Contribution to the knowledge of the coastal marine fishes of São Tomé Island (Gulf of Guinea) Item Type Journal Contribution Authors Porteiro, F.M.; Barreiros, J.P.; Afonso, P.; Santos, R.S.; Worms, J.; Wirtz, P. Citation Life and marine Sciences , 17A, p. 65-92 Download date 28/09/2021 17:06:29 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/704 GULF OF GUINEA CONSERVATION GROUP GULF OF GUINEA ISLANDS' BIODIVERSITY NETWORK Contribution to the knowledge of the coastal marine fishes of São Tomé Island (Gulf of Guinea) Authors: Ricardo S. Santos1, João P. Barreiros2, Jean Worms3, Filipe M. Porteiro1, Pedro Afonso1 and Peter Wirtz1 Authors’ affiliation: 1 University of the Azores, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, PT 9901-861 Horta, Portugal 2 University of the Azores, Department of Agricultural Sciences, PT 9700 Angra, Portugal 3 Parc National du Banc d’Arguin, Av. Gamal Abdel Nasser, B.P. 53 55 Nouakchott, Mauritania Keywords: fishes, checklist, Gulf of Guinea, São Tomé e Príncipe Correspondence: Pedro Afonso, University of the Azores, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, PT 9901-861 Horta, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Little is known about the ichthyofauna of the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago. Since the early works of Osório, at the turn of the century, only few attempts were made to update and complete existing knowledge on fish systematics and biodiversity from this area. Over the past few years, however, several surveys made it possible to start an inventory of the coastal fishes for the archipelago. These are mainly based on specimens that where captured or observed whilst diving and also on fishes landed on beaches by local artisanal fishermen. A total of 124 species belonging to 108 genera and 61 families was identified. Some specimens, including Serranidae, Gobiidae and Labridae probably belong to undescribed species and are currently being studied. Introduction The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe forms an archipelago located on the equator in the Gulf of Guinea. Fishery provides an important resource for the islands' population, and is organised in a typical artisanal form, using wooden canoes that carry one or two persons (d’Almeida et al. 1996). However, knowledge on the systematics and biodiversity of the Sãotomean coastal ichthyofauna is still very sparse. Since the pioneering publications of Osorio (1891, 1893, 1894, 1898, 1903), only a few works were published. Gascoigne (1993, 1996) compiled a bibliography of publications on the fauna of the archipelago. He lists 26 references dealing with fishes. Since then, to our knowledge, only three more publications appeared that deal with fishes from this area. Wirtz (1997) described the juvenile colour and cleaning habit of Bodianus speciosus, Castro Pampillon (1996) lists the remoras (Echeneididae) of the area, and Debelius’ underwater guide (1997) includes several references and underwater photos taken by one of us (PW). References to marine fishes of São Tomé and Príncipe are, however, probably hidden in other publications. In this paper, we report a list of fish species as the result of several recent activities: a. an expedition organised by the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores (DOP/UAç), in February-March 1993 b. a 3-year survey (1993-95) of the species captured by the local artisanal fishery undertaken by JW in the frame of the P.E.R.H. project (Project d’Évaluation des Ressources Halieutiques) and partly published in D’Almeida et al (1996) c. a trip to collect blennioid fishes by PW in January 1990. Material and Methods Fishes were obtained from local fishermen or directly collected by the authors. The methods used for collection were i. spearfishing; ii. netting; iii. baited hooks; iv. quinaldine, either under water or in tide pools. The following sites were visited (fig. 1): a) DOP/UAç expedition: Praia Melão, Lagoa-Azul, Àgua-Izé Anambó, Praia das Conchas, Praia dos Tamarindos and Sete Pedras b) Sampling sessions for landings during the P.E.R.H. project: Neves, Melão and São João dos Angolares beaches. c) Underwater photography by PW in front of São Tomé harbour, Lagoa Azul, and Santana Island; Blennioids collected in tide-pools near São Tomé City. Figure 1: Sampling sites in São Tomé Island - circles: DOP/UAÇ expedition, rectangles: PARH project landing beaches; crosses: PW underwater photography. Whenever possible, fishes were identified shortly after collection and then preserved in seawater 10% formaldehyde solution. Specimens collected during the 1993 Expedition are deposited in the DOP/UAç collection. Blennioids collected by PW are deposited in the Staatliches Naturkunde Museum, Stuttgart, Germany. Most species observed and/or collected were photographed shortly after capture. These photos are deposited in the DOP/UAç archives (ImagDOP). The