Early Palaeozoic dentine and patterned scales in the embryonic catshark tail

Regular scale patterning, restricted to the caudalmost tail and organized into two opposing rows on each side of the tail, is observed in few chondrichthyans. These evenly spaced scales, in dorsal and ventral rows, develop in an iterative sequence from the caudal tip, either side of the notochord. They are subsequently lost as a scattered pattern of placoid scales develops on the body and fins. An identical organized pattern is observed in tail scales of Scyliorhinus canicula (catshark), where the expression of sonic hedgehog signal is restricted to the epithelium of developing scales and remains localized to the scale pocket. Regulation of iterative scale position by sonic hedgehog is deeply conserved in vertebrate phylogeny.These scales also reveal an archaic histological structure of a dentine type found in the oldest known shark scales from the Ordovician and Silurian. This combination of regulated pattern and ancient dentine occurs only in the tail, representing the primary scalation. Scattered body scales in elasmobranchs such as S. canicula originate secondarily from differently regulated development, one with typical orthodentine around a central pulp cavity. These observations emphasize the modular nature of chondrichthyan scale development and illustrate previously undetected variation as an atavism in extant chondrichthyan dentine.     

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.     

A new species of Astyanax (Characiformes: Characidae) from Costa Rica and Panama,with a key to the lower Central American species of the genus

Astyanax anai, a new species of characid fish, is described from the Sixaola River basin, eastern Costa Rica–western Panama, Central America. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: premaxillary teeth 4–5 at the inner series and 4–6 at the outer series; maxillary teeth tricuspid, 2–4; predorsal scale series irregular and incomplete, with an unscaled space behind tip of supraoccipital process and 12–14 scales; lateral line scales 34–39; humeral region with a conspicuous black and rounded to horizontally ovate spot and two diffuse brown and vertically elongate bars (the first through the rounded to horizontally ovate spot, the second 2–4 scales behind the first); body depth 36·6–42·3% of standard length (L_S); midlateral stripe formed by a series of 10–14 anteriorly‐directed dermal herringbone, or chevron‐shaped, marks, most apparent in juveniles and in preserved specimens, extending above the lateral line from the black humeral spot or just behind it (from the second vertical bar) to the caudal peduncle; scale rows from lateral line to base of first dorsal‐fin ray 8–9; scale rows from lateral line to base of pelvic fin 7–8; pre‐anal distance 53·9–61·9% of L_S; total anal‐fin elements 29–33; caudal spot elongated, rhomboid or rectangular, with its anterior margin surpassing the middle of the caudal peduncle, usually reaching the anal‐fin insertion, posteriorly covering 4–7 principal caudal‐fin rays and not extending onto the ventral and dorsal margins of the caudal peduncle, covering 3–5 horizontal scale rows. In order to test the phylogenetic relationships of the new taxon in relation to the other North and Central American species of the genus, a new phylogenetic hypothesis based on a reanalysis of the morphological matrix by Schmitter‐Soto (2016) is proposed. A key to the lower Central American (southern Nicaragua to eastern Panama) species of Astyanax is also provided.     

A new marine goby of genus Callogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Taiwan

A new marine goby Callogobius sheni collected from coral reefs off southern Taiwan is described. The new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following combination of features: dorsal fin rays VI-I, 9; anal fin rays I, 7; pectoral fin rays 18; longitudinal scale rows 27–28; predorsal scale rows 9–10; no posterior oculoscapular and preopercular canals; body pale white with five blackish brown cross bands; caudal and pectoral fins each with a large blackish brown blotch.     

Gerres methueni Regan, 1920, a senior synonym ofG. rappi (Barnard, 1927) (Perciformes: Gerreidae)

Gerres methueni Regan, 1920, for many years identified asG. rappi (Barnard, 1927), is redescribed as a senior synonym of the latter species, following examination of two syntypes of the former and comparative material from South Africa and Madagascar.Gerres methueni is characterized by prominent dark stripes along the scale rows above the lateral line and the 4 or 5 rows immediately below it, 5–17 small scales on the preopercular flange, arranged in 1–3 scale row(s) at the corner, 42–44 pored lateral line scales+3–5 additional pored scales on the scaly sheath of the caudal fin base, 41/2–51/2 scales between the fifth dorsal fin spine base and lateral line, and second dorsal fin spine length equal to or slightly shorter than the third dorsal fin spine length.Gerres methueni is currently known from South Africa, southern Mozambique and Madagascar, being endemic in those areas.     

