Restricted to oceanic and coastal islands? The absence of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) along the Brazilian coast

José Victor Calenzani^1,2 , Jorge Luiz Silva Nunes³, Tiego Luiz de Araújo Costa⁴, Bruno Jucá-Queiroz⁵ and Jones Santander-Neto²

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Associate Editor: Jennifer Wyffels

Section Editor: Toby Daly-Engel

Editor-in-chief: Carla Pavanelli

Abstract​

Introduction​

The management and ecological studies of a given species fundamentally requires knowledge on its distribution, life habits, and integrated abiotic factors (Rodrigues et al., 2023). This makes it possible to predict or detect distribution pattern alterations caused by human activities, climate change, and environmental gradient variations associated to resource availability, behavior or changes across the taxon’s range (Bolnick et al., 2011; Heino et al., 2013; Krüger et al., 2018; Burner et al., 2021; Kopp et al., 2023).

Knowledge concerning species distribution supports the implementation of conservation units, thereby facilitating future conservation actions through species management plans (Guisan et al., 2013; IUCN, 2018; Paradinas et al., 2022), among other management tools. Typically, the information required to estimate the distribution of a marine species is obtained from fisheries data (e.g., landing monitoring efforts, onboard observations, fishing logbooks). Reliable data for elasmobranch assessments, however, are difficult to obtain.

In Brazil, obtaining data on elasmobranch fisheries is challenging due to the broad categorization of catches, which often lacks species-level identification and instead groups them into large, generalized categories such as “Raias/Arraias” (rays, stingrays, skates) and “Cação” or “Tubarão” (sharks) (Bornatowski et al., 2013, 2015). Additionally, there is a lack of national level fisheries statistics (Gonçalves-Neto et al., 2021). Thus, much of the available information on elasmobranch diversity, catches, and fishing productivity is underestimated, generating further information gaps that, if filled, could improve management and conservation tools for this group (Dulvy et al., 2014; Rodrigues et al., 2023).

The lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris (Poey, 1868) is a shark species that exemplifies this large fisheries data gap in Brazil. The species reaches 340 cm in length and is easily distinguished by its gray-green coloration, similarly sized dorsal fins, wide geographic distribution in the tropical portion of the western Atlantic Ocean (United States to southern Brazil), and shallow water habitats in reef environments, mangroves, enclosed bays, and river mouths (Ebert et al., 2013, 2021; Dulvy et al., 2014; Carlson et al., 2021).

Despite limited data, lemon sharks, like other shark species, are harvested in Brazil for their meat and by-products, with high demand for their fins in international markets. Their skin is valued in the leather processing industry, and their liver is used for oil extraction, which has applications in both the pharmaceutical and food industries (Rose, 1996; Rosa et al., 2018; Carlson et al., 2021). Lemon sharks are primarily caught using longlines and gillnets, particularly in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, where fishing vessels operate in areas inhabited by adults, juveniles, and neonates (Snelson, 1981; Carlson et al., 2021).

Several studies assessing this species abundance and distribution are available for the northern portion of the lemon shark’s natural distribution (Murchie et al., 2010; Carlson et al., 2012; Kessel et al., 2013). Some of them are about genetic structure (Feldheim et al., 2001; Brooks et al., 2016), individual size (Carlson et al., 2012), spatial ecology (Murchie et al., 2010), migration (Kohler, Turner, 2001; Kessel et al., 2014; Reyier et al., 2014), habitat use (Reyier et al., 2014; Smukall et al., 2019), nursery areas (Reyier et al., 2008), population dynamics (White et al., 2014), and philopatry (Feldheim et al., 2014) assessments.

In Brazil, the species distribution seems to be highly associated with oceanic islands, such as Rocas Atoll (Rio Grande do Norte) and the Fernando de Noronha archipelago (Pernambuco), in addition to the Abrolhos archipelago region (Bahia), and studies have focused on understanding lemon shark population structure (Freitas, 2004; Freitas et al., 2006; Rada, 2010; Oliveira et al., 2011), behavioral ecology (Agra, 2009; Garcia-Júnior, 2010; Rada, 2010), growth and survival (Freitas et al., 2009), abundance and movement patterns (Wetherbee et al., 2007; Garcia-Júnior, 2010; Corrêa et al., 2023), nursery areas (Garla et al., 2009), predation and feeding techniques (Garla et al., 2017), and habitat use (Garcia-Júnior, 2010; Rada, 2010). The maps concerning lemon shark geographic distribution presented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List (IUCN Red List) (Carlson et al., 2021) and the most up-to-date world shark guide (Ebert et al., 2021) indicate this species occurrence along the entire American coast of the western Atlantic Ocean, including the full length of the Brazilian continental shelf. However, lack of occurrence data for Southeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo) (Ebert et al., 2021) calls into question a natural distribution in this area, also generating speculation about the possibility of local extinction, as observed for coastal populations on the east coast of North America (Ebert, Dando, 2024).

