¿ES POSIBLE CRIAR TIBURONES?: EL CASO DE LA PINTARROJA COMUN, SCHROEDERICHTHYS CHILENSIS (CHONDRICHTHYES, SCYLIORHINIDAE)

Abstract

Breeding animals is a phenomenon associated to the origins of the modern man. Nevertheless, breeding marine species is related to the productive scope through intensive cultures in captivity to mainly commercial aims. This study aims to determine the feasibility of culture of the red spotted catshark, Schroederichthys chilensis, through preliminary controlled environment experiences. This species is endemic of the South-Eastern Pacific and lives from Peru (Ancon) to Southern Chile. The egg capsules of red spotted catshark were collected from its natural environment and then were maintained in the wet laboratory. After the hatching of the embryos, the red spotted catshark were maintained in tanks of 200, 500, and 1000 L of seawater with constant water flow and room temperature. The dimensions of the tanks depended on the number and size of the individuals. During the period of captivity, the red spotted catshark were fed with a moisten diet cradle in a mixture of shrimp, squid and meat of fresh fish, enriched with vitamins and minerals. Our preliminary results suggest that the red spotted catshark can be able to breed in captivity. The breeding of S. chilensis in captivity is a precedent for the culture of sharks, which can be directed to research, conservation of native populations, and environmental education, among other areas