A New Lanternshark <Emphasis Type="Italic">Etmopterus splendidus</Emphasis> from the East China Sea and Java Sea

A new species of the lanternshark Etmopterus splendidus is described. This new species is distinguished from the congeners by the combination of the following characters: distance from snout tip to 1st dorsal spine much less than distance from the spine to upper caudal origin; caudal fin short, much less than head length; dermal denticles on lateral side of trunk with very small, erect thornlike, conical crowns, those on trunk arranged in regular longitudinal rows, and distinctly arranged on interdorsal area and on lateral trunk of interspace between 2nd dorsal and caudal, but not arranged in regular longitudinal rows on dorsal surface of interorbital and o abdomen; color in life purplish-black above and with inconspicuous bluish-black flank marks and three other bluish-black marks at base of caudal fin and along its axis; shape of flank marks narrow anterior to, but broader posterior to pelvic fins.     

Description of a new cryptic,shallow‐water tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae: Symphurus) from the western North Pacific Ocean

Combined results based on morphological characters and analyses of partial sequences of the 16s rRNA and coI genes confirm the validity of a new, cryptic, symphurine tonguefish from the western North Pacific Ocean. Symphurus leucochilus n. sp., a diminutive species reaching sizes to c. 67 mm standard length, is described from nine specimens that were collected from fish‐landing ports and from trawls made at c. 150 m off Taiwan and Japan. Symphurus leucochilus shares many similar features with those of Symphurus microrhynchus and that of several undescribed species that are morphologically similar to S. microrhynchus. Symphurus leucochilus has also been misidentified as Symphurus orientalis in fish collections because of shared similarities in some aspects of their morphology. The new species differs from all congeners by the following combination of meristic, morphological and pigmentation features: a predominant 1–2–2–2–2 pattern of interdigitation of proximal dorsal‐fin pterygiophores and neural spines; 12 caudal‐fin rays; 89–92 dorsal‐fin rays; 76–80 anal‐fin rays; 49–51 total vertebrae; four hypurals; 75–83 longitudinal scale rows; 32–35 transverse scales; 15–17 scale rows on the head posterior to the lower orbit; absence of a fleshy ridge on the ocular‐side lower jaw and a membranous connection between the anterior nostril and lower part of the eye; a narrow interorbital space and dorsal‐fin origin anterior to the vertical through the anterior margin of the upper eye; absence of both dermal spots at bases of anterior dorsal‐fin rays and melanophores on the isthmus; uniformly yellow to light‐brown ocular‐side colouration without bands; dorsal and anal fins with alternating series of dark rectangular blotches and unpigmented areas; a uniform white blind side and a bluish‐black peritoneum. Despite overall similarities in morphology between S. leucochilus and S. orientalis, as well as between two of the nominal species morphologically similar to S. microrhynchus, analyses of partial 16s rRNA and coI gene sequences show that S. leucochilus, S. orientalis and the two other nominal species represent three distinct lineages within the genus Symphurus.     

