Presence of the Guinean puffer Sphoeroides marmoratus (Lowe, 1838) in the Mediterranean Sea

The collection of a single specimen of the Guinean puffer Sphoeroides marmoratus from the Ionian Sea in September 1977, misidentified at that time as Lagocephalus lagocephalus , shows that this subtropical species of fish has occurred in the Mediterranean Sea from 30 years ago.     

First record of Boulenger's anthias Sacura boulengeri (Heemstra 1973) in the Red Sea

In November 2020, we observed several individuals and collected one juvenile of an unidentified anthiadine fish (Serranidae) between depths of 250 and 307 m near vertical walls of rocky reefs in the northern Red Sea. Further morphological and molecular analyses revealed that the collected specimen matches Sacura boulengeri, a species previously reported only from the Gulf of Oman to India.     

The Holocene occurrence of Acipenser spp. in the southern North Sea: the archaeological record

Archaeological sturgeon remains from the southern North Sea basin used to be automatically attributed to Acipenser sturio, since this was the only acipenserid species believed to occur there. These species identifications, however, were in need of revision after a growing number of indications were found for the historical presence of Acipenser oxyrinchus in western Europe. In this study, morphological and genetic data on sturgeon remains from archaeological sites along the southern North Sea are revised. A large number of Dutch, Belgian, British and some French archaeological sturgeon remains, dating from the Mesolithic up to Late Modern times, are morphologically examined and fish sizes are reconstructed. This study of >7000 acipenserid bones proves the sympatric occurrence of European sturgeon A. sturio and Atlantic sturgeon A. oxyrinchus in the southern North Sea at least since the Neolithic (fourth millennium BC onwards), with A. oxyrinchus remains always outnumbering those of A. sturio. Human influence is documented by the decrease in finds through time, but no clear evidence was found for a diachronic change in fish lengths that could possibly be related to fishing pressure.     

Isolation and characterization of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> species capable of producing tetrodotoxin from the puffer fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fugu obscurus</Emphasis>

We obtained puffer fish Fugu obscurus from Wudi, China and analyzed the level of tetrodotoxin (TTX) toxictiy by mouse bioassay. The ovary showed the highest potency (125 MU/g), followed by the liver, intestine, and skin. A TTX-producing strain, namely, W-3, was isolated from the ovary of puffer fish F. obscurus. After culturing at 28 °C for 48 h, toxins were extracted from the liquid medium and analyzed by mouse bioassay, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that strain W-3 produced TTX and related compounds. Physiological and biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA analysis indicated that this strain represents a novel species within the Bacillus genus; we named this strain as Bacillus sp. W-3. Our results suggested that marine bacteria play a role in the production of TTX in puffer fish F. obscurus.     

Experimental infection of several fish species with the causative agent of Kuchijirosho (snout ulcer disease) derived from the tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes.

Kuchijirosho (snout ulcer disease) is a fatal epidemic disease which affects the tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, a commercial fish species in Japan and Korea. To assess the possibility that non-tiger puffer fish can serve as reservoirs of infection, 5 fish species were challenged by infection with the extracts of Kuchijirosho-affected brains from cultured tiger puffer: grass puffer T. niphobles, fine-patterned puffer T. poecilonotus, panther puffer T. pardalis, red sea bream Pagrus major, and black rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. When slightly irritated, all these species, especially the puffer fish, exhibited typical signs of Kuchijirosho, i.e., erratic swimming, biting together and bellying out (swelling of belly), as generally observed in tiger puffers affected by Kuchijirosho. Although the mortalities of the 2 non-puffer species were lower, injection of the extracts prepared from the brains of both inoculated fish into tiger puffer resulted in death, indicating that the inoculated fish used in this experiment have the potential to be infected with the Kuchijirosho agent. Condensations of nuclei or chromatin in the large nerve cells, which is a major characteristic of Kuchijirosho, were histopathologically observed to some extent in the brains of all kinds of puffer fish species infected. These findings suggest that the virus can spread horizontally among wild and cultured puffers and even among fishes belonging to different orders.     

