A new genus and species of cyprinid fish (Actinopterygii,Cyprinidae) from the Arabian Peninsula,and its phylogenetic and zoogeographic affinities

Arabibarbus hadhrami, a new species of cyprinid fish from the Hadhramaut Province of Yemen, is described. It has modally 30 scales (29–32) in the lateral line, the wedge-shaped head is longer (27.8–32.5 % SL) and higher (15.5–18.4 % SL) than in its congeners. The body is slender and laterally flattened. The dorsal fin is high (26.5–32.4 % SL) and well ossified. The pectoral fins (19.9–23.9 % SL) and pelvic fins (16.8–19.8 % SL) are longer than in its congeners. Two closely related species, Arabibarbus arabicus and Arabibarbus grypus are re-described and compared to the new species. Based on morphological and molecular characters the new genus Arabibarbus is erected for these three species. It is characterised by medium to large body size, an ossified, smooth principal dorsal fin ray, eight branched dorsal and five branched anal fin rays, large shield-shaped scales with numerous parallel radii, a lateral line with 29 to 44 scales, pharyngeal teeth that are hooked at their tips, their count being 2.3.5–5.3.2 and the possession of two pairs of barbels. Arabibarbus hadhrami is the type species of the new genus. The phylogenetic position of the new genus is analysed, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. It is the sister taxon to the genus Carasobarbus Karaman, 1971 and closely related to Mesopotamichthys Karaman, 1971, Pterocapoeta Günther, 1902 and ‘Barbus’ reinii Günther, 1874. Arabibarbus probably colonised the Arabian Peninsula about 4 Ma ago, coming from the Tigris-Euphrates drainage in the East via Wādī ar Rimah/Wādī al Bā?in.     

A new pearleye (Teleostei,Aulopiformes) species from the Oligocene of Romania

A new pearleye species of the alepisauroid family Scopelarchidae, Scopelarchoides neamticus sp. nov., is described herein based on two specimens from the Oligocene Lower Dysodilic Shales Formation, cropping out in the Pietricica Mountain, Romanian Eastern Carpathians. The new species described herein exhibits a unique combination of features (including head length about 25% of SL; coracoid remarkably expanded; both preorbital and postorbital lengths larger than orbit diameter; 50 or 51 vertebrae; dorsal fin with nine or ten rays; anal-fin with 28 rays; length of anal fin base about 30% of SL; preanal distance almost 60% of SL; pelvic fin insertion located just under the second dorsal fin ray; pectoral fins only slightly longer than pelvic fins; caudal fin with 19 principal rays plus 14 upper and 13 lower procurrent rays) that justifies its recognition as a new species of the genus Scopelarchoides. Both morphological and meristic features suggest a certain degree of similarity between S. neamticus sp. nov. and the extant species Scopelarchoides signifer. The fossils of the new Oligocene species described herein represent the oldest known skeletal record of Scopelarchidae.     

New species of Pogonophryne (Pisces, Artedidraconidae) from the Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica

A new species of notothenioid fish, Pogonophryne bellingshausenensis n. sp., is described from the Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica. The new species belongs to the dorsally-spotted “mentella” group of the genus and is characterized by having a short (about 13% SL) mental barbel with a short (about 16% of barbel length), narrow (barely wider than the stalk), and relatively inconspicuous terminal expansion composed of short, irregular, fingerlike processes. Compared to most other dorsally-spotted species of Pogonophryne (“barsukovi”, “marmorata”, and “mentella” groups), P. bellingshausenensis has a relatively wide (about 7% SL) interorbital region. An unspotted patch on the median dorsal surface of the head, posterior to the posttemporal ridges and anterior to the first dorsal fin, has not been observed previously in any dorsally-spotted species. The holotype was collected at 1,947 m, one of the deepest records for any species of Pogonophryne. A revised key to the ten species of the “mentella” group of Pogonophryne is also provided.     

