Futuna Islands Research Articles

Neomerinthe ornithoptera, a new species of scorpionfish (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) from the southwestern Pacific Ocean, with a reassessment of the diagnosis for N. pallidimacula (Fowler 1938)

Neomerinthe ornithoptera n. sp., described on the basis of three specimens from Fiji and the Wallis and Futuna Islands, southwestern Pacific Ocean, was previously reported as Neomerinthe pallidimacula (Fowler 1938), due to its characteristic lack of both lateral lacrimal and second preopercular spines. The new species is clearly distinguished from Indo-Pacific congeners, including N. pallidimacula, by the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 18; scale rows in longitudinal series 44 or 45; pored lateral-line scales 23; scale rows above lateral line 6 or 7, below lateral line 12, between sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5, between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5; upper gill rakers 6, lower gill rakers 13, total gill rakers 19; longitudinal ridge on lateral surface of maxilla absent; many small cycloid scales on base of pectoral fin and ventral surface of body between isthmus and posterior to pelvic fin; pectoral-fin ray length 37.6–40.0% of SL; first anal-fin spine length 6.9–8.5% of SL; second anal-fin spine length 23.3–25.5% of SL; third anal-fin spine length 22.7–23.1% of SL; pelvic-fin spine length 17.9–18.1% of SL; longest pelvic-fin soft ray length 26.6–29.2% of SL; and several lower pectoral-fin rays markedly elongated. In addition, the diagnosis of N. pallidimacula shows the species to be similar to Neomerinthe bucephalus (Alcock 1896), although distinguished from the latter by the following features: upper-jaw length 25.0% of SL; maxilla depth 8.2% of SL; eleventh dorsal-fin spine length 5.7% of SL; and 22 pored lateral-line scales.

Antifungal mono- and dimeric nitrogenous bisabolene derivatives from a sponge in the order Bubarida from Futuna Islands.

An abundant sponge of the order Bubarida was selected for further chemical investigation following biological and chemical screening of sponges collected from Futuna Islands in the Indo-Pacific. Ten new nitrogenous bisabolene derivatives were isolated and identified: the monomeric theonellin formamide analogues named bubaridins A-F (1-6) with unusual oxidised linear chains, and the first isocyanide/formamide dimeric and cyclised bisabolenes 7-9. The structure elucidation of these nitrogenous bisabolenes involved HRESIMS, NMR, and ECD analyses, and the chiral compounds were found to be racemates. A biosynthetic hypothesis for the production of these metabolites is proposed and some chemotaxonomic considerations are discussed. Furthermore, the antimicrobial and antitumoral activity were evalutated and the trans-dimer theonellin isocyanide (7) was shown to exhibit potent and selective antifungal activity.

Learning to Surf (Seʻe) on a Wave, from Island to Urbanesia

This paper looks at the role of artists and art instruction in New Caledonia, with particular emphasis on workshops used to teach traditional arts in a contemporary Pacific context. It articulates realistic insight into the life of Pacific artists and their work as and with tagata fenua (the Kanaky people of New Caledonia) and Polynesian participants from Uvea, Futuna, Tahiti, and other islands. Workshops at the Siapo Art Centre are designed to find ways to adapt the cultural environment to urban situations with the support of local associations, the government, and social agencies in order to develop long term initiatives. By focusing on the Kupesi Contemporary Artist in Residence program at the University of New Caledonia–Higher School of Teaching and Education (École Supérieure du Professorat et de l’Éducation, UNC ESPE) center, as well as other projects, this essay provides a window into the role of public art education in the Pacific.

