Rhodeus pseudosericeus sp. nov., a new bitterling from South Korea (Cyprinidae, Acheilognathinae)

A new bitterling, Rhodeus pseudosericeus sp. nov., is described on the basis of 31 specimens from five localities included in the Namhan River system, South Korea. The new species is distinguished from other Rhodeus species by the following combination of characters: branched dorsal fin rays 9–10 (mode 9); branched anal fin rays 9–11 (mode 10); longest simple ray of dorsal fin strong and stiff, distally segmented; pelvic fin rays i, 6–7; iris of males blackish; dorsal and anal fins of males grayish in breeding season; karyotype with 2n = 48 (8m + 20sm + 20st). Rhodeus pseudosericeus sp. nov. is similar to Rhodeus sericeus sericeus in the number of pelvic fin and branched dorsal fin rays and the melanophores present on the dorsal fin membrane, but differs from the latter in having a greater body depth, more branched anal fin rays, fewer vertebrae, a lower number of scales in the lateral series, and differing male nuptial coloration. Received: June 30, 2000 / Revised: February 21, 2001 / Accepted: March 6, 2001     

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 genus and species of prickleback (Perciformes: Stichaeidae) from Japan

A stichaeid fish, Xenolumpenus longipterus gen. et sp. nov., is described on the basis of 2 specimens (107.1–114.9 mm in standard length) collected from 167 to 300 m in the northern Sea of Japan off southern Hokkaido, Japan. Xenolumpenus is unique among all known genera of the subfamily Lumpeninae in having all pectoral, pelvic, and anal fin rays elongate and unbranched with fin membranes well-incised. Xenolumpenus longipterus can be further distinguished from all species of the subfamily in having the following combination of characters: dorsal fin XLVI–XLVIII; anal fin II, 28–29; pectoral fin 11; large black blotches on pectoral fin; and black ocellus on caudal fin.     

Descriptive morphology of pelagic juvenile of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepidion inosimae</Emphasis> (Gadiformes: Moridae) collected from off northeastern Japan

A pelagic juvenile (74.0 mm in standard length) of Lepidion inosimae was collected by midwater trawl (0–20 m depth) from the transition waters between the Kuroshio and Oyashio fronts off northeastern Japan. The specimen is characterized by an elongate body, a chin barbel, a minute first ray and non-elongated second ray of first dorsal fin, combination of 55 second dorsal fin rays and 52 anal fin rays, and no ventral luminous organ. This is the first report of early life stages in the genus Lepidion.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dolichopteryx pseudolongipes</Emphasis>, a new species of spookfish (Argentinoidei: Opisthoproctidae) from the eastern Pacific Ocean

A new species of opisthoproctid, Dolichopteryx pseudolongipes, is described on the basis of three specimens (48.7–79.9 mm in standard length: SL) collected from the eastern Pacific Ocean. This species is characterized by small tubular eyes (diameter 2.7–3.9% SL), presence of an adipose fin, anal fin base originating under the dorsal fin base, relatively short predorsal (73.3–73.8% SL), prepelvic (64.3–67.9% SL), preanal (77.4–80.1% SL), and preanus (71.5–75.7% SL) lengths; 31–33 (=9–10 + 22–24) gill rakers and 43–45 vertebrae. Although D. pseudolongipes had previously been confused with Dolichopteryx longipes, many differences between the species are apparent [e.g., adipose fin absent, anal fin base origin just behind dorsal fin base, greater prepelvic length (70.3–72.7% SL), 25 gill rakers, and 46–47 vertebrae in D. longipes].     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Careproctus parvidiscus</Emphasis>, a new species of liparid fish (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes) collected from the southern Okhotsk Sea,Japan

