Review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chromis xanthura</Emphasis> species group (Perciformes: Pomacentridae), with description of a new species

A taxonomic review of the Chromis xanthura species group, defined here as having 13 dorsal-fin spines, three upper and three lower procurrent caudal-fin rays, two black bands at the preopercular and opercular margins, and a yellow caudal fin when juvenile, resulted in the recognition of three species, Chromis xanthura (Bleeker 1854), Chromis opercularis (Günther 1867), and Chromis anadema sp. nov. Chromis xanthura and C. opercularis, the Pacific and Indian Ocean paired sister species, respectively, are redescribed, with confirmation of two color types of C. xanthura (having a white or black caudal peduncle and fin) as a single species on the basis of morphological and molecular analyses. Chromis anadema sp. nov., described from the oceanic islands of the Pacific Ocean on the basis of 21 specimens, is characterized by having 28–33 gill rakers; longest dorsal-fin soft ray length 20.0–24.7% of standard length (SL); first anal-fin spine length 5.0–6.1% of SL; caudal-fin length 33.4–43.8% of SL; posterior tips of caudal-fin lobes not filamentous in adults; broad black bands along preopercular and opercular margins, sum width of two bands 28.9–38.7% of head length; distal half of soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin transparent in adults; triangular black blotches at upper and lower caudal-fin base in adults; caudal peduncle and fin bluish black in adults; and body grayish, and all fins (except for pectoral fin) bright yellow in juveniles.     

Redescriptions of two western Pacific triplefins (Perciformes: Tripterygiidae), <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enneapterygius fuscoventer</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. howensis</Emphasis>

Two western Pacific triplefins, Enneapterygius fuscoventer Fricke 1997 and E. howensis Fricke 1997 (Perciformes: Tripterygiidae), are similar to each other in sharing 15–19 (usually 17) notched lateral-line scales and the mandibular pore formula 3–5 + 1 + 3–5 (usually 4 + 1 + 4), in addition to similar coloration, viz. body with four vertical bands, the first and second forked ventrally, dorsal-fin membrane semi-transparent, anal fin entirely blackish, and caudal fin blackish with a semi-transparent margin. These species have previously been known only from preserved specimens. Examination of additional specimens plus color photographs of males and females of both species when fresh, and comparisons with type specimens resulted in several features, including coloration and counts of second dorsal-fin spines, anal-fin soft rays, pored lateral-line scales and longitudinal scale rows, being regarded as new diagnostic characters. Enneapterygius fuscoventer and E. howensis have been newly recorded from southern Japan and coastal eastern Australia, respectively.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abudefduf nigrimargo</Emphasis>, a new species of damselfish (Perciformes: Pomacentridae) from Taiwan

A new species of damselfish, Abudefduf nigrimargo (Pomacentridae), is described on the basis of six specimens (91.8–119.5 mm standard length; SL) from Taiwan. Although similar to A. caudobimaculatus Okada and Ikeda 1939, A. saxatilis (Linnaeus 1758), A. troschelii (Gill 1862) and A. vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard 1825) in having five dark bands on the lateral surface of the body with yellowish interspaces dorsally, the new species can be distinguished from the others by the following combination of characters: 18–19 (mode 19) pectoral-fin rays; 20–23 (22) tubed lateral-line scales; 7–8 (7)?+?14–16 (16)?=?21–24 (23) gill rakers; relatively greater body depth and longer pectoral-fin length [57.3–60.8% (mean 59.0%) of SL and 36.8–40.8% (38.5%) of SL, respectively]; 5 scale rows on cheek; scales on suborbit, usually continuous over basal area of lacrimal; many scales on anteroventral region of head; scale covering on preopercle and interopercle continuous; scales on dorsal and lateral body surfaces with blackish margin (indistinct in subadult), second and third black bands on body not extending dorsally onto membranes of spinous dorsal fin; anterior and upper margins of fourth black band usually level with sixth dorsal-fin soft ray base and not extending onto small scales on the dorsal-fin base, respectively; and caudal-fin base without black spots.     