The fine structure of the fin musculature in two teleost species with different swimming modes,the puffer,Tetraodon steindachneri,and the goldfish,Carassius auratus

Summary Puffer fish (Tetraodon steindachneri) can execute precise maneuvers due to their highly specialized mode of propulsion. In the conventional locomotion exemplified by the goldfish (Carassius auratus), the fish thrusts are generated by lateral beating of the caudal fin. In contrast, the puffer generates its propulsive force by very rapid undulating movements of the pectoral, dorsal and anal fins. The fine structure of the fin muscles is identical in the two species of fishes, despite the differences in fin movement; cytologically, the fibers are intermediate between those of red and of white muscle. On the other hand, both the fusion frequency and the number of motor endplates are considerably higher in the fin muscles of the puffer than in those of the goldfish.     

New record of Ptarmus gallus Kossmann & Räuber, 1877 from the northern Red Sea (Teleostei: Aploactinidae), with a redescription of the species

The aploactinid fish Ptarmus gallus is redescribed and recorded from the Gulf of Suez (Egypt) for the first time. The species is apparently endemic to the Red Sea. Identification keys to the genera of aploactinid fishes, and to species of the genus Ptarmus are presented.     

利用SRAP标记研究四个暗纹东方鲀群体的遗传多样性

利用相关序列扩增多态性SRAP(Sequence-related amplified polymorphism)分子标记首次对4个暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu obscurus)群体(1个长江捕捞群体、1个放流群体和2个养殖群体)进行了遗传多样性分析。从49对引物组合中筛选出18对扩增条带清晰、稳定的引物组合对4个群体进行扩增,共获得231个位点,其中多态位点数为156个,总多态位点百分率为67.53%。4个群体内多态位点比例为54.98%—58.87%,群体的Nei’s基因多样性指数(H)为0.1992—0.2005,群体Shannon多样性指数(I)为0.2953—0.3016,群体间基因流(Nm)为4.1291。长江捕捞群体的多态位点比例、基因多样性指数、Shannon多样性指数均略高于其他三个群体。采用UPGMA法对4个群体进行聚类分析显示,上海养殖群体单独聚为一类,其余3个群体聚为另一类。AMOVA结果表明遗传变异主要来源于群体内,占总遗传变异的87.40%。以上结果表明,4个暗纹东方鲀群体具有较高的遗传多样性,群体间相似性较大,并且存在一定的基因交流。     

Differences in reproductive strategies between obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus and ocellated puffer Takifugu ocellatus during their spawning migration

Reproductive strategies were compared between obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus and ocellated puffer Takifugu ocellatus captured in waters near Yangzhong Island in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River during the spawning migration season from February to June in two consecutive years (1995 and 1996). Results showed that obscure puffer and ocellated puffer have adopted different reproductive strategies, including different spawning times, different size at maturity, and different number and size of oocytes, resulting in two different larval sizes. In detail, the timing of the spawning migration and status of gonad development of obscure puffer was about 1 month earlier than that of ocellated puffer; the obscure puffer was obviously longer and heavier than ocellated puffer in both mature male and female fish; mean GSI of obscure puffer females (15.8%) was significantly higher than that of ocellated puffer females (14.6%); the average diameter of ocellated puffer eggs (1.49 ± 0.12 mm) was significantly larger than that of the obscure puffer (1.22 ± 0.08 mm); and obscure puffer females (320.8 oocytes mg^?1 somatic wet weight) had significantly higher relative fecundity than ocellated puffer females (125.2 oocytes mg^?1 somatic wet weight). These differences in reproductive strategies between two closely related species of the Takifugu genus indicate that both obscure puffer and ocellated puffer fit the r/K dichotomy. Obscure puffer shows K‐selected characters with maturity at relatively large size and r‐selected characters with relatively many and small offspring, whereas ocellated puffer shows r‐selected characters with maturity at a relatively small size and K‐selected characters with relatively few and large offspring.     