Sexual dimorphism and mental barbel structure in the South Georgia plunderfish Artedidraco mirus (Perciformes: Notothenioidei: Artedidraconidae)

A recent sample (28 specimens from South Georgia and 1 from Shag Rocks) of the plunderfish Artedidraco mirus collected in June 2004 during the ICEFISH Cruise yielded sufficient data to refute two long-held assumptions about this species: (1) it is endemic to South Georgia; (2) its mental barbel is sexually dimorphic (tapered in females and club-shaped with papillae in males). A. mirus exhibits three types of mental barbel: A: tapered without a terminal expansion; B: with a narrow terminal expansion composed of simple papillae; C: with a wide terminal expansion composed of convoluted or elaborately branched papillae. There is no correlation between barbel type and body size or sex. We also found sexual dimorphism in the relative height of the second dorsal fin (30% higher on average in males) and in the colour of the anal fin (black in males over 60 mm SL). The largest males possess a prominent ruffled urogenital papilla, also black in colour. Barbel histology resembles that of other artedidraconids (Dolloidraco longedorsalis, Pogonophryne scotti) studied in containing large nerve trunks and blood vessels lateral to a pseudocartilaginous core and dermal papillae with an extensive network of nerves and blood vessels. The high degree of intraspecific variation in artedidraconid barbel structure warrants caution in using this structure as a diagnostic taxonomic character.     

Stiphodon niraikanaiensis,a new species of sicydiine goby from Okinawa Island (Gobiidae: Sicydiinae)

A new goby species, Stiphodon niraikanaiensis, is described on the basis of three specimens (two females and one male) collected from a freshwater stream in Okinawa Island, Japan. This species can be distinguished from its congeners by nine soft rays in the second dorsal fin, 16 rays in the pectoral fin, a pointed first dorsal fin in male, the premaxilla with 46–50 tricuspid teeth in 27–36 mm SL; no white patch behind the pectoral-fin base in male, the nape and posterior half of the occipital region covered by cycloid scales, broad black band along the distal margin of the second dorsal fin in male, 11 or 12 dusky transverse bars laterally on the trunk and tail of female intersecting with the mid-lateral longitudinal band, several conspicuous black spots on each spine and soft ray on the first and second dorsal fins of female, the anal fin of female lacking remarkable marking, and the pectoral-fin rays with 2–5 and 1–4 black spots, respectively, for male and female. The new species is known only from the type locality.     

Gymnocranius obesus,a new large-eye seabream from the Coral Triangle

Two previously recorded new species of the large-eye seabream genus Gymnocranius (Gymnocranius sp. D and Gymnocranius sp. E) remain undescribed. Here we describe Gymnocranius sp. E as Gymnocranius obesus sp. nov. This new species is morphologically distinct from all other known species under Gymnocranius by the following combination of characters: relatively deep body, with ratio of standard length to body depth 2.2–2.4; protruding large eye, with eye diameter about equal to or slightly larger than inter-orbital width; caudal fin moderately forked; no blue spots or wavy blue lines on cheek and snout in adults; fourth transversal dark bar on flank running from the sixth spine of the dorsal fin to the origin of the anal fin; anal, caudal and dorsal fins drab with yellowish to yellow margins. Gymnocranius obesus sp. nov. is distinct from G. griseus, with which it has been previously confused by a relatively larger head, scales above lateral line without dark basal patch, and a smaller number of front scales on the dorsal side of the head. Gymnocranius obesus sp. nov. is genetically distinct from its closest known relative, Gymnocranius sp. D by 104 diagnostic nucleotide characters, which translates into a 9.6% sequence divergence at the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Gymnocranius obesus sp. nov. reaches a length of at least 295 mm. Its distribution, from the Ryukyu Islands to Bali, including Taiwan and the Flores Sea, mostly coincides with the western half of the Coral Triangle.     

A new species of labrid fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxycheilinus samurai</Emphasis> from the western Pacific Ocean

A new species of labrid fish Oxycheilinus samurai sp. nov. is described on the basis of five specimens from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and Panay Island, the Philippines. The new species is most similar to the Indo-West Pacific species Oxycheilinus orientalis in having a slender compressed body, 12 pectoral-fin rays, a blackish blotch around the anterior portion of the lateral-line anterior series, and a dark blotch basally on the membrane between the first and second dorsal-fin spines. However, O. samurai can be distinguished from O. orientalis by the following combination of characters: gill rakers 4 + 7–8; snout rounded with maximum circumference 49.8–63.5 % of standard length (SL); interorbital width 7.7–9.2 % of SL; caudal-peduncle depth 13.8–15.3 % of SL; posterior margin of caudal fin white; black or dark red area just before white posterior margin of caudal fin; poorly defined blackish blotches on inner surface of opercle in preserved specimens.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ostichthys spiniger,</Emphasis> a new species of soldierfish from New Ireland,Papua New Guinea,western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Holocentridae)

