The occurrence of Caryophyllaeus laticeps in the nase Chondrostoma nasus from Austrian rivers: possible anthropogenic factors

Between April 2003 and November 2006 a total of 198 nase Chondrostoma nasus (L.) were examined for parasites from seven river sites in Austria. The selected sites showed different levels of anthropogenic alterations in river morphology ranging from pristine areas, with minor anthropogenic alterations, to strongly physically altered rivers. A variety of parasites were recovered from the skin, gills, swimbladder and eyes, with Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas) being identified as the only cestode species occurring in the intestine. This is the first record of this species in nase in Austria. Caryophyllaeus laticeps was confined to the first 20% of the intestine, even in heavily infected hosts. The occurrence of C. laticeps within the fish population seems to be correlated with the degree of anthropogenic changes of the nase's habitat. In rivers with a high degree of ecological integrity or in rivers that are only partially dammed, C. laticeps is either absent in C. nasus or occurs with low prevalence (5.6-20%) and low mean intensity values (1.0-4.0). Where anthropogenic factors have changed the entire river into a reservoir, and fish cannot escape, the prevalence of infection with C. laticeps increases from 46.2 to 78.2% and the mean intensity from 8.8 to 17.2.     

Movement patterns of the draughtboard shark Cephaloscyllium laticeps (Scyliorhinidae) determined by passive tracking and conventional tagging

A combination of passive tracking and conventional tagging was used to provide insight into the movement patterns of the draughtboard shark Cephaloscyllium laticeps, the most common catshark in coastal areas of southern Australia. A series of acoustic receivers deployed throughout south-eastern Tasmania as well as a receiver array along an isolated reef, Crayfish Point Reserve (CPR), passively tracked 25 C. laticeps from January to July 2003. Cephaloscyllium laticeps were present from 4 to 98 days. The majority of the C. laticeps stayed within the CPR where most individuals were active throughout the night. They were found actively moving (i.e. when a C. laticeps was consecutively detected by two or more non-overlapping receivers, suggesting the individual was moving) and spending periods of minor movements (i.e. when an individual was consecutively detected by only one receiver, suggesting it was at rest). The length of these minor movements periods, observed both day and night, ranged from 1 h to 5 days. In addition to passive tracking, 1552 conventionally tagged C. laticeps were released in the eastern and south-western coastal areas of Tasmania and within the CPR between January 2000 and April 2007. The CPR showed a higher recapture rate, 38%, than eastern and south-western areas where the recapture rates were 10 and 3%, respectively. Within the CPR, 36% of the sharks were recaptured on multiple occasions. The maximum time at liberty ranged from 1 month to 7 years. The majority of the C. laticeps were recaptured in the vicinity of where they were released (<10 km), although larger longer-term movements of up to 300 km were recorded. The large amount of multiple recaptures within the CPR, in addition to acoustic tagging results, indicated a high degree of site fidelity for C. laticeps. This isolated reef appears to be an important habitat for this species, and therefore, the current protection status of this area is probably beneficial for the conservation of C. laticeps.     

Systematic revision of the genus Aglyptodactylus Boulenger, 1919 (Amphibia: Ranidae), and analysis of its phylogenetic relationships to other Madagascan ranid genera (Tomopterna, Boophis, Mantidactylus, and Mantella)

Recent field studies revealed two new species of the genus Aglyptodactylus (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae), which was hitherto considered as monotypic and confined to humid eastern Madagascar. Both new species, Aglyptodactylus laticeps sp. n. and Aglyptodactylus securifer sp. n. , occur syntopically in the deciduous dry forest of Kirindy in western Madagascar. In comparison to Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis from eastern rainforests, the new species A. laticeps shows a remarkable morphological divergence, which may be partly due to adaptations to burrowing habits in dry environments. Despite of the morphological differentiation, advertisement calls and osteology indicate that all three species of Aglyptodactylus are closely related. A phylogenetic analysis of the Madagascan ranid genera Aglyptodactylus, Mantella, Mantidactylus, Boophis , and Tomopterna (the latter including species from Madagascar, Africa, and Asia) strongly supports a sister group relationship of Aglyptodactylus with the ranine genus Tomopterna . We therefore transfer Aglyptodactylus from the Rhacophorinae to the Raninae and discuss implications of this rearrangement for ranoid systematics. The existence of the endemic genus Aglyptodactylus in Madagascar as well as its close phylogenetic relationships to Tomopterna confirm that the Raninae were already present on the Madagascan plate before its separation from Africa. The Madagascan Tomopterna labrosa shows several important differences both to Asian and to African species of the genus, and is therefore transferred from the subgenus Sphaerotheca (now restricted to Asia) to a new subgenus Laliostoma subgen. n .     

