Redescription of a rare threadfin (Perciformes: Polynemidae), Polydactylus macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1858), with designation of a lectotype and notes on distributional implications

A rare threadfin, Polydactylus macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1858), having long been included in the genus Polynemus, is redescribed on the basis of 9 specimens and a lectotype designated. Polydactylus macrophthalmus is characterized by the following combination of characters: 7 pectoral filaments, upper 3 filaments extending beyond posterior margin of hypural; 13 or 14 pectoral fin rays; 87–94 pored lateral line scales; 11 scales above lateral line, 15 or 16 below; 10–12 upper series gill rakers, 15 or 16 lower, 26 or 27 total; occipital profile concave in adults; second spine of first dorsal fin very strong; pectoral fin rays long (mean 24% [range 24–26%] of SL). The presently known distribution of the species, including the Kapuas River, Kalimantan, and the Musi and Batanghari Rivers, Sumatra, Indonesia, apparently reflects the ancient Central or North Sunda River during the last period of lowered sea levels, ca. 12 000 years ago. Received: November 1, 2000 / Revised: March 2, 2001 / Accepted: March 15, 2001     

Redescription of Polydactylus sexfilis (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831), a senior synonym of P. kuru (Bleeker, 1853) with designation of a lectotype (Perciformes: Polynemidae)

Polydactylus kuru (Bleeker, 1853), originally described from Jakarta, Java, Indonesia, has been regarded as a valid species. However, examination of two syntypes of Polynemus kuru revealed their close similarity to three syntypes of Polynemus sexfilis Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831, in the synonym of which the former is herein included. Polydactylus sexfilis, which is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, is redescribed on the basis of a newly-designated lectotype and two paralectotypes, and a wide range of non-type material. The species is characterized by six pectoral filaments, 15 or 16 pectoral fin rays, 61–67 pored lateral line scales, 8–10 scales above the lateral line, 12–14 below, 11–14 and 15–18 upper and lower series gill rakers, respectively (27–31 total), teeth present on vomer and a long second dorsal fin ray (mean 26% [range 21–30%] of standard length). Received: July 7, 2000 / Revised: August 29, 2000 / Accepted: September 30, 2000     

Review of Polydactylus species (Perciformes: Polynemidae) characterized by a large black anterior lateral line spot, with descriptions of two new species

Nominal Polydactylus species characterized by a large black spot anteriorly on the lateral line, P. microstomus (Bleeker), P. sextarius mullani (Hora), P. sextarius sextarius (Bloch and Schneider), and P. zophomus Jordan and McGregor, are reviewed. Polydactylus zophomus, with 5 pectoral filaments, is synonymized under P. microstomus, and P. sextarius mullani, with 7 pectoral filaments, is elevated to species level (as P. mullani). Polydactylus microstomus and P. mullani together with P. sextarius (characterized by 6 pectoral filaments) are considered as valid species and redescribed accordingly. Two new species, P. malagasyensis and P. persicus, each with 6 pectoral filaments, collected from the east coast of Africa, including Madagascar and the Persian Gulf, are also described. Polydactylus sextarius and the 2 new species are characterized by 6 pectoral filaments. However, P. sextarius is distinguished from the latter by having lower gill raker counts (mode 28 vs. 31 in the latter) and an atrophied swimbladder (vs. well-developed). Polydactylus malagasyensis differs from P. persicus in having higher pectoral fin ray counts (14 vs. mode 12 in the latter), the palatines inwardly turned anteriorly (vs. straight), and a longer pectoral fin (mean 24% of standard length vs. 19%). Received: February 5, 2001 / Revised: April 29, 2001 / Accepted: May 1, 2001     

Polydactylus bifurcus, a new species of threadfin from Lombok Island, Indonesia (Perciformes: Polynemidae)

Polydactylus bifurcus sp. nov. is described on the basis of a single specimen collected from Lombok Island, Indonesia. The new species is distinguished from all other Indo-Pacific Polydactylus species by the following combination of characters: 15 pectoral fin rays, 5 pectoral filaments, 69 pored lateral line scales, 30 gill rakers, second spine of first dorsal fin very strong and lateral line bifurcated on caudal fin base, extending to posterior margins of upper and lower caudal fin lobes. Received: October 19, 2000 / Revised: April 21, 2001 / Accepted: April 25, 2001     

Revision of the Indo-West Pacific polynemid fish genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleutheronema</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Perciformes)

