Cephalic Pores Research Articles

A new species of the congrid eel genus Conger (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from the southwest coast of India

A new species of Conger eel is described from a single specimen (569 mm total length) collected off Kanyakumari, Southwest coast of India, Arabian Sea. The following characters distinguish the new species from other congeners: dorsal-fin origin behind the pectoral-fin tip; head larger, 18.5% TL; longer predorsal length 24.0% TL; relatively shorter trunk, uniserial teeth at the posterior end of vomerine patch; body blackish to dark brown; pectoral fin completely darker; cephalic pores rim whitish; SO pores 3; IO pores 6; pectoral rays 19; total vertebrae 141+. Genetic analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene revealed that the new species is closely related to Conger verreauxi Kaup, 1856 and Conger macrocephalus Kanazawa, 1958, with a genetic divergence of 5.7% and 5.9% respectively.

Review of the cardinalfishes of the genus Cercamia (Percomorpha: Apogonidae) of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean with descriptions of three new species.

The representatives of Cercamia from the Indian Ocean including Red Sea are reviewed and three new species are described: Cercamia spio n. sp., formerly known as C. eremia (Allen, 1987), is described from 14 specimens, 1733 mm SL, collected in 1015 meters from northern (Duba) to central (Jeddah) Saudi Arabia and from Jezirat Faraun, Egypt. It also has been photographed from the Gulf of Aqaba (Dahab, Egypt) and El Quseir (Mangrove Bay, Egypt). The new species is distinguished from other Indian Ocean Cercamia in having fewer developed gill rakers on lower limb (usually 11 versus usually 1213) and fewer anal-fin rays (11 versus usually 1213). Another new species, Cercamia laamu, n. sp., is described only from the Maldives and Chagos Archipelago based on five specimens 16.030.5 mm SL. It differs from all Indian Ocean Cercamia in having more greater number of the second dorsal-fin rays (10 versus usually 9), and a translucent body devoid of reddish marks versus small reddish dots and crisscross lines. The third new species, Cercamia mascarene, n. sp., is described from 40 specimens 1936 mm SL, from Rodrigues Island, Mauritius. It differs from Cercamia eremia in having a greater number of developed gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch (usually 13 versus usually 12). Free neuromasts and cephalic pores are illustrated for Cercamia mascarene and free neuromasts on the body and caudal fin are illustrated for Japanese specimens of C. cf. eremia. New diagnoses are provided for Cercamia cladara, the type species of the genus, and C. eremia. A map of collection locations for species of Cercamia is presented to show the breath of known occurrences in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. A new morphologic diagnosis is provided for Cercamia. A phylogenetic analysis of the barcoding portion of the mitochondrial COI gene, including all available sequences from members of the genus Cercamia, displays a much higher species diversity than expected, with high levels of divergence among recognized and undescribed species. A key to the described Indian Ocean species is provided.

Osteodiscus abyssicola, a new snailfish (Cottoidei: Liparidae) collected off the Pacific coast of northern Japan.

The snailfish Osteodiscus abyssicola sp. nov. is described from a single specimen collected off the Pacific coast of Hokkaido, northern Japan, at a depth of 4,6714,744 m. It is distinguished from all currently recognized congeners by the following combination of characters: vertebrae 49; dorsal-fin rays 44; anal-fin rays 39; principal caudal-fin rays 8; pyloric caeca 5; mouth horizontal; teeth on both jaws simple and sharp, without cusps; upper and lower jaw symphyses without diastema; cephalic pore sizes moderate, similar to or slightly larger than nostril; gill slit extending ventrally to 2nd pectoral-fin ray base; pectoral fin notched; mandibular symphysis to center of anus 101.6% head length (HL); posterior edge of pelvic disk to center of anus 15.5% HL; epural 1, reduced; epipleural ribs absent. An emended diagnosis and key to the species of Osteodiscus are provided.

Two new species of snailfishes of the genus emCareproctus/em (Cottoidei: Liparidae) from the western North Pacific Ocean with a range extension of emCareproctus brevipectoralis/em.

