The Espiritu Santo Island (ESI) has the highest elasmobranch richness among the Gulf of California islands, exemplifying its importance for conservation. In the present study, we assessed the temporal variation of the batoid assemblages captured in the southern ESI. Using the monthly artisanal fishing fleet catch data between 2013 and 2015, we applied three methods to evaluate changes in diversity: descriptive (i.e., richness, dominance, evenness, and Shannon–Wiener index), taxonomic diversity, and functional diversity. Four orders, ten families, ten genera, and 15 species were identified. Mobula munkiana, Hypanus dipterurus, Narcine entemedor, and Rhinoptera steindachneri were the most numerically abundant (dominant) during the study period. The Biological Values Index of these species indicated temporary changes mainly attributable to sea surface temperature. Diversity and average taxonomic distinctiveness values were high, indicating stability in the batoids assemblage assessed. Further, we identified nine functional groups classified mainly into two life history types, benthic and pelagic. The former group was characterized as having small- to medium-sized species and circular and oval body shape with preferences to remain buried or on sea bottom. The second group was formed by large–body size species and rhomboid body shape with high motility in the water column and with migrations. The ESI community of batoids has a stable taxonomic structure over time, whose functional groups have adapted to the ESI environmental conditions and available resources. This study confirms and highlights the importance of ESI as a critical site for these batoid species within the Gulf of California and thus their conservation.

圣埃斯皮里图岛 (ESI) 拥有加利福尼亚湾岛屿中最丰富的弹鳃，体现了其对保护的重要性。在本研究中，我们评估了在南部 ESI 中捕获的蝙蝠形组合的时间变化。使用 2013 年至 2015 年间的每月手工捕鱼船队捕获数据，我们应用了三种方法来评估多样性的变化：描述性（即丰富度、优势度、均匀度和香农-维纳指数）、分类多样性和功能多样性。鉴定出4目、10科、10属、15种。Mobula munkiana、Hypanus dipterurus、Narcine entemedor和Rhinoptera steindachneri在研究期间数量最多（占主导地位）。这些物种的生物价值指数显示出暂时的变化，主要是由于海面温度。多样性和平均分类独特性值很高，表明评估的 batoids 组合的稳定性。此外，我们确定了九个功能组，主要分为两种生活史类型，底栖和远洋。前一组的特征是具有中小型物种和圆形和椭圆形的身体形状，喜欢埋在海底或海底。第二组由体型大、体型大、在水体中具有高运动性和迁移性的物种组成。随着时间的推移，ESI 的 batoids 群落具有稳定的分类结构，其功能组已适应 ESI 环境条件和可用资源。这项研究证实并强调了 ESI 作为加利福尼亚湾内这些蝙蝠类物种及其保护的关键地点的重要性。