(On the presence of the basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus [Gunnerus, 1765] [Elasmobranchii, Cetorhinidae], in the southeastern and southern Brazil)

Abstract

The presence of Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765) in the southeastern and southem Brazil is discussed from the catch of four specimens (3 males and 1 female) by gill net fisheries in the states of Rio de Janeiro (23°05'S/43°34'W), São Paulo (23°54'S/45°29'W) and Santa Catarina (26°28'S/48°34'W), between May, 1982 and February, 1986. Some morphological dissimilarities, as the relatively smaller size of teeth, the number of functional teeth rows and colour, were evidentiated by comparison with specimens of other regions. The 5,720 mm male showed a crater wound on the left pectoral fin, probably resulted from a shark genus lsistius attack. C. maximus has its presence along the studied area attributed to the invasion of waters of subtropical origin and belongs to the South Atlantic population.