A new species of soldierfish, Ostichthys spiniger, from off northern New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, is described on the basis of a single specimen collected with a trawl at 180-181 m depth near Kavieng. The new species is characterised by the following characters: scales above lateral line to mid-base of spinous portion of dorsal fin 3¹/₂; no half-scale present anterior to first lateral-line scale; dorsal profile of head nearly uniformly convex; anterior end of each nasal bone with a sharp, forwardly directed spine; a strong spine at the corner of preopercle, which is significantly larger than other serrations; pectoral-fin rays 17; lateral-line scales 29; gill rakers 8 + 13; last dorsal-fin spine shorter than penultimate spine; body depth 2.2 in SL; HL 2.4 in SL; snout very short, 6.6 in HL; least depth of caudal peduncle 4.9 in HL. The new species is compared with other species in the genus. A revised key to the species of Ostichthys is presented. The new species is most similar to O. acanthorhinus.     

Callionymus omanensis,a new species of dragonet from Oman,north‐western Indian Ocean (Teleostei: Callionymidae)

A new species of deep‐living dragonet Callionymus omanensis from Oman is described on the basis of a single male specimen collected in a trawl from 500 m depth off the coast of Oman. The new species is characterized within the subgenus Bathycallionymus by having a small branchial opening; head short (3·9 in proportion to standard length); eye large (2·4 in proportion to head length); preopercular spine with a long, upcurved main tip, with a small antrorse barb and a larger antrorse spine, and with a strong antrorse spine laterally at the preopercular‐spine base, ventral margin smooth; first dorsal fin slightly higher than second dorsal fin (male); second dorsal fin distally straight; 17 pectoral fin rays; distal end of caudal fin slightly pointed, with two median unbranched rays bearing short filaments; first dorsal fin with basal black spot reaching from first to fourth membranes, third membrane with an ocellated distal black blotch; second dorsal fin with vertical dark grey bars; distal three‐fourths of anal fin black; upper half of caudal fin with oblique dark grey bars; pelvic fin dark grey, second ray basally with a black blotch. The new species is compared with similar species. Revised keys to callionymid species of the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, as well as species of the subgenus Bathycallionymus, are presented.     

Dysomma alticorpus,a new species of cutthroat eel from the Gulf of Aqaba,Red Sea (Teleostei: Synaphobranchidae)

The cutthroat eel Dysomma alticorpus n. sp. is described based on a single specimen collected in a trammel net at a depth of 350 m off Eilat, Israel, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. The new species belongs to the Dysomma anguillare species complex, which comprises species possessing a well-developed pectoral fin, intermaxillary teeth, a uniserial row of 7–15 large compound teeth in the lower jaw (which may be followed by a few smaller teeth), and an anteriorly situated anus with the trunk shorter than the head length. It is characterised by a combination of the following characters: origin of the dorsal fin well anterior to the base of the pectoral fin, predorsal length 13.8% TL; preanal length 22.8% TL; three compound teeth on the vomer; head pores: IO 4, SO 3; M 6; POP 0; AD 1, F 0, ST 0; lateral-line pores: predorsal 4, prepectoral 8, preanal 14, total 57–58, the last at the posterior two-thirds of the total length; MVF 7–16–115; total vertebrae 115. Dysomma alticorpus n. sp. is compared with other species of the genus. A revised key to the species of the genera Dysomma and Dysommina is provided.     

