Raja koreana, a new species of skate (Elasmobranchii, Rajoidei) from Korea

A new rajid species,Raja koreana, is described from a single adult female specimen, 735 mm in total length, collected off the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula. AlthoughR. koreana is included in the group of species characterized by the scapulocoracoid lacking an anterior bridge and having the postventral fenestra expanded, it is unique among the latter in possessing: pectoral girdle propterygium not extending to snout tip; rostral shaft of neurocranium narrow and thick, unsegmented base with filamentous cartilage; snout fleshy; pores of ampullae of Lorenzini densely distributed over much of ventral surface to behind cloaca; most thorns on tail directed anteriorly; tail short; a pair of longitudinally elongated black blotches on middle of dorsal surface of disc when fresh; a pair of black blotches (grayish at center) posteriorly on pectoral fins; ventral surface of dise uniformly blackish-brown, except for areas around pores.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dipturus wuhanlingi</Emphasis>, a new species of skates (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae) from China

Dipturus wuhanlingi, a new rajid species, is described from an immature male and female collected from the southern East China Sea and off Haimen, Shantou, in the South China Sea, respectively. The specimens conform to the genus Dipturus in having the combination of the following characters: a long rostral cartilage (length more than 60% of dorsal head length), greatly depressed and laterally expanded mesocondyle, and a total length greater than 55 cm when adult. Dipturus wuhanlingi is distinct from all other Dipturus species in the following combination of characters: a pair of scapular thorns, three or four nuchal thorns, an irregular row of lumbar thorns along the dorsal midline of the disc, a single row of tail thorns in both sexes, pores of ampullae of Lorenzini extending to just anterior to the pelvic girdle, anterior fenestra of scapulocoracoid strongly horizontally elliptical, mesocondyle located at about the middle between the procondyle and metacondyle, and three pairs of obturator foramina on the pelvic girdle.     

Pseudobagrus brachyrhabdion, a new catfish (Teleostei: Bagridae) from the middle Yangtze River drainage, South China

Pseudobagrus brachyrhabdion sp. nov., from the Yuan Jiang and Xiang Jiang of the middle Yangtze River drainage in Hunan and Guizhou Provinces, South China, is described herein. It is distinguished from all other Pseudobagrus species with a truncate or slightly emarginated caudal fin by an unique combination of the following characters: supraoccipital plate and nuchal plate broadly interspaced and covered with skin; nasal barbels only at most reaching anterior margin of eye; maxillary barbels reaching slightly beyond posterior margin of eye; outer mandibular barbels extending to posterior margin of eye; dorsal fin with a somewhat convex distal margin, origin nearer to pectoral-fin insertion than to pelvic-fin insertion; dorsal-fin spine shorter than pectoral spine, with a somewhat serrated posterior margin; pectoral-fin spine with a smooth anterior margin; anal fin with 20–23 rays, base length 23.8–32.0% of standard length, posterior end of anal-fin base anterior to posterior end of adipose fin base; no longitudinal black band extending along flank; eyes large, diameter 16.3–23.7% of head length; and number of vertebrae 5 + 43–46.     

Hemitriakis complicofasciata, a new whitefin topeshark (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) from Japan

Hemitriakis complicofasciata sp. nov. is described from 18 specimens from the waters of the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan. This new species is distinguishable from other congeners by the following characters: higher vertebral counts (46–52 monospondylous vertebrae and 124–131 precaudal total vertebrae), presence of a developed posterior nasal flap, first dorsal fin origin anterior to free rear tips of pectoral fin, shorter snout length (snout tip to oral length less than 1.8 times internarial width), absence of an accessory cartilage at symphysial part of upper jaw, and dark complicated lines and rings on embryos and juveniles.     

Survey of the variation in alar and malar thorns in skates: Phylogenetic implications (Chondrichthyes: Rajoidei)

