A new species of sculpin,Icelus ecornis (Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae) from the southwestern Okhotsk Sea

A new cottid species,Icelus ecornis, is described on the basis of 31 specimens collected from 159–226 m in the southwestern Okhotsk Sea off Hokkaido, Japan. It is distinguished from all other members of the genusIcelus by the following combination of characters: no supraocular and parietal spines; short blunt nuchal spine; cirri absent from head and body, except for supraocular, parietal and nuchal regions; platelike scales of dorsal row bearing 6–10 long uniform spinules; tubular lateral line scales bearing small spines on dorsal and posterior margins; large oval black spot on first dorsal fin; 16–20 anal fin rays.     

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 species,gerres infasciatus, from the gulf of thailand (perciformes: Gerreidae)

Gerres infasciatus sp. nov. is described from the holotype and two paratypes, 125–140 mm in standard length (SL), collected off Samut Prakan, northern Gulf of Thailand. The species is similar toG. filamentosus Cuvier andG. macracanthus Bleeker in general appearance, having an elongated second dorsal fin spine, but differs from them in having 39 or 40 pored lateral line scales, the first and second soft dorsal fin ray tips yellow in fresh specimens, a narrow, faint dusky-yellowish margin on the upper membrane of the spinous dorsal fin (between 4th–9th spines), the distal part of the pelvic fin (between 1st–5th soft rays) white for 1/3–1/2 of each ray length (lost after preservation), bands absent on the body in both fresh and preserved specimens, a smaller orbit diameter (11.4–12.4% of SL), a longer second dorsal fin spine (48.0–68.9% of SL), and shorter second and third anal fin spines (10.7–11.2% and 10.4–11.3% of SL), respectively.     

Channa panaw, a new channid fish from the Irrawaddy and Sittang River basins, Myanmar

Channa panaw sp. nov. (Channidae) is described from 32 specimens collected from the Irrawaddy and Sittang River basins, Myanmar. It is distinguishable from all known congeners by the combination of the following characters: 32–35 dorsal fin rays, 23–24 anal fin rays, 17–20 pectoral fin rays, 39–41 lateral line scales, 39–41 total vertebrae, one large scale on each side of the lower jaw (rarely 2 on one side), pelvic fin length always more than 50% of pectoral fin length, and 7–12 irregular black blotches on the upper half of the body.     

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).     

Ceratobregma striata,a new triplefin (Tripterygiidae) from northern Australia,and a record ofNorfolkia brachylepis from western Australia

A new species of tripterygiid fish, belonging to the recently described genusCeratobregma Holleman, 1987, is characterized by a total of 17 spines in the second dorsal fin, 8 rays in the third dorsal fin, 20 anal fin rays (spines+rays = 22), 14 + 21 lateral line scales, a total of 35–37 lateral scale series, small spiny scales on the sides of the head behind the eye and on the upper cheeks, 14 vertical dark stripes along the upper sides of the body, and 8 basal blotches on the second dorsal fin. A key to the species ofCeratobregma is presented.Norfolkia brachylepis is described and recorded from northwestern Australia.Norfolkia springen is synonymized withN. brachylepis.     

Taxonomic review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sebastes inermis</Emphasis> species complex (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae)

A taxonomic review of three color morphotypes of the Sebastes inermis species complex established the existence of three valid species, viz. S. inermis, S. ventricosus, and S. cheni. The complex is defined by having two sharp lachrymal spines, the head weakly armed with nasal, preocular, supraocular and parietal spines, and the caudal fin not distinctly emarginated. Sebastes inermis, known from southern Hokkaido southward to Kyushu, Japan, and the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, is characterized as follows: body dark red or light brown dorsally and laterally when fresh, pectoral fin extending beyond level of anus when depressed, pectoral-fin rays 15, anal-fin rays 7, pored lateral line scales 36–44 and gill rakers 31–37. Sebastes ventricosus, known from Iwate and Ishikawa Prefecture southward to Kyushu, Japan, and the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, is characterized as follows: body somewhat greenish-black dorsally and dark silver ventrally when fresh, pectoral-fin rays 16, anal-fin rays 7–8, pored lateral line scales 43–49, and gill rakers 35–39. Sebastes cheni, known from Iwate and Akita Pref. southward to Kyushu, Japan, and the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, is characterized as follows: body dark golden-brown dorsally and laterally when fresh, pelvic fin extending beyond anus when depressed, pectoral-fin rays 17, anal-fin rays 8, pored lateral line scales 37–46 and gill rakers 32–37. In the genetic analysis, the presence or absence of two AFLP fragments was completely fixed among the three species. Sebastes tokionis and S. guentheri are regarded as junior synonyms of S. inermis and S. ventricosus, respectively. A lectotype is designated for S. cheni, and a key to the three species of the S. inermis species complex provided.     

