First documentation of gravid Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the southeastern Pacific: Evidence for a potential maternal corridor.

Abstract

The thresher shark, found in temperate and tropical oceans, remains understudied in the southern Eastern Pacific. Here, we report the capture of pregnant Alopias vulpinus off Peru, detailing the analysis of four full-term embryos that exhibited oophagy as a nutritional strategy. The repeated capture of gravid females in this area suggests the potential presence of a gestation corridor along the Peruvian coast. These findings highlight the importance of accurate species identification and underscore the need for further research, thereby contributing to the conservation of this endangered shark species across the southeastern Pacific.