main document used for the identification of the species was Blache et al. (1970). To ascertain the taxonomic status of some species, information was cross-checked with other references (Fowler 1936, Fisher et al. 1981, Seret & Opic 1981, Bianchi 1986, Smith & Heemstra 1986, Schneider 1990, Sanches 1991, Allen 1991, Heemstra 1991, Debelius 1997). Fishes are organised by classes, orders and families, according to Nelson (1994). Local vernacular names are given whenever they are known. Results i) Checklist Class Chondrichthyes Order Orectolobiformes • Family Ginglymostomatidae Gynglimostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788) One animal seen in Praia Melão, caught by local fishermen. Underwater photo by PW taken in 12 m depth near a sunken ship in front of São Tomé harbour. Order Carcharhiniformes • Family Carcharhinidae Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppel, 1835) Collected and photographed by JW, caught by local fishermen. Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) Local name: Tubarão martelo Collected and photographed by JW, caught by local fishermen. Order Lamniformes • Family Odontaspididae Eugomphodus taurus (Rafinesque, 1810) One animal seen by DOP when diving in Lagoa Azul, on sandy bottom. Class Actinopterygii Order Elopiformes • Family Elopidae Elops senegalensis Regan 1909 Local name: colepinha malabo Collected by JW, caught by local fishermen. Order Albuliformes • Family Albulidae Albula vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) Local name: colepinha malabo Photographed by DOP, caught by local fishermen. Order Anguilliformes • Family Muraenidae Channomuraena vittata. Richardson, 1848 Local name: moreia Underwater photo by PW taken in 12 m depth near a sunken ship in front of São Tomé harbour. Enchelycore nigricans (Bonnaterre, 1788) Local name: moreia Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, on a reef hole in 2 m depth. Underwater photo by PW taken in 12 m depth near a sunken ship in front of São Tomé harbour. Gymnothorax afer Bloch, 1795 Local name: moreia Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, over sandy bottom in 5 m depth and from tidal rock pool. Gymnothorax mareei Poll, 1953 Local name: moreia Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, in a reef hole in 5 m depth. Muraena melanotis (Kaup, 1860) Local name: moreia Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, in a reef hole in 3 m depth. Underwater photo by PW taken at Lagoa Azul in about 15 m depth, on rocky bottom. Muraena rubusta Osorio, 1909 Local name: moreia Underwater photo by PW taken at Lagoa Azul in about 15 m depth, on rocky bottom. • Family Ophichthidae Myrichthys pardalis (Valenciennes, 1835) Local name: moreia Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, over sandy bottom in 2 and 4 m depth Underwater photo by PW taken on sandy bottom in 4 m depth. Order Clupeiformes • Family Clupeidae Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 Local name: longo Collected by DOP in Lagoa Azul and collected by JW, both caught by local fishermen. Order Aulopiformes • Family Synodontidae Trachinocephalus myops (Forster, 1801) Local name: rainha Collected by JW, caught by local fishermen. Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758) Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, over sandy bottom in 3 m depth. Order Lophiiformes • Family Antenariidae Histrio histrio (Linnaeus, 1758) Local name: asno cota Collected by DOP at Tamarindos sandy beach. Order Beloniformes • Family Belonidae Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846) Local name: agulha espada Collected and photographed by JW, caught by local fishermen. Tylosurus acus rafale Collette & Parin, 1970 Local name: agulha quio. zanve Collected and photographed by JW, caught by local fishermen. • Family Exocoetidae Cypselurus melanurus (Valenciennes, 1846) Local name: voador Observed by DOP at the local market. • Family Hemiramphidae Hemiramphus balao Le Sueur, 1823 Local name: maxipombo Photographed by DOP, caught by local fishermen. Order Beryciformes • Family Holocentridae Adioryx hastatus (Cuvier, 1829) Underwater photo by DOP. Underwater photo by PW taken on rocky wall near Santana Island, in 15 m depth. Also caught by local fishermen. Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck, 1765) Local name: caqui Collected and photographed by DOP in Água-izé caught by local fishermen. Underwater photo by PW taken on rocky wall near Santana Island, in 15 m depth. Myripristis jacobus Cuvier, 1829 Local name: mãe de caqui Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, in a reef hole in 2 m depth. Underwater photo by PW. Collected and photographed by JW, caught by local fishermen. Order Gasterosteiformes • Family Syngnathidae Hippocampus punctulatus Collected and photographed by DOP in Lagoa Azul, over mixed bottom in 2 m depth. Underwater photo by PW on muddy plain