 A new liparid, Careproctus parvidiscus, is described on the basis of a single specimen (177 mm in standard length) collected from the southern Okhotsk Sea, off Shiretoko Point, Hokkaido, Japan, at 400–700 m depth. It is distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of the characters: 50 dorsal fin rays, 44 anal fin rays, 10 + 47 = 57 vertebrae, 2 pleural ribs, 14 pyloric caeca being slender and pointed, 2 suprabranchial pores, narrower gill opening, longer lower lobe of pectoral fin, base of uppermost pectoral fin ray almost on a level with center of eye, rudimentary disk, dusky peritoneum, and black stomach. Received: June 13, 2001 / Revised: December 7, 2001 / Accepted: December 22, 2001     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Johnius</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Johnius</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">majan</Emphasis> sp. nov., a sciaenid fish (Pisces: Sciaenidae) from Oman,Indian Ocean

Johnius (Johnius) majan sp. nov. is described on the basis of 8 specimens (117–158 mm in standard length) from Oman, Indian Ocean. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: black axillary spot on upper pectoral fin base; dorsal soft rays 29–32; anal soft rays 8; scales above lateral line 6, below 11; eye diameter 22.9–28.9% HL; interorbital width 32.0–38.0% HL; gill rakers 5–6 + 15–18 = 21–24; no mental barbel; last well developed pleural rib on 7th vertebra; swim bladder appendages 11; vertebrae 10 + 14 = 24.     

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     

A new sand whiting, Sillago (Sillago) caudicula, from Oman, the Indian Ocean (Perciformes: Sillaginidae)

A new species of sand whiting, Sillago (Sillago) caudicula, is described based on four specimens collected from Oman, the Indian Ocean. It is easily distinguishable from its four known members of the subgenus Sillago by having a smaller head (29.0–30.1% in standard length), 23–24 soft anal fin rays, 35–36 total vertebrae, body depth at the origin of the second dorsal fin slightly deeper than that at the origin of the first dorsal fin, first and second hypurals fused (in adult) or narrowly separated (in young), third and fourth hypurals fused, and 11 dusky midlateral spots on the body.     

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.     

Pelagic juvenile of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Halargyreus johnsonii</Emphasis> (Gadiformes: Moridae) from Suruga Bay,Japan

 A pelagic juvenile (43.0 mm standard length) of the deep-sea gadiform fish Halargyreus johnsonii was collected by a larva net towed at depths from 200 m to 90 m at Suruga Bay, Japan. The specimen had an elongate body, eyes located dorsally on the head, a depressed anal fin, small bony tubercles on the lower jaw symphysis, elongate pelvic fin rays, and a pointed caudal fin. The body was silver with numerous small black spots. The gut was filled with a copepod, Pareuchaeta russelli, that is characterized by a surface to mesopelagic distribution. Received: May 30, 2002 / Revised: December 16, 2002 / Accepted: December 24, 2002     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Samariscus multiradiatus</Emphasis>, a new dextral flounder (Pleuronectiformes: Samaridae) from New Caledonia

A new dextral flounder, Samariscus multiradiatus, is described from six specimens (four males and two females) collected in deep waters (296–430 m) around New Caledonia. The species is easily distinguished from its 16 congeners in having a combination of 85–91 dorsal fin rays, 67–72 anal fin rays, 5 pectoral fin rays, and 9 abdominal and 34–35 caudal vertebrae.     

Notes on the morphology of the early stage of the rare bramid genus Eumegistus

The morphology of the early stage of Eumegistus was described from three specimens [E. brevorti: 23.0 mm in standard length (SL) juvenile; E. illustris: 5.8 mm SL postflexion larva, and 40.0 mm SL juvenile] recently rediscovered in museum collections. Larval and juvenile pigmentation patterns were reported for the first time for this genus. The 5.8 mm SL postflexion larva of E. illustris had pigmentation on the head and anterior half of the body, through to the middle of the dorsal fin base. In larvae and juveniles of both species, the outer side of the pelvic fin was pigmented. The two juveniles possessed several spines on the lachrymal and protruding rays in the middle of the caudal fin. Although it is known previously that the notochord flexion occurs at 5.0–6.0 mm SL in E. brevorti, the reexamined 5.0 mm SL specimen had the notochord completely flexed. Furthermore, we could not confirm whether the previously studied 4.0 mm SL specimen was E. brevorti because it was badly damaged.     

