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Scapulocoracoid morphology in the skates of the tribe Riorajini (Elasmobranchii, Rajiformes, Arhynchobatidae)

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Abstract

The scapulocoracoid morphology in batoids has been investigated by previous authors but descriptions and illustrations of its ventral surface are lacking for Riorajini species. Here, we describe and illustrate the lateral and ventral views of the scapulocoracoid in females and males of Rioraja agassizi and Atlantoraja species, and six new measurements are proposed. In adult females, the distance between procondyles, distance between metacondyles, width of the coracoid bar, distance between mesocondyle and metacondyle, and the first posterior ventral foramen width are proportionally wider than in males. In juveniles of the four species, differences between sexes regarding proportional dimensions are less conspicuous. The wider and long scapulocoracoid of females may provide more space and protection for the development of embryos but further investigation is needed. Given the influence of sexual dimorphism in proportional dimensions and morphology of the scapulocoracoid, characters associated to this structure need to be cautiously analyzed in future phylogenetic studies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Maria Cristina Oddone (Fundação Universidade do Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul) and Acácio R. G. Tomas (Instituto de Pesca de Santos, São Paulo) for the donation of most specimens examined in this study. The first author was supported by CAPES (Finance Code 001).

Funding

The first author was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Finance Code 001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Ictiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Trav. 14, nº 101, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil

    Karla D. A. Soares

  2. Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Laboratório de Taxonomia de Elasmobrânquios, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-900, Brazil

    Ulisses L. Gomes & Hugo R. S. Santos

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  1. Karla D. A. Soares
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  2. Ulisses L. Gomes
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  3. Hugo R. S. Santos
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All authors made substantial contributions to the conception of the work, the interpretation of data, drafted the text, edited the figures, and read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Karla D. A. Soares.

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Soares, K.D.A., Gomes, U.L. & Santos, H.R.S. Scapulocoracoid morphology in the skates of the tribe Riorajini (Elasmobranchii, Rajiformes, Arhynchobatidae). Zoomorphology 139, 493–500 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-020-00504-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-020-00504-2

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