Dolichopteryx minuscula, a new species of spookfish (Argentinoidei: Opisthoproctidae) from the Indo-West Pacific

A new species Dolichopteryx minuscula is described on the basis of three specimens [49.4–59.6 mm in standard length (SL)] collected from the Indo-West Pacific. The new species is characterized by pouchlike eyes with a small lens (lens diameter 2.2% SL), an adipose fin, the anal fin base originating posterior to the dorsal fin base, and 16–17 (= 5–6 + 1 + 10–11) gill rakers. Total fecundity was relatively low, only 658 ova being obtained from one specimen, despite the ovary being mature. Ovarian eggs were clearly subdivided into “undeveloped” (0.1–0.7 mm diameter classes, n = 561) and “developed” (1.0–1.3 mm classes, n = 97) groups, based on their frequency distribution. Such relatively low fecundity and frequency distributions of ovarian eggs suggest that Dolichopteryx species spawn iteratively during spawning season.     

<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.     

<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.     

Liopropoma dorsoluteum sp. nov., a new serranid fish from Okinawa, Japan

A new serranid fish,Liopropoma dorsoluteum sp. nov., is described on the basis of two specimens from Yaeyama Is., Okinawa, Japan. The new species is most similar toL. erythaeum Randall & Taylor, 1988, in having the following characters: Dorsal fin rays VIII, 12; anal fin rays III, 9; pored lateral line scales 52–53; anterior nostril situated midway between posterior nostril and anterior tip of snout; slightly forked caudal fin with both lobes rounded. It differs from the latter species in having a shorter pectoral fin (23.4–23.8% SL vs. 26.9–29.0% SL), greater preanus length (65.6–68.0% SL vs. 63.3–65.1% SL), fewer gill rakers (6+12 vs. 6–7+14–15) and yellow coloration on the back (vs. light red on head and body) in fresh specimens.     

Sinocyclocheilus donglanensis, a new cavefish (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) from Guangxi, China

Sinocyclocheilus donglanensis, a new cyprinid species from a subterranean river in Donglan County in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China, is described. It is distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characteristics: a completely scaled body with well-developed eyes; a curved lateral line possessing 57–64 scales; pectoral fin not reaching pelvic fin origin and last unbranched ray of the dorsal fin clearly serrated along its posterior edge; 8–9 predorsal vertebrae; 8–9 gill rakers; joints of dentary-angulars not close to each other at the isthmus; and a slightly inferior mouth with the upper jaw (6.2–7.4% in standard length: SL) protruding slightly beyond the lower one (5.7–6.7% SL). Sinocyclocheilus donglanensis is sympatric with the peculiarly shaped, hunchbacked S. altishoulderus.     

Dolichopteryx rostrata, a new species of spookfish (Argentinoidea: Opisthoproctidae) from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean

A new species, Dolichopteryx rostrata, is described on the basis of a single specimen (66.2 mm in standard length) collected west of the Hebrides Islands, eastern North Atlantic Ocean. The new species is characterized by an elongate snout and head, small pouchlike eyes, an adipose fin, short dorsal fin base, anal fin base originating under dorsal fin base, a clear longitudinal suborbital brownish band extending forward from behind posterior margin of orbit to snout tip, and 41 (=26 + 15) vertebrae. Total fecundity is low; the ovarian eggs number only 473, despite the ovary having developed ova. Ovarian eggs could be clearly subdivided into an “undeveloped group” (0.1–0.7 mm diameter classes, n = 405) and a “developed group” (0.9–1.3 mm classes, n = 68), based on their frequency distribution. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic format at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10228-005-0306-2     

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.     

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.     

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 flounder,monolene helenensis (pleuronectiformes: Bothidae) from the eastern tropical atlantic

Monolene helenensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of seven specimens collected from the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. This new bothid flounder differs from all known congeners by the following combination of characters: 108–116 dorsal and 89–92 anal fin rays, 101–111 lateral line scales, 7–10+10–15=18–25 gill rakers, 10–12+37–38=48–50 vertebrae, body depth 2.58–2.77 in standard length, ocular side pectoral fin length 1.34–1.59, in head length and upper half of pectoral fin blackish.     

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 silverside, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atherinomorus aetholepis</Emphasis> sp. nov., from the West Pacific (Atheriniformes: Atherinidae)

Atherinomorus aetholepis sp. nov. is described from the holotype and 51 paratypes, 44–72 mm in standard length, collected from Indonesian and Philippine waters. The species is similar to other congeners in general body appearance, especially A. duodecimalis and A. regina, in having a slender body, a tubercle on the posterior end of the dentary, and a narrow midlateral band, but clearly differing from them in having a long spatular outgrowth on the posterior margins of most of the predorsal and interdorsal scales. Additionally, the species differs from A. duodecimalis in having a more slender body [body depth 17–22 (mean 19) % SL vs. 19–25 (mean 22) % SL], more midlateral scales [37–40 (mean 38.4) vs. 35–38 (mean 36.6)], more total vertebrae [38–42 (mean 39.9) vs. 36–40 (mean 38.0)], and fewer lower gill rakers [18–22 (mean 20.2) vs. 20–25 (mean 22.3)], and from A. regina in having more anal fin soft rays (12–14 vs. 9–10). Electronic supplementary material to this article is available at and accessible to authorized users. Received: October 22, 2001 / Revised: March 14, 2002 / Accepted: March 26, 2002 An erratum to this article is available at .     

