A Fossil Melamphaid Fish of the Genus Scopelogadus (Teleostei: Melamphaidae) from the Neogene Deposits of Sakhalin Island,Russia

Paleontological Journal - The skeleton of a berycomorph fish of the Melamphaidae family was found in sediments of the Middle-Upper Miocene of the Kurasi Formation of Sakhalin Island, Russia....     

New Data on the Shortcrevice Eelpout Gymnelopsis brevifenestrata (Zoarcidae) from the Sea of Okhotsk

Journal of Ichthyology - Shortcrevice eelpout Gymnelopsis brevifenestrata (Zoarcidae, Gymnelinae) is an endemic species of the Sea of Okhotsk; until recently, it was known by 12 type specimens from...     

First Mass Capture of Black Snake Mackerel Nealotus tripes (Gempylidae)

Journal of Ichthyology - This article documents the first mass capture (over 300 individuals per catch) of black snake mackerel Nealotus tripes (Gempylidae) in the open part of the northwestern...     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Magadania skopetsi</Emphasis>, a new genus and species of Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) from the Sea of Okhotsk

A new genus and species of zoarcid fish, Magadania skopetsi, is described on the basis of 17 specimens (83.4–115.9mm SL) from the intertidal zone of the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, near Magadan, Russia. This species differs from other known zoarcid genera and species by having the following combination of characters: suborbital bones 5, the suborbital canal with 6–8 small pores; first epibranchial fan-shaped; palatopterygoid series reduced; supraoccipital broadly contacting exoccipital; posttemporal ventral ramus weak; upper lip continuous at symphysis; palatine teeth, pelvic fins and scales present; lateral line configuration mediolateral, incomplete, absent on posterior half of body; vertebrae 18–22+78–83=97–104. The closest genus cannot be determined cladistically except that the species is a member of the subfamily Gymnelinae. During the spawning season, M. skopetsi lives under stones near the outer marginal area of the intertidal zone.     

Relationships of eelpouts of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zoarces</Emphasis> (Zoarcidae,Pisces) inferred from molecular genetic and morphological data

Abstract-Molecular genetic and morphological analysis of eelpouts of the genus Zoarces was carried out. Based on the mitochondrial DNA sequence variation, haplotypes of notched-fin eelpout, Z. elogatus, more closely related Fedorov eelpout, Z. fedorovi, and common eelpout, Z. viviparus, as well as of Andriyashev eelpout, Z. andriashevi, were grouped in one macrocluster. Haplotypes of American eelpout, Z. americanus, and blotched eelpout, Z. gillii, clustered separately from other species. The genetic differences between Z. gillii and the other eelpout species were very high for within-genus comparisons, constituting 7.62%. Species divergence in terms of morphological characters was generally consistent with molecular genetic data and confirmed distinct isolation of American eelpout, and especially of blotched eelpout.     

Restriction fragment variation of the mitochondrial gene of cytochrome b in some taxa of the Eelpout Family (Pisces, Perciformes, Zoarcidae) from the northern Sea of Okhotsk

The first analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the mitochondrial gene of cytochrome b of fish from the Eelpout Family (Zoarcidae) from the northern Sea of Okhotsk has been performed. The mean genetic distances between the subfamilies Zoarcinae and Lycodinae, subfamilies Lycodinae and Gymnelinae, and subfamilies Zoarcinae and Gymnelinae are 11.14, 13.87, and 14.00%, respectively. Species of the genus Lycodes (Lycodinae) are characterized by a mtDNA small divergence (on average, 2.04%) and are divided into two groups on the basis of lateral line morphology. Magadania skopetsi, an endemic of Tauiskaya Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk, is genetically close to Hadropareia middendorffii from the same subfamily (Gymnelinae). The mtDNA sequences of species from the genus Lycogrammoides (Lycodinae) differ by 3.83%. The genetic differences between the eelpout Zoarces elongatus Zoarces sp. (d = 4.54%) suggest that the latter is a separate species.     

Fossil Wolffish (Anarhichadidae) From the Miocene Deposits of Sakhalin Island

Journal of Ichthyology - In the deposits of the Middle–Late Miocene of the deep-water Kurasi Formation of Southwestern Sakhalin, a destroyed skeleton of the wolffish head Anarhichadidae gen....     

Relationships among several species of the subfamily Gymnelinae (Zoarcidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis

Nucleotide sequences of the mtDNA COI and cytochrome b genes were determined in Magadanichthys skopetsi, a member of the new monotypic genus Magadanichthys, endemic to the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Comparison of this species with other representatives of the subfamily Gymnelinae (family Zoarcidae) revealed high genetic similarity of M. skopetsi to Hadropareia middendorffii and considerable differences between these species and Gymnelopsis ochotensis.     

Restriction fragment variation of the mitochondrial gene of cytochrome b in some taxa of the Eelpout family (pisces, perciformes, zoarcidae) from the northern Sea of Okhotsk

The first analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the mitochondrial gene of cytochrome b of fish from the Eelpout Family (Zoarcidae) from the northern Sea of Okhotsk has been performed. The mean genetic distances between the subfamilies Zoarcinae and Lycodinae, subfamilies Lycodinae and Gymnelinae, and subfamilies Zoarcinae and Gymnelinae are 11.14, 13.87, and 14%, respectively. Species of the genus Lycodes (Lycodinae) are characterized by a mtDNA small divergence (on average, 2.04%) and are divided into two groups on the basis of lateral line morphology. Magadania skopetsi, an endemic of Tauiskaya Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk, is genetically close to Hadropareia middendorffii from the same subfamily (Gymnelinae). The mtDNA sequences of species from the genus Lycogrammoides (Lycodinae) differ by 3.83%. The genetic differences between the eelpout Zoarces elongatus Zoarces sp. (d = 4.54%) suggest that the latter is a separate species.     

The distribution,morphology, and taxonomic position of Psychrolutes pustulosus (Schmidt, 1937) (Scorpaeniformes: Psychrolutidae)

The external morphology, osteology, and distribution of a rare fish species Psychrolutes pustulosus (Scorpaeniformes: Psychrolutidae) is examined based on an extensive material for the first time. P. pustulosus shows an extreme degree of reduction of the skeleton among the Psychrolutidae. The comparative morphological analysis confirms the placement of this species in the genus Psychrolutes rather than in Gilbertidia. The new data show that P. pustulosus is widespread in the Sea of Okhotsk. The occurrence of this species in the Sea of Japan (Tatar Strait, Peter the Great Bay) is recorded for the first time. Reports on the findings of P. pustulosus in the Bering Sea are erroneous.