Widespread volcanism Southeast of Futuna Island (SW Pacific Ocean): Near-seafloor magnetic dating and regional consequences

Near-seafloor bathymetric and magnetic data have been collected by Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and manned submersible (DSS) over a volcanically active area southeast of Futuna Island, French Territory of Wallis-and-Futuna, in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean. Located at the edge of the Lau and North Fiji basins, at the convergence of the Pacific and Australian plates, this area is characterized by intense volcanic and tectonic activity. Direct observation by submersible reveals that the seafloor is covered by recent lava flows, volcanoes and large, active or inactive calderas filled by smooth lava flows and eventually hosting hydrothermal sites. We investigate the volcanic chronology by combining a Bayesian inversion of the AUV-gridded magnetic data with an inversion of the submersible data specifically designed to estimate the rock magnetic polarity and absolute magnetization. We show that some volcanoes predate the last (Brunhes-Matuyama) magnetic polarity reversal 780 kyr ago whereas their neighbors exhibit a normal polarity and appear to be recent. This result suggests that the seafloor in this region has undergone continuous and sparse volcanic activity over the last few million years.

Futunamine, a Pyrrole-Imidazole Alkaloid from the Sponge Stylissa aff. carteri Collected off the Futuna Islands.

The chemical investigation of the sponge Stylissa aff. carteri collected around Futuna Islands in the Pacific Ocean led to the isolation of three new dimeric pyrrole 2-aminoimidazole alkaloids (PIAs). Futunamine (1) features an unprecedented pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazole core, while two other new dimeric PIAs were identified as analogues of palau'amine. Together with other known PIAs isolated from this species, they were shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities.

Assessing entomological risk factors for arboviral disease transmission in the French Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands.

BackgroundThe French overseas Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands has been affected by several dengue epidemics. Aedes polynesiensis is the main mosquito vector described in this territory. Other Aedes species have been reported, but recent entomological data are missing to infer the presence of other potential arbovirus vectors and to assess the entomological risk factors for transmission of arboviral diseases.Methodology/ Principal findingsAn entomological prospective study was conducted on the three main islands of the territory to determine the presence and distribution of Aedes spp. Larvae, pupae and adult mosquitoes were collected from 54 sampling points in different environments, with a final sampling of 3747 immature stages and 606 adults. The main identified breeding sites were described. Ae. polynesiensis was found in every sampled site in peridomestic and wild habitats. Ae. aegypti was only found on the island of Wallis in peridomestic environments with a limited distribution. Two other Aedes species endemic to the Pacific were recorded, Aedes oceanicus and Aedes futunae. To evaluate the ability of local Ae. polynesiensis to transmit the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), two field populations were analyzed for vector competence using experimental oral exposure of females to CHIKV and infection, dissemination and transmission assays. Results showed that both populations of Ae. polynesiensis were competent for CHIKV (30% at 7 days post-infection).Conclusions/SignificanceThis study showed the ubiquitous distribution and abundance of Ae. polynesiensis on the three islands and demonstrated that local populations were able to transmit CHIKV. Combined with the presence and expansion of Ae. aegypti on the main island of Wallis, these data highlight the risk of transmission of arboviral diseases in the territory of Wallis and Futuna and provide relevant information for entomological surveillance and vector control programs.

Classical and computed tomographic anatomical analyses in a not-so-cryptic Alviniconcha species complex from hydrothermal vents in the SW Pacific