In this sense, accurately defining spatial lemon shark distribution is paramount, since the difference between an estimated spatial distribution and a true distribution (with proven occurrence) can compromise risk assessments, also negatively influencing management and conservation program results. In this context, this study aims to assess information about the occurrence of lemon shark specimens along the Brazilian coast, excluding island environments, through a bibliometric approach and new occurrence records.

Material and methods

Study area. The present study covered the entire Brazilian coastal extension, excluding the islands, from Amapá (02°03’04”N 50°47’40”W) to Rio Grande do Sul (32°01’60”S 52°05’55”W). Island regions belonging to Brazil were excluded, to ensure that the data searches covered only the Brazilian continental shelf. The Brazilian coast was divided into eight marine ecoregions, defined as areas presenting relatively homogeneous species composition, according to Spalding et al. (2007), Magris et al. (2021) and Bucair et al. (2024) (Fig. 1). These compositions can be determined by the presence of ecosystems or oceanographic characteristics favorable to the populations found in each of these units. These features can encompass geographic isolation, upwelling, the presence of nutrients, temperature, sediments, and currents, among others, each varying from place to place (Spalding et al., 2007).

Bibliographic review. A bibliographic survey of articles and documents was carried out to identify the presence or absence of lemon sharks along the Brazilian coast, assessing fisheries landing monitoring, fisheries, and gear able to capture elasmobranchs (longline, gillnet, trawl net, etc.), in addition to research focusing on this subclass in Brazil, excluding oceanic islands. The search for articles was carried out at the Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar platforms, using the following keywords in English and in Portuguese, namely “Fish* and Brazil and elasmo* or Shark*”, “Pesca* and Brasil and elasmo* or tubarão*”, respectively (Falagas et al., 2008). Searches were also carried out at the Brazilian Lattes Platform to obtain documents from Brazilian researcher CVs whose work focuses on elasmobranchs.

The retrieved publications were classified into two priority levels: Priority 1, encompassing publications containing information on the number of individuals, biomass, and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of described fisheries; and Priority 2, publications on species records in an inventory format (checklist), since they are checklist format publications, some of these were prepared covering species from more than one Brazilian state or even the entire Brazilian coast, making it impossible to separate them. Thus, such publications were classified as North Region, Northeast Region and National Territory (Fig. 1). An analysis on the number of lemon sharks individuals in catches documented in Priority 1 publications was then carried out.

New records. New lemon shark records for Brazil were compiled in an integrative manner based on a collection of complete specimens, jaws, and photographic records from Brazilian coastal regions.

Results​

Bibliographic review. The bibliographic survey carried out herein recorded a total of 219 publications concerning systematic landing monitorings, various fisheries, and species lists, among other elasmobranch-focused studies. Of these, 128 publications were classified as Priority 1, and 91, as Priority 2. No article classified as Priority 1, that is, containing information on the number of individuals, biomass, and fisheries CPUE, recorded Negaprion brevirostris captures (Tab. S1). Concerning Priority 2 publications, only 19 assessments reported this species (Fig. 1).

Publications mentioning lemon sharks were categorized as bibliographic review articles (15) and ethnotaxonomical assessments (4). Considering the bibliographic review documents, several publications based on landing monitoring efforts and onboard vessel assessments were retrieved, but none mentioned lemon shark captures.

New records. The new coastal Brazilian lemon sharks records were obtained through hook and line, gillnet and bottom longline captures, throughout two different ecoregions, namely the Amazon ecoregion, for the state of Maranhão (2 individuals), and the Northeast ecoregion, for the states of Ceará (2), Rio Grande do Norte (2), and Pernambuco (1). These records, however, took place during a long time interval, with the first specimen captured in Rio Grande do Norte in February 2010 and the latter ones in Maranhão, with the simultaneous capture of two individuals in June 2023 (Fig. 2).