Johnius (johnieops) philippinus, a new sciaenid from the philippines, with a synopsis of species included in the subgenusjohnieops

A new sciaenid,Johnius (Johnieops) philippinus, is described from the Davao Gulf, Mindanao Island Philippines. It differs from all known species of the subgenus in the combination of 29–32 dorsal fin soft rays, 5–6 scales above and 10–13 scales below the lateral line, 10–12 lower gill rakers, a broadly rounded anterior snout margin (from dorsal aspect), large eyes (28–35% HL), a narrow interorbital space (23–28% HL) and well-developed pleural ribs on 11th vertebra. A synopsis of species included in the subgenusJohnieops is provided.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Epigonus cavaticus</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Perciformes), a new epigonid fish from Palau,western Central Pacific

A new epigonid fish, Epigonus cavaticus, is described on the basis of eight specimens (59.2–69.5 in standard length: SL) collected from a cave at depth 20 m, southern fringing reef of Ngemelis Island, Palau. The species differs from other congeners by having minute teeth on both jaws, no opercular spine, pyloric caeca 7–8, gill rakers 25–27, total pored lateral line scales 48–50, dorsal fin rays VII-I, 10–11 (mode VII-I, 10), pectoral fin rays 16, vertebrae 10 + 15, body depth 21.4–25.0% SL, pectoral fin length 22.7–24.6% SL, eye diameter 44.4–47.5% head length: HL, upper jaw length 40.2–42.5% HL. Four paratypes (63.7–66.8 mm SL) of the new species are female with mature gonads, it is the smallest in size at sexual maturity among the congeners.     

A new species of Rhinogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Hanjiang Basin in Guangdong Province, China

A new freshwater goby, Rhinogobius wangi, was collected from a small tributary of the Hanjiang Basin, Guangdong Province, southeastern China. The species can be distinguished from all congeneric species by the following unique combination of features: second dorsal fin rays I, 8; anal fin rays I, 7; pectoral fin rays 16; rather large scales as longitudinal scale series 26–27; predorsal scales 8–9; vertebral count 10 + 17 = 27; seven parallel, deep brown oblique stripes crossing on cheek in male; branchiostegal membrane with brownish-red spots in male; seven longitudinal deep brown lines on lateral side of body; pectoral fin base with a blackish-brown bar. A key to all nominal species with high vertebral counts from China (Hanjiang to Chiangtangjiang basins), Taiwan, and Japan is also provided.     

Nematops nanosquama, a new species of righteye flounder (Pleuronectiformes: Poecilopsettidae) from off the Marquesas Islands

A new poecilopsettid flounder, Nematops nanosquama, is described from 10 specimens (4 males, 6 females) collected from deep waters (96–650 m) off Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands. This species is easily separated from the three recognized species of the genus Nematops by having large numbers of dorsal fin rays, anal fin rays, lateral line scales, and vertebrae, five dark transverse broad bands on the body, and a black blotch on the distal area of the pectoral fin. N.nanosquama shows the easternmost record of this genus from the Pacific Ocean.     

Channa nox, a new channid fish lacking a pelvic fin from Guangxi, China

 A new species of channid fish, genus Channa, is described from 7 specimens collected from the vicinity of Hepu, Guangxi Province, southern China. The new species, Channa nox, is distinguished from all other channid species by the following combination of characters: absence of pelvic fins, small rounded head (22.1%–26.8% SL), narrow interorbital width (19.6%–26.7% HL), short snout length (3.6%–5.1% SL), predorsal and prepectoral lengths (26.9%–28.4% SL and 24.8%–28.3% SL, respectively), 47–51 dorsal fin rays, 31–33 anal fin rays, 55–63 lateral line scales, 5.5–6.5 scales above lateral line, 9–13 cheek scales, 53–55 total vertebrae, 1 or 2 scale(s) on each side of lower jaw undersurface, the black upper half of body with 8–11 irregular (often anteriorly pointed V-shaped) bands or blotches, a large white-rimmed black ocellus on caudal peduncle and sparse white spots on the dark brown body and dorsal and caudal fins, as well as the shape of the hyomandibular process of the suprabranchial organs. Channa nox is sympatrically distributed with its morphologically most similar congener, C. asiatica. Received: January 18, 2001 / Revised: November 2, 2001 / Accepted: December 12, 2001     

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.     

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.     

Redescription of Synagrops spinosus (percichthyidae) with its first record from the West Pacific

The percichthyid fishSynagrops spinosus Shultz is recorded for the first time from the West Pacific and is redescribed. Differences between the Pacific and Atlantic specimens are not significant, and they should be classified as the same species. This species is easily distinguished from the congeners by the combination of the following characters: second spine of first dorsal fin, second spine of anal fin and spine of pelvic fin with serration on their anterior margins; spine of second dorsal fin smooth; anal fin II, 7 (rarely II, 8); dorsal fin IX-I, 9; lateral line scales 29–31; lower jaw with two rows of teeth on its middle part, inner row consists of 4–7 large canine-like teeth, and outer row consists of very small teeth; vertebrae 10+15. This is a demersal fish mainly living on the outer parts of the continental shelves and the upper parts of their slopes at depths of 87–544 meters. The distribution in the two separate and greatly distant areas is discussed in relation to the continental drift and climatic changes since the late Cretaceous.     

