The Sphyraena obtusata group (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae) with a description of a new species from southern Japan

Sphyraena iburiensis sp. nov. is described, and taxonomic reviews are provided for S. obtusata and S. pinguis. These species, characterized by having 2 gill rakers, are defined as the S. obtusata group. Sphyraena iburiensis, known only from the Pacific coast of southern Japan, is characterized by 8.5–9.5 scales above the lateral line, a single row of scales in the groove along the lower margin of the suborbital region from the posterior tip of the maxilla to below the eye (=suborbital groove) not covered with skin, 2 distinct longitudinal stripes on the lateral surface of the body when fresh (upper stripe usually lost in preserved specimens), the lower stripe reaching the caudal-fin base just below the lateral line. Sphyraena obtusata, distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, is characterized by 5–7.5 scales above the lateral line, a single row of scales in the suborbital groove covered with skin, 2 somewhat indistinct longitudinal stripes on the lateral surface of the body when fresh (upper stripe usually lost in preserved specimens), the lower stripe joining the lateral line midway between the end of the second dorsal-fin base and caudal peduncle and extending to the middle of the caudal-fin base. Sphyraena pinguis, distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, is characterized by 7.5–9.5 scales above the lateral line, a single row of scales in the suborbital groove not covered with skin, and a single longitudinal stripe on the lateral surface of the body joining the lateral line slightly before or just below the end of the second dorsal-fin base and extending to the middle of the caudal-fin base. Seven (S. aureoflammea, S. brachygnathos, S. flavicauda, S. grandisquamis, S. langsar, S. lineata, and S. strenua) and 2 (S. chrysotaenia and S. schlegelii) nominal species are regarded as junior synonyms of S. obtusata and S. pinguis, respectively. In addition, lectotypes are designated for S. flavicauda, S. langsar, S. lineata, and S. obtusata. A key to the three species of the S. obtusata group is provided.     

Two species of parasitic copepods (Caligidae) new to Japan

Two species of parasitic copepods (Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae), Caligus sclerotinosus Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983, parasitic on red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel), and Lepeophtheirus longiventralis Yü & Wu, 1932, parasitic on spotted halibut Verasper variegatus (Temminck & Schlegel), are redescribed based on material found on their respective hosts cultured in Japan. Both species are new to Japan. Preliminary observation on the occurrence of L. longiventralis indicates that the larval development takes place on the body surface of the host and only the post-mated female migrates into the host's gill-cavities. Whilst the occurrence of L. longiventralis in Japan can be considered as due to natural causes, the occurrence of C. sclerotinosus is likely due to anthropogenic activities.     

Microsatellite DNA markers for population-genetic studies of blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) and cross-specific amplification in S. japonicus

Blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) is targeted by large-scale purse-seiners in the western North Pacific, and its stock structure is still contentious. Herein, we described 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci for blue mackerel. The number of alleles among 32 individuals surveyed ranged from five to 27 (average of 16.2 alleles per locus). Departures from Hardy-Weinberg expectation were observed at two loci. Cross-specific amplification in the congener, S. japonicus, was successful, except for one locus, revealed to be diagnostic for these congeners. These microsatellite loci will be useful tools to address queries in population genetic structure, fishery management unit and taxonomic species status in the genus Scomber.     

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Isolation and characterization of nine microsatellite loci from the chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus (Perciformes, Scombridae)

The stock abundance of the chub mackerel Scomber japonicus - a very important species for fisheries, particularly in Japan - in the Pacific Ocean off Japan has remained at a low level. For studying the population genetics of the chub mackerel, we isolated nine polymorphic microsatellite loci (12-31 alleles/locus; expected heterozygosity, 0.762-0.983) from this species. Cross-species amplification indicated that eight of the nine microsatellite loci in the blue mackerel S. australasicus were polymorphic and functional.     

Two new species of Colobomatus Hesse, 1873 (Crustacea: Philichthyidae) parasitic in the interorbital canals of Holocentrus spp. (Holocentriformes: Holocentridae) in the South Atlantic Ocean

Systematic Parasitology - Two new species of parasitic copepods of the genus Colobomatus Hesse, 1873 (Cyclopoida) are proposed based on specimens collected from the squirrelfishes (Holocentridae)...     

Mesocyclops dissimilis n. sp. from Lake Biwa,Japan (Copepoda,Cyclopoida)

The status of the Mesocyclops from lake Biwa is reexamined and a new species, Mesocyclops dissimilis n. sp., distinct from M. thermocyclopoides Harada, 1931, is described.     

Intra-specific variation of Kudoa spp. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) from apogonid fishes (Perciformes), including the description of two new species, K. cheilodipteri n. sp. and K. cookii n. sp., from Australian waters

Kudoa spp. from the musculature and intestinal mucosa of species of the teleost family Apogonidae were examined for their taxonomic identity. Two novel species are characterised: Kudoa cheilodipteri n. sp. from the musculature of Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Cuvier, Ostorhinchus cyanosoma (Bleeker) and O. aureus (Lacépède); and Kudoa cookii n. sp. from the submucosa of the intestines of O. cookii (Macleay) only. Both species are characterised using morphology, small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA), large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA), and biological characters. Three new host records, O. cyanosoma, O. aureus and Apogon doederleini, and associated geographical, morphological and genetic data are also provided for Kudoa whippsi Burger & Adlard, 2010. Morphological and molecular intra-specific variation of all isolates assigned to K. whippsi is also examined. Phylogenetic analyses further support the idea that tissue tropism is a distinguishing character between morphologically similar species; species reported here display close relatedness to morphologically similar species infecting the same tissue within their hosts.     

