<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 righteye flounder, Poecilopsetta pectoralis (Pleuronectiformes: Poecilopsettidae), from New Caledonia

A new righteye flounder, Poecilopsetta pectoralis, is described from 4 specimens (2 males, 2 females) collected from deep waters (510–580 m) around New Caledonia. The species is easily distinguished from 13 congeners by having 99–105 lateral line scales, a narrow interorbit [male: 37.00–40.25 in head length (HL); female: 47.33–50.71], long pectoral fin on ocular side (male: 0.89–0.91 in HL; female: 1.04–1.20), no scales from snout to anterior interorbital region, and 4 spots on caudal fin. Sexual dimorphism is evident in this species, showing males bearing the ocular-side pectoral fin longer than females, and it is the first example in Poecilopsetta.     

Redescription of the trichiurid fish, Trichiurus nitens Garman, 1899, being a valid of species distinct from T. lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes: Trichiuridae)

Trichiurus nitens Garman, 1899 was reassessed on the basis of the syntype and non-type specimens, and considered to represent a valid species. Although difficult to distinguish from T. lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 in most head and body proportions, T. nitens differs from the former in having lower number of dorsal fin rays (range 121–124 vs. range 132–135), caudal fin vertebrae (116–120 vs. 128–134), total vertebrae (153–156 vs. 168–173), larger dermal eye opening (mean 18.8% vs. 16.1% of HL), shorter upper jaw length (36.2% vs. 38.6% of HL), and shorter snout length (32.9% vs. 34.9% of HL). T. nitens is currently known only inhabit from the Northeast Pacific to Southeast Pacific (from California, Mexico, Panama to Peru). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Johnius (Johnius) laevis,a new sciaenid from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea

A new sciaenid,Johnius (Johnius) laevis, is described from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Amongst theJohnius (Johnius) species with no mental barbel, ctenoid body scales, and more than 10 lower gill rakers, the new species is distinguished by the combination of the following characters: dorsal soft rays 29–34; scales above the lateral line 5–6, and below 8–10; eye diameter 22.4–30% HL; interorbital width 24.6–29.8% HL; and body scales with weakly developed ctenii.     

<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.     

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.     

Revision of the cyprinid genus Discogobio Lin, 1931 (Pisces: Teleostei) from the upper Red River basin in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan, China, with descriptions of three new species

The species of the genus Discogobio (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) inhabiting the Wenshan prefecture (branches of upper Red River) of Yunnan Province, China are reviewed. The authors recognize four species from the prefecture, Discogobio antethoracalis n. sp., Discogobio propeanalis n. sp., Discogobio poneventralis n. sp., and D. yunnanensis. D. antethoracalis and D. propeanalis had previously been identified as Discogobio brachyphysallidos. D. antethoracalis can be distinguished from D. brachyphysallidos by the following characters: snout rounded, not projected (versus slightly pointed, projected); head length 17.5–20.6% of SL (vs. 20.8–22.8); prepectoral length 16.3–18.3% of SL (vs. 19.1–22.0); interorbital width 52.5–60.9% of head length (vs. 44.7–50.0); anus to anal-fin origin distance 25% posterior end of pelvic-fin base to anal-fin origin distance (versus less than 25). D. propeanalis can be distinguished from D. brachyphysallidos by the following combination of characters: interorbital width greater than half of head length (versus less than half); pelvic-fin extending beyond anal-fin origin (versus not reaching anal-fin origin); anus closer to anal-fin origin, anus to anal-fin origin distance less than 25% posterior end of pelvic-fin base to anal-fin origin distance (versus more than 25%). D. poneventralis, with a small oral sucking disc (its posterior edge not reaching vertical of anterior margin of eye) is similar to Discogobio longibarbatus and D. macrophysallidos, but distinct from them in the following characters: rostral barbels equal to eye diameter (versus twice as long as eye diameter in D. longibarbatus); maxillary barbels not reaching posterior margin of oral sucking disc (versus beyond in D. longibarbatus); mid-ventral region anterior to pelvic-fin insertion scaleless (versus scaled in D. macrophysallidos); prepelvic length 57.1–58.1% of SL (vs. 52.4–55.6 in D. macrophysallidos); pectoral-pelvic length 40.8–41% of SL (vs. 32.6–35.9 in D. macrophysallidos); head length 17.5–18.4% of SL (vs. 19.8–21.8 in D. macrophysallidos); and snout length 44.9–47.2% of HL (vs. 48.9–55.4 in D. macrophysallidos).     

