Felipe Méndez-Abarca

• MSc
• Managing Director at Fundación Reino Animal

A unique specimen of Beakfish, Oplegnathus insignis (Kner, 1867), was captured off the coast of Chañaral as a bycatch in a fishing net in northern Chile, extending its known range in Chilean territory by 370 km to the south. This study discusses the significance of this geographical extension for the establish‑ ment of local populations of the spec...

Two specimens of Pacific Seahorse, Hippocampus ingens Girard, 1858, were captured as a bycatch in trawl fishing off the Chañaral coast, in the Atacama region of northern Chile. This finding expands its known distribution area in Chilean coastal territory by 114 km to the south, highlighting the importance of documenting its geographical range and the...

Given the overexploitation of fisheries and the growing consumption of sea products, aquaculture is emerging as an alternative to meet the demand for protein at regional, national, and global levels. In northern Chile, the foothills of the Andes offer an opportunity for sustainable economic diversification. In this study, results of a rainbow trout...

It mentions the finding of a specimen of the species Balystes polylepis Steindachner (1876) (Pisces: Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae), incidentally caught by a purse seine net off the coast of the city of San Antonio, Valparaíso Region (33°36′00″S 71°37′00″W), this being the third specimen collected for the region.

A unique specimen of Northern Barracuda, Sphyraena ensis Jordan & Gilbert 1882, was accidentally captured off the coast of the city of Taltal in northern Chile. This finding not only extends the known range of the species in Chilean territory by 228 km to the south, but it also is not related to an ENSO event (El Niño Southern Oscillation), as in th...

We report the capture of a single specimen of the slimy eel Eptatretus polytrema (Girard, 1855) off the coast of the city of Arica, northern Chile. This find extends the currently known range of the species by 1,600 km northwards from the city of Caldera (Atacama Region) to Puerto Montt (Lake Region). We discuss the importance of finding this species...

Patterns of temporal chromatic and shape variations of live specimens of Nexilosus latifrons were studied. Observations were made on specimens captured in intertidal pools in the coastal area of Arica, northern Chile, which were kept in captivity for 16 months. Five developmental stages, in which there were noticeable changes in shape and colourati...

We present two new records of the colonial cup coral Coenocyathus bowersi Vaughan, 1906 from northern Chile. Colonies were collected off the coastal of Taltal, Antofagasta Region, and off the coast of the city of Iquique, Tarapacá Region, both in northern Chile. Our finds confirm the presence of this species on the Chilean coast and extend the geog...

The trophic relationships of pelagic fishes with migratory traits such as the South Pacific Bonito, Sarda chiliensis chiliensis (Cuvier, 1832), have not been studied in depth in the past. The objective of the present research was to analyze the feeding habits of South Pacific Bonito by sex and to analyze a comparison between summer and autumn month...

We report the capture of a single specimen of the species Paulia horrida Gray, 1840, off the coast of Arica, in the Arica and Parinacota Region, Northern Chile. This finding extends the currently known distributional range of the species by 2,434 km towards the south, since the southernmost known area for this species corresponds to Punta Sal, Peru...

We report the observation of two juvenile specimens of Sashed Catfish, Galeichthys peruvianus Lütken, 1874, south of Arica, Chile, which expands the current known distributional range of the species, by adding a previously unrecorded locality. The importance of the presence of breeding populations in the northern coast of Chile is discussed.

Glena mielkei Vargas, 2010 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Ennominae: Boarmiini) is a Neotropical geometrid moth native to the Atacama Desert of northern Chile whose larvae are folivorous on the shrub Trixis cacalioides (Asteraecae). The last instar and pupa are described and illustrated, and DNA barcode sequences are provided for the first time for G....

The aim of this study was to report the colouration patterns of live specimens of two Blenniidae species: Scartichthys gigas and S. viridis, from tide pools in the coastal area of 3 localities of northern Chile. Colouration patterns for S. gigas were: the two-bar front head covered/uncovered and the uniform orange-brown, found in specimens associat...

Todo sobre como armar y mantener su acuario marino con especies nativas de la costa chilena.

Background: Host plant specificity refers to the preference of insects for particular plant species that allow them to complete their life cycle. Moth species of the Geometridae family depend closely on the vegetation composition to complete their life cycles. In northern Chile, the Geometridae species Glena mielkei is the only species described of...

It is established that the mass of eggs of some fish species are left on the sand of Chinchorro beach due to the sea tide. Chinchorro beach is located in Arica, Chile. This happens in a year –time period but the origin it is not clear. The species found after the larvae hatch in captivity, corresponding to marine pejerrey (Odonthestes regia) and th...

First remarks on the nesting biology of Hypodynerus andeus (Packard) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) in the Azapa valley, northern Chile. Some aspects about the nesting biology of the potter wasp Hypodynerus andeus (Packard, 1869) are reported for the first time. Observations were carried out at the Azapa valley, coastal desert of northern Chile...

Se menciona el hallazgo de una hembra de Galeichthys peruvianus Lütken, 1874 con trece huevos en su interior en Taltal, Provincia de Antofagasta, Chile.