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.     

Hemimyzon nanensis, a new balitorid fish from the chao phraya basin, thailand

A new balitorid fish,Hemimyzon nanensis, is described from the Mae Nam Nan River basin, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, in northern Thailand. This species is distinguishable from its congeners by the following unique combination of characters: pectoral fin with 9–11 simple and 10–12 branched, rays; pelvic fin with 3–4 (usually 3) simple and 8–9 (usually 9) branched rays; 59–63 total lateral line scales; distance between pelvic fin bases 8.1–9,6% SL.H. nanensis is the first species of the genus recorded outside China and Taiwan.     

Redescription of a rare threadfin (Perciformes: Polynemidae), Polydactylus macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1858), with designation of a lectotype and notes on distributional implications

A rare threadfin, Polydactylus macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1858), having long been included in the genus Polynemus, is redescribed on the basis of 9 specimens and a lectotype designated. Polydactylus macrophthalmus is characterized by the following combination of characters: 7 pectoral filaments, upper 3 filaments extending beyond posterior margin of hypural; 13 or 14 pectoral fin rays; 87–94 pored lateral line scales; 11 scales above lateral line, 15 or 16 below; 10–12 upper series gill rakers, 15 or 16 lower, 26 or 27 total; occipital profile concave in adults; second spine of first dorsal fin very strong; pectoral fin rays long (mean 24% [range 24–26%] of SL). The presently known distribution of the species, including the Kapuas River, Kalimantan, and the Musi and Batanghari Rivers, Sumatra, Indonesia, apparently reflects the ancient Central or North Sunda River during the last period of lowered sea levels, ca. 12 000 years ago. Received: November 1, 2000 / Revised: March 2, 2001 / Accepted: March 15, 2001     

Revision of the genusgirella (girellidae) from east asia

The taxonomy of three species ofGirella from East Asian waters,G. punctata Gray, 1835,G. leonina (Richardson, 1846) andG. mezina Jordan & Starks, 1907, is reviewed and intraspecific (individual and ontogenic) variations detailed.Girella mezina is characterized by a very wide mouth and thick upper lip, the soft-rayed portion of the anal fin high and round, dorsal profile of the head abruptly slanting in front of the eyes in adults, a transverse yellow band on the body in life, and 3–4 rows of teeth along the outer jaw margins, the central cusp of each tooth being wider than the lateral cusps in adults.Girella punctata is characterized by usually 2 rows of teeth along the outer jaw margins, usually 7 transverse series of scales between the lateral line and median spinous portion of the dorsal fin (TRac), and usually 52–55 pored lateral line scales (LLp). The species is variable in body and caudal fin shape, extent of squamation on the opercular region, and number and position of dark spots on the scales. It also exhibits ontogenetic variation in the number of tooth-rows.Girella leonina is characterized by a conspicuously black opercular flap, essentially a single row of teeth along the outer jaw margins, usually 10–11 TRac and usually 59–64 LLp. Intraspecific variations were evident in the mouth position, scale condition and body color after death, and in the number of pores of cephalic lateral line canals. The holotype ofG. punctata, previously known only from a figure, is described for the first time.Girella melanichthys is synonymized underG. punctata with a lectotype designated for the former.     

Embryonic, larval and juvenile development of the roughskin sculpin,Trachidermus fasciatus (Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae)

Embryonic, larval and juvenile development of the catadromous roughskin sculpin,Trachidermus fasciatus, were described using eggs spawned in an aquarium. The eggs, measuring 1.98–2.21 mm in diameter, were light reddish-yellow and had many oil globules, 0.05–0.18 mm in diameter. Hatching occurred 30 days after spawning at 2.3–11.3°C. The newly-hatched larvae, measuring 6.9–7.3 mm BL, had a single oil globule, 9–10+25–26=34–36 myomeres and 6 or 7 large stellate melanophores dorsally along the gut. The yolk was almost resorbed, number of pectoral-fin rays attained 16–17, and two parietal, one nuchal and four preopercular spines were formed, 5 days after hatching, at 8.2–8.4 mm BL. The oil globule disappeared, and one supracleithral spine was formed, 11 days after hatching, at 8.9–9.5 mm BL. Notochord flexion began 15 days after hatching, at 9.7–10.3 mm BL. A posttemporal spine was formed 20 days after hatching, at 10.7–10.9 mm BL. The first dorsal fin spines (VII–VIII), second dorsal fin and anal fin rays (18–19, 16–18, respectively) appeared 23 days after hatching, at 12.0–13.7 mm BL. The pelvic fin spine and rays (I, 4) were formed and black bands on the head and sides of the body began to develop 27 days after hatching, at 13.8–15.8 mm BL. Newly-hatched larvae swam just below the surface in the aquaria. Preflexion larvae (8.9–9.5 mm BL), in which the oil globule had disappeared, swam in the middle layer, while juveniles (13.8–15.8 mm BL) began swimming on the bottom of the aquaria. Swimming behavior observed in the aquaria suggested that the fish started to change to a demersal existence at the juvenile stage.