Allometric and ontogenetic larval development of common barbel during rearing under optimal conditions

The rearing of finfish larvae is a key element in their further culture. Improper breeding protocols may result in high mortality rates, body deformation and growth rate decreases in both the larval and fattening periods. These errors can be avoided by thorough exploration of various aspects of early larvae biology, at least in model fish species. In this study, anatomical and morphological developments were analysed using allometric growth patterns of common barbel, Barbus barbus, larvae reared under optimal controlled conditions. Larvae of common barbel, which is a model species for fish of the genus Barbus, were reared for 30 days at 25 °C in the recirculated aquaculture system (RAS). Four periods of the barbel larval development were identified: pre-flexion (0–5 days post hatching – DPH; total length – TL: 9.5 ± 0.3 to 12.3 ± 0.3 mm), flexion (6–11 DPH; TL 12.4 ± 0.3–15.4 ± 0.3 mm), post-flexion (12–21 DPH; TL 16.1 ± 0.5–21.2 ± 0.8 mm) and juvenile (from 22 DPH; TL from 21.4 ± 1.7 mm). The largest changes in barbel growth were observed during the first two periods of their life (pre-flexion and flexion), which resulted in the frequency of noted flexion points (64.3% flexion points) and was also associated with intensive morphometric growth, primarily the head and tail parts of the body. Despite a low degree of growth progress upon hatching (e.g. no eye pigment, no distinct liver or pancreas, no unobstructed alimentary tract), barbel larvae pass through the larval periods very quickly in comparison to other cyprinids and enter the juvenile period (22 days).     

A new species of eel cods <Emphasis Type="Italic">Muraenolepis kuderskii</Emphasis> sp. nova (fam. Muraenolepididae) from South Georgia (the Scotia Sea)

A new species of the eel cod Muraenolepis kuderskii sp. nova from the Scotia Sea, South Georgia, from depths of 440–605 m is described. The species belongs to the group of “few-rayed” species having less than 150 rays in the dorsal fin and less than 114 rays in the anal fin. According to general body proportions, M. kuderskii is closely related to high-latitude Antarctic species M. trunovi; however, it differs from the latter and all other species of the group of “few-rayed” eel cods in a short chin barbel, small sizes of the eye, a short antebranchial distance, a short anteanal distance, and a long postanal distance.     

Bibarba bibarba: A new genus and species of Cobitinae (Pisces: Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from Guangxi Province (China)

A new genus of Cobitinae, Bibarba gen. n., and a new species, B. bibarba sp. n., were discovered and are described for the Chengjiang River, a tributary of the Hongshuihe River in Guangxi Province of southern China. This river region is characterized by a Karst landscape, and the river that is inhabited by the new genus is a slowly moving stream with arenaceous and cobblestone beds. The new genus resembles Cobitis Linnaeus, 1758 (subfamily Cobitinae) in the shape and pigmentation pattern of their body, the absence of scales on their head, and the presence of a suborbital spine, but differs from it by a single Lamina circularis on the third pectoral fin ray instead of on the base of the second pectoral fin ray; two pairs of barbels (one rostral pair and one maxillo-mandibular pair) instead of three pairs of barbels (one rostral pair, one maxillary pair, and one maxillo-mandibular pair); a relatively thick and short suborbital spine with a strong medio-lateral process instead of a suborbital spine without or with a weakly formed medio-lateral process as in Cobitis; and the lack of a black stripe extending from the occiput through the eye to the insertion of the rostral barbel. The first two characters have not been reported in any other genus of the subfamily Cobitinae. A morphometric character analysis based on PCA reveals differences between B. bibarba and C. sinensis in body size, barbel length, interorbital width, pectoral fin length in males, and the position of the dorsal and ventral fins. Type specimens of the new species are kept in the Freshwater Fishes Museum of the Institute of Hydrobiology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan, Hubei Province.     

Paraplagusia longirostris,a new flatfish (Cynoglossidae) from Australia and Papua New Guinea

A new species of tongue sole,Paraplagusia longirostris, is described from 59 specimens (83.0– 276.2 mm SL) collected off the northern coast of Australia and southern coast of Papua New Guinea.P. longirostris is easily distinguishable from otherParaplagusia by its long, obtusely pointed snout and its high counts for dorsal and anal fin rays, caudal vertebrae and mid-lateral line scales.     