The chemosymbiotic gastropod Alviniconcha (Provannidae), first described in 1988, is one of the most emblematic hydrothermal-vent taxa described from the Central Indian Ridge and the Southwest (SW) Pacific. Symbiotic bacteria found in the gill of Alviniconcha are thought to be their principal source of nutrition. In the SW Pacific, species distributions for A. kojimai, A. boucheti – and to a lesser extent A. strummeri – overlap. While Alviniconcha species do not appear to truly co-exist in these highly energetic but spatially limited habitats, certain species regularly co-occur within a single vent field and in rare instances, the same edifice. Past research suggests that SW-Pacific Alviniconcha species might aggregate around fluids with distinct geothermal profiles. These small-scale distribution patterns have been attributed to differences in their symbiont assemblages or host physiologies. However, little is known about the anatomy of most Alviniconcha species, beyond that detailed for the type species Alviniconcha hessleri, whose geographic range does not overlap with other congeners. In fact, species within this genus are currently described as cryptic, despite the absence of any comparative morphological studies to assess this. To test whether the genus is genuinely cryptic and identify any functional differences in host anatomy that might also mediate habitat partitioning in SW Pacific species, the current study examined the morphoanatomy of A. kojimai, A. boucheti and A. strummeri from the Fatu Kapa vent field, an area of hydrothermal activity recently discovered north of the Lau Basin near the Wallis and Futuna Islands and the only known example where all three species occur within adjacent vent fields. A combination of detailed dissections, histology and X-ray computed tomography demonstrate that A. kojimai, A. strummeri and A. boucheti are readily identifiable based on shell morphology and ornamentation alone, and therefore not truly cryptic. These traits provide a rapid and reliable means for species identification. However, aside from some subtle differences in radular morphology, these species of Alviniconcha exhibit conserved anatomical features, providing no evidence that functional host anatomy is implicated in habitat partitioning. This provides support for the current belief that host-species distributions are probably governed by symbiont-mediated physiological factors.

First records of dendrobranchiate prawns (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata) from the Andaman Sea, India

ABSTRACT The Andaman Sea adjoining the Indian Territory is biologically rich in terms of marine diversity. However, inadequate surveys during the post-independence era have resulted in large lacunae in data on the species composition in these waters. In this paper, we report the first observation of two species of dendrobranchiate prawns, Metapenaeopsis difficilis Crosnier, 1991 and Haliporus taprobanensis Alcock and Anderson, 1899, in the Indian seas, supplemented with notes on their morphological diagnoses, comparison with closely related species and zoogeographical distribution. Crustacean specimens were collected using trawl nets and a naturalists’ dredge on board the Fisheries Oceanography Research Vessel Sagar Sampada in the deeper offshore region between 124 and 850 m depth in the Andaman Sea during the period 2015–2017. Metapenaeopsis difficilis is distinguished by an oval-shaped thelycal plate and a low, unarmed bead-like plate on the thoracic sternum between the third pereiopods. Metapenaeopsis difficilis is previously reported from the Philippines, Indonesia, Coral Sea, New Caledonia, Marquesas Islands, and Wallis and Futuna Islands at depths between 21 and 440 m, thereby indicating its westward range extension. Haliporus taprobanensis is distinguished by a tough integument, presence of a postero-dorsal spine on the fourth pleonal somite, and smooth dorsum of the first four pleonal somites. Haliporus taprobanensis is previously reported from South Africa, Madagascar, off Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines and northern Australia at depths between 300 and 1650 m.

Bromotryptamine and Bromotyramine Derivatives from the Tropical Southwestern Pacific Sponge Narrabeena nigra.

So far, the Futuna Islands located in the Central Indo-Pacific Ocean have not been inventoried for their diversity in marine sponges and associated chemical diversity. As part of the Tara Pacific expedition, the first chemical investigation of the sponge Narrabeena nigra collected around the Futuna Islands yielded 18 brominated alkaloids: seven new bromotryptamine derivatives 1–7 and one new bromotyramine derivative 8 together with 10 known metabolites of both families 9–18. Their structures were deduced from extensive analyses of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data. In silico metabolite anticipation using the online tool MetWork revealed the presence of a key and minor biosynthetic intermediates. These 18 compounds showed almost no cytotoxic effect up to 10 µM on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and microglia BV2 cells, and some of them exhibited an interesting neuroprotective activity by reducing oxidative damage.

Prioritizing surveillance activities for certification of yaws eradication based on a review and model of historical case reporting.

