antonio Bueno, Andrea Yazmín López Chávez, León Felipe González Morales, and Iván Martínez Romero. Thanks also to the staff of the Department of Hidrobiología of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa (UAM-I): Verónica Escobar Morales, Araceli Soto Ávila, Obeth Ayala Medina, Luis Arturo Ponza Ramos, and David Herrera Olayo.