广西华缨鱼属鱼类一新种记述

在整理华缨鱼属标本时发现,1993年9月在广西壮族自治区天峨县红水河水系地下河采集到的一批标本为一个未经发表的新种,新种订名为大眼华缨鱼(Sinocrossocheilus megalophthalmus)。其下咽齿2行,可与下咽齿3行的7种华缨鱼相区别,而与属内同样具2行下咽齿的贵州华缨鱼(S.guizhouensis)、小口华缨鱼(S.microstomatus)和宽唇华缨鱼(S.labiatus)亲缘关系较近。但:(1)新种胸鳍中点上方无黑斑,背鳍分枝鳍条7,腹鳍分枝鳍条7,背鳍前鳞15—16,眼大,头长为眼径2·5—3·1倍,眼径为头宽44·7%—57·8%,吻须后伸至前后鼻孔之间或眼前缘,口角须后伸至眼前缘至眼中之间或眼中至眼后缘之间,体长为尾柄高8·9—10·7倍,头长为吻长2·5—3·7倍,可与贵州华缨鱼(胸鳍中点上方有一明显黑斑,背鳍分枝鳍条8,腹鳍分枝鳍条8,背鳍前鳞12—14,头长为眼径4·0—5·0倍,眼径为头宽16·6%—20·7%,吻须后伸不达后鼻孔后缘,口角须后伸至眼前缘,体长为尾柄高7·2—8·2倍,头长为吻长1·9—2·2倍)相区别;(2)新种背鳍前鳞15—16,侧线鳞39—40,侧线上鳞4·5—5·5,背鳍分枝鳍条7,鳃耙13,腹鳍末端伸达肛门,眼径为头宽44·7%—57·8%,可与宽唇华缨鱼(背鳍前鳞22,侧线鳞42—45,侧线上鳞6·5,背鳍分枝鳍条8,鳃耙10,腹鳍末端不达肛门,眼径为头宽23·3%—30·0%)相区别;(3)新种与同水系的小口华缨鱼在鳍条数、侧线鳞、体色、斑纹等方面最为相似,但新种围尾柄鳞14/16,眼大,头长为眼径2·5—3·1倍,腹鳍末端伸达肛门,口角须后伸至眼前缘至眼中之间或眼中至眼后缘之间,吻皮边缘深裂成小穗,背鳍起点距吻端较距尾鳍基为近,背鳍长大于头长,体长为尾柄长4·8—5·9倍,头长为吻长2·5—3·7倍,尾柄长为尾柄高1·6—2·1倍,可与之(围尾柄鳞12,眼小,头为眼径4·4—4·6倍,腹鳍末端不达肛门,口角须伸达眼下方,吻皮边缘不开裂或开裂不明显,背鳍起点距吻端等于距尾鳍基,背鳍条约等于头长,体长为尾柄长6·1—6·4倍,头长为吻长2·1—2·4倍,尾柄长为尾柄高1·4—1·5倍)相区别。     

Balitora eddsi,a new species of hillstream loach (Ostariophysi: Balitoridae) from Nepal

A new species of hillstream loach Balitora eddsi is described from the Karnali River drainage in south‐western Nepal. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners by possessing the following combination of characters: six to seven unbranched pectoral‐fin rays, pelvic‐fin length 12–14% standard length (L_S), dorsal surface without circular or irregular shaped dark blotches, snout pointed, median lobe between anterior rostral barbels pointed posteriorly, dorsal‐fin origin posterior to pelvic‐fin origin, lateral line scales 66–67, caudal peduncle length 22–23·2% L_S, caudal peduncle depth 4·1–4·2 times its length.     

A new species of the genus Mekongina Fowler, 1937 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from South China

A new species of cyprinid fish, Mekongina lancangensis, is described from the upper Mekong River drainage in Southern Yunnan, China. The new species is distinguished from the other species of Mekongina occurring in the lower Mekong River drainage by possessing the following combination of characters: one pair of rostral barbels; two rows of tubercles irregularly scattered on the snout and cheeks, with two enlarged tubercles present at each side of anterior of the snout; 19–27 rostral marginal lappets; lateral line with 38–41 scales; 5·5 or 6·5 scales in transverse series from dorsal‐fin origin to lateral line; 18–20 circumpeduncular scales; snout length 31·9–36·9% head length; tip of depressed anal‐fin rays extending to the caudal‐fin base.     