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted yaws for global eradication. Eradication requires certification that all countries are yaws-free. While only 14 Member States currently report cases to WHO, many more are known to have a history of yaws and some of them may have ongoing transmission. We reviewed the literature and developed a model of case reports to identify countries in which passive surveillance is likely to find and report cases if transmission is still occurring, with the goal of reducing the number of countries in which more costly active surveillance will be required.MethodsWe reviewed published and unpublished documents to extract data on the number of yaws cases reported to WHO or appearing in other literature in any year between 1945 and 2015. We classified countries as: a) having interrupted transmission; b) being currently endemic; c) being previously endemic (current status unknown); or d) having no history of yaws. We constructed a panel dataset for the years 1945–2015 and ran a regression model to identify factors associated with some countries not reporting cases during periods when there was ongoing (and documented) transmission. For previously endemic countries whose current status is unknown, we then estimated the probability that countries would have reported cases if there had in fact been transmission in the last three years (2013–2015).ResultsYaws has been reported in 103 of the 237 countries and areas considered. 14 Member States and 1 territory (Wallis and Futuna Islands) are currently endemic. 2 countries are believed to have interrupted transmission. 86 countries and areas are previously endemic (current status unknown). Reported cases peaked in the 1950s, with 55 countries reporting at least one case in 1950 and a total of 2.35 million cases reported in 1954. Our regression model suggests that case reporting during periods of ongoing transmission is positively associated with socioeconomic development and, in the short-term, negatively associated with independence. We estimated that for 66 out of the 86 previously endemic countries whose current status is unknown, the probability of reporting cases in the absence of active surveillance is less than 50%.DiscussionCountries with a history of yaws need to be prioritized so that international resources for global yaws eradication may be deployed efficiently. Heretofore, the focus has been on mass treatment in countries currently reporting cases. It is also important to undertake surveillance in the 86 previously endemic countries for which the current status is unknown. Within this large and diverse group, we have identified a group of 20 countries with more than a 50% probability of reporting cases in the absence of active surveillance. For the other 66 countries, international support for active surveillance will likely be required.

Volcanic and hydrothermal processes in submarine calderas: The Kulo Lasi example (SW Pacific)

The study area is located at the transition between the northern end of the Tonga Trench and the North Fiji fracture zone, where tectonic movements are reputed to be the fastest in the world. To the southeast of Futuna Island, a broad area of volcanism occurs within a region characterized by a change in the tectonic fabric between a NE-SW oriented volcanic graben and the N-S oriented Alofi ridge. In 2010, the active volcano Kulo Lasi, which represents the most recent volcanic episode in the Futuna area, was discovered in the center of this extensive volcanic zone. Kulo Lasi is a 20 km diameter shield volcano that rises 400 m above the seafloor. It is composed of basaltic to trachy-andesitic lava with no obvious geochemical affinity with the Tonga subduction that occurs 500 km to the east. The central caldera is 5 km in diameter and 300 m deep and is located at a water depth of 1500 m. Diving operations with the submersible Nautile and high-resolution AUV mapping, have revealed the presence of numerous active and inactive hydrothermal fields on the floor and the walls of the caldera. Four tectono-volcanic stages can be distinguished at Kulo Lasi caldera. In stage 1, the shield volcano is built. Annular reverse faults develop at the summit and control circulation of water/rock-dominated hydrothermal fluids and high-temperature alteration of rocks along the nascent normal faults. Mixing of hydrothermal fluids with seawater is favored along normal superficial faults, leading to the formation of low-temperature Fe/Mn mineralization at the summit of the volcano. During stage 2, the caldera collapse, gradually revealing outcrops of the altered and mineralized zones formed during Stage 1. As the magma chamber cools and collapses, less heat is available. As a result, medium to low-temperature (<100 °C) Fe/Si deposits form on the floor of the caldera. In stage 3, refilling and ascent of the magma chamber at depth promote the uplift of a central resurgent dome devoid of recent lava emission. The depth of the magma chamber under the dome is estimated to be 1.6 km. Annular dykes feeding the new lava flows are controlled by the deep reverse faults at the outer rim of the caldera floor. The eruptive events are accompanied by short-lived emission of magmatic fluids, rich in SO2, materialized by the presence of native sulfur depositions on the surface of the most recent lava flows. During stage 4 (present day), black smoker sulfide chimneys, controlled by the deep reverse faults, form at the surface of the most recent lava flows at the outer part of the caldera floor. The fluids emitted result from the mixing of a deep fluid of the water/rock reaction type and of shallow seawater superheated in contact with the hot dykes. Hydrogen is generated during reaction of seawater with the hot dikes and H2 is enriched in the mixed fluids. Active (43 °C) siliceous chimneys at the base of the caldera walls and low-temperature vents (6 °C) perched on the caldera walls suggests a decrease in the venting temperature at a distance from the floor of the caldera. In chimneys, the sphalerite/pyrrhotite/isocubanite/barite paragenesis, probably linked to the high H2 concentrations in the fluids, indicate unusual reducing conditions for a back-arc. The sulfide mineralization also has unusual trace element concentrations. The concentration in Pb and Ba appears characteristic of back-arc environments while the enrichment in Co, Se, and Sn is more common to mineralization associated with basalt in mature back-arcs and associated with ultramafic rocks on mid ocean ridges.