First record of the pencil cardinal Epigonus denticulatus (Perciformes: Epigonidae) in the Azores archipelago

The pencil cardinal Epigonus denticulatus is a small deep-water fish inhabiting continental slopes usually between 300 and 600 m depth. We report the first record of E. denticulatus in the Azores archipelago, where one specimen was found floating by fisherman off Faial island. Meristic and morphometric characters are in accordance with those reported for the species and molecular analyses further supported species identity. The record of E. denticulatus as a native species in the Azores increases the number of Epigonus species in the region to a total of three.     

Identification of cDNA coding for a homologue to mammalian leptin from pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes

We identified cDNA coding for a homologue to mammalian leptin in puffer, Takifugu rubripes, using genomic synteny around the human leptin gene. In addition to significant sequence homologies, the puffer leptin (pLEP) displays characteristic structural features in common with mammalian leptin. The pLEP mRNA was expressed mostly in the liver that contained abundant lipids. In addition, homologues to pLEP were found in the databanks for three fish species (salmon, medaka, and Tetraodon) and two amphibians (salamander and Xenopus). The phylogenetic analysis shows rapid rates of molecular divergence among leptins from different vertebrate classes, but not between mammals and avians.     

First confirmed record of Mola sp. A in the western Mediterranean Sea: morphological,molecular and parasitological findings

Recent molecular and morphological studies suggest the existence of at least three species of Mola (Mola spp. A, B and C). Currently, only Mola mola and Mola ramsayi are formally accepted and species A, B or C have not been assigned to these thus far. In this study, a large ocean sunfish in the western Mediterranean Sea was analysed molecularly and morphologically, identified as Mola sp. A and a detailed account of the specimen's parasite load is reported.     

Diet composition of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. 1758) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea,Turkey

This study gives relevant information on the diet composition of the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) during the spawning period in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The stomach contents of 218 bluefin tuna were sampled from 2003 to 2006 during the fishing season (May–June) aboard purse seiners operating in the northern Levantine Sea off the coast of Turkey. Stomachs were removed from the fish soon after landing and kept frozen at ?18°C until analysis. Prey items were classified into large taxonomic categories and preserved in 70% ethanol. A total of 745 different prey specimens belonging to 47 taxa were identified, including 34 species of fish, 11 of squid, and two of crustaceans. The most important fish and cephalopod prey belonged to the families Myctophidae, Carangidae, Chauliodontidae, Paralepididae, and Octopoda. This study marks the observation of myctophid fish in the stomach contents of bluefin tuna from the Mediterranean Sea. The paper offers some new information of regional importance and compares the feeding habits of the species to other regions, bringing confirmation on the opportunistic feeding ecology of the species in the enclosed Mediterranean Sea, where bluefin tuna seasonally occur as a strong cohort. New information on the diet composition of T. thynnus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is revealed; the findings indicate that, depending on the abundance of the different prey species in the habitat, the dominant prey species can be distinctive.     

First record of mudskipper Boleophthalmus dussumieri (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae) on the coast of Mozambique and evidence of two putative lineages along its known distribution range

Boleophthalmus dussumieri is one of the most widely distributed mudskippers and is native to the Persian Gulf in Iran down to the northeast of the Arabian Sea and the coast of India. Nonetheless, the present study is the first to confirm the presence of B. dussumieri in the marine areas of the Mozambique coast. In addition, molecular analysis revealed strong evidence for the existence of two lineages with a high level of nucleotide divergence along the sampled area, revealing a still-neglected taxonomic condition for this lineage/species.     