A taxonomic revision of the polynemid fish genus Eleutheronema, which is redefined, resulted in three species of the genus being regarded as valid: Eleutheronema rhadinum (Jordan and Evermann, 1902), having to date been treated as a junior synonym of E. tetradactylum (Shaw, 1804) and currently known only from East Asia (China and Japan) where it is endemic; E. tetradactylum, a senior synonym of both Polynemus teria Hamilton, 1822 and Polynemus coecus Macleay, 1878, being a widely distributed Indo-West Pacific species, which ranges from the Persian Gulf to Australia; and E. tridactylum (Bleeker, 1845), distributed in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia). Eleutheronema tridactylum is easily distinguished from both E. rhadinum and E. tetradactylum owing to the vomer lacking tooth plates in the former [vs. vomer with 2 deciduous tooth plates (in specimens at least over ca. 70 mm SL) in the latter] and lower counts of pectoral filaments (free lower rays, 3 vs. 4) and gill rakers [mode 8 (range 4–10) vs. 12 (10–17) and 13 (6–18) in E. rhadinum and E. tetradactylum, respectively]. Eleutheronema rhadinum clearly differs from E. tetradactylum in having higher counts of pored lateral line scales [mode 95 (range 82–95) vs. 73 (71–80) in the latter] and higher scale counts above and below the lateral line [12 (11–14) and 16 (15–17), respectively, vs. 10 (9–12) and 14 (13–15), respectively]. Furthermore, E. rhadinum is distinguished from E. tetradactylum by having a dense black pectoral fin [vs. vivid yellow in life (except in specimens over ca. 350 mm SL, pectoral fin dusky-yellow) in the latter]. Intraspecific variations and morphological changes with growth of the three species are also discussed. Received: June 13, 2001 / Revised: October 11, 2001 / Accepted: October 17, 2001     

Hemimyzon nanensis, a new balitorid fish from the chao phraya basin, thailand

A new balitorid fish,Hemimyzon nanensis, is described from the Mae Nam Nan River basin, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River, in northern Thailand. This species is distinguishable from its congeners by the following unique combination of characters: pectoral fin with 9–11 simple and 10–12 branched, rays; pelvic fin with 3–4 (usually 3) simple and 8–9 (usually 9) branched rays; 59–63 total lateral line scales; distance between pelvic fin bases 8.1–9,6% SL.H. nanensis is the first species of the genus recorded outside China and Taiwan.     

A new anthiine fish (Perciformes: Serranidae),Holanthias kingyo, from the Ryukyu Islands

A new anthiine fish,Holanthias kingyo sp, nov., is described on the basis of two specimens (male and female) from the Ryukyu Is., Japan. The new species is most similar toH. natalensis (Fowler, 1925), known only from South Africa, in having the following characters: dorsal fin soft rays 16 or 17, anal fin soft rays 9, pored lateral line scales 46 or 47, scale rows above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 9 1/2 or 10 1/2, and gill rakers 10 or 11 +24 or 25=34–36. It differs from the latter in having more scales below the lateral line to the origin of the anal fin (27 1/2 vs. 18–24), a U-shaped caudal fin with paddle-like lobes (vs. deeply forked caudal fin with each lobe ending in a long slender filament), the outer margin of the soft anal fin vertical (vs. gently convex) and brown spots on the body in female (vs. spots absent in females).     

Gerres methueni Regan, 1920, a senior synonym ofG. rappi (Barnard, 1927) (Perciformes: Gerreidae)

Gerres methueni Regan, 1920, for many years identified asG. rappi (Barnard, 1927), is redescribed as a senior synonym of the latter species, following examination of two syntypes of the former and comparative material from South Africa and Madagascar.Gerres methueni is characterized by prominent dark stripes along the scale rows above the lateral line and the 4 or 5 rows immediately below it, 5–17 small scales on the preopercular flange, arranged in 1–3 scale row(s) at the corner, 42–44 pored lateral line scales+3–5 additional pored scales on the scaly sheath of the caudal fin base, 41/2–51/2 scales between the fifth dorsal fin spine base and lateral line, and second dorsal fin spine length equal to or slightly shorter than the third dorsal fin spine length.Gerres methueni is currently known from South Africa, southern Mozambique and Madagascar, being endemic in those areas.     