FIGURE 1| Negaprion brevirostris occurrence results for each Brazilian state and ecoregion obtained through a bibliographic review and survey of new records. Lemon shark illustration by Alexandre Huber.

FIGURE 2| New records of Negaprion brevirostris. A. Juveniles captured in the state of Maranhão in 2023. B. Arch of the individual captured in 2010 in the state of Ceará. C and D. Records in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in 2010 and 2017, respectively. E. Individual captured in Pernambuco 2012. F. Arch subsequently identified as from an N. brevirostris specimen captured in Pernambuco.

Concerning the Maranhão captures, the two lemon shark individuals were juveniles, one male and one female, unloaded at the landing port in the municipality of Raposa in early June 2023. The male specimen weighed 1.965 kg and measured 67.8 cm in total length, while the female weighed 2.035 kg and measured 68.4 cm in total length (Fig. 2A). The captures took place in the municipality of Humberto de Campos, near Farol de Santana, an area where estuaries dominate the western edge of the Lençóis Maranhenses region. According to the local fishers, the lemon shark individuals were captured using gill nets during artisanal fisheries activities. The specimens were taken to the Universidade Federal do Maranhão Aquatic Organisms Laboratory and registered at the fish collection of Universidade Federal do Maranhão (CPUFMA).

In Ceará, the first record was obtained in Fortaleza in October 2010, at the longline fleet landing area operating at coordinates 03°29’S/38°49’W and a depth of 27 m. A 42 kg specimen with characteristic species morphology was sold at the landing site, acquired by one of the authors and identified by its dental arch according to Compagno (1984) (Fig. 2B). The second record was obtained through a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97oa7Qbn37U) taken by a fish handler, which shows a female lemon shark captured by hook and line at the Mucuripe Embayment on December 19, 2020, measuring approximately 60 cm in total length.

The two specimens from Rio Grande do Norte were captured by gillnets at the artisanal fishing community of Maracajaú, in the Parrachos de Maracajaú region. The first record was obtained in February 2010, of a specimen measuring about 230 cm (Fig. 2C), while the second record consisted of an individual measuring approximately 180 cm and captured in October 2017 (Fig. 2D). The depth of the capture sites was not reported, but ranged from 1 to 6.60 m at coordinates 05º21’12” and 05º25’30”S and 35º14’30” and 35º17’12”W.

In 2012, a news report (https://jc.ne10.uol.com.br/canal/cidades/geral/noticia/2012/11/25/tubarao-cabeca-chata-pescado-no-pontal-de-maracaipe-64720.php) reported the capture of a bull shark, the popular name for Carcharhinus leucas (Valenciennes, 1839) in Brazil, measuring 250 cm long and weighing 200 kg, caught in a gillnet by an artisanal fisher in Pontal de Maracaípe near the mouth of the Ipojuca River, on the southern coast of Pernambuco. The mandible was subsequently photographed, and correctly identified as a lemon shark specimen (Figs. 2E–F).

Discussion​

The presence of Negaprion brevirostris along the Brazilian coast is rare, as no occurrences were identified after a critical analysis of articles and documents published over nearly 60 years (Sadowsky, 1967; Martinazzo et al., 2022). These publications focus on landing monitoring efforts, fishery landings, and elasmobranch fisheries production monitoring along the Brazilian coastline. The species is, in fact, mostly recorded in faunal lists. The absence/scarcity of Brazilian coast records was, however, unexpected, as distribution maps indicate lemon shark occurrence predominantly on the coastal shelf (Carlson et al., 2021; Ebert et al., 2021).

Concerning the Amazon ecoregion, only historical records are noted for the course and at the mouth of the Amazon River (Starks, 1913; Bigelow, Schroeder, 1948; Dulvy et al., 2014), even with fishing monitoring records available for the area (Burgos, 1976; Emerenciano, 1979; Lessa, 1986; Stride et al., 1992; Almeida, Carneiro, 1999; Alencar et al., 2001; Almeida, Vieira, 2000; Asano-Filho et al., 2004a,b, 2007; Nunes et al., 2005; Rodrigues-Filho et al., 2009; Jimenez et al., 2013; Martins et al., 2015, 2021; Lutz et al., 2016; Feitosa et al., 2018; Aragão et al., 2019; Ferrette et al., 2019; Freitas et al., 2019; Viana, Souza, 2019; Guimarães-Costa et al., 2020; Melo et al., 2020).

