First record of the deep-sea fish Harriotta raleighana (Chondrichthyes: Rhinochimaeridae) off Jalisco, Mexican Pacific

Abstract

This is the first record of the deep-sea fish Harriotta raleighana, known as longnosed chimaera, in the southof Bahía de Banderas, Jalisco, in the Central Mexican Pacific. Deep waters, up to more than a 1 000 m, characterizethe south of this bay. The collected specimen is probably a female, which was found dead floating in the surface ofthe water, a few meters from the beach. Reports about this species in the Mexican Pacific are sporadic, and collectedaccidentally, or recently, by using submersibles. This species has a worldwide distribution in deep-sea areas oftemplate waters. In the Pacific it is distributed in California, although it has been observed in the Gulf of Californiaand in the tropical waters of Mexico the only previous report southern of Jalisco was close to Manzanillo, Colimain 2007. Measurements and biological data, which allow the comparison with other specimens found in Mexico, areincluded.