A total of 62 species, representing 24 of the 28 supraspecific taxa of skates, was surveyed for the presence, distribution, and structure of alar and malar thorns. The survey revealed that alar thorns are almost universally present in mature male skates, and that malar thorns are of two types that may have separate origins. The location and orientation of alar thorns differed in two major clades of skates (groups I and II). They were either exposed on the disc with the crown oriented obliquely to the long axis of the base or imbedded in slits in the integument and oriented parallel to the long axis of the base. Group I possessed the former type of thorns and, with several exceptions, group II possessed the latter type. Group I either lacked malar thorns or possessed malar thorns that were most likely derived from generalized placoid scales. Group II possessed, with several exceptions, malar thorns derived from enlarged placoid scales. Within group I the supraspecific taxa Atlantoraja and Rioraja possessed unique alar thorns that were reclined laterally and associated with lateral grooves in the integument. Within group II the supraspecific taxa Anacanthobatis, Cruriraja, Dipturus, Okamejei, Raja, the North Pacific Assemblage, and the Amphi-American Assemblage had a large barb on the distal section of the crown of the alar thorn that suggests that these taxa form a clade. The crown of the alar thorns of the latter five supraspecific taxa was undulatory, thus supporting their monophyletic status. Another assemblage within group II had ridges that ran most of the length of the crown of the alar thorns corroborating their monophyletic status. The survey also suggested that variation of integumentary grooves associated with the alar thorns in Bathyraja, and presence or absence of malar thorns in Psammobatis, may be phylogenetically informative. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A new armored searobin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraheminodus longirostralis</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Peristediidae) from New Caledonia

A new species of armored searobin, Paraheminodus longirostralis, is described from five specimens collected from New Caledonia at depths of 412–467 m. It is distinguishable from its three known congeners in having 34 bony plates in the upper lateral row, a forward-directed spine on each plate between the 23rd–26th and 31st–32nd plates in the upper lateral row, 6–7 + 1 + 20–21 = 27–28 gill rakers, an elongate body posterior to the anus (49.9–52.1% standard length), an elongate rostral projection (53.0–59.3% head length), short upper jaw (42.1–43.4% head length), an elongate pectoral fin (70.6–79.4% head length), and long preopercular spine (39.2–57.7% head length).     

A new anchovy, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stolephorus teguhi</Emphasis> (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae), from North Sulawesi,Indonesia

Stolephorus teguhi sp. nov. is described from the holotype and 14 paratypes, 49–77 mm in standard length, collected from North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The species is characterized by having numerous gill rakers (31–35 + 41–46 = 72–82) and a short upper jaw, its posterior tip reaching to or extending slightly beyond the anterior margin of the preopercle. Stolephorus pacificus and S. multibranchus also have relatively numerous gill rakers for species of this genus (21–27 + 29–36 = 53–61 and 21–28 + 30–35 = 54–60, respectively), but counts for S. teguhi exceed those for the two species. Although S. advenus also has a short upper jaw similar to that of S. teguhi, the former has far fewer gill rakers (19 + 24 = 43) than the latter.     

Taxonomic review of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cottiusculus</Emphasis> (Cottoidei: Cottidae) with description of a new species from the Sea of Japan

A taxonomic review of the cottid genus Cottiusculus Jordan and Starks 1904 established three species, C. nihonkaiensis sp. nov., C. schmidti, and C. gonez. Cottiusculus nihonkaiensis sp. nov., which had been previously confused with C. schmidti, is described on the basis of 32 specimens (44.8–77.9 mm, SL) collected from the Sea of Japan. The new species is very similar to C. schmidti in having a curved barbless uppermost preopercular spine and the lateral line extending past the caudal fin base, but is distinguishable as follows: nasal spines simple or sometimes weakly bicuspid (vs. deeply bicuspid in C. schmidti); first dorsal fin not elongated in either males or females (vs. elongated in males); ventral lateral and lateral line cirri present (vs. absent). The former is known from the Sea of Japan coasts of Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula, and Volcano Bay, Hokkaido, and the latter from the Pacific coast of Tohoku District, Japan. Cottiusculus gonez, known from the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk and Pacific coast of Hokkaido, is characterized by having a simple nasal spine, the uppermost preopercular spine almost straight with two small cusps dorsally, posterior cusp barbed, and the lateral line almost reaching to the caudal fin base. A lectotype of C. gonez is designated here. Sequence differences in the cytochrome b gene among the above three species of Cottiusculus are also presented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tubulideres seminoli</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zelinkaderes brightae</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Kinorhyncha,Cyclorhagida) from Florida