Lepturacanthus roelandti (Bleeker, 1860), a valid species of hairtail (Perciformes: Trichiuridae)

A trichiurid, Lepturacanthus roelandti (Bleeker, 1860), previously regarded as a synonym of L. savala (Cuvier, 1829), is redescribed as a valid species on the basis of the holotype of the former and four non-type specimens. This species differs from the two valid congeners, viz., L. savala and L. pantului (Gupta, 1966), in having a gold sheen or yellowish-silver color when fresh (vs. steel-blue with metallic sheen in the latter two), posterior margin of maxilla reaching or extending beyond a vertical through hind eye margin (vs. not extending beyond a vertical through hind eye margin), pectoral fin slightly longer than snout (vs. slightly shorter than snout), tip of pectoral fin clearly extending beyond dorsal outline when vertically orientated (vs. not reaching dorsal outline), gill rakers absent or reduced to stiff ossified structures (vs. well developed, spinelike), first anal fin spine situated below the 40th–43rd dorsal fin ray (vs. below 35th–39th in L. pantului and 35th–40th in L. savala), precaudal vertebrae 42–43 (vs. 35–39 in L. pantului and 36–40 in L. savala), and attaining larger sizes [882–1200 mm in total length (TL) vs. less than 800 mm TL in the latter two].     

A new species of the morid genusgadella (teleostei: gadiformes) from the galápagos islands

A new species of deepwater morid fish,Gadella thysthlon, is described on the basis of five specimens from the Galápagos Islands. It differs from other species ofGadella by its low dorsal and anal fin ray counts (8+56–58 and 64–66 respectively), moderate number of gill rakers (4–5+9–11), small luminous organ that is closer to the anus than the interventral line, and its dark body, bright red-orange median fins with dark bases, and melanophores on the tongue apex and the palatal midline.     

Larval and juvenile Polymetme elongata (Stomiiformes: Phosichthyidae) collected from Suruga Bay and offshore waters, Japan

Two larvae [17.4 mm standard length: SL (postflexion stage)] and 26.1 mm SL (transformation stage)] and a juvenile (31.7 mm SL) of a phosichthyid, Polymetme elongata, from Suruga Bay and offshore waters, central Japan, are described. These specimens had an elongate body with relatively short preanal length (53–63% SL), long anal fin base (2.6–3.4 times dorsal fin base length), and anal fin origin below dorsal fin base, and were further characterized by a blackish flap on each eye and internal clusters of melanophores (e.g., along caudal myosepta around midlateral line and on ventral margin of caudal peduncle). The short preanal length and larval melanophore pattern were very similar to those of another phosichthyid, Yarrella blackfordi, from the Atlantic Ocean.     

<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.     

A new righteye flounder, Poecilopsetta multiradiata (Teleostei: Pleuronectiformes: Poecilopsettidae), from New Zealand and New Caledonia (South-West Pacific)

A new righteye flounder, Poecilopsetta multiradiata, is described from eight specimens (two males and six females) collected from deep waters (336–408 m) around New Zealand and New Caledonia (South-West Pacific). This new species is distinguished from its 14 congeners by the following combination of characters: high numbers of dorsal (70–73) and anal (58–62) fin rays, ca. 85–99 lateral-line scales, 31–32 caudal vertebrae, and a relatively shallow body depth of 36.9–41.9% SL.     

Pennahia ovata,a new sciaenid from the Bay of Bengal

A new sciaenid,Pennahia ovata, is described from the Bay of Bengal. It differs from its most similar congener,P. anea, in having weakly differentiated teeth on the lower jaw, usually 24–25 dorsal fin soft rays and 18–19 upper+lower gill rakers, a deep body and a long second anal fin spine.     

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.     

Periophthalmus spilotus, a new species of mudskipper from Sumatra (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae)

A new species of mudskipper,Periophthalmus spilotus, is described on the basis of 16 specimens from Sumatra, Indonesia. It differs from other species ofPeriophthalmus by the following combination of characters: pelvic fins totally united into rounded disk; first dorsal fin high, greyish, no spots on fin nor elongate spines; second dorsal fin typically with 14 total elements; anal fin typically with either 14 or 15 total elements; length of anal-fin base 21.8–29.0% SL; and length of second dorsal-fin base 22.5–26.7% SL. This species is most similar to, and probably most closely related to,P. chrysospilos.