Revision of the genusAcanthaphritis (Percophidae) with the description of a new species

The percophid genusAcanthaphritis is reviewed.Spinapsaron andBranchiopsaron are synonymized withAcanthaphritis. The genus is characterized by a barbel on the snout tip in males, a single maxillary spine, cheek scales, ctenoid lateral line scales, prevomerine teeth present, palatine teeth absent, posterodorsal edge of opercular membrane ragged, five dorsal spines and seven branchiostegal rays. Four species (one new) are recognised in the genus:A. grandisquamis, A. barbata, A. ozawai andA. unoorum n. sp. A lectotype is designated forA. grandisquamis. The new species,A. unoorum, is characterized by having 23–25 dorsal fin rays, 28–30 anal fin rays, 37–39 lateral line scales, 37–39 vertebrae, one or two brown spots on the opercle, two longitudinal rows of yellow marks on the body when fresh, two longitudinal dark lines and a longitudinal row of dark marks on the body in males, and a single longitudinal dark line and longitudinal row of dark marks on the body in females.     

Redescription of Platycephalus angustus Steindachner 1866 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae), a valid flathead in northern Australia and New Guinea

The platycephalid Platycephalus angustus Steindachner 1866, which has not appeared in recent publications, is recognized as valid and redescribed on the basis of 24 specimens collected from northern Australia and New Guinea. This species is easily separable from other congeners in having a combination of the first dorsal fin usually with two small anterior isolated spines, dorsal and anal soft rays usually 13, orbit relatively small (orbital diameter 11.2–21.5 % HL), postorbital region long (postorbital length 55.5–67.8 % HL), interorbital space wide (interorbital width 7.3–17.3 % HL), suborbital region narrow (suborbital width 4.7–7.2 % HL), vomerine tooth rows tending to increase in number with growth, with 2–4 rows in 106–184 mm SL specimens and a single broad band of numerous rows in larger specimens, teeth present on the dorsal surface of the premaxilla anterolaterally on the edge of the upper jaw in specimens ca. 76 mm SL or longer, and 3–5 dark brown to black bands and spots on its caudal fin. As the stated type locality, Surinam, is considered erroneous, and the holotype appears to have been lost, a neotype is designated with a type locality northeast of Darbilla Creek, Millingimbi, Northern Territory, Australia.

     

Morphometric Analysis and Identification on Specific Metric Characters Pertaining Growth of the Osteobrama cotio of the Brahmaputra, Barak and Teesta River of North Eastern Himalayan River Systems

The variations of morphometric features and the identification of the characteristic features involved in growth variation of Osteobrama cotio were studied from three Eastern Himalayan River Systems: The Brahmaputra, Barak and Teesta River systems. Altogether 220 specimens of different sizes were analysed. Each morphometric character including total length of 220 individuals ranging from 47 to 86 mm and the standard length (SL) from 31 to 65 mm, were recorded. We tested the hypothesis that the body proportion changes gradually rather than abruptly by fitting the linear and quadratic regression curves against the SL of each metric character. The subpopulation from all the locations appeared to be relatively uniform in all of the characters examined. Out of the nine metric characters examined, all the eight characters (head length, snout length, eye diameter, body depth, pre dorsal length, post dorsal length, dorsal fin length and caudal fin length) demonstrated the allometric growth of the fish as described by quadratic regression, except anal fin character which is isometric in growth.     

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.     

Two new gonad-infecting philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the yellowedge grouper Hyporthodus flavolimbatus (Serranidae) and the great northern tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps (Malacanthidae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from marine perciform fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico: P. hyporthodi n. sp. from the ovary of the yellowedge grouper Hyporthodus flavolimbatus (Poey) (Serranidae) and P. lopholatili n. sp. from the ovary of the great northern tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps Goode & Bean (Malacanthidae). Philometra hyporthodi is mainly characterised by the body length of both the males (3.62–4.07 mm) and gravid female (105 mm), the length of the spicules (135–138 μm) and the presence of dorsal transverse lamella-like structures on the distal portion of the gubernaculum. Philometra lopholatili is distinguished by the presence of a distinct dorsal protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellated parts separated from each other by a smooth median field, an uninterrupted mound on the male caudal extremity, the length of the spicules (165–189 μm) and the body length of the males (2.19–2.34 mm) and gravid female (280 mm). Philometra lopholatili is the first representative of the genus and the second philometrid species reported from fishes of the family Malacanthidae.