Validity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abudefduf caudobimaculatus</Emphasis> Okada and Ikeda 1939 and synonymies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abudefduf vaigiensis</Emphasis> (Quoy and Gaimard 1825) (Perciformes: Pomacentridae)

Abudefduf caudobimaculatus Okada and Ikeda 1939, having long been regarded as a junior synonym of Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard 1825), is herein redescribed as a valid species on the basis of the holotype and 77 additional specimens. Abudefduf caudobimaculatus can be distinguished from A. vaigiensis in having 11–13 (modally 12) dorsal-fin soft rays, 4 scale rows above the lateral line, 2½ scale rows between the middle of the spinous portion of the dorsal-fin base and lateral line, 3–4 (4) scale rows on the cheek, scales always present on the anteroventral region of the head, eleventh and last dorsal-fin spines and pectoral-fin length 15.5–18.4%, 17.1–20.6%, and 33.5–39.9% of SL, respectively, two black spots on the caudal-fin base, anteriormost bar descending to behind the pectoral-fin base, 0–1 tubed lateral-line scales on the fourth vertical bar, and third to seventh (usually fifth or sixth) dorsal-fin soft ray base at the anterior margin of the fourth vertical bar. Synonymies of A. vaigiensis are discussed with designations of lectotypes for Glyphisodon vaigiensis and Glyphisodon rahti.     

A new species of labrid fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxycheilinus samurai</Emphasis> from the western Pacific Ocean

A new species of labrid fish Oxycheilinus samurai sp. nov. is described on the basis of five specimens from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and Panay Island, the Philippines. The new species is most similar to the Indo-West Pacific species Oxycheilinus orientalis in having a slender compressed body, 12 pectoral-fin rays, a blackish blotch around the anterior portion of the lateral-line anterior series, and a dark blotch basally on the membrane between the first and second dorsal-fin spines. However, O. samurai can be distinguished from O. orientalis by the following combination of characters: gill rakers 4 + 7–8; snout rounded with maximum circumference 49.8–63.5 % of standard length (SL); interorbital width 7.7–9.2 % of SL; caudal-peduncle depth 13.8–15.3 % of SL; posterior margin of caudal fin white; black or dark red area just before white posterior margin of caudal fin; poorly defined blackish blotches on inner surface of opercle in preserved specimens.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaphenchelys</Emphasis> (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from Thailand

A new species of moray eel, Diaphenchelys dalmatian is described based on five specimens [289.8–503.0 mm total length (TL)] collected from the western coast of peninsular Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. It can be easily distinguished from Diaphenchelys pelonates McCosker and Randall 2007, another species of the genus Diaphenchelys McCosker and Randall 2007, by its coloration (ground color white with brown dalmatian-like spots vs. brown with pale vermiculate pattern). The present new species also differs from D. pelonates in its longer tail (62.0–64.6% TL vs. 59.6–61.5%), fewer infraorbital pores along upper lip (three vs. four), fewer mandibular pores (five vs. six or seven), and fewer vertebral counts (preanal vertebrae 43–46 vs. 55–58; total 126–131 vs. 153–155). Diaphenchelys is closely similar to the genus Strophidon McClelland 1844 in the shape of neurocranium, the elongate body, low vertical fins, eye location, jaw shape, and presence of inner mandibular teeth. However, both differ in the vertebral counts (126–155 in Diaphenchelys vs. 164–208 in Strophidon) and coloration (prominent pattern vs. uniform).     

Review of Indo-Pacific dwarf lionfishes (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrochirus brachypterus</Emphasis> complex,with description of a new species from the western Indian Ocean