Cookeolus spinolacrymatus sp. nov., a Late Pliocene priacanthid fish from Okinawa, Japan

A new fossil priacanthid fish,Cookeolus spinolacrymatus, is described on the basis of a single specimen from the Late Pliocene Shinzato Formation, Shimajiri Group, Miyagi-shima, Okinawa, Japan. This species is distinguished from the Recent speciesC. japonicus (Cuvier, 1828) by having a strong spine on the anterior portion of the lacrymal. The specimen was identified as a small benthic adult, or large juvenile, based on comparison with pelvic fin length development in the Recent species.     

Otolith size and its relationship with colour patterns and sound production

A comparative, morphometric study was made of the 185 sagitta otoliths from 18 species belonging to four coastal perciform families of the north‐west Mediterranean: the Labridae, Sparidae, Haemulidae and Sciaenidae. Species with relatively large otoliths belonged to groups considered specialists in sound production (sciaenids and haemulids), while those with small otoliths belonged to groups that rely on bright or contrasted colour patterns for visual communication (labrids). In sparids, species with clear body marks had smaller otoliths than species without dark stripes or dots. These findings support the hypothesis that otolith size is related to hearing ability in the inner ear.     

A key to the species of Mugilidae (Pisces) in the Northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, with explanatory notes

A key is given for identifying the eight species of Mugilidae of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. The use of Risso's names for four species is justified and explained and recognition is given to Tortonese's discovery that Mugil capurrii (Perugia) is a senior synonym of M. monodi Chabanaud. The relationship of Liza saliens to certain species of West and southern Africa is held to be additional support for the recognition of Protomugil Popov as a subgenus of Liza including these species. Chelon Röse, with type-species Mugil chelo Cuvier (= Chelon labrosus (Risso)), is recognized, following Jordan & Evermann (1917) and Schultz (1946), but its limits are differently conceived so as to include Crenimugil Schultz rather than Liza Jordan & Swain. The latter is held to comprise about 30 Old World species. The status of Chelon bispinosus (Bowdich) is discussed, with its bearing on possible population-differences in C. labrosus and the relationship of this species with C. crenilabis. The identity of Liza seheli (Forskål) is discussed and reasons are given for disagreeing with Wimpenny and others in applying this name to the species found at both ends of the Suez Canal zone. The latter is L. carinata (Ehrenberg in Cuvier & Valenciennes). Myxus maroccensis Mohr is believed to be a young Liza ramada.     

Taxonomic revision of the South American fish genus Chalceus Cuvier (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) with the description of three new species

The Neotropical characid fishes of the genus Chalceus Cuvier, 1817, are reviewed. In total, five species are recognized (including three new species). Chalceus epakros sp. nov. is the most widespread geographically, occurring in many rivers of the Amazon basin, the Río Orinoco and in the Essequibo River drainage in Guyana. Chalceus guaporensis sp. nov. is restricted to the upper Rio Madeira, Rio Guaporé and Río Madre de Dios, of Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, respectively. Chalceus spilogyros sp. nov. occurs only in the Rio Trombetas, lower Rio Tapajós and lower Rio Madeira drainages. Chalceus macrolepidotus Cuvier occurs in the Rio Negro drainage, middle and lower Río Orinoco basin and in the rivers of the Atlantic slopes of the Guianas, and Chalceus erythrurus Cope in the Rio Amazonas and Rio Solimões to Río Ucayali drainage in Peru. Chalceus ararapeera Cuvier & Valenciennes and Creagrutus pellegrini Puyo are considered synonyms of C. macrolepidotus , and Pellegrinina heterolepis Fowler is placed into the synonymy of C. erythrurus . Characters pertaining to the monophyly of Chalceus are discussed and a key to species is presented.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 140 , 103−135.     

Channa siamensis (Günther, 1861), a junior synonym of Channa lucius (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831)

The holotype of Channa siamensis (Günther, 1861) was examined and compared with specimens of all other channid species currently considered to be valid (2 genera, 27 species). As all of the examined morphological characters (meristics, morphometrics, coloration, a patch of gular scales, and cephalic sensory pores) of the small-sized hototype (74.2 mm SL) agree with those for C. lucius except for slight gaps in predorsal length and interorbital width (subject to allometric changes), the authors concluded that C. siamensis is a junior synonym of C. lucius (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831). Received: April 25, 1999 / Revised: December 6, 2000 / Accepted: February 16, 2001     

The apparent inability of cyprinid fish to produce skin-sensitizing antibody

Both egg albumin and horse serum failed to induce systemic anaphylactic shock in cyprinid fish. The production of skin-sensitizing antibody by these fish to either horse serum, egg albumin or antigenic extracts of the cestode, Caryophyllaeus laticeps or the acantho-cephalan, Pomphorhynchus laevis , could not be demonstrated by homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) or by heterologous PCA reaction in guinea-pigs. It was considered therefore, that fish are unable to produce such antibody, at least in response to these antigens, and that it is unlikely that skin-sensitizing antibody is involved in the rejection of C. laticeps by dace Leuciscus lueciscus (L.). The phylogenetic origins of skin-sensitizing antibody are discussed.     

