Doomed to Isolation or Just Exploiting Spatial Benefits? A Global Review of the Galapagos Shark Carcharhinus galapagensis (Snodgrass & Heller, 1905) (Pisces: Carcharhinidae), a Species with a Widespread but Fragmented Distribution

The Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is a large carcharhinid shark that occurs around the oceanic islands of tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate regions of the world. Carcharhinus galapagensis shows a striking disjunct distribution and strong affinity to remote and isolated oceanic islands. Its distribution includes some of the most remote island ecosystems of the world (e.g., Easter Island), yet this unusual distribution pattern is poorly understood. Hence, it requires a plausible explanation and makes this species a subject for biogeography for the better understanding of phylogeography, movements, habitat connectivity, and gene flow. The purpose of this review, which is based on an extensive citing of the literature and an analysis of public databases, is to provide a comprehensive list of global records and reports of this species and a distribution map as a base for conservation strategies. This survey identified 69 verified and 27 unconfirmed global Galapagos shark records. The verified records included 53 around oceanic islands and 16 at continental coasts. Additionally, a voucher specimen that was collected in 1965 during an expedition to Easter Island and was formerly misidentified, was revised by the author and positively identified as C. galapagensis. This voucher specimen represents the first record of this species from Easter Island.