Three snailfish species of Careproctus (Cottoidei: Liparidae), including two new species, are described from the deep Pacific Ocean off northern Honshu Island, Japan. Careproctus cyanogladius sp. nov., collected from the depths of 2,698-3,223 m, can be distinguished from congeneric species by having the following combination of characters: vertebrae 63; dorsal-fin rays 57-58; anal-fin rays 50; principal caudal rays 7; pectoral-fin rays 29-31; pectoral fin without a notch; uppermost pectoral-fin base below a horizontal through posterior margin of maxillary; pelvic disk oval; chin pores well separated; teeth simple; pyloric caeca 6-10; body pale blue or gray when fresh. The other new species, Careproctus orri sp. nov., collected from depths of 640-808 m, can be distinguished from congeneric species by having the following combination of characters: vertebrae 58-60; dorsal-fin rays 52-53; anal-fin rays 47-49; pectoral-fin rays 34-35; pectoral fin with a distinct notch; cephalic pores 2-6-7-2, chin pores single, unpaired; gill slit extending ventrally to 5th or 6th pectoral-fin ray; teeth strongly trilobed; peritoneum dark, stomach white. In addition, one specimen of Careproctus brevipectoralis Chernova, Thiel Eidus, 2020 was newly collected from Japan, and is redescribed here in detail with comments on intraspecific variations.

Genetic basis for variation in the number of cephalic pores in a hybrid zone between closely related species of goby,Gymnogobius breunigiiandGymnogobius castaneus

AbstractPopulations or species exploiting different habitats can differ in sensory perception as a result of divergent adaptation. In bony fish, the water current is perceived via neuromasts, the end organ of the lateral line system. Although fish in different habitats are known to vary in neuromasts, we know little about the genetic basis for such variation. Here, we investigate the genetic basis for variation in supraorbital neuromasts in a hybrid zone between the Japanese gobies Gymnogobius breunigii and Gymnogobius castaneus. The former has supraorbital canal neuromasts with six cephalic pores, whereas the latter has only superficial neuromasts with no canals or pores in the supraorbital region. Our genomic analysis showed that G. breunigii and G. castaneus occur mainly in the lower and mid/upper reaches, respectively. In a river in northern Japan, hybrids were found at the sites between the habitats of the two species. These hybrids exhibited anomalies of cephalic pores. Using this hybrid zone, we conducted genome-wide association studies and identified one locus significantly associated with the number of pores. Genomic cline analysis in the hybrid zone demonstrated that this locus exhibited a higher introgression rate compared with the genomic background, indicating the possibility of adaptive introgression.

A new species of Tantulocarida (Crustacea) parasitic on a deep-water cumacean host from the southwestern Atlantic, with a review of tantulocaridan host utilization, distribution, and diversity

AbstractTantulocaridans (Class Tantulocarida) are primarily known to parasitize copepods, tanaidaceans, and isopods while only single species have been recorded from amphipod, ostracod, and cumacean hosts. Examination of a collection of deep-water peracarids from the Campos Basin off northeastern Brazil resulted in the discovery of a tantulus larva attached to a juvenile Styloptocuma angustatum (Jones, 1984) (Cumacea, Nannastacidae), representing a new species and only the fifth record for this host group. The new species is provisionally assigned to the genus AphotocentorHuys, 1991 (Cumoniscidae) based on the proximally dilated terminal caudal ramus setae, the conspicuous polygonal surface ornamentation on the thoracic somites, the spinous processes around the posterior border of the abdomen, the dorsal abdominal surface pattern consisting of four continuous transverse lamellae, and the spinular ornamentation on the protopods of legs 2–6. The tantulus of A. kolbasovisp. nov. is characterized by its large body size (175 μm), disproportionally long cephalic shield, the presence of paired papillae on the midventral surface of the cephalon, and the unique swimming leg setal formula, displaying the highest number of setation elements ever reported for leg 1. Except for the asymmetrically arranged median pores, the new species exhibits the full complement of cephalic pores, including the anterior pore AV. Current classification, known stages, tantulus body length, and distribution of all valid tantulocaridan species are presented. Literature records of Tantulocarida, including host group/species and depth, as well as those based exclusively on tantulus stages from the temporary meiobenthos or unidentified stages from the meroplankton are summarized. The authenticity of recently reported tantulus larvae on the lysianassid amphipod Lepidepecreella debroyeriSchiaparelli, Alvaro, Kilgallen, Scinto & Lörz, 2015 from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica) is scrutinized. Tumour-like anomalies on the exoskeleton of planktonic copepods in the central Red Sea and around hydrothermal vent fluids off Taiwan have erroneously been attributed to tantulocaridan infections.