Gerres limbatus Cuvier and G. lucidus Cuvier from the Indo-Malay Archipelagos, the latter corresponding to young of the former (Perciformes: Gerreidae)

Taxonomic status of Gerres limbatus Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830 and G. lucidus Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830 was studied. The two species were reassessed as the same species, the latter corresponding to young of the former, on the basis of examination of their eight syntypes and other comparative specimens. Gerres limbatus clearly differs from other congeners in having 2½–3 (usually 2½) scales between the 5th dorsal fin spine base and the lateral line, and four or five diffuse, dark saddle patches mainly along the back in life (more apparent in small specimens less than ca. 65 mm in standard length, or preserved and stressed live specimens) (vs. usually more than 3½ scales between fifth dorsal fin spine base and lateral line, and and no such body color pattern of G. limbatus in other congeners). The species is currently known from the southern and western coasts of India including Sri Lanka, the Malay Peninsula, Gulf of Thailand, and Indonesia, becoming rare in occurrence eastward.     

Comparative organ differentiation during early life stages of marine fish

The basic developmental mechanisms of teleosts are similar, but there are differences with respect to the timing of developmental events. These events are controlled by genetic and environmental factors. Direct comparisons of organogenesis are complicated due to large variations in egg sizes and incubation temperatures between species. But in general, cultivated small marine pelagic fish larvae originating from rather small eggs (like gadoids, flatfishes, sparids) hatch with a relatively large yolk sac, a larval finfold and subdermal space and under-developed organs. Developmental status at hatch differs between species and the duration of the yolk sac period varies. Main organs and organ systems become functional by first feeding and differentiate during the larval stage and metamorphosis. Species developing directly via large yolk-rich eggs and a long incubation period have a juvenile like morphology and organ functionality at first feeding, sometimes immediately after hatch (like wolffishes). Histomorphological and cell- or organ functional studies of developing embryos and larvae of cultivated species constitute basic information for understanding species-specific events, of utmost importance for improving production protocols. Information is still lacking on early functionality of endocrine and immunocompetent tissues and organs, areas that deserve future focus.     

The distribution of Poecilancistrium caryophyllum (Trypanorhyncha) plerocercoids in spot, Leiostomus xanthurus Lacèpéde, and spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier)

Spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier), and spot, Leiostomus xanthurus Lacèpéde, from two sites along Florida's west coast were collected, weighed, sexed and measured. A systematic search for plerocercoids of the cestode Poecilancistrium caryophyllum yielded infection prevalences of 81.9% for C. nebulosus and 25.0% for L. xanthurus . The maximum infection intensity was 10 (mean = 2.65) plerocercoids per fish in C. nebulosus and six (mean = 1.69) per fish in L. xanthurus . Significant correlations were found between infection prevalence and length in C. nebulosus , and a significant correlation was observed between intensity and length in both species. Condition coefficient ( K ) and intensity were negatively correlated in C. nebulosus but not in L. xanthurus . An iterative computer technique based on the truncated negative binomial distribution indicated no parasite-induced mortality occurred in either species. Sand drum, Umbrina coroides Cuvier, is reported as a new host record for P. caryophyllum .     

High-throughput microsatellite marker development in two sparid species and verification of their transferability in the family Sparidae

Recently, 454 sequencing has emerged as a popular method for isolating microsatellites owing to cost-effectiveness and time saving. In this study, repeat-enriched libraries from two southern African endemic sparids (Pachymetopon blochii and Lithognathus lithognathus) were 454 GS-FLX sequenced. From these, 7370 sequences containing repeats (SCRs) were identified. A brief survey of 23 studies showed a significant difference between the number of SCRs when enrichment was performed first before 454 sequencing. We designed primers for 302 unique fragments containing more than five repeat units and suitable flanking regions. A fraction (<11%) of these loci were characterized with 18 polymorphic microsatellite loci (nine in each of the focal species) being described. Sanger sequencing of alleles confirmed that size variation was because of differences in the number of tandem repeats. However, a case of homoplasy and sequencing errors in the 454 sequencing were identified. These newly developed and four previously isolated loci were successfully used to identify polymorphic markers in nine other economically important species, representative of sparid diversity. The combination of newly developed markers with data from previous sparid cross-species studies showed a significant negative correlation between genetic divergence to focal species and microsatellite transferability. The high level of transferability we described (48% amplification success and 32% polymorphism) suggests that the 302 microsatellite loci identified represent an excellent resource for future studies on sparids. Microsatellite marker development should commonly include tests of transferability to reduce costs and increase feasibility of population genetics studies in nonmodel organisms.     

