F I G U R E 1 in Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the Caribbean Sea: A recurrent visitor, or are the artisanal fisheries exploiting deeper waters?

F I G U R E 1 Confirmed georeferenced records (indicated by black dots) and fishing polygon boundaries (represented by dashed black lines) for the bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre, 1788) across the western Atlantic (a). A detailed view of the Caribbean Sea region is provided, highlighting the capture locations of bramble sharks, including our specimen (marked by a black star) (b). Key phenotypic diagnostic characteristics are depicted, showcasing the absence of an anal fin, two closely positioned unpinned dorsal fins near the caudal region, and a flat head and snout (c). An image of the specimen's open mouth, revealing its teeth (d). Additionally, a close-up photograph of an extracted tooth (e). Notations for countries: Colombia (Col), the Dominican Republic (D.R.), Mexico (Mex), Nicaragua (Nic), and Venezuela (Ven).