Diet of the critically endangered blackchin guitarfish Glaucostegus cemiculus revealed using DNA metabarcoding

We present the first assessment of the diet of the blackchin guitarfish Glaucostegus cemiculus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) for West Africa using DNA metabarcoding on stomach contents of individuals captured in the Bijagos Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau. The diet was dominated by crustaceans, particularly caramote prawn Penaeus kerathurus (frequency of occurrence [FO] = 74%, numerical frequency [NF] = 54%) and fiddler crab Afruca tangeri (FO = 74%, NF = 12%). Bony fishes were present in 30% of the stomachs. We highlight the importance of conservation action for intertidal habitats and their associated benthic invertebrates for the survival of the critically endangered blackchin guitarfish.

Automated summary

The diet of the blackchin guitarfish in West Africa was assessed using DNA metabarcoding, revealing a preference for crustaceans, particularly caramote prawn and fiddler crab. Bony fishes were also found in some stomachs. Conservation action for intertidal habitats and their associated benthic invertebrates is crucial for the survival of this critically endangered species.