Mechanisms of wavelength tuning in the rod opsins of deep-sea fishes.

The main object of this study was to investigate the molecular basis for changes in the spectral sensitivity of the visual pigments of deep-sea fishes. The four teleost species studied, Hoplostethus mediterraneus, Cataetyx laticeps, Gonostoma elongatum and Histiobranchus bathybius, are phylogenetically distant from each other and live at depths ranging from 500 to almost 5000 m. A single fragment of the intronless rod opsin gene was PCR-amplified from each fish and sequenced. The wavelength of peak sensitivity for the rod visual pigments of the four deep-sea species varies from 483 nm in H. mediterraneus and G. elongatum to 468 nm in C. laticeps. Six amino acids at sites on the inner face of the chromophore-binding pocket formed by the seven transmembrane a-helices are identified as candidates for spectral tuning. Substitutions at these sites involve either a change of charge, or a gain or loss of a hydroxyl group. Two of these, at positions 83 and 292, are consistently substituted in the visual pigments of all four species and are likely to be responsible for the shortwave sensitivity of the pigments. Shifts to wavelengths shorter than 480 nm may involve substitution at one or more of the remaining four sites. None of the modifications found in the derived sequences of these opsins suggest functional adaptations, such as increased content of hydroxyl-bearing or proline residues, to resist denaturation by the elevated hydrostatic pressures of the deep sea. Phylogenetic evidence for the duplication of the rod opsin gene in the Anguilliform lineage is presented.     

Life-history changes in exploited reef fishes on the east coast of South Africa

Synopsis The impact of exploitation on various life-history characteristics of two sex changing, reef-dwelling sparid species was examined by comparing populations protected in a large marine reserve with those adjacent to the reserve. Like other sparids, Chrysoblephus laticeps and C. cristiceps grow slowly and are long lived, reaching ages of 17 and 21 years, respectively. No significant differences in the growth rate of C. laticeps were measured, but growth in C. cristiceps was significantly slower in the exploited population. Observed data showed that sex ratios outside the marine reserve were skewed towards the females, a result of size selective exploitation. Size at sex change was also significantly smaller for C. cristiceps in the exploited area, but not so for C. laticeps. This difference between the species was explained as a function of the size at recruitment into the fishery and the degree of protection afforded both large females and male fish. Considering the possibility that reproduction could be impaired as a result of changes in population structure, the tactic of protection through marine reserves is supported as a hedge against recruitment failure.     

The food and feeding habits of Hydrocynus forskahlii Cuvier and Hydrocynus brevis Günther in Lake Kainji, Nigeria

The diets and modes of feeding of Hydrocynus forskahlii Cuvier and Hydrocynus brevis Günther are described. Both species are mainly piscivorous in Lake Kainji. H. forskahlii feeds largely upon small clupeids though very large specimens prey more heavily upon the characid Alestes baremose. H. brevis preys upon a wide variety of species by swallowing them whole but also attacks large fish and bites pieces from them. Sexual dimorphism in H. brevis is described. The effects of predation upon the fish stock of Lake Kainji by Hydrocynus species are discussed.     