One new kinorhynch genus and species and one new species from the genus Zelinkaderes are described from sandy sediment off Fort Pierce, Florida. The new genus and species, Tubulideres seminoli gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of the first trunk segment consisting of a closed ring, the second segment of a bent tergal plate with a midventral articulation and the following nine segments consisting of a tergal and two sternal plates. Cuspidate spines are not present, but flexible tubules are located on several segments, and in particular concentrated on the ventral side of the second segment. Middorsal spines are present on all trunk segments and are alternatingly offset to a position slightly lateral to the middorsal line. Zelinkaderes brightae nov. sp. is characterized by its spine formula in having middorsal spines on trunk segments 4, 6 and 8–11, lateroventral acicular spines on segment 2, lateral accessory cuspidate spines on segments 2 and 8, ventrolateral cuspidate spines on segments 4–6 and 9, lateroventral acicular spines present on segments 8 and 9, and midterminal, lateral terminal and lateral terminal accessory spines on segment 11. The spine formula of Z. brightae nov. sp. places it in a position in between Z. submersus and a clade consisting of Z. klepali and Z. floridensis. The new findings on Z. brightae nov. sp. have led us to propose an emended diagnosis for the genus.     

Free‐living calamyzin chrysopetalids (Annelida) from methane seeps,anoxic basins,and whale falls

Members of Calamyzinae, a clade of free‐living and ectoparasitic chrysopetalids, are mainly associated with deep‐sea chemosynthetic environments. The three currently known free‐living calamyzin species are placed in Vigtorniella. A new free‐living calamyzin species similar to these is described here. Phylogenetic analyses of Calamyzinae using mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rDNA) and nuclear (Histone H3 and 18S rDNA) loci showed that Vigtorniella and the new species form a grade with respect to an ectoparasitic clade, requiring two new genera to be erected. All free‐living calamyzins show a similar anterior end and chaetal morphology. Micospina auribohnorum gen. et sp. nov. is described for the small‐bodied new species from deep‐sea whale falls off California and methane seeps off Costa Rica. The maximum‐likelihood and Bayesian analyses show Micospina gen. nov. as sister to the ectoparasitic clade. Boudemos gen. nov. is named for the clade of two larger‐bodied species: Boudemos flokati gen. et comb. nov. and Boudemos ardabilia gen. et comb. nov., which is sister group to all other Calamyzinae. Vigtorniella is retained for the type species, Vigtorniella zaikai (Kiseleva, 1992), with the adults found amongst bacterial mats at the boundary of the hydrogen sulphide zone in the Black Sea. Micospina gen. nov., Boudemos gen. nov., and Vigtorniella form a grade of free‐living taxa that is associated with feeding on organic‐enriched sediments, and the latter two taxa display ontogenetic jaw change. Jaws are absent in Micospina auribohnorum gen. et sp. nov. and most of the calamyzin clade of parasitic forms.     

Three new green coccoid zoospore-producing algae from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,Tennessee, U.S.A.

Three new coccoid zoospore-producing green algae includingAxilococcus clingmanii gen. & spec. nov.,Lautosphaeria monsfumosa gen. & spec. nov., andDictylochloris pulchra spec. nova (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyceae) are described.Dedicated to Prof. DrLothar Geitler on the occasion of his 90th birthday.     

The Saurida undosquamis group (Aulopiformes: Synodontidae), with description of a new species from southern Japan

Four lizardfishes of Saurida (family Synodontidae), S. undosquamis, S. umeyoshii sp. nov., S. macrolepis, and S. longimanus, are described. All are recognized here as the Saurida undosquamis group, characterized by having dark dots on the upper margin of the caudal fin, pectoral fin exceeding origin to pelvic fin, anterior rays of dorsal fin neither elongate nor filamentous, predorsal length greater than distance between dorsal-fin and adipose-fin origins, 46–55 pored lateral-line scales, and vomer with 0–8 teeth. Saurida undosquamis, from northern West India and West Pacific, excluding East Asia, differs from others in having lateral-line scales ridged on the caudal peduncle, conspicuously concave posterior margin of the pectoral fin, 51–55 pored lateral-line scales, and 50–53 vertebrae. Saurida umeyoshii sp. nov., from southern Japan and the East China Sea, is defined by three rows of indistinct dark blotches on, above, and below the lateral line, distribution of scale pockets with melanophores on their posterior part extending over the entire abdominal region from the lateral line in specimens over ca. 130 mm SL, lateral-line scales not ridged on caudal peduncle, 49–52 pored lateral-line scales, and 48–50 vertebrae. Saurida macrolepis, from the Indo-West Pacific, is characterized by 46–49 pored lateral-line scales and 45–48 vertebrae. Saurida longimanus, from northern West India, northwest Australia, and southern Indonesia, differs from the others in having a long pectoral fin extending past the origin of the dorsal fin. Some geographic variations are found in S. macrolepis. Saurida grandisquamis is confirmed as a junior synonym of S. undosquamis, based on examination of the type specimens. A key to species in the S. undosquamis group is included.     