The Northeastern ecoregion concentrates most of the Brazilian lemon shark occurrence records. That being said, it is important to emphasize that most records refer to fauna lists at the state level and studies carried out on oceanic islands and their surroundings. No records are available for the states of Piauí, Alagoas, and Sergipe. However, some old records from fauna surveys are noted for states in this ecoregion, such as Ceará (Gadig et al., 2000; Jucá-Queiroz et al., 2008), Rio Grande do Norte, and Pernambuco (Lessa et al., 1999), with the latter encompassing the oceanic islands of Rocas Atoll and Fernando de Noronha. Finally, ethnoichthyology studies have noted the presence of lemon sharks in the states of Paraíba (Morais, 2016) and Bahia (Barbosa-Filho et al., 2021).

In the state of Paraíba, scientific names were derived only from popular names, without any further verification to confirm the identification of less common or rare species. Furthermore, the diversity of popular names poses challenges, as the same species may be referred to by different names (synonyms), or different species may share the same popular name (homonyms). In addition, it is possible for nominal variations to take place over time, through a normal historical process, such as cases of polysemy in diachronic variations or of diatopic origin, commonly resulting from Brazilian regionalisms (Coelho et al., 2022).

The coast off the state of Bahia belongs to two ecoregions, the Northeast ecoregion, comprising the northern coast of the state, and the East ecoregion, located on the central and southern coast. Specimens have been recorded at the Abrolhos Bank, located on the southern coast of Bahia, usually from fisheries carried out in the banks surroundings or from rare encounters on the continental shelf. Thus, the presence of lemon sharks in the East ecoregion, which extends from the southern coast of the state of Bahia to the northern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, is probably associated with fisheries in northern Espírito Santo, located south of the Abrolhos Bank.

Regarding the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro and the state of São Paulo, both belonging to the Southeast ecoregion, the species is considered extinct due to lack of recent records for these locations (Rosa et al., 2018; Carlson et al., 2021), indicating that this species occurrence can be linked only to historical records and bibliographic reviews, or the body parts of some specimens deposited in ichthyological collections. Also, it is possible these locations used to comprise the extremes of the species distribution in the past, due to the more tropical characteristics of the species, and, therefore, not preferred by the species, where its abundance would be naturally lower. Despite this, any inference about extinction must be carefully evaluated.

Concerning the southern portion of the Southeast ecoregion, evidence of the presence of the species was found only for the Holocene period, through vertebrae and teeth found in sambaquis (ancient mounds or shell middens found along the coast of Brazil, primarily composed of shells, bones, and other debris left by prehistoric human communities) (Burg-Mayer et al., 2022; Burg-Mayer, Freitas, 2023). A more recent record for the state of Santa Catarina was obtained (Castro, 2008) through an ethnotaxonomy assessment. However, the species was identified only through its popular name, without any image verification. The same study also indicates a high abundance of the species in the area, raising suspicions, as no study focused on monitoring landings recorded any lemon shark (Mazzoleni, Schwingel, 2000; Occhialini, Schwingel, 2003; Schwingel, Mazzoleni, 2004; Perez, Wahrlich, 2005; Perez et al., 2009a,b; Schroeder et al., 2014; Fiedler et al., 2015; Pio et al., 2016). According to Burg-Mayer et al. (2022), the species only occurs in the area due to past water temperature fluctuations, preferring warm waters. One concern arising due to this specific lemon shark survey, but which extends to other species, is with regard to ethnoichthyology studies. Although the potential of studies accessing ethnoknowledge is undeniable, species identification should be carefully verified and the temporal context of the occurrences should be contextualized. In some cases, a lack of careful species identification verification is noted, based only on popular names.

The new lemon shark records for the coasts of states of Maranhão, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and Pernambuco can be considered the only ones proven outside islands of northeastern Brazil in the last 30 years. The record for the state of Maranhão is a first-time report for the area, indicating the need for increased monitoring of artisanal fisheries in this state in order to update elasmobranch species landed by Maranhão fisheries fleets.

The small number of individuals recorded in the present study reinforces the uncommon presence of lemon sharks along the Brazilian coast, especially considering that studies on fishing landing and on-board monitoring efforts focused on identifying elasmobranchs have been conducted in the states of Maranhão (Lessa, 1986; Coelho et al., 2022), Ceará (Gadig et al., 2000; Basílio et al., 2008; Jucá-Queiroz et al., 2008; Basílio, 2011; Santander-Neto, Faria, 2020), Rio Grande do Norte (Yokota, Lessa, 2006; Lessa et al., 2008; Garcia-Júnior et al., 2015; Nóbrega et al., 2019; Nunes et al., 2019;), and Pernambuco (Hazin et al., 2000; Ferreira et al., 2013, 2019; Afonso et al., 2014; Niella et al., 2017) where these new records occurred.

