Fernando de Noronha as an insular nursery area for lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, and nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum, in the equatorial western Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Negaprion brevirostris and Ginglymostoma cirratum are large coastal sharks with a wide geographic distribution in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean whose southern populations are listed as vulnerable. Herein is reported the use of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago as a nursery habitat by both species in the equatorial Atlantic. Parturition time in N. brevirostris takes place between November and April whereas in G. cirratum it occurs from July to September.