Comparison of the lateral line and ampullary systems of two species of shovelnose ray

The anatomical characteristics of the mechanoreceptive lateral line system and electrosensory ampullae of Lorenzini of Rhinobatos typus and Aptychotrema rostrata are compared. The spatial distribution of somatic pores of both sensory systems is quite similar, as lateral line canals are bordered by electrosensory pore fields. Lateral line canals form a sub-epidermal, bilaterally symmetrical net on the dorsal and ventral surfaces; canals contain a nearly continuous row of sensory neuromasts along their length and are either non-pored or pored. Pored canals are connected to the surface through a single terminal pore or additionally possess numerous tubules along their length. On the dorsal surface of R. typus, all canals of the lateral line occur in the same locations as those of A. rostrata. Tubules branching off the lateral line canals of R. typus are ramified, which contrasts with the straight tubules of A. rostrata. The ventral prenasal lateral line canals of R. typus are pored and possess branched tubules in contrast to the non-pored straight canals in A. rostrata. Pores of the ampullae of Lorenzini are restricted to the cephalic region of the disk, extending only slightly onto the pectoral fins in both species. Ampullary canals penetrate subdermally and are detached from the dermis. Ampullae occur clustered together, and can be surrounded by capsules of connective tissue. We divided the somatic pores of the ampullae of Lorenzini of R. typus into 12 pore fields (10 in A. rostrata), corresponding to innervation and cluster formation. The total number of ampullary pores found on the ventral skin surface of R. typus is approximately six times higher (four times higher in A. rostrata) than dorsally. Pores are concentrated around the mouth, in the abdominal area between the gills and along the rostral cartilage. The ampullae of both species of shovelnose ray are multi-alveolate macroampullae, sensu Andres and von Düring (1988). Both the pore patterns and the distribution of the ampullary clusters in R. typus differ from A. rostrata, although a basic pore distribution pattern is conserved.     

New fossil mantidflies (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae) from the Mesozoic of north‐eastern China

Abstract:  Three new genera and four new species of the extinct mantidfly subfamily Mesomantispinae (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning and the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia: Archaeodrepanicus nuddsi gen. et sp. nov., A. acutus gen. et sp. nov., Sinomesomantispa microdentata gen. et sp. nov., (Yixian Formation) and Clavifemora rotundata gen. et sp. nov. (Jiulongshan Formation). The specimens described herein represent the first Mesozoic mantidfly compression fossils to have body parts preserved, including the specialized raptorial forelegs articulated to the prothorax anteriorly, an autapomorphy of the family. These new taxa further confirm the placement of the subfamily Mesomantispinae within the family Mantispidae; however, the monophyly of Mesomantispinae has not been confirmed, and it is likely that it will prove to be paraphyletic.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraliparis adustus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraliparis bullacephalus</Emphasis>: two new snailfish species (Teleostei: Liparidae) from Alaska

Paraliparis adustus sp. nov., a snailfish species from the Bering Sea near the Aleutian Island Archipelago, Alaska, is described based on a single mesopelagic specimen. This new species is clearly distinguished by a combination of several morphological features and meristic counts, including long pointed gill rakers with 0–3 spinules at or near the tip, anus positioned forward near the pectoral symphysis, and color uniform brown. Paraliparis bullacephalus sp. nov. from Shelikof Strait, Gulf of Alaska, is also described. This new species is very similar in meristic characters and general body shape and size to P. holomelas Gilbert, but differs primarily in morphological features of the head, particularly in the shape of the dorsal contour of the head, snout, and opercular flap, mouth size, and eye position.     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Diversity of bladed Bangiales (Rhodophyta) in western Mediterranean: recognition of the genus Themis and descriptions of T. ballesterosii sp. nov., T. iberica sp. nov., and Pyropia parva sp. nov.