In contrast, the species commonly occurs on oceanic and coastal islands, where it appears to have a fidelity relationship with specific areas concerning occurrence, birth, and growth (Agra, 2009; Freitas et al., 2006, 2009; Garla et al., 2009; Rada, 2010; Oliveira et al., 2011; Corrêa et al., 2023). The presence ofthis species near oceanic and coastal islands may be associated with local environmental characteristics. The three archipelagos in which the species was verified in Brazil, for example, exhibit average water temperatures between 24.5 and 27 ºC and salinity around 36 to 37, with the presence of rocky substrates, coral reefs and bottoms covered by macroalgae and phanerogams, as well as beaches and pools with clear, shallow waters (Leão, Kikuchi, 2001; Wetherbee et al., 2007; Agra, 2009; Garla et al., 2009; Rada, 2010; Oliveira et al., 2011; Moura et al., 2013).

Juvenile lemon sharks are also found in Florida and the Bahamas, in environments similar to Brazilian oceanic and coastal islands, indicating a preference for specific environmental conditions (Murchie et al., 2010; Kessel et al., 2013, 2016; Reyier et al., 2014; Tinari, Hammerschlag, 2021). That being said, although the habitats corresponding to the species distributionin the northern Atlantic are similar to those found on Brazilian oceanic islands, they differ due to real estate speculation, which has generated significant environmental degradation, such as increased sewage discharges, mangrove suppression, and coastal urbanization, in addition to increased mariculture practices (Dote-Sá et al., 2013; Ferreira, Lacerda, 2016; Moschetto et al., 2021). As a result, many lemon shark distribution areas may have been affected, especially since the Second World War, generating consequences for lemon shark population viability. Evidence in this sense is available, indicating that environmental impacts have reduced the species population in Florida and surrounding regions, significantly important nursery areas (Ebert, Dando, 2024).

The new lemon shark records, geographically and temporally sparse along the Brazilian northeast coast, can be explained by unconsolidated reefs still present on the shelf of the Northeast Semi-Arid Coast. These interconnect the Amazon Reef System and the Eastern Brazilian Reef System, located both in the Amazon and Northeast ecoregions, encompassing two reef complexes in eastern South America (Carneiro et al., 2022). Although this type of habitat supports the occurrence of lemon sharks, its degradation, alongside certain preferential species characteristics, may not be sufficient for the establishment of coastal populations.

No environments similar to those found on islands are noted in the states of Maranhão, where a first record was only recently obtained, or Ceará, where the species was recorded twice over a long period of time. On the other hand, shallow-water reef environments exist in the states of Rio Grande do Norte (Parrachos de Maracajaú) and Pernambuco (Maracaípe), where the species has been recorded, both emerged and submerged, with the presence of phanerogam bottoms and sandy bottoms (Bastos et al., 2011; Costa, 2011). These are, in fact, very similar to environments available on the coast of Florida and the Bahamas and Brazilian islands. Although there is no evidence that these habitats are sheltering coastal lemon shark populations, given the rarity of records for this species, most likely due to habitat degradation, fishing efforts, and historical Brazilian coast colonization processes, this location is the one that most resembles the species’ preferred habitats and, therefore, the most likely concerning the occurrence of the species on the Brazilian coast.

Considering these aspects, we suggest two hypotheses for the Brazilian coastal records: (1) The recorded specimens are remnants of a lemon sharks population present in the coastal region, overcoming all anthropic effects since Brazil’s colonization; or (2) These records are of vagrant animals that left islands, perhaps in search of new habitats with greater food availability, foraging sites, or even refuge from local fishing pressures. Given the historical absence of records in monitoring landings along the coast, especially in recent decades, we believe that the second hypothesis is the most likely for these new geographically and chronologically sparse records. To prospect new habitats, lemon sharks may seek out the continental shelf, but before establishing themselves as populations, are captured by coastal vessels in these locations, either as adults or juveniles.