A new armored searobin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraheminodus longirostralis</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Peristediidae) from New Caledonia

A new species of armored searobin, Paraheminodus longirostralis, is described from five specimens collected from New Caledonia at depths of 412–467 m. It is distinguishable from its three known congeners in having 34 bony plates in the upper lateral row, a forward-directed spine on each plate between the 23rd–26th and 31st–32nd plates in the upper lateral row, 6–7 + 1 + 20–21 = 27–28 gill rakers, an elongate body posterior to the anus (49.9–52.1% standard length), an elongate rostral projection (53.0–59.3% head length), short upper jaw (42.1–43.4% head length), an elongate pectoral fin (70.6–79.4% head length), and long preopercular spine (39.2–57.7% head length).     

Review of the genusBembras Cuvier, 1829 (Scorpaeniformes: Bembridae) with description of three new species collected from Australia and Indonesia

The bembrid genusBembras Cuvier is reviewed. Five species,B. japonica Cuvier,B. adenensis Imamura & Knapp and three undescribed species, were assigned to the genus. Type species of the genus,Bembras japonica is redescribed on the basis of 36 specimens including the holotype, and three new species,B. macrolepis, B. longipinnis andB. megacephala, previously misidentified asB. japonicus, are also described on the basis of specimens collected from Australia and Indonesia.Bembras macrolepis differs from its congeners by having large body scales, a long pectoral fin with 17–19 rays and a dark blotch on slightly upper portion to middle of margin, 14–15 anal-fin rays, small head and orbit, and caudal fin with a broad vertical dark band near posterior margin.Bembras longipinnis is distinguished from other members of the genus by having a slightly long pectoral fin with 17–19 rays and lacking a small black blotch near tip of upper rays, caudal fin with a large dark spot most intense in lower lobe, 1–2 gill rakers on upper gill arch, 13–14 anal-fin rays, slightly elong ated head and small orbit.Bembras megacephala is characterized by the following combination of characters: caudal fin with several irregular narrow vertical dark bands, small orbit, pectoral fin with 19–20 rays and lacking a small black blotch near tip of upper rays, head elongate, 2–4 gill rakers on upper gill arch, 15 anal-fin rays and small body scales. A key separating the five species ofBembras is given.     

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.     

Soil moisture redistribution as a mechanism of facilitation in savanna tree–shrub clusters

Plant–soil water relations were examined in the context of a selective removal study conducted in tree–shrub communities occupying different but contiguous soil types (small discrete clusters on shallow, duplex soils versus larger, extensive groves on deep, sandy soils) in a subtropical savanna parkland. We (1) tested for the occurrence of soil moisture redistribution by hydraulic lift (HL), (2) determined the influence of edaphic factors on HL, and (3) evaluated the significance of HL for overstory tree–understory shrub interactions. Diel cycling and nocturnal increases in soil water potential (Ψ_soil), characteristic signatures of HL, occurred intermittently throughout an annual growth cycle in both communities over a range of moisture levels (Ψ_soil=−0.5 to −6.0 MPa) but only when soils were distinctly stratified with depth (dry surface/wet deep soil layers). The magnitude of mean (±SE) diel fluctuations in Ψ_soil (0.19±0.01 MPa) did not differ on the two community types, though HL occurred more frequently in groves (deep soils) than clusters (shallow soils). Selective removal of either Prosopis glandulosa overstory or mixed-species shrub understory reduced the frequency of HL, indicating that Prosopis and at least one other woody species was conducting HL. For Zanthoxylum fagara, a shallow-rooted understory shrub, Prosopis removal from clusters decreased leaf water potential (Ψ_leaf) and net CO₂ exchange (A) during periods of HL. In contrast, overstory removal had neutral to positive effects on more deeply-rooted shrub species (Berberis trifoliolata and Condalia hookeri). Removal of the shrub understory in groves increased A in the overstory Prosopis. Results indicate the following: (a) HL is common but temporally dynamic in these savanna tree–shrub communities; (b) edaphic factors influencing the degree of overstory/understory development, rooting patterns and soil moisture distribution influence HL; (c) net interactions between overstory and understory elements in these woody patches can be positive, negative and neutral over an annual cycle, and (d) Prosopis-mediated HL is an important mechanism of faciliation for some, but not all, understory shrubs.     