The diversity of the bladed species of the red algal order Bangiales from the Iberian Mediterranean shores has been reassessed after a detailed study of this region. Prior to this study, 11 bladed species of Bangiales had been reported from Mediterranean waters: Porphyra atropurpurea, P. cordata, P. coriacea, P. dioica, P. linearis, P. purpurea, P. umbilicalis, Pyropia leucosticta, Pyropia koreana (as P. olivii), Py. elongata (as P. rosengurttii) and Py. suborbiculata. A combined analysis of the nuclear nSSU and the plastid rbcL genes together with detailed morphological studies has confirmed the presence of species within the genera Porphyra and Pyropia and also revealed a third, undescribed genus, Themis gen. nov. Porphyra linearis, Pyropia elongata and the introduced Pyropia koreana had been previously listed for the Mediterranean and were recorded in this study. An additional four species, including the introduced Pyropia suborbiculata and three new species: Pyropia parva sp. nov., Themis ballesterosii sp. nov., and Themis iberica sp. nov. were also observed. Hence, most of the Porphyra species traditionally reported along these shores were not reported in this survey. This new floristic Bangiales composition confirms the importance of the Mediterranean basin as a hotspot for biodiversity, possible endemics of ancient origin and high proportion of introductions. Our data also continue to confirm the extent of Bangiales diversity at regional and worldwide levels.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinogobius</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Julongjiang Basin in Fujian Province,China

Ten specimens of a new freshwater goby, Rhinogobius longyanensis were collected from the small tributary of the Julongjiang Basin, Fujian Province, southeastern China. The new species can be distinguished from all congeneric species by following unique combination of features: second dorsal fin rays I, 8; anal fin rays I, 7–8; pectoral fin rays modally 17; longitudinal scale series 30–32; predorsal scales 6–8; vertebral count 10 + 17 = 27; three parallel, deep brown oblique stripes crossing on cheek; branchiostegal membrane with 24–28 orange red spots in male; body with 5–6 deep brown blotches; pectoral fin base with a blackish brown bar. A diagnostic key to all nominal species with high vertebral counts from mainland Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, and Japan is also provided.     

Larvae and juveniles of the plunderfishes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artedidraco shackletoni</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">A.</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">skottsbergi</Emphasis> (Notothenioidei,Artedidraconidae) from the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean

Early life stages of Artedidraco skottsbergi and A. shackletoni were collected off Adélie Land. The morphology and pigmentation pattern of nine larvae and juveniles of A. skottsbergi between 17.2 and 21.4 mm in standard length (SL), and of two juveniles of A. shackletoni measuring 25.1 mm SL were described. A. skottsbergi was characterized by a heavily pigmented body, except for the caudal peduncle, with distinctively dense pigmentation on the ventrolateral half of the body and caudal section (17.2–17.9 mm SL). Furthermore, they had no pigmentation on the pectoral fin base until they attained 21.4 mm SL. Juvenile A. shackletoni had a heavily pigmented body except for the ventral side of the abdomen and the anal fin base. The proximal part of the dorsal fin and most of the anal fin were covered with melanophores. Although knowledge of larval and juvenile Artedidraco species is limited, the distribution of melanophores on the fins, pectoral fin base and caudal peduncle at each developmental stage may be useful for species identification.     

Ultrastructure of the ampullae of Lorenzini of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aptychotrema rostrata</Emphasis> (Rhinobatidae)

Small epidermal pores of the electrosensory ampullae of Lorenzini located both ventrally and dorsally on the disk of Aptychotrema rostrata (Shaw and Nodder, 1794) open to jelly-filled canals, the distal end of which widens forming an ampulla that contains 6 ± 0.7 alveolar bulbs (n = 13). The sensory epithelium is restricted to the alveolar bulbs and consists of receptor cells and supportive cells. The receptor cells are ellipsoid and their apical surfaces are exposed to the alveolar lumen with each bearing a single central kinocilium. Presynaptic bodies occur in the basal region of the receptor cell immediately proximal to the synaptic terminals. The supportive cells that surround receptor cells vary in shape. Microvilli originate from their apical surface and extend into the alveolar lumen. Tight junctions and desmosomes connect the supportive cells with adjacent supportive and receptor cells in the apical region. The canal wall consists of two cell layers, of which the luminal cells are squamous and interconnect via desmosomes and tight junctions, whereas the cells of the deeper layer are heavily interdigitated, presumably mechanically strengthening the canal wall. Columnar epithelial cells form folds that separate adjacent alveoli. The same cells separate the ampulla and canal wall. An afferent sensory nerve composed of up to nine myelinated nerve axons is surrounded by several layers of collagen fibers and extends from the ampulla. Each single afferent neuron can make contacts with multiple receptor cells. The ultrastructural characteristics of the ampullae of Lorenzini in Aptychotrema rostrata are very similar to those of other elasmobranch species that use electroreception for foraging.