Elisesione, a new name for Wesenbergia Hartman, 1955, and the description of a new species (Annelida, Hesionidae).

Wesenbergia Hartman, 1955 (Annelida, Hesionidae) is both preoccupied and a junior homonym of Wesenbergia Kryger, 1943 (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae), and must be renamed. Elisesione nom. n. is proposed as a replacement name, derived from the combination of the first name of the discoverer, Elise Wesenberg-Lund, and Hesione Savigny in Lamarck, 1818. Elisesione mezianei sp. n., is described from the Wallis and Futuna islands (southwest Pacific). A key to separate Elisesione mezianei sp. n. from its congener Elisesione problematica (Wesenberg-Lund, 1950) is included; further, the record of Elisesione problematica for Japan should be regarded as a distinct species because it has palps shorter than antennae (subequal in the type species), and shorter neurochaetal blades (7–9 times longer than wide vs 8–12 times longer than wide in the type species).

Extensive hydrothermal activity revealed by multi-tracer survey in the Wallis and Futuna region (SW Pacific)

The study area is close to the Wallis and Futuna Islands in the French EEZ. It exists on the western boundary of the fastest tectonic area in the world at the junction of the Lau and North-Fiji basins. At this place, the unstable back-arc accommodates the plate motion in three ways: (i) the north Fiji transform fault, (ii) numerous unstable spreading ridges, and (iii) large areas of recent volcanic activity. This instability creates bountiful opportunity for hydrothermal discharge to occur. Based on geochemical (CH4, TDM, 3He) and geophysical (nephelometry) tracer surveys: (1) no hydrothermal activity could be found on the Futuna Spreading Centre (FSC) which sets the western limit of hydrothermal activity; (2) four distinct hydrothermal active areas were identified: Kulo Lasi Caldera, Amanaki Volcano, Fatu Kapa and Tasi Tulo areas; (3) extensive and diverse hydrothermal manifestations were observed and especially a 2D distribution of the sources. At Kulo Lasi, our data and especially tracer ratios (CH4/3He ~50×106 and CH4/TDM ~4.5) reveal a transient CH4 input, with elevated levels of CH4 measured in 2010, that had vanished in 2011, most likely caused by an eruptive magmatic event. By contrast at Amanaki, vertical tracer profiles and tracer ratios point to typical seawater/basalt interactions. Fatu Kapa is characterised by a substantial spatial variability of the hydrothermal water column anomalies, most likely due to widespread focused and diffuse hydrothermal discharge in the area. In the Tasi Tulo zone, the hydrothermal signal is characterised by a total lack of turbidity, although other tracer anomalies are in the same range as in nearby Fatu Kapa. The background data set revealed the presence of a Mn and 3He chronic plume due to the extensive and cumulative venting over the entire area. To that respect, we believe that the joined domain composed of our active area and the nearby active area discovered in the East by Lupton et al. (2012) highly contribute to the extensive Tonga-Fiji plume and which thus may not originate from a sole source near the Samoa. Our results also emphasize and support the idea that back-arc hydrothermal systems have a significant input to the regional and global ocean and maybe more important than their MOR analogues.