A taxonomic review of the Dendrochirus brachypterus complex resulted in the recognition of five species, including Dendrochirus barberi (Steindachner 1900), Dendrochirus bellus (Jordan and Hubbs 1925), Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829), Dendrochirus hemprichi sp. nov. and Dendrochirus tuamotuensis Matsunuma and Motomura 2013. The complex is defined as having usually 9 dorsal-fin soft rays, usually 5 anal-fin soft rays, 17–20 (rarely 20) pectoral-fin rays, no ocellated spots on the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin and usually 2 (sometimes none) barbels on the snout tip. Dendrochirus barberi, known from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, is characterized by usually 18 pectoral-fin rays, a relatively high number of scale rows in the longitudinal series (modally 51 vs. 39–49 in other species) and mottled markings on the pectoral fin in large specimens. Dendrochirus bellus, restricted to the northwestern Pacific Ocean from the South China Sea north to southern Japan, is characterized by usually 17 pectoral-fin rays, a relatively low number of scale rows in the longitudinal series (modally 38 vs. 44–51 in other species), and the absence of skin flaps on the orbit surface and uppermost preopercular spine base. Dendrochirus tuamotuensis, recorded only from the Tuamotu Archipelago, is characterized by 19 pectoral-fin rays, the posterior margin of the pectoral fin strongly notched, and a relatively shallow and narrow head and body. Dendrochirus hemprichi sp. nov. is distributed in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea. Although previously confused with a closely related congener (D. brachypterus, known from the northern and eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific), D. hemprichi can be distinguished from the former by having fewer scale rows between the last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line, and between the sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line [4–7 (5) in D. hemprichi vs. 5–7 (6) in D. brachypterus, in both cases], a slightly greater interorbital width at the mid-orbit [5.5–10.7 (mean 7.8) % SL vs. 4.5–8.9 (6.8) % of SL] and at preocular spine base [4.4–9.1 (6.6) % SL vs. 3.5–7.8 (5.7) % of SL], and slightly shorter posteriormost (usually 13th) dorsal-fin spine length [11.8–19.9 (15.3) % SL vs. 13.3–21.3 (17.2) % of SL]. Moreover, D. hemprichi tends to have relatively more spinous points on the head spines and ridges, compared with D. brachypterus. Notwithstanding the morphological similarity between the two species, an obvious genetic difference was observed between D. hemprichi and D. brachypterus. Dendrochirus chloreus Jenkins 1903 and Dendrochirus hudsoni Jordan and Evermann 1903 were synonymized under Pterois barberi, as in some previous studies. Scorpaena koenigii Bloch 1789 was regarded as conspecific with D. brachypterus, which it predated. However, the former name should be suppressed under Reversal of Precedence.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anonchotaenia adhiraji</Emphasis> sp.n. (Platyhelminthes:Cestoidea) from a Bird <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypsipetes madagascarensis</Emphasis> from Arunachal Pradesh,India

The genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1900 contains 23 valid species. In this paper Anonchotaenia adhiraji sp.n. obtained from the intestine of a bird Hypsipetes madagascarensis commonly known as black bulbul from Bomdila in Dirang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India is described and illustrated.The species is characterized by a large unarmed, square-shaped scolex; testes 7–8 in number arranged in two lateral groups and a voluminous paruterine organ that differentiates it from the rest of the described species in the genus. This is also the first report of the genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1900 from Arunachal Pradesh, India.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chelidoperca tosaensis</Emphasis>, a new species of perchlet (Serranidae) from Japan and the Philippines,with geographic range extension of <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">stella</Emphasis> to the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Chelidoperca tosaensis is described as a new species based on 84 specimens from Japan and the Philippines taken from depths of 60–302 m. The species can be distinguished from all known congeners by having the following combination of characters: scale rows between lateral line and base of spinous dorsal fin 3; pored lateral-line scales 37–42 (modally 39); scale rows in longitudinal series 39–43 (modally 40); no longitudinal dark stripe or row of dark blotches on body side. The new species is additionally characterized by having a combination of numerous, scattered, yellow spots on dorsal and anal fins with red streak or cluster of reddish spots over bases of about 4–6th dorsal-fin spines; large ocellated red spot with pinkish white border present on membrane between opercular spines; pelvic fin with middle area yellow with whitish spine, and whitish first, second and fifth soft rays; caudal fin with about three transverse rows of yellow spots centrally and posteriorly, two fan-shaped rows of red blotches on basal third, and a pair of white blotches with a pair of yellow blotches between white blotches on the base. Diagnostic characters of Chelidoperca stella, previously known only from its type locality in the Andaman Sea, are updated based on 12 specimens from Taiwan, the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam and the Philippines. These specimens represent the first records of the species from the Pacific Ocean.     

A new deepwater assfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bassozetus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mozambiquensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), from the western Indian Ocean

A new deepwater assfish, Bassozetus mozambiquensis sp. nov., is described from a single specimen (431 mm SL) collected from the western Indian Ocean. Originally identified as Bassozetus compressus (Günther 1878), it was subsequently found to be distinguishable from 12 valid species of the genus due to the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 117; long rakers on first gill arch 14; oblique scales ca. 30; total vertebrae 65; pelvic-fin length 9.5 % of standard length; a single median basibranchial tooth patch; sagittal otolith lacking a small process on anterior margin, dorsal margin smooth, an ostial channel present.     

