Investigating an Unknown Biodiversity: Evidence of Distinct Lineages of the Endemic Chola Guitarfish Pseudobatos percellens Walbaum, 1792 in the Western Atlantic Ocean

Anthropogenic actions have affected marine species for a long time, through overexploitation of natural stocks and habitat degradation, influencing the life strategies several taxa, especially rays sharks, which suffered significant population declines in recent years. Therefore, conservation stock management become paramount. In this regard, chola guitarfish, Pseudobatos percellens, distributed throughout Brazilian coast, is often commercially fished by local artisanal fleets or as by-catch shrimp trawl fisheries. study aimed to understand genetic diversity P. percellens using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genetic analyses employing 3329 SNPs revealed hidden biodiversity within with at least one lineage occurring Northern Northeastern regions another Southeastern/Southern high differentiation between them. However, Discriminant Analysis Principal Components (DAPC) indicated presence fact three lineages these that must still be better investigated. ensure adequate guitarfish biodiversity, populations managed separately along coast. Furthermore, need taxonomic review group noted.