Novel Insigths on Trade and Genetic Lineages of the Amphi-American Guitarfishes Genus Pseudobatos

<p>Most guitarfishes (65.7%) evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List are classified as threatened and are included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Since the 1930s, these species have been subject to a trade in which guitarfishes are cut and modified to resemble mythical creatures and sold as curiosities or for alternative medicine. Identifying species of modified guitarfishes based solely on morphology is challenging due to their similar morphologies, the loss of unique characteristics, and potential for unreliable capture origins. To identify the species of guitarfishes involved in trade, a custom genetic reference library was developed for all described species in the genus <em>Pseudobatos</em>, using NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) for species-level trade documentation. This library demonstrates reliable identification for the majority of <em>Pseudobatos</em> species. Caution is advised for two species that exhibit minimal genetic divergence in ND2, suggesting the need for additional data types (e.g., morphological characteristics) in these cases. To determine the species traded, 34 modified guitarfishes were collected from vendors, including medicinal market shops, curio stores, and online platforms, within Mexico City metropolitan area, and identified to the species-level using the genetic reference library and morphological characteristics. The findings revealed guitarfishes are sourced from both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans for the modified guitarfishes traded, with specimens identified as <em>P. buthi</em>, <em>P. glaucostigma</em>, and P<em>. lentiginosus</em>, all of which are currently threatened with extinction.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Huerta Beltran, Bryan L

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Nicole M. Phillips
• Dr. J. Marcus Drymon
• Dr. Peter M. Kyne

• Pseudobatos
• Mexico
• Guitarfishes
• trade
• guitarfish
• CITES
• Aquaculture and Fisheries
• Genetics and Genomics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/1151

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-2265