Historical occurrence of Taeniurops grabatus (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) in the Mediterranean Sea and unpublished up-to-date observations in its Northwestern area (Spain)

Abstract

Chondrichthyans are key components of marine ecosystems, playing an important role in the regulation and stability of coastal and offshore food webs. Despite their ecological relevance, many chondrichthyan species have experienced severe global decline, primarily driven by intense fishing pressure and bycatch. In this context, uncertainties regarding their historical and contemporary distribution limit robust evaluations of population trajectories and the magnitude of human impacts. In this study, we review and update the known distribution of the round stingray Taeniurops grabatus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) in the Mediterranean Sea, reporting the presence of the species in ten Mediterranean countries, mainly along the southern and eastern basins. Furthermore, by combining historical knowledge and citizen science data, we provide the first documented records of T. grabatus from Spanish Mediterranean coastal waters and confirm both historical and recent occurrences in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. By integrating historical with contemporary records obtained through citizen science, our study demonstrates the complementary value of these approaches to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the presence and temporal change of this rare species in the Mediterranean Sea.