A new cardinalfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verulux solmaculata</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Apogonidae), from Papua New Guinea and Australia

Verulux solmaculata sp. nov., a new cardinalfish based on 88 specimens collected from Papua New Guinea and Australia, differs from V. cypselurus, the only other known member of the genus, by the following characters: higher modal numbers of pectoral fin-rays (16 vs. 15 in the latter) and developed gill rakers (14 vs. 13), a broader black band extending over 3–5 (mode 4) rays on each lobe of the caudal fin (vs. 1–3, mode 2), and a black blotch on the caudal-fin base (vs. blotch absent).     

First record of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pojetaia runnegari</Emphasis> Jell, 1980 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fordilla</Emphasis> Barrande, 1881 from the Middle East (Taurus Mountains,Turkey) and critical review of Cambrian bivalves

Cambrian bivalves from the Middle East are reported here for the first time. They come from early “Middle Cambrian” and latest “Early Cambrian” limestones of the lower Çal Tepe Formation at the type locality (near Seydi?ehir, western Taurides). The majority of the new findings consists of Pojetaia runnegari Jell, 1980, but a few specimens of Fordilla sp. represent the first report of this genus from “Middle Cambrian” strata. Based on a compilation of the hitherto reported, but mostly revised Cambrian bivalves, the today widely accepted taxa are discussed. The genera Pojetaia Jell, 1980 and Fordilla Barrande, 1881 are critically evaluated, and three valid species are included in Pojetaia: P. runnegari Jell, 1980, P. sarhroensis Geyer and Streng, 1998, and—with limitations—P. ostseensis Hinz-Schallreuter, 1995. Fordilla also includes three species: F. troyensis Barrande, 1881, F. sibirica Krasilova, 1977, and F. germanica Elicki, 1994. The Cambrian genera Tuarangia MacKinnon, 1982, Camya Hinz-Schallreuter, 1995, and Arhouriella Geyer and Streng, 1998 most probably belong to the class Bivalvia. Palaeoecologically, the Cambrian bivalves of the Western Perigondwanan shelf seem to occur in a relatively small window of low-energy, subtidal, open-marine, warm-water conditions on a muddy carbonate ramp or platform with reduced sedimentation rate. The frequently interpreted infaunal mode of life of Pojetaia and Fordilla is questioned by observations of similarly organized modern bivalves. The palaeogeographical distribution of Pojetaia and Fordilla is discussed with respect to their early ontogeny and to differences in the recent state of knowledge on shelly fossils from Cambrian carbonate successions of Perigondwana.     

Osteology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Florenciella lugubris</Emphasis> (Percoidei: Epigonidae)

The osteology of Florenciella lugubris is described. F. lugubris is attributed to the family Epigonidae on the basis of specific characters of structure of orbital bones, skull, jaws and hyoid, presence of three principal spines on operculum, contact of pterygiophores of dorsal fins, 10 + 15 vertebrae, extension of the lateral line onto the caudal fin, structure of the first hemapophysis and interhaemale, caudal skeleton, etc. At the same time, Florenciella is more advanced in comparison with Epigonus having such characters as presence of enlarged, directed to sides and/or forward symphyseal teeth in jaws, of finely and densely denticulatd edges of infraorbitalia 2–8 and of the orbiral edge of frontale, and fontanelle in bulla otica and having specific traits of denticulation of opercular bones, having no separated distal element in the free pterygiophore between the first and second dorsal fins, having modified scales, etc. The related genera Florenciella and Rosenblattia may be synonyms.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spathebothrium vivekanandai</Emphasis> sp.n. (Platyhelminthes: Cestoidea) from a Freshwater Fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Channa striatus</Emphasis> from West Bengal,India

The monotypic genus Spathebothrium Linton, 1922 contains the only known species Spathebothrium simplex Linton, 1922. In this paper Spathebothrium vivekanandai sp.n. is described and illustrated. The specimen was obtained from the intestine of a freshwater fish Channa striatus which was collected from Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. The species is characterized by a small scolex, rounded anteriorly; presence of neck; genital pores irregularly or regularly alternate and U-shaped ovary. In addition to these characters, absence of vaginal sphincter and absence of seminal receptacle differentiates the present species from the earlier described one. The genus Spathebothrium Linton, 1922 is being reported for the first time from West Bengal, India.     