A new species of Careproctus (Cottoidei: Liparidae) from the Sea of Okhotsk and a redescription of the blacktip snailfish Careproctus zachirus

A new snailfish, Careproctus shigemii, is described on the basis of three specimens collected in the southern Sea of Okhotsk, off Hokkaido, Japan. The new species has previously been confused with Careproctus zachirus Kido 1985, known from the Aleutian Islands, eastern Bering Sea, the Pacific Ocean off southeastern Kamchatka and the northern Kuril Islands, and the southern Sea of Okhotsk off Hokkaido, Japan, because of their similar appearance, including a noticeably elongate pectoral fin extending beyond the anal-fin origin, the gill slit entirely above the pectoral fin, no opercular flap projection, one suprabranchial pore, and trilobed teeth. However, C. shigemii is clearly differentiated from C. zachirus in having dorsal and anal fins margined with black (vs. white margined dorsal and anal fins with a black submarginal band), and a black caudal fin (vs. pale pink caudal fin), when fresh. Careproctus shigemii differs additionally from C. zachirus in having the cephalic pore pattern 2-6-6-1 (vs. 2-6-7-1), 30–35 pyloric caeca (vs. 20–31), and a shorter pectoral fin lower lobe, 8.2–9.9% SL (vs. longer lobe, 15.9–25.6% SL). A large sequence divergence between C. shigemii and C. zachirus (0.028 in uncorrected p-distance) in the DNA barcoding region (COI) also supports the validity of each species. A redescription of C. zachirus is also provided on the basis of the holotype, paratypes and non-type specimens.

The cephalic lateral line system of the pelagic fish Normanichthys crockeri (Clark, 1937) (Pisces: Normanichthyidae) from southern Chile

The cephalic lateral line system of the Normanicthyidae family monotypic species, Normanichthys crockeri from Corral Bay, Chile was studied. N. crockeri is a small, schooling and pelagic fish from the southeast Pacific coast between Chimbote, Peru and Mocha Island, Chile. Normanichthys displays a cephalic latero sensorial system constituted by pores and canals. The pores are in six cephalic zones: five preopercular pores (pr.p), five mandibular pores (m.p), three supraorbital pores (so.p), eight infraorbital pores (io.p), three postorbital pores (po.p), three supratemporal pores (st.p) and only one coronary pore (c.p). The high number of pores distributed along the anterior, middle and posterior zones of the orbit stands out, making it a quite sensitive area. In the jaw, five elongated pores join those present in the preoperculum that, along with the rest of the cephalic pores in the supraorbital, supratemporal and postorbital regions make yet another area sensitive to the water flow. These pores are connected with eight narrow, continuous and simple canals: preopercular canal (PR), mandibular canal (MD), supraorbital canal (SO), infraorbital canal (IO), supratemporal canal (ST), otic canal (OT), post-otic canal (PO) and temporal canal (T). This type of canal is the most common pattern found among bony fishes and is designed to respond maximally to water flow velocity along the axis of the canal. These results will help understand part of the cephalic sensorial lateral line biology of this species, which has been barely considered in the ichthyological literature.

Morfología externa del pez parásito Paravandellia phaneronema (Miles 1943) (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) observada mediante imágenes de microscopía electrónico de barrido

Con base en imágenes de microscopía electrónica de barrido tridimensional (SEM) de alta resolución de Paravandellia phaneronema (Miles 1943), especie de ictioparásito endémica de Colombia, se describieron y analizaron las estructuras morfológicas superficiales desarrolladas en su proceso evolutivo de adaptación a la forma de vida hematófaga. La atención se enfocó en los aspectos emergentes de la función de estas adaptaciones y en los mecanismos que estos parásitos de la subfamilia Vandellinae han utilizado para localizar con precisión su pez huésped y fijarse en sus branquias. Se concluyó que detectan al huésped utilizando los neuromastos, receptores mecánicos del sistema de poros cefálicos y de la línea lateral, y no a través de la recepción química de productos del nitrógeno catabólico, como se ha sugerido. © 2018. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Ex. Fis. Nat.

First Report of Genus Diploconger (Congridae: Congrinae) from the Indian Coast

Present study reports a moderately elongate, light brown coloured eel, Diploconger polystigmatus Kotthaus, 1968, for the first time from Indian waters. The species is differentiated from other congridae in having the following combination of characters: double row of cephalic and lateral-line pores, dark brown strip from the middle of the supratemporal commissure up to the tip of the mouth, dorsal fin origin nearly from the halfway of pectoral fin, each dorsal fin ray have black spots at the base, pre-dorsal vertebrae 9, pre-anal vertebrae 27, total vertebrae 108. The present report also reports the genus Diploconger for the first time from Indian waters.