New records of caridean shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda) from hydrothermally influenced fields off Futuna Island, Southwest Pacific, with description of a new species assigned to the genus Alvinocaridinides Komai & Chan, 2010 (Alvinocarididae).

Five species of caridean shrimp, including four Alvinocarididae Christoffersen, 1986 and one thorid species of the genus Lebbeus White, 1847, are reported from the recently discovered hydrothermal vent field off Futuna Island in the Southwest Pacific (depths 1418-1478 m): Alvinocaridinides semidentatus n. sp., Alvinocaris komaii Zelnio & Hourdez, 2009, Nautilocaris saintlaurentae Komai & Segonzac, 2004, Rimicaris variabilis (Komai & Tsuchida, 2015), and Lebbeus wera Ahyong, 2009. The new species, provisionally assigned to Alvinocaridinides Komai & Chan, 2010, is readily distinguished from the type species of the genus, A. formosa Komai & Chan, 2010, by the characteristic armature of the rostrum and of the propodi of the third and fourth pereopods and the possession of ischial spines on the third and fourth pereopods. Identification of R. variabilis has been confirmed by morphology and sequence comparison of mitochondrial COI gene. The geographical range of L. wera is extended to the north from the Brothers Caldera in the Kermadec Ridge.

Species of the Genus Munida Leach, 1820, (Crustaea: Decapoda: Galatheidae), Occurring off Thoothukudi Coast of Gulf of Mannar and in Adjacent Waters, India

The squat lobster; Munida semoni Ortmann, 1894 was recorded for the first time from the Indian Ocean (Gulf of Mannar in adjacent waters) is described and illustrated, during March, 2015. One specimen of the said species was collected as an incidental catch in the deep sea trawl fisheries off Thoothukudi coast of Gulf of Mannar, between 08o 35' 22.5 N lat. 78o 27' 40.9 E long and 08o 31' 91.2 N lat. 78o 25' 32.7E long at a depth of 305-310 m. The total number of squat lobsters from India now rose to 53. The present records show its extended distribution from Gulf of Mannar to Indonesia, New Caledonia and further to South West Pacific (Futuna Island).

The invasive land planarian Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae): records from six new localities, including the first in the USA.

The land planarian Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp, 1963 or “New Guinea flatworm” is a highly invasive species, mainly in the Pacific area, and recently in Europe (France). We report specimens from six additional countries and territories: New Caledonia (including mainland and two of the Loyalty Islands, Lifou and Maré), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Puerto Rico, and Florida, USA. We analysed the COI gene (barcoding) in these specimens with two sets of primers and obtained 909 bp long sequences. In addition, specimens collected in Townsville (Australia) were also sequenced. Two haplotypes of the COI sequence, differing by 3.7%, were detected: the “World haplotype” found in France, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Singapore, Florida and Puerto Rico; and the “Australian haplotype” found in Australia. The only locality with both haplotypes was in the Solomon Islands. The country of origin of Platydemus manokwari is New Guinea, and Australia and the Solomon Islands are the countries closest to New Guinea from which we had specimens. These results suggest that two haplotypes exist in the area of origin of the species, but that only one of the two haplotypes (the “World haplotype”) has, through human agency, been widely dispersed. However, since P. manokwari is now recorded from 22 countries in the world and we have genetic information from only 8 of these, with none from New Guinea, this analysis provides only partial knowledge of the genetic structure of the invasive species. Morphological analysis of specimens from both haplotypes has shown some differences in ratio of the genital structures but did not allow us to interpret the haplotypes as different species. The new reports from Florida and Puerto Rico are firsts for the USA, for the American continent, and the Caribbean. P. manokwari is a known threat for endemic terrestrial molluscs and its presence is a matter of concern. While most of the infected territories reported until now were islands, the newly reported presence of the species in mainland US in Florida should be considered a potential major threat to the whole US and even the Americas.