Eleven new Colobomatus species (Copepoda: Philichthyidae) from marine fishes

A survey of 79 fish species revealed 16 species of Colobomatus of which 11 are new and described below. The first ten new species were from Australian fish and the eleventh from a South African fish.The following species are described: Colobomatus cresseyi n. sp. from the eastern river garfish Hyporhamphus regularis ardelio (Whitley) and the snub-nosed garfish Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii (Stein-dachner); C. nanus n. sp. from the trumpeter Pelates quadrilineatus (Bloch); C. lesteri n. sp. from the common silver-belly Gerres ovatus (Günther); C. sewelli n. sp. from the seven-fingers tassel-fish Polynemus heptadactylus Cuvier; C. hispidus n. sp. from the blotched javelin-fish Pomadasys maculatus (Bloch); C. ornatus n. sp. from the whiptail Pentapodus setosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes); C. cribbi n. sp. from the barred-faced spine-cheek Scolopsis taeniopterus (Kuhl & van Hasselt); C. rothae n. sp. from the dusky flathead Platycephalus fuscus (Cuvier & Valenciennes) and the bar-tailed flathead P. indicus (L.); C. gietzelae n. sp. from the thread-fin silver-belly Gerres punctatus (Cuvier & Valenciennes); C. creeveyae n. sp. from the white trevally Pseudocarynx dentex (Bloch & Schneider); and C. mackayi n. sp. from an African haemulid, Pomadasys striatus (Gilchrist & Thompson). Colobomatus mylionus Fukui, 1965, is redescribed from the silver bream Acanthopagrus australis (Günther).Details of the mouthparts of C. kyphosus Sekerak, 1970, are given for the first time. This is a relatively plesiomorphic member of the genus (West, unpublished data), and its morphology assists in the interpretation of the appendages of the Australian species.Revised diagnoses for the family Philichthyidae Vogt and the genus Colobomatus hesse, 1873 are given. These incorporate the genus Colobomatoides Essafi & Raibaut, 1980 and the new Colobomatus species described herein respectively.     

Biochemical studies on Brachionus plicatilis: hydrolytic enzymes,integument proteins and composition of trophi

In Terminos Lagoon, México, more than 80 fish species use the mangrove and seagrass habitats. We studied nekton dynamics in an inlet seagrass system and a more sheltered seagrass/mangrove system located behind a barrier island. Seasonal community biomass ranges from 0.6 to 5.2 g wet wt m^-2. For the two habitats together, there are 28 dominant species. Eleven species were common to both areas: Sphoeroides testudineus (Linnaeus, 1758), Archosargus rhomboidalis Linnaeus, 1758, A. probatocephalus (Walbaum, 1792), Arius felis (Linnaeus, 1766), A. melanopus (Gunther, 1864), Eucinostomus gula (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830), Bairdiella chrysoura (Lacépède, 1803), Orthopristis chrysoptera (Linnaeus, 1766), Chilomycterus schoepfi (Walbaum, 1792), Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean, 1879) and Lutjanus griseus (Linnaeus, 1758). Ten species used exclusively the inlet seagrass system: Urolophus jamaicensis (Cuvier, 1817), Haemulon aurolineatum (Cuvier, 1829), H. bonariense (Cuvier, 1830), H. plumieri (Lacépède, 1802), Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus, 1758), Odontoscion dentex (Cuvier, 1830), Corvula sanctae-luciae (Jordan, 1890), Nicholsina usta (Valenciennes, 1839), Stephanolepis hispidus (Linnaeus, 1766) and Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758. Seven species were dominant only in the seagrass/mangrove system: Anchoa mitchilli (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1848), Scorpaena plumieri Bloch, 1789, Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830), Diapterus rhombeus (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830), Bairdiella ronchus (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830), Cichlasoma urophtalmus (Günther, 1862) and Acanthostracion quadricornis (Linnaeus, 1758). Comparative analysis showed that periodic variation in biomass and diversity of fish assemblages in seagrass and seagrass/mangrove habitats were synchronized with sizes and densities of population, season of the year (dry, wet, ‘nortes’), circulation pattern, and patterns of primary production (phytoplankton, Thalassia testudinum Konig, 1805; and Rhizophora mangle Linnaeus). This analysis allowed the definition of 3 life-cycle patterns with a clear nektonic ‘seasonal programming’ following the timing of primary production in these critical habitats: (1) marine species which spawn in or near the inlet with eggs and larvae transported into and distributed throughout the lagoon by the predominant currents; (2) estuarine-marine species which spawn in different habitats of the lagoon and use the seagrass/mangrove system as a nursery area, and (3) species which complete their life history in the inlet seagrass and/or seagrass/mangrove systems. EPOMEX Program Contribution No. 0026.     

Alcide d’Orbigny entre Cuvier et Lamarck

In the History of Science, Alcide d’Orbigny has the distinctive characteristic to be placed, between Cuvier and Lamarck, who were the two masters of Natural Science for most of the 19th century. It is in this historical context that Alcide d’Orbigny lived. Of Cuvier, he remembered ideas on disasters and species fixedness without using the same evidence, for he was not a vertebrist. Of Lamarck, he rejected the ideas on life continuity and species transformation while using the research field opened by the Zoology and Invertebrate Palaeontology founder. Alcide d’Orbigny’s originality was to use Lamarck’s Invertebrate fossils as evidence of the ideas that Cuvier had based on Vertebrate fossils.