Redescription of the festive snailfish, Liparis marmoratus (Scorpaeniformes: Liparidae), with a new record from the northern Bering Sea

The liparid fish Liparis marmoratus is redescribed based on examination of two syntypes and two additional specimens. Liparis marmoratus is distinguished from other Sea of Okhotsk and Bering Sea Liparis by having a wide head, small mouth, short blunt snout, closely set chin pores, small gill opening, a firm body with slightly developed subcutaneous gelatinous tissue, a nearly horizontal dorsal body profile, and unique body markings and coloration. Liparis marmoratus was previously known only from the Sea of Okhotsk. A Liparis specimen collected near St. Lawrence Island in the northern Bering Sea was compared to the type series and determined to be L. marmoratus. Received: April 4, 2000 / Revised: November 2, 2000 / Accepted: January 11, 2001     

Involvement of host recognition by oncomiracidia and post-larval survivability in the host specificity of Heterobothrium okamotoi (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae)

Heterobothrium okamotoi, a monogenean gill parasite, shows high host specificity for tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro experimental infections were conducted using various fish species, including T. rubripes, to understand the mechanisms of specificity. In in vivo experiments, T. rubripes, grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles, olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and red sea bream, Pagrus major, were exposed to oncomiracidia of H. okamotoi labelled with a fluorescent dye, 5- (and -6) carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester, and the numbers of parasites on the gills and skin were recorded at intervals. Oncomiracidia were attached to gills and skin of all the experimental fish species immediately after exposure, and the infection intensity on T. rubripes was higher than that on T. niphobles and much higher than those on the other two species. After 2 days, the attached parasites remained on the gills of T. rubripes, but disappeared from the other hosts. During in vitro experiments, gill filaments excised from seven different fish species (four fish species used in the in vivo experiments and panther puffer, Takifugu pardalis, southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma and spotted halibut, Verasper variegates) were exposed to oncomiracidia and the attachment to each fish species and subsequent larval behaviour was observed. The percentage of post-larvae that attached to T. rubripes was slightly higher than those which attached to congeneric fish species and much higher than those of non-tetraodontid fish species. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that oncomiracidia of H. okamotoi have an affinity for their natural host, T. rubripes, and congeneric fish species. The disappearance of attached post-larvae from 'alien' hosts within 2 days during in vivo experiments suggested that host recognition by oncomiracidia and subsequent post-larval survivability are involved in the host specificity of H. okamotoi.     

First record of the dog snapper Lutjanus jocu in the Mediterranean Sea

The capture of a single specimen of the dog snapper Lutjanus jocu from the Ligurian Sea (north‐west Mediterranean Sea) in November 2005 is reported. This finding constitutes the first record of this species from the Mediterranean Sea.     

Brief migration of the grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles, to fresh water from salt water

The grass puffer, Takifugu niphobles, is a peripheral freshwater fish often seen in brackish water. In the Sai River, Miyazu, Japan, we found that the grass puffer migrate to fresh water from salt water in June and July. Most of the grass puffer stayed in fresh water for 3.6 h on average and returned to the sea during the day. A low salinity tolerance experiment indicated that the grass puffer can live in fresh water for 2 days but not for longer than 4 days. Based on these findings, we discuss the physiological effects and ecological implications of the migration.     

Species composition,distribution, and specific features of feeding of Fish Larvae,and fry in the Sea of Okhotsk from October to December 2007

Ichthyoplankton of the Sea of Okhotsk from October to December 2007 comprised larvae and fry of eight fish species belonging to five families. The larvae of lord Hemilepidotus gilberti, white-spotted greenling Hexagrammos stelleri, and Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius were the most widespread and numerous in the study period. Fish larvae from October to December 2007 were seined over the vast water area of the Sea of Okhotsk, maximum catches were made in waters of western Kamchatka. The food spectrum of larvae of five fish species (H. gilberti, Hexagrammos octogrammus, H. stelleri, P. monopterygius, and Bathymaster signatus) included approximately 20 plankters. Irrespective of species belonging, copepods Pseudocalanus minutus and Oithona similis, eggs and nauplii of copepods, as well as juveniles of pteropods were common food items for all fish. Larvae of all considered fish species in the Sea of Okhotsk fed mainly during the light hours of the day.     

First record of Cephalopholis taeniops (Valenciennes) in the Mediterranean Sea

Two specimens of African hind Cephalopholis taeniops (Valenciennes, 1828) are recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, in the coastal area of Gulf of Syrte, Libya. This finding represents an additional case of a tropical species of fish of West African origin in the Mediterranean Sea.