Description ofGerres chrysops sp. nov. From Thailand and redescription ofGerres setifer (Hamilton, 1822) andG. Decacanthus (Bleeker, 1865) (perciformes: Gerreidae)

Gerres chrysops, a new gerreid species from the Gulf of Thailand, is described on the basis of 29 specimens, 58–83 mm in standard length (SL). A small-sized species (less than 100 mm SL), it is characterized by a silvery-gold sheen on the head and trunk, vivid yellow or yellowish-hyaline fins in life, two supraneural bones (formula 0/0/2/) and dorsal fin rays usually IX, 10. The new species is similar toG. decacanthus (Bleeker, 1865) andG. setifer (Hamilton, 1822), which are redescribed. being similarly small valid gerreid species characterized by two supraneural bones. Together, the three species comprise “theGerres setifer complex.”Gerres chrysops differs from bothG. decacanthus andG. setifer in life and fresh colors, the body being silvery-gold with vivid yellow or yellowish dorsal, caudal, anal and pelvic fins, and yellowish-hyaline pectoral fins (vs. silver body with hyaline fins in the latter two species).Gerres setifer differs fromG. chrysops andG. decacanthus in having the last dorsal fin spine longer than the penultimate spine (vs. almost same length or shorter), usually ten dorsal fin spines and nine soft dorsal rays (vs. usually IX, 10), and 8 or 9 lower series gill rakers (vs. usually 7).Gerres decacanthus differs fromG. chrysops andG. setifer in having a shorter head, lesser body depth at the first anal fin spine base, lesser body width at the pectoral fin base, and shorter second dorsal and third anal fin spines. The new species is currently known only from Angsilla, near Bangsaen, and around Si Chang Island, northeastern Gulf of Thailand.Gerres decacanthus inhabits southern Chinese waters andG. setifer is currently known from the Bay of Bengal to the Andaman Sea.     

A new loach, Cobitis shikokuensis (Teleostei: Cobitidae), from Shikoku Island, Japan

A new species of spinous loach, Cobitis shikokuensis, is described based on 297 specimens from Shikoku Island, Japan. The new species was formerly known as the Shikoku group of Cobitis takatsuensis. It can be distinguished from other species of Cobitis and closely related genera by a combination of the following characters: dorsal fin with 6 branched soft rays; anal fin with 5 branched soft rays; one brownish streak across eye from the tip of nose, no streak on cheek; a black spot smaller than eye diameter near the dorsal corner of the caudal fin base; 3–5 small brownish speckles on ventral side of caudal peduncle; high caudal peduncle with well-developed fleshy keels on dorsal and ventral side; a lamina circularis at base of dorsal part of pectoral fin absent; first branched soft ray of pectoral fin broad in males; pectoral soft rays widely branched from the approximate midpoint; last anal fin ray with 2 elements; interorbital width 11.2–17.1% of head length.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paracobitis nanpanjiangensis,</Emphasis> a new loach (Balitoridae: Nemacheilinae) from Yunnan,China

A new species of the genus Paracobitis, Paracobitis nanpanjiangensis is described from tributaries of the Nanpanjiang River drainage in China. It is distinguished from its congeners, except P. oligolepis and P. wujiangensis, by body scaleless or with rudimentary scales (caudal peduncle with several deeply embedded scales). It can be differentiated from P. wujiangensis by the complete lateral line (vs. incomplete), lower dorsal crest reaching the vertical of origin of anal fin (vs. shorter and higher dorsal crest not reaching the base of anal fin). It is distinguished from P. oligolepis by the following characters: branched dorsal fin with 81/2 (a few 91/2) rays (vs. 91/2), interspaces between bars in front of dorsal fin conspicuously thinner than those behind (vs. vermiform markings), dorsal head without vermiform markings or obscure (vs. clearly vermiform markings on dorsal head), vertebrae 4 + 36–38 (vs. 4 + 39–41).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Careproctus kidoi</Emphasis>, a new Arctic species of snailfish (Teleostei: Liparidae) from Baffin Bay