A new zoarcid, Lycodes mcallisteri, from eastern Arctic Canada (Teleostei: Perciformes)

A new zoarcid fish, Lycodes mcallisteri, is described on the basis of nine specimens (230–375 mm SL) from eastern Arctic Canada, Nunavut (Hudson Strait, 298 m; Cumberland Sound and Baffin Bay, 579 m). It resembles about 15 other Lycodes spp. in having a long tail and a "ventromediolateral" type of lateral line. It is distinguished from Arctic members of this group (Lycodes marisalbi, L. palearis, and L. sagittarius) by the high number of pectoral fin rays (22–23), short pelvic fins, low submental crests, and coloration (6–10 light patches dorsally). It resembles two Pacific species (L. macrochir and L. soldatovi) by the high number of pectoral fin rays, but differs by coloration, meristics, and shape of the pectoral fin. Received: April 13, 2000 / Revised: September 7, 2000 / Accepted: January 11, 2001     

Validity of the gerreid fish,Gerres macracanthus Bleeker, 1854, with designation of a lectotype,and designation of a neotype forG. filamentosus Cuvier, 1829

Gerres macracanthus Bleeker, 1854, for many years having been explicitly or tentatively synonymized withG. filamentosus Cuvier, 1829, is redescribed as a valid species.Gerres macracanthus differs fromG. filamentosus in lacking vertical rows of dark ovoid spots on the body, having instead only indistinct vertical bands in both subadult and adult stages, in addition to shorter second and third anal fin spines (9.1–13.9% and 10.4–14.4% of standard length [SL] vs. 12.3–19.6% and 11.9–17.3% of SL), fewer ored lateral line scales (41–44 vs. 43–46) and fewer scales between the base of the 5th dorsal fin spine and the lateral line (4–5 vs. 4 1/2–5 1/2), and above and below the lateral line (5 1/2–6 1/2/9 1/2–10 1/2 vs. 6 1/2–7 1/2/10 1/2–11 1/2). AlthoughG. filamentosus has similarly, indistinct vertical bands on the body up to ca. 100 mm SL, specimens over ca. 100 mm SL develop diffuse ovoid spots in each vertical band. Furthermore,G. macracanthus is generally a smaller species, apparently attaining a maximum size of ca. 170 mm SL, compared with ca. 250 mm SL forG. filamentosus. Formerly known from the Philippines, Indonesia, New guinea, India and the Arabian Gulf,G. macracanthus is newly-recorded from Japan, China, the Gulf of Thailand, the Red Sea and South Africa. A lectotype and three paralectotypes are designated forG. macracanthus Bleeker, 1854, in addition to a neotype forG. filamentosus Cuvier, 1829.     

A new flounder,monolene helenensis (pleuronectiformes: Bothidae) from the eastern tropical atlantic

Monolene helenensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of seven specimens collected from the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. This new bothid flounder differs from all known congeners by the following combination of characters: 108–116 dorsal and 89–92 anal fin rays, 101–111 lateral line scales, 7–10+10–15=18–25 gill rakers, 10–12+37–38=48–50 vertebrae, body depth 2.58–2.77 in standard length, ocular side pectoral fin length 1.34–1.59, in head length and upper half of pectoral fin blackish.     

A new marine goby of genus Callogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Taiwan

A new marine goby Callogobius sheni collected from coral reefs off southern Taiwan is described. The new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following combination of features: dorsal fin rays VI-I, 9; anal fin rays I, 7; pectoral fin rays 18; longitudinal scale rows 27–28; predorsal scale rows 9–10; no posterior oculoscapular and preopercular canals; body pale white with five blackish brown cross bands; caudal and pectoral fins each with a large blackish brown blotch.     

Redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bregmaceros mcclellandi</Emphasis> Thompson, 1840 (Gadiformes: Bregmacerotidae)

 This study redescribes Bregmaceros mcclellandi Thompson, 1840, based on one specimen (74.4 mm SL) from the Bay of Bengal and 66 specimens (30.0–84.7 mm SL) from Mumbai (Bombay), India, because the type specimens have apparently been lost. The present specimens are characterized by having black dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins and show the following morphology: caudal fin slightly forked; body chromatophores present mainly at the dorsal part; no scales on cheek; vertebrae 52–55 (13–15 + 38–41); dorsal rays 52–59; anal rays 54–60; pectoral rays 18–20; caudal rays 27–31 (principal rays 14); transverse scales 14–15. In the 66 Mumbai specimens, it was confirmed that the distinctive black fin pigmentation developed sequentially with growth, with complete pigmentation first on the anterior lobe of the dorsal fin, then simultaneously on the posterior lobe of the dorsal fin, the caudal fin, and the pectoral fin, and last, on the anal fin. This species is known only from the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Gulf of Thailand. A review of 16 nominal Bregmaceros species indicates that, besides B. mcclellandi, the distinctive dark fin pigmentation is found in B. atripinnis (Tickell), B. atlanticus Goode and Bean, B. japonicus Tanaka, and B. lanceolatus Shen. B. atripinnis is considered a junior synonym of B. mcclellandi, and the others are clearly distinct from B. mcclellandi. Comments are made on some of the characters to more fully characterize the species and for reference in future revisionary and phylogenetic studies. Received: June 17, 2002 / Revised: December 2, 2002 / Accepted: December 24, 2002     