Redescription and range extension of the endangered Paiva's blenny Lupinoblennius paivai (Perciformes: Blenniidae).

The Paiva's blenny Lupinoblennius paivai is redescribed and its range redefined along the Brazilian coast. It differs from its congeners by the presence of three cephalic pores between the dorsal-fin base and lateral line, dorsal-fin elements XII, 12, anal-fin elements II, 16, pectoral-fin rays 14 and 10 + 20 vertebrae. It is here reported from Amazon estuaries (Marajó and Mosqueiro islands, Pará State), increasing its range by c. 3000 km. Lupinoblennius paivai is one of the few blenniid species able to tolerate low salinities. New data about its meristics and morphometrics are presented, as well as a new habitat type.

A new species of the fangblenny Adelotremus from Indonesia, with supplemental description of A. leptus (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Nemophini).

A new fangblenny, Adelotremus deloachi, is described on the basis of three specimens, 29‒35 mm SL, from Bali and Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. All these specimens were collected in 10‒17 m depth on sandy slopes. The new species differs from Adelotremus leptus, its Red Sea and only congener, in having a pair of mid-dorsal supratemporal pores (vs. a single pore), dorsal-fin spines X (vs. IX) and precaudal and caudal vertebra 12 + 23 (vs. 13 + 19). The discovery of a second species requires slight modification of the diagnosis of the genus. Unlike the five other nemophine genera, Adelotremus differs most notably in having the third infraorbital bone and associated sensory pores absent, and the combination of ventral margin of gill opening opposite the dorsalmost 5th or 6th pectoral-fin ray, total dorsal-fin elements 28‒29 and interorbital pores 2. With a total of four specimens of Adelotremus, it is now apparent that several features of the cephalic pore arrangement of the genus are different from that found in Petroscirtes, its presumed sister genus. Recent color photographs indicate that both species of Adelotremus exhibit marked sexual dichromatism with males having a conspicuous ocellus anteriorly in the dorsal fin that is absent in females.

Two New Species of Snailfishes of the GenusCareproctus(Liparidae) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Two new species of snailfishes are described from the central Aleutian Islands: Careproctus staufferi and Careproctus nelsoni. The new species have trilobed teeth, moderately large pelvic discs approximately 33–49% head length, a cephalic pore pattern of 2-6-7-2, and low counts of median fins and vertebrae, including dorsal-fin rays 39–42, anal-fin rays 33–37, and total vertebrae 44–46, which distinguish them from all other congeners. Most similar to one another, they may be readily distinguished by the configuration of the chin pores, which are paired in a single pit in C. staufferi and in separate pits in C. nelsoni. Although both are overall red and pale in coloration, C. staufferi has a lateral yellow slash across the dorsal part of the abdomen and posterior, while C. nelsoni has a broad, pale, unpigmented area across the anterior part of the dorsal fin extending and broadening ventrally to a bright white abdomen. Careproctus staufferi was collected at depths of 205–366 m; C. nelsoni, at 220–329 m.

Two new dwarfgobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan: Eviota flavipinnata and Eviota rubrimaculata.

Two new species of Eviota from Yoron Island, the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, are described. Both species belong to the cephalic sensory-canal pore system pattern 2 (lacking only the H [IT] pore); have some pectoral-fin rays branched; have a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 9/8; no dark spot over the ural centrum; no prominent distinct dark spots on the pectoral-fin base; no postocular spots; and no strong dark spots on the caudal fin. The species share the most characters with E. afelei, E. bimaculata and E. punctulata, but differ from Eviota afelei and E. punctulata by having two versus three dark marks over the anal-fin base, and from Eviota bimaculata by lacking the two dark, prominent occipital spots present in that species. Both species differ from all other described species of Eviota in fresh coloration. Eviota flavipinnata has bright golden-yellow dorsal fins and an orange anal fin, and a fifth pelvic-fin ray that is 12% the length of the fourth ray. Eviota rubrimaculata has clear dorsal fins with red spots, large red spots on the body, and lacks the fifth pelvic-fin ray.