内蒙古石拐群古鳕类一新属

内蒙古石拐地区石拐群召沟组中的长腹鳍大青山鳕(新属、新种) Daqingshaniscus longiventralis gen. et sp. nov. 是在我国中侏罗世地层中发现的一比较原始的古鳕类.其头骨眶后部分短,鳃盖骨大于下鳃盖骨,背鳍位于腹鳍与臀鳍之间,腹鳍基线长,鳍条都从基部分节、远端分叉,棘鳞仅见于尾上叶,全歪型尾,鳞片呈菱形.大青山鳕既与苏联南哈萨克斯坦 Karatau 地区的 Pteroniscus 很接近,又与我国新疆的维吾尔鳕 Uighuroniscus 及西德北部的 Stadthagen 地区的 Indaginilepis 相似.     

A new anthiine fish (Perciformes: Serranidae),Holanthias kingyo, from the Ryukyu Islands

A new anthiine fish,Holanthias kingyo sp, nov., is described on the basis of two specimens (male and female) from the Ryukyu Is., Japan. The new species is most similar toH. natalensis (Fowler, 1925), known only from South Africa, in having the following characters: dorsal fin soft rays 16 or 17, anal fin soft rays 9, pored lateral line scales 46 or 47, scale rows above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 9 1/2 or 10 1/2, and gill rakers 10 or 11 +24 or 25=34–36. It differs from the latter in having more scales below the lateral line to the origin of the anal fin (27 1/2 vs. 18–24), a U-shaped caudal fin with paddle-like lobes (vs. deeply forked caudal fin with each lobe ending in a long slender filament), the outer margin of the soft anal fin vertical (vs. gently convex) and brown spots on the body in female (vs. spots absent in females).     

Redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bregmaceros mcclellandi</Emphasis> Thompson, 1840 (Gadiformes: Bregmacerotidae)

 This study redescribes Bregmaceros mcclellandi Thompson, 1840, based on one specimen (74.4 mm SL) from the Bay of Bengal and 66 specimens (30.0–84.7 mm SL) from Mumbai (Bombay), India, because the type specimens have apparently been lost. The present specimens are characterized by having black dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins and show the following morphology: caudal fin slightly forked; body chromatophores present mainly at the dorsal part; no scales on cheek; vertebrae 52–55 (13–15 + 38–41); dorsal rays 52–59; anal rays 54–60; pectoral rays 18–20; caudal rays 27–31 (principal rays 14); transverse scales 14–15. In the 66 Mumbai specimens, it was confirmed that the distinctive black fin pigmentation developed sequentially with growth, with complete pigmentation first on the anterior lobe of the dorsal fin, then simultaneously on the posterior lobe of the dorsal fin, the caudal fin, and the pectoral fin, and last, on the anal fin. This species is known only from the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Gulf of Thailand. A review of 16 nominal Bregmaceros species indicates that, besides B. mcclellandi, the distinctive dark fin pigmentation is found in B. atripinnis (Tickell), B. atlanticus Goode and Bean, B. japonicus Tanaka, and B. lanceolatus Shen. B. atripinnis is considered a junior synonym of B. mcclellandi, and the others are clearly distinct from B. mcclellandi. Comments are made on some of the characters to more fully characterize the species and for reference in future revisionary and phylogenetic studies. Received: June 17, 2002 / Revised: December 2, 2002 / Accepted: December 24, 2002     

Pethia sanjaymoluri,a new species of barb (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the northern Western Ghats,India

Pethia sanjaymoluri, a new cyprinid, is described from the Pavana and Nira tributaries of Bhima River, Krishna drainage, Maharashtra, India. It can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of characteristics that includes an incomplete lateral line, absence of barbels, upper lip thick and fleshy, 23–25 lateral series scales, 7–12 lateral‐line pored scales, 10 predorsal scales, 11–14 prepelvic scales, 17–20 pre‐anal scales, 4½ scales between dorsal‐fin origin and lateral line, four scales between lateral line and pelvic‐fin origin, 8–15 pairs of serrae on distal half of dorsal‐fin spine, 12–14 branched pectoral‐fin rays, 4 + 26 total vertebrae, 4 + 5 predorsal vertebrae, 4 + 13 abdominal vertebrae, 13 caudal vertebrae and a unique colour pattern comprising a humeral spot positioned below the lateral line and encompassing the third and fourth lateral‐line scales and one scale below, one caudal spot on 17th–21st lateral‐line scales with a yellow hue on its anterior side and apical half of dorsal fin studded with melanophores making the fin tip appear black. Genetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence suggests that the species is distinct from other known species of Pethia for which data are available.     

