Vol. 20 No. 3 (2015), Marine Biology, Oceanography, Ecology
Vol. 20 No. 3 (2015)

Sexual dimorphism of sharks from the amazonian equatorial coast

Marine Biology, Oceanography, Ecology
Published 2015-09-03
Jorge Luiz Silva Nunes
Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Cidade Universitária do Bacanga, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
Ana Paula Barbosa Martins
Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Cidade Universitária do Bacanga, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
Ednaldo da Silva Filho
Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves, Belém-Pará, Brazil.
Leonardo Manir Feitosa
Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Biologia, av. dos Portugueses, S/N, Bacanga –São Luís– Maranhão, Brazil.
Luiz Phelipe Nunes e Silva
Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Conservação, Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Cidade Universitária do Bacanga, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
Zafira da Silva de Almeida
Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Laboratório de Pesca e Ecologia Aquática, Cidade Universitária Paulo VI, S/N, Tirirical –São Luís– Maranhão, Brazil.
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Keywords

sexual dimorphism
sharks
ecological features
Carcharhinidae

How to Cite

Sexual dimorphism of sharks from the amazonian equatorial coast. (2015). Universitas Scientiarum, 20(3), 297-304. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.SC20-3.sdos
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Abstract

Sexual dimorphism is a widespread feature in several groups of vertebrates. Chondrichthyans differ sexually due to the presence of the clasper, a structure for internal fertilization, and other sexual differences in secondary characteristics. Nevertheless, studies assessing these variations are fairly rare. The main goal of this study is to identify differences in sexual dimorphism in three species of sharks from the Carcharhinidae family (Rhizoprionodon porosus, Carcharhinus porosus and Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus) using morphometric tools. A total of 213 specimens were captured in the Amazonian Equatorial Coast and analyzed using 65 morphometric characters. Discriminant analysis and The Student's t-test were used to demonstrate the morphological differences among sexes. Sexual dimorphism was reported at different levels for the three species. This study suggests that the most likely explanation for the presence of these variations is related to their reproductive characteristics and mating behavior.

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