Deep­ Sea fishes (Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes) in the Southwestern Colombian Caribbean

Study Extent

The exploratory wells and areas of interest are localized in the South-western Colombian Caribbean, at depths between 375 m and 2500 m. In general, wells and areas of interest are approximately 54 to 74 off shore from the nearest point in the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Sampling

Survey areas of interest were assessed using 25 towed camera transects. These transects registered seafloor features, during 3-hour surveys, taking still images every 20 seconds. Benthic and pelagic megafauna specimens were recorded in the images.

Quality Control

Still images and pictures of towed camera were analysed twice by the same expert, who did preliminary identification to phylum and class. All fish images were then identified to the lowest possible. When in doubt about the identification, additional experts were contacted and the images were sent to them in jpg format for towed camera photographs.

Method steps

1. Towedcamera images: A total of 5,066 photographs, looking for benthic and pelagic fishes were analyzed. For each fish, coordinates and depth were registered and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level.

The data presented here corresponds to occurrences of deep-sea fishes from the South-western Colombian Caribbean, spotted over soft bottoms at depths between 375 to 2565 m. The taxonomic coverage of this dataset includes 3 class, 13 orders, 20 families, 21 genus and 8 species. There is a 25% classifed to the species level, 24% to kingdom, 23% to genus, 22% to family and 6% to order.

1. Ateleopodidae
   rank: family
2. Bathysauridae
   rank: family
3. Chaunacidae
   rank: family
4. Chimaeridae
   rank: family
5. Chlorophthalmidae
   rank: family
6. Congridae
   rank: family
7. Halosauridae
   rank: family
8. Ipnopidae
   rank: family
9. Lophiidae
   rank: family
10. Macrouridae
    rank: family
11. Ogcocephalidae
    rank: family
12. Ophidiidae
    rank: family
13. Paralepididae
    rank: family
14. Parazenidae
    rank: family
15. Percophidae
    rank: family
16. Peristediidae
    rank: family
17. Phycidae
    rank: family
18. Rajidae
    rank: family
19. Synaphobranchidae
    rank: family
20. Trachichthyidae
    rank: family

Anadarko Colombia Company’s hydrocarbon exploratory activities in the Southwestern Colombian Caribbean, include four wells (i.e. Gorgon A-1, Calasu 1, Kronos 1, and Purple Angel C-1), and have other areas of interest (i.e. Chamana, Chamai, Yaduli, Cana Norte, and Cawa). The exploratory wells and areas of interest are localized in the South-western Colombian Caribbean, at depths between 375 m and 2500 m. In general, wells and areas of interest are approximately 54 to 74 o shore from the nearest point in the Caribbean coast of Colombia.