Three new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acropoma</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Acropomatidae) from the Indian Ocean

Three new species of Acropoma are described from the Indian Ocean. These species have been identified as “A. japonicum Günther 1859” by many authors, but clearly differ from A. japonicum in the shape and length of the luminous gland, counts of pectoral-fin rays and scales between first dorsal-fin base and lateral line, and other diagnostic characters. Acropoma heemstrai sp. nov. is described on the basis of 17 specimens (53.1–121.0 mm standard length: SL) collected from South Africa and Mozambique. It is distinguished from other congeners by its unique moderate Y-shaped luminous gland, extending from the throat to midway between the origins of the pelvic and anal fins, (luminous gland length 23.1–27.0% SL) and a pointed protrusion on the symphysis of lower jaw. Acropoma lacrima sp. nov. is described on the basis of 6 specimens (64.1–77.9 mm SL) collected from the Arabian Sea. Also, this species has been previously reported as “A. argentistigma Okamoto and Ida 2002” from the Bay of Bengal. It is characterized by having a vertical line on the cheek, short U-shaped luminous gland (luminous gland length 15.0–16.0% SL), and weakly ctenoid and cycloid scales on the side of the body. Acropoma neglectum sp. nov. is described on the basis of 5 specimens (105.3–168.5 mm standard length: SL) collected from the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea. It is similar to A. japonicum in having a short U-shaped luminous gland, but differs in having a shorter luminous gland (12.0–13.4% SL vs. 17.0–20.8% SL in A. japonicum), 3 scales between first dorsal-fin base and lateral line (vs. 4 scales in A. japonicum), and 16–17 pectoral-fin rays [vs. 14–16 (modally 15) in A. japonicum].     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erromyzon damingshanensis</Emphasis>, a new sucker loach (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Gastromyzontidae) from the Pearl River drainage of Guangxi,China

Erromyzon damingshanensis, a new sucker loach is described from the Pearl River drainage in Guangxi, China. The new species Erromyzon damingshanensis is distinguished from the other species of the genus in having a crescentic median lobe of the rostral fold, rostral barbels shorter than rostral fold; postlabial groove broadly interrupted medially, seven branched dorsal fin rays, 16 branched pectoral fin rays, lateral line scales 88–95, caudal peduncle depth larger than its length; body with 12 irregular bars on flank, interrupted on dorsum.     

New contributions to the biodiversity of ciliates (Protozoa,Ciliophora) from Antarctica,including a description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gastronauta multistriata</Emphasis> nov. spec.

Antarctica is a remote and isolated biotope which makes it an ideal location for studying new and endemic species. Since there is little literature available on the diversity of ciliates in this area, a taxonomic survey of ciliates from melt-water of Collins glacier, King George Island, was carried out from January to March 2006. As a result, the morphology and infraciliature of five ciliates, including one new species, are described using live observations and silver staining: Gastronauta multistriata nov. spec., Neokeronopsis asiatica Foissner et al., 2010, Paraholosticha muscicola Kahl, 1932, Oxytricha sp., and Cyclidium glaucoma Müller, 1786. Gastronauta multistriata nov. spec. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: cell size in vivo on average 80 × 40 μm; 5–9 kineties in left ciliary field; 18–23 kineties in right ciliary field, including 10–12 postoral kineties; 7–10 preoral kineties; dorsal brush along anterior dorsal margin, consisting of 5–8 groups of basal bodies. The only minor differences between the current population of N. asiatica and a previously described Antarctic population are the numbers of caudal cirri (6–10 vs. 8–15) and dorsal kineties (11–13 vs. 12–18). Paraholosticha sterkii is synonymised with P. muscicola. The Antarctic population of C. glaucoma corresponds well with a former population from China, the only difference being the number of kinetids in SK _n (11–17 vs. 9–11). This work will contribute to the understanding of ciliate diversity in this little studied area.     

Notes on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teskeyellus</Emphasis> Philip &amp; Fairchild (Diptera: Tabanidae: Diachlorini) and Description of <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cyanommatus</Emphasis> Sp. Nov., a Non-blood Sucking Horsefly from the Amazon Basin

The monotypic genus Teskeyellus was described for T. hirsuticornis Philip & Fairchild 1974, from Mexico. After more than 40 years, another species is described in the genus, T. cyanommatus sp. nov., based on two females and one male specimens from Amazon basin. The type specimens of T. hirsuticornis were studied and we concluded that there are enough similarities to include the new species in Teskeyellus.