Cephalic sensorial pores in galaxiid fishes from Chile (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae)

The number and arrangement of the cephalic pores of the lateral line in Chilean fishes of the family Galaxiidae, were studied. The study showed that Brachygalaxias differs from Galaxias, in the absence of mandibular pores and in pore number reductions in the preopeopercular series. The most important variations were recorded in Galaxias globiceps and G. platei. The former species differed from the other species in the absence of a pore in the preopercular series, while in G. platei the supraorbital pore situated behind the eye was the main distinctive feature observed, in contrast to the upper position observed in the other species studied. A taxonomic key using cephalic sensory pores is proposed. These results indicate that the cephalic sensorial pores of the lateral line are a useful taxonomic character in the improvement of the diagnosis of galaxiid fishes -and in taxonomic and systematic studies among family Galaxiidae members. Keywords: Galaxiidae, morphology, lateral line, cephalic pores, taxonomy, Chile.

Two New Dwarfgobies from the Western Pacific (Teleostei: Gobiidae:Eviota)

Two species of Eviota are described, E. aquila, new species, from Taiwan and E. epistigmata, new species, from the Moluccas, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Both are in cephalic sensory-canal pore Group I (complete). Eviota aquila, new species, has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 9/8; lacks distinct spots or bars on the pectoral-fin base, although the base is heavily peppered with small black dots that are confluent with pigment over the breast and pelvic-fin base; the fifth pelvic-fin ray is absent or rudimentary and the pectoral-fin rays are usually 16. Eviota epistigmata, new species, has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8; the fifth pelvic-fin rays are absent or rudimentary; a small, dark occipital spot is present; five or fewer dark internal spots or bands between anal-fin origin and caudal fin; no distinct marking on the pectoral-fin base; and no dark pigment on the opercular membrane.

The Second Northernmost Cave-Adapted Fish in the World? Groundwork on the Tytoona Cave Sculpin Population

A new cave population of sculpin fish from Central Pennsylvania is described that, if confirmed to be cave adapted, would become the second northernmost cave-adapted fish in the world. The Tytoona Cave fish lack the suite of modifications typical of troglomorphic populations. Their eyes, pectoral fins, and mouths appear to be as large as those of their surface counterparts, they have the same number of cephalic lateralis pores, and their pigmentation levels do not appear to be much lower. Nonetheless, they are considered to be cave adapted due to the presence of ovigerous females, a lack of evidence for starvation, and primarily because the cephalic lateralis pores (part of the lateral line system) are significantly larger than those of similar-sized surface fish. It may be that the Tytoona Cave population only has some emergent cave adaptations because in high latitudes the extent of polar ice sheet migration during the Pleistocene era restricted colonization by fish at least until 12 ka ago, when the ice age ended.

Cottus specus, a new troglomorphic species of sculpin (Cottidae) from southeastern Missouri.

Cottus specus, a new species, is described from the karst regions of the Bois Brule drainage in eastern Missouri, USA. Cottus specus is distinguishable from all members of the genus Cottus using both genetic and morphological characters, including eye size and cephalic pore size. Cottus specus represents the first description of a cave species within Cottus. The addition of C. specus brings the total number of recognized species of Cottus to 33 in North American fresh waters.

Two new dwarfgobies from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota)

Two species of Eviota with red or orange bars crossing the body, a bifurcated 4th pelvic-fin ray with two long branches,and lacking many or all cephalic sensory-canal pores are described from Palau, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Eviotajewettae has a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 8/8, 98% of the specimens lack all cephalic sensory-canal pores, 2–4 lowerpectoral-fin rays branched; non-filamentous dorsal-fin spines; short tubular anterior nares that are not black and are lessthan ½ pupil diameter in length, and five wide bars across the body. Eviota pinocchioi has a dorsal/anal fin-ray formulaof 9/8, always lacks the POP and IT pores and the PITO and AITO pores are fused in about 50% of the specimens, un-branched pectoral-fin rays, males with filamentous dorsal-fin spines, tubular anterior nares black and very long, almost equal to the pupil diameter, and six narrow bars across body.

First Record of a Snailfish, Careproctus notosaikaiensis (Scorpaeniformes: Liparidae) from Korea

A single specimen (134.3 mm standard length) of a snailfish, Careproctus notosaikaiensis was collected from a fish trap in Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, East Sea, Korea. It is characterized by having the teeth strongly trilobed; dorsal fin rays 52; anal fin rays 47; pectoral fin rays 35; caudal fin rays 10; vertebrae 58; ribs 2 pairs; cephalic pores, 2-6-7-2; gill slit extending to the fifth pectoral fin ray; chin pores paired and equal in size; dorsal and anal fins with distinct reddish margins. We describe this species as the first record to Korea, and proposed the new Korean name, “Dong-hae-bun-hong-ggom-chi” for this species.