A new parascylliid species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parascyllium sparsimaculatum</Emphasis>, from Western Australia (Elasmobranchii: Orectolobiformes)

Parascyllium sparsimaculatum sp. nov. is described using external and skeletal morphologies on the basis of three female specimens collected from the continental slope off Western Australia. This new species is clearly distinguished from four congeners by having a relatively large head (length greater than 16% of TL); a large eye (horizontal diameter of eye greater than 11% of HL); a large pectoral fin (anterior margin more than 10% of TL); relatively tall, erect dorsal fins with angular apices; 43–49 tooth rows on upper jaw; a yellowish-brown body with large, diffuse-edged, rusty-brown spots; and an extremely faint, collar-like saddle over the gill region. A key to species is provided. Received: November 27, 2000 / Revised: August 27, 2001 / Accepted: September 18, 2001     

Two new and two resurrected species of the sciaenid genusJohnius (Johnius) from the West Pacific

Two new species of the sciaenid genusJohnius (Johnius) are described:J. trewavasae from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, differs from all other congeners in having 24–27 dorsal soft rays, 5–6 scales above and 7–10 scales below the lateral line, 6–8 obtuse lower gill rakers, the last pleural rib on the 11th vertebra, and a shorter lower jaw (33.8–38.4% HL);J. latifrons from Thailand and Java is characterized by 25–29 dorsal soft rays, 7–9 scales above and 11–14 scales below the lateral line, 7–9 obtuse lower gill rakers, a wide interorbital width (26.1–30.6% HL), a small eye (16.7–26.4% HL), and a short, second anal spine (25.9–37.1% HL). Two related species,J. heterolepis Bleeker from “Suriname” andJ. cantori Bleeker from Malaya, are resurrected as valid West Pacific species of Johnius (Johnius).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microrasbora</Emphasis> Annandale,a new genus record in China,with description of a new species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

A new species of genus Microrasbora Annandale (1918), M. microphthalma, is described from the Nanwan River, a tributary of the Ruili River, Irrawaddy drainage, in southwest Yunnan province, China. This new species is the first record of the genus Microrasbora in China. Microrasbora microphthalma can be distinguished from the other species of Microrasbora by the following combination of characters: 15–16 predorsal scales, eye diameter/head length 27–38%, eye diameter/interorbital width 70–93%, predorsal length/ standard length 60–68%, the preanal length/ standard length 65–71% and the origin of dorsal fin is posterior of that of the ventral fin. Xiao-Yong Chen and Jun-Xing Yang contributed equally to this paper.     

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,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.     

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.     

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.     

Mackerel from the northern indian ocean and the red sea arescomber australasicus, notscomber japonicus

The population ofScomber from the Red Sea and northern Indian Ocean (gulfs of Aden and Oman) is identified asS. australasicus rather thanS. japonicus based on having 30–33 vs. 26–29 interneural bones under the first and second dorsal fins and the combination of interneural bone counts of 16–20 under the first dorsal fin (vs. 13–16) and first dorsal fin spine counts of 10–13 (vs. 9–10). These are the best morphological characters to distinguish these two species. This change in identification constitutes a major range extension forS. australasicus which was thought to be restricted to the Pacific Ocean and the southeastern Indian Ocean around Western Australia.     

Small and valid species of Trichiurus brevis Wang and You, 1992 and T. russelli Dutt and Thankam, 1966, defined as the “T. russelli complex” (Perciformes: Trichiuridae)

 The taxonomic status of three small [probably less than ca. 600 mm in the largest total length (TL)] and poorly known species, Trichiurus brevis Wang and You, 1992 and T. minor Li, 1992, both from South China Sea, and T. russelli Dutt and Thankam, 1966, from Bengal Bay, was reexamined. Trichiurus brevis and T. russelli, being valid species, are redescribed and a neotype is designated for the latter. Trichiurus brevis is considered to be a senior synonym of T. minor, there being no significant differences in their type specimens. Both valid species, i.e., T. brevis and T. russelli, are similar to T. lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 (larger than ca. 1000 mm TL) in general appearance, but clearly differ from the latter in having the top of the supraoccipital crest situated directly above the posterior margin of eye (vs. well behind posterior margin), lower number of total vertebrae (147–155 and 149–153, respectively, in the former two species vs. 168–173 in T. lepturus), longer dorsal fin base (mean 87% and mean 84% vs. mean 76% of TL), and shorter caudal peduncle length (6% and 8% vs. 13% of TL). Furthermore, the former two species are characterized by having the anal fin origin situated below about the 32nd–35th dorsal fin ray base, whereas in T. lepturus it is situated below the 37th–41st dorsal fin ray base. We recognize that T. brevis and T. russelli together comprise a species group, defined as the “T. russelli complex,” in the genus Trichiurus, the two species differing in snout shape (strongly pointed in T. brevis vs. moderately pointed in T. russelli), snout length [mean 35% vs. mean 30% of head length (HL)], preopercle length (22% vs. 19% HL), predorsal length (70% vs. 63% HL), and dermal eye opening (16% vs. 18% HL). Received: April 26, 2001 / Revised: January 19, 2002 / Accepted: February 1, 2002