Given the scarcity of records, but considering that it is possible that lemon sharks are found along the Brazilian coast, according to the IUCN categories and criteria guide (IUCN, 2024), these species could be considered, as Possibly Existing, which would result in a revision of its extent of occurrence (EOO) map, excluding Brazilian coast records because, in this case, they should not be considered in the EOO calculation. A reference should be made to the historical occurrence distribution map and adjustments to the species area of occupation in future assessments, disregarding its occurrence along the Brazilian coast. For the current occurrence situation, the species should be considered as “Existing” only on the two Brazilian oceanic islands and one coastal island further south, in northeastern Brazil, places that in fact shelter the species throughout different life stages (Freitas, 2004; Freitas et al., 2006; Garla et al., 2009; Rada, 2010) and with a high degree of fidelity (Freitas et al., 2006; Garla et al., 2009). A review of the species distribution map may even open the possibility of reclassifying the population status employing other criteria for the southwest Atlantic Ocean. Considering that in Brazil the population exhibits a declining trend (ICMBio, 2016; Rosa et al., 2018; Carlson et al., 2021), the possibility of classification under another criterion according to IUCN may lead to categorization in other threat levels.

Considering these hypotheses, it would be important to perform genetic analyses for comparison purposes between coastal and Brazilian island individuals, as has been carried out for nurse sharks Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Karl et al., 2012). If dissimilar, the possibility that individuals captured on the coastal region are vagrant animals exploring the continental shelf would become even more substantiated.

Other studies are required to understand the types of habitats used by lemon sharks. These should focus on population dynamics and monitor changes in population growths or declines over time in the same locations. This approach will enhance the reliability of occurrence data, improve distribution information through models such as Species Distribution Models, and provide greater accuracy in identifying the species’ actual habitats and locations of use.

Based on the data collected and recorded here in, the presence of lemon sharks on the Brazilian coast is extremely rare. However, the reason for the disappearance of this species from the Brazilian continental shelf or even whether the species was never abundant in this area in the first place cannot be determined. Therefore, the distribution map for lemon sharks concerning the southern portion of the Atlantic should be revised.

Acknowledgments​

To the fishermen of the municipality of Raposa, Maranhão for reporting the catches and donating the individuals to us. The authors thank Fabio Freitas for providing a video, and information about the specimen landed by the artisanal fleet in Ceara. We would also like to thank the environmental and tourism monitoring agents of the APA Recifes de Corais who promptly provided information on lemon shark captures in Maracajaú, in Rio Grande do Norte.

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Authors

José Victor Calenzani^1,2 , Jorge Luiz Silva Nunes³, Tiego Luiz de Araújo Costa⁴, Bruno Jucá-Queiroz⁵ and Jones Santander-Neto²

^[1]    Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Ambiental (PPGOAM), Universidade Federal do Espírito, Campus Goiabeiras, Avenida Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, 29075-910 Vitória, ES, Brazil. (JVC) josevictorcalenzani@gmail.com (corresponding author).

^[2]    Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, Campus Piúma, Rua Augusto Costa de Oliveira, 660, Praia Doce, 29285-000 Piúma, ES, Brazil. (JSN) jones.santander@ifes.edu.br.

^[3]    Laboratório de Organismos Aquáticos, Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses, 1966, Cidade Universitária Dom Delgado, 65080-805 São Luís, MA, Brazil. (JLSN) jorge.nunes@ufma.br.

^[4]    Laboratório do Oceano, Departamento de Ecologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Senador Salgado Filho, 3000, 59077-000 Natal, RN, Brazil. (TLAC) tiegobiomar@gmail.com.

^[5]    SOD Construções e Geotecnia, Rua do Sol, 300, Aleixo, 69060-084 Manaus, AM, Brazil. (BJQ) sodgeotecnia@gmail.com.

Authors’ Contribution

José Victor Calenzani: Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing.

Jorge Luiz Silva Nunes: Resources, Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing.

Tiego Luiz de Araújo Costa: Resources, Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing.

Bruno Jucá-Queiroz: Resources, Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing.

Jones Santander-Neto: Conceptualization, Data curation, Methodology, Resources, Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing.

Ethical Statement​

Not applicable.

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are included in the supplementary material of this article.

Funding

No funding

How to cite this article

Calenzani JV, Nunes JLS, Costa TLA, Jucá-Queiroz B, Santander-Neto J. Restricted to oceanic and coastal islands? The absence of lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) along the Brazilian coast. Neotrop Ichthyol. 2025; 23(3):e240123. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2024-0123

Copyright​

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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