A new species of soldierfish of the genusOstichthys and records ofO. archiepiscopus andO. sandix from Tahiti

Three species of the soldierfish genusOstichthys have been collected in the Society Islands at depths of 300–420 m:O. archiepiscopus andO. sandix are new records for the South Pacific, andO. ovaloculus is described as new from one specimen taken off Tahiti. It is distinctive in having XI, 16 dorsal rays, 15 pectoral rays, 38 lateral-line scales (other species of the genus with 27–30), 31/2 rows of scales above the lateral line, a straight dorsal head profile, long snout, and oval eye; color when fresh, bright red, the centers of scales whitish, resulting in longitudinal banding on the body.     

Liopropoma dorsoluteum sp. nov., a new serranid fish from Okinawa, Japan

A new serranid fish,Liopropoma dorsoluteum sp. nov., is described on the basis of two specimens from Yaeyama Is., Okinawa, Japan. The new species is most similar toL. erythaeum Randall & Taylor, 1988, in having the following characters: Dorsal fin rays VIII, 12; anal fin rays III, 9; pored lateral line scales 52–53; anterior nostril situated midway between posterior nostril and anterior tip of snout; slightly forked caudal fin with both lobes rounded. It differs from the latter species in having a shorter pectoral fin (23.4–23.8% SL vs. 26.9–29.0% SL), greater preanus length (65.6–68.0% SL vs. 63.3–65.1% SL), fewer gill rakers (6+12 vs. 6–7+14–15) and yellow coloration on the back (vs. light red on head and body) in fresh specimens.     

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.     

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.     

A new cottid species, Icelus sekii (Perciformes: Cottoidei), from Hokkaido, Japan

A new cottid species, Icelus sekii, is described on the basis of six specimens collected from off Rausu and Urakawa, Hokkaido Island, Japan. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: supraocular and parietal spines absent; nuchal spine obscure; uppermost preopercular spine unbranched; no scales between dorsal scale row and lateral line scale row, and no scales below lateral line scale row; supraocular, parietal, and nuchal cirri present; five dark brown saddles dorsolaterally; anal fin rays 13; pectoral fin rays 15; vertebrae 12 + 24–25 = 36–37. Icelus sekii can be mature at the smallest size among the species of Icelus. As a secondary sexual character, the male holotype has unique ensiform flaps on the distal tips of the first dorsal fin.     

Two new species and a new record of the genus Sinogastromyzon (Teleostei: Balitoridae) from Yunnan, China

Two new species and a new record of Sinogastromyzon are described from Lixianjiang River of Yunnan province, China. Sinogastromyzon lixianjiangensis, new species, can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: pectoral fin with XIII–XIV, 15–17 rays; pelvic fin with X–XI, 10–12 rays; 60–65 lateral-line scales; no scales on the dorsum of paired fins or the region between axilla of pectoral fin and pelvic-fin origin; tip of pelvic fin close to anus; tip of anal fin close to caudal-fin base; anal-fin origin nearer to the caudal-fin base than to the posterior pelvic-fin base; anus nearer to anal-fin origin than to the posterior pelvic-fin base; dorsal side of the body with 9–11 black blotches. Sinogastromyzon macrostoma, new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: pectoral fin with XII–XIV, 12–15 rays; pelvic fin with VII–IX, 11–13 rays; 48–56 lateral-line scales; mouth extremely big, slightly arched; no scales on the dorsum of paired fins or the region between axilla of pectoral fin and pelvic-fin origin; tip of pelvic fin far beyond anus; tip of anal fin far from caudal-fin base; anal-fin origin about midway between the posterior pelvic-fin base and caudal-fin base; anus nearer to posterior pelvic-fin base than to anal-fin origin; dorsal side of the body uniformly gray, without regular blotches in formalin preserved specimen. Sinogastromyzon cf. multiocellum is firstly recorded in China.