Review of the genusLimnichthys (Perciformes: Creediidae) from Japan, with description of a new species

A taxonomic review of Japanese species of the creediid genusLimnichthys recognised the following:L. fasciatus, L. nitidus (a senior synonym ofL. donaldsoni) andL. orientalis sp. nov.L. fasciatus has an antitropical distribution.L. orientalis sp. nov. differs from its most similar congener,L. nitidus, in having fewer scales above and below the lateral line (2 vs. 3) and the fifth pelvic fin ray shorter or absent, and in the shape of cirri on the lower jaw.     

Three species of opisthomonorchiine monorchiids (Digenea) in Carangoides spp. (Perciformes: Carangidae) from off New Caledonia, with a description of Opisthomonorchis dinema n. sp.

Three opisthomonorchiinae species are described from fishes obtained at the Fish Market in Nouméa, New Caledonia. Opisthomonorchis dinema n. sp. from Carangoides dinema Bleeker differs from the other recognised species in the genus by the long recurved genital atrium, arcing anteriorly. Also described are Opisthomonorchis carangis Yamaguti, 1952 from Carangoides sp. and Pseudopisthomonorchis thapari (Varma & Singh, 1979) n. comb. for Opisthomonorchis thapari Varma & Singh, 1979 from Carangoides chrysophrys (Cuvier). The features distinguishing Opisthomonorchis Yamaguti, 1952 and Pseudopisthomonorchis Madhavi, 1974 are discussed.     

Neobrachiella kabatai n. sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae) parasitic on Isacia conceptionis (Cuvier) (Osteichthyes: Pomadasyidae) from Peruvian waters

Neobrachiella kabatai n. sp., parasitic on the pomadasyid fish Isacia conceptionis (Cuvier) from the Peruvian central coast, is described and illustrated. The new species differs from other species of Neobrachiella in a combination of characters, including the number of trunk posterior processes and the trunkcephalothorax length ratio.     

Two new nematode species, Orientatractis campechensis n. sp. and Orientatractis chiapasensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Atractidae) from cichlid fishes in southern Mexico and Nicaragua

Two new nematode species, Orientatractis campechensis n. sp. and Orientatractis chiapasensis n. sp. (Atractidae, Cosmocercoidea), are described from the intestine of cichlid fishes collected in localities of southeastern Mexico and Nicaragua. These atractid nematodes are characterized by the presence of a cephalic end armed with 4 marked, Y-shaped, well-sclerotized pieces, consisting of 2 "horns" extending outward and downward and immediately below a single-horned structure. Both new species differ from the other 2 species of Orientatractis (Orientatractis leiperi and Orientatractis levanhoai) mainly in the body measurements, presence of a vulvar appendix, lengths of spicules and of the gubernaculum, distribution of caudal papillae, and the number of anterior sclerotized structures. Morphological and biometrical variations were evident among specimens from different hosts and localities, with the larger organisms being collected from Vieja bifasciata and Cichlasoma pearsei. Orientatractis campechensis and O. chiapasensis represent the first 2 species of this genus parasitizing freshwater fishes; the other species have been found in amphibians and reptiles.     

A new species of Benedenia Diesing, 1858 (Monogenea: Capsalidae) parasitic on Lethrinus haematopterus Temminck & Schlegel (Perciformes: Lethrinidae) from Japan

Systematic Parasitology - A new species of capsalid monogenean, Benedenia armata n. sp., is described from Lethrinus haematopterus Temminck & Schlegel (Perciformes: Lethrinidae) from off...     

Two new species of Lepeophtheirus (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on fishes from southern California waters.

Two new species of Lepeophtheirus are described and illustrated based on a collection from the Orange County sewer outfall, California. They are: L. remiopsis sp.nov. from the branchial cavities and external body surfaces of Parophrys vetulus Girard, Hippoglossina stomata Eigenmann & Eigenmann, Pleuronichthys verticalis (Jordan & Gilbert), Chitonotus pugetensis (Steindachner), and Porichthys notatus (Girard); and L. rotundipes sp.nov. from the external body surfaces and occasionally the gill cavities of Scorpaena guttata (Girard) and Citharichthys stigmaeus Jordan & Gilbert.     

A new species of the genus Malakichthys (Perciformes: Acropomatidae) from Japan

A new acropomatid, Malakichthys barbatus, is described on the basis of 27 specimens (76.3–180.1 mm SL) collected from Suruga Bay to Tosa Bay, along the southern Pacific coast of Japan. The new species is unique in having numerous pairs of spines on the chin (a pair of spines in other congeners). Although the new species resembles M. elegans in having a slender body (the depth less than 35% SL), the former is further distinguishable from the latter in having a slender first proximal radial of the anal fin with no hollow (broad with a cone-shaped hollow in M. elegans), 43–48 lateral line scales (48–51), modally 21 gill rakers on the lower arm (modally 23), and a dark blotch on the opercle (no remarkable blotch). Received: July 2, 2000 / Revised: September 27, 2000 / Accepted: January 30, 2001