Invasion history affects genetic structure in island rat populations

Invasive species usually go through a period of reduced genetic variability due to a bottleneck. The genetic constitution of an invading population should therefore reflect the time since invasion and the number of introduction events. We studied genetic population structure of three rat species occurring sympatrically on the island of Futuna (46 km2), where they were introduced recently (Rattus rattus), 80–170 years ago (R. norvegicus) and about 3000 years ago (R. exulans). From 2007 to 2012, we trapped 3900 rats during a rodent regulation programme over 20 000 trap nights and took 565 rat tissue samples for genetic analyses. By examining genetic variation and spatial distribution of genetic resemblance, we evaluated the consequences of the time after introduction for genetic population structure. Observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, number of alleles and allelic richness generally increased with increasing length of time a species was introduced to the island. The species with longer invasion history had also higher spatial admixture. However, in R. norvegicus, the observed heterozygosity was lower and inbreeding higher than expected by the invasion history. We relate this with the assumption that this species was introduced once or a few times and in low numbers, while R. exulans was intentionally introduced many times by Polynesian navigators and R. rattus had a high chance of being introduced on multiple occasions in recent times.

Pterois paucispinula, a new species of lionfish (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) from the western Pacific Ocean

A new species of lionfish (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae), Pterois paucispinula sp. nov., is described on the basis of 37 specimens from the western Pacific Ocean. The new species is closely related to and has been previously confused with Pterois mombasae (Smith 1957), both species sharing usually XIII, 10 dorsal-fin rays, usually more than 18 pectoral-fin rays, numerous black blotches on the pectoral-fin membrane, and several bands on the posterior portion of the pectoral-fin rays (free from membrane). However, P. paucispinula differs from similarly sized P. mombasae in having a lesser body depth at the anal-fin origin, head width, postorbital length, and caudal-peduncle depth, in addition to a slightly higher number of scale rows below the lateral line. Pterois paucispinula also differs from the typical form of P. mombasae, occurring off the east coast of Africa and in the central Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea, by having usually 18 pectoral-fin rays (vs. usually 19 in the latter) and relatively long dorsal-fin spines, with the longest dorsal-fin spine length 42.9–51.7 % of standard length (SL) (vs. 35.1–44.8 % of SL). Although a Sri Lankan population of P. mombasae is similar to P. paucispinula in the above characters (usually 18 pectoral-fin rays and longest dorsal-fin spine length 37.5–51.1 % of SL), such differences among P. mombasae are regarded as intra-specific geographical variations. Additionally, young and adult P. mombasae have ctenoid scales on the pectoral-fin base, ventrolateral portion of the body (below the lateral line) and laterally on the caudal peduncle. These regions in all examined P. paucispinula usually have only cycloid or at most a few ctenoid scales, thereby providing a consistent basis for identification of both species, including the Sri Lankan population of P. mombasae. Pterois mombasae is distributed in the Indian Ocean from the east coast of Africa to the Andaman Sea, whereas P. paucispinula is recorded from the western Pacific Ocean, from northern Australia to southern Japan and eastward to the Wallis and Futuna Islands.

Mediastinal mass in a healthy adolescent at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia

### Ameneh Khatami and Emilie Huguon A previously well adolescent from the tropical South Pacific island of Futuna was transferred due to a 3-month to 4-month history of intermittent fevers,...

Bactrocera kirki . [Distribution map

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Bactrocera kirki (Froggatt). Diptera: Tephritidae. Hosts: polyphagous. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Oceania (American Samoa, Fiji, French Polynesia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna Islands).