Careproctus kidoi sp. nov. is described from the Baffin Bay between Greenland and Canada, in the northern most part of the western North Atlantic. During a series of bottom trawl surveys conducted in 1988–2004, 22 specimens of an undescribed species of Careproctus were caught at depths between 952 and 1,487 m. It differs from Arctic and North Atlantic congeners in the combination of the characters: pectoral fin rays 21–26, dorsal fin rays 54–60, anal fin rays 50–54, vertebrae 61–64; sucking disc oval, 4.2–6.6% SL; teeth simple; pyloric coeca 3–12; head pore formula (2-6-7-1); color light to dark brown, stomach dusky to dark brown, peritoneum black. It is generally found in deeper waters than the sympatric C. reinhardti.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Uncisudis posteropelvis</Emphasis>, a new species of barracudina (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae) from the western North Pacific Ocean

Six specimens (2 flexion larvae: 9.5–10.4mm in notochord length; 4 postflexion larvae: 12.3–18.2mm in standard length) collected from the western North Pacific are tentatively ascribed to the genus Uncisudis of the tribe Lestidiini of the subfamily Paralepidinae (Paralepididae) in sharing remarkably elongate and filamentous pelvic fin rays, their tips reaching the origin of the anal fin. They are described as Uncisudis posteropelvis sp. nov. in uniquely having the insertion of pelvic fins closer to the origin of anal fin than to the posterior end of dorsal fin base among lestidiine species. Addition to this character, the new species has remarkably elongate and filamentous dorsal fin rays, the short distance between anus and origin of anal fin (4.2–6.1% of standard length, SL), the posteriorly located pelvic fins (prepelvic length 69.4–71.5% SL), dorsal fin rays 10, anal fin rays 28–29, myomeres 41–42+38–40=80–81 (vertebrae 38+41=79), and peritoneal pigment spots 11–12. The occurrence of larvae differing in pigment pattern from the present new species suggests another undescribed species of Uncisudis in the western South Pacific.     

Pelagic larvae of Ventrifossa garmani (Gadiformes: Macrouridae) from Suruga Bay and offshore waters of Japan

Three pelagic larvae [5.1–5.9 mm in head length (80+ to 101+ mm in total length)] of a macrourid fish, Ventrifossa garmani, from Suruga Bay and offshore waters of central Japan are described. The specimens were characterized by a remarkably elongate caudal region (caudal region length >15.6 times head length), the longest known to date among macrourid larvae and juveniles. Other characteristics included a short snout, first dorsal and pelvic fin rays not elongated, external melanophores on most of the body and posteriorly on the anal fin membrane, and six or seven rectangular clusters of internal melanophores laterally on the anterior caudal region.     

Two new species and a new record of the genus Sinogastromyzon (Teleostei: Balitoridae) from Yunnan, China

Two new species and a new record of Sinogastromyzon are described from Lixianjiang River of Yunnan province, China. Sinogastromyzon lixianjiangensis, new species, can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: pectoral fin with XIII–XIV, 15–17 rays; pelvic fin with X–XI, 10–12 rays; 60–65 lateral-line scales; no scales on the dorsum of paired fins or the region between axilla of pectoral fin and pelvic-fin origin; tip of pelvic fin close to anus; tip of anal fin close to caudal-fin base; anal-fin origin nearer to the caudal-fin base than to the posterior pelvic-fin base; anus nearer to anal-fin origin than to the posterior pelvic-fin base; dorsal side of the body with 9–11 black blotches. Sinogastromyzon macrostoma, new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: pectoral fin with XII–XIV, 12–15 rays; pelvic fin with VII–IX, 11–13 rays; 48–56 lateral-line scales; mouth extremely big, slightly arched; no scales on the dorsum of paired fins or the region between axilla of pectoral fin and pelvic-fin origin; tip of pelvic fin far beyond anus; tip of anal fin far from caudal-fin base; anal-fin origin about midway between the posterior pelvic-fin base and caudal-fin base; anus nearer to posterior pelvic-fin base than to anal-fin origin; dorsal side of the body uniformly gray, without regular blotches in formalin preserved specimen. Sinogastromyzon cf. multiocellum is firstly recorded in China.