Pseudanthias calloura (Teleostei: Perciformes), a new serranid fish from Palau, Central Pacific

A new anthine fish, Pseudanthias calloura, is described on the basis of three specimens from Palau. The new species differs from other congeners in having a complicated color pattern of the caudal fin and the following characters: moderately forked caudal fin; dorsal fin with 10 spines, the anterior ones being shorter than the rest, and with 16 soft rays; second anal spine shorter than the third; 19 pectoral rays; scales on lateral line 51 (holotype) to 53 (paratypes) in number; tongue without teeth; circumorbital rim with several fleshy projection on posterior part; a row of fine scales occurring asymmetrically behind alternate dorsal spines on both left and right sides; preopercle margin finely serrated; interopercle and subopercle margins smooth. Received: June 9, 1999 / Revised: September 23, 2000 / Accepted: February 23, 2001     

A new Pseudophoxinus (Teleostei,Cyprinidae) species from Asi River Drainage (Turkey)

Pseudophoxinus turani sp. n. is described from the İncesu Spring (Hassa-Hatay) drainage of Asi River, Turkey. It is distinguished from other Eastern Mediterranean Region Pseudophoxinus species by a combination of characters: lateral line incomplete, with 12–25 (commonly 16–21) perforated scales and 38–46+2-3 scales in lateral series (commonly 41–44+2-3); 10–11 scale rows between the lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 3–4 scale rows between the lateral line and the pelvic–fin origin; dorsal fin with 7½ branched rays; anal fin commonly with 7½ branched rays; 8-11gill rakers on the first branchial arch; dorsal profile markedly convex with marked hump at the nape, ventral profile less convex than dorsal profile; a small, irregular, black blotch on the base of the caudal fin; mouth terminal, with slightly distinct chin, its corner not reaching vertical through anterior margin of eye; snout somewhat long, with rounded tip; and its length greater than eye diameter.     

Scale morphology of greater lizardfish Saurida tumbil (Bloch, 1795) (Pisces: Synodontidae)

A comparative study comprising scale morphology and squamation of Saurida tumbil was conducted to identify the most useful scale and squamation characters within the different body regions and length groups and to clarify their significance for future systematic studies. The presence of the caudal pores is documented for the first time in teleosts. In addition, the presence of crenae and spines formed by posterior orientation and projection of circuli is recorded for the first time in a member of the Synodontidae. Scales of S. tumbil show some characters that are either never seen or they are exceedingly rare in scales of other teleosts. These are: two types of scalar denticles, denticles in the inter-circular area, and twin or Siamese scales. Several other scale characters have shown a consistent variation in different body regions and in fishes from different length groups. These are: focus position; bilobate rostral field edge; presence of three radii; long, narrow and separated crenae; papillae-form, crowded scalar denticles with posterior directed spines; the number of scale rows between anterior end of the dorsal fin and the lateral line.     

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

A new freshwater goby, Rhinogobius wuyanlingensis, was collected from Wuyanling National Natural Conservation Area, Taishun, Zhejiang Province, China. The species can be distinguished from all congeneric species by the following unique combination of features: second dorsal fin rays modally I, 8; anal fin rays I, 8; pectoral fin rays modally 18; longitudinal scale series 30–32; predorsal scales 7–9; vertebral count 10 + 17 = 27; body always with six longitudinal pinkish orange to grayish brown lines from dorsal to ventral region in male; cheek spotless; branchiostegal membrane deep grayish with 6–7 long, transverse deep red stripes in male; chin always deep grayish; first dorsal fin with two long black blotches on membranes anterior to third spinous ray in male; second dorsal fin whitish with three to four horizontal rows of light spots in male; caudal fin base with a large blackish-brown spot; and pectoral fin with a horizontal, median blackish brown line. An artificial key to all five nominal species with a high vertebral count (27–29) from Zhejiang Province from China is also provided.