Shorter Pectoral Fins Research Articles

Bashimyzon cheni, a new genus and species of sucker loach (Teleostei, Gastromyzontidae) from South China

Bashimyzon, new genus, is here established for Erromyzon damingshanensis, and a new species of the genus is described from the You-Jiang of the Pearl River (=Zhu-Jiang in mandarin Chinese) basin in Guangxi Province, South China. This new genus has a small gill opening above the pectoral-fin base and short pectoral fins extending backwards short of pelvic-fin insertions, both characters combined to separate it from all currently-recognized gastromyzontid genera except Erromyzon and Protomyzon, but differs from the two genera in having a larger gap between the posterior edge of eye and the vertical through the pectoral-fin insertion and very small fleshy lobes posterior to the maxillary-barbel bases. It is further distinct from its most similar genus Erromyzon in having a relatively larger gill opening, fewer branched pectoral-fin rays folded against body, and more posteriorly placed pectoral fins with a shorter fin base. Bashimyzon cheni, new species, and B. damingshanensis, the single congeneric species, differ in number of lateral-line pored scales, body coloration, and cephalic contour, and also in substantial genetic divergence.

Description of two new species of Bujurquina (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Bolivian Amazon

Abstract Two new species of Bujurquina are described from the Bolivian Amazon basin. The first new species inhabits the Beni River drainage and is distinguished from its congeners in the combination of the following characters: longer snout, deeper head, body and caudal peduncle, shorter pectoral fin, more scales in the E1 series, discontinuous longitudinal band, bars 5 and 6 not fused, preopercular spot and coloration pattern on flank scales absent. The second new species inhabits the Mamoré and Iténez river drainages, and differs from its congeners in the combination of the following characteristics: longer and deeper head, longer snout and pectoral fin, deeper caudal peduncle, fewer scales in the E1 series and lower lateral line, preopercular spot absent, bars 6 and 7 separated from longitudinal band and discontinuous longitudinal band. An identification key for species reported from Bolivia and complementary morphological data for B. oenolaemus and B. vittata are presented.

Gurnards of the Genus Lepidotrigla (Triglidae) of Nha Trang Bay and Adjacent Water Areas (Vietnam, South China Sea). Species with Short Pectoral Fins

Gurnards of the Genus Lepidotrigla (Triglidae) of Nha Trang Bay and Adjacent Water Areas (Vietnam, South China Sea). Species with Short Pectoral Fins

Engyprosopon keliaoense, a new lefteye flounder (Teleostei: Bothidae) from Taiwan

A new bothid flounder, Engyprosopon keliaoense sp. nov., is described on the basis of 4 specimens collected from off southwestern Taiwan. The new species belongs to these congeners with a pair of black botches on the caudal fin and is most similar to E. grandisquama (Temminck & Schlegel). It can be separated from the latter by having smaller upper and lower eyes, narrower interorbital width, shorter pectoral fin on the ocular side, and more scales in the lateral line. Investigation on Rhombus grandisquama and its junior synonyms revealed that Rhombodoichthys spilurus Günther and Rhombus poecilurus Bleeker are retained as junior synonyms of E. grandisquama, whereas Rhombodoichthys spiniceps Macleay and Scaeops orbicularis Jordan & Seale are now excluded from the synonymy of E. grandisquama.

A new species of the rare genus Myroconger Günther, 1870 (Anguilliformes: Myrocongridae) from Brazilian waters, tropical western Atlantic.

The family Myrocongridae comprises some of the rarest and least known benthopelagic eel species. It is composed of a single genus, Myroconger Günther, 1870, and five valid species: M. compressus Günther, 1870, from the Atlantic Ocean; M. gracilis Castle, 1991, M. prolixus Castle Béarez, 1995, and M. nigrodentatus Castle Béarez, 1995, from the Pacific Ocean; and M. seychellensis Karmovskaya, 2006, from the Indian Ocean. Herein, we report on an additional species from the Atlantic Ocean, Myroconger pietschi n. sp., based on a specimen obtained on the Aracati Bank, North Brazilian ridge, off Ceará State, western South Atlantic. Myroconger pietschi can be diagnosed by having 190 anal-fin rays, a short pectoral fin (16.6% HL), the posterior portion of the ethmovomerine teeth arranged in a single row, teeth on lower and upper pharyngeal tooth plate 24 and 27, and 10 branchiostegal rays.

A new, narrowly distributed, and critically endangered species of Characidium (Characiformes: Crenuchidae) from the Distrito Federal, Central Brazil

ABSTRACT A new species of Characidium is described from the Cerrado biome, in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Central Brazil. The new species can be readily diagnosed by the presence of two or three longitudinal rows of dots along the body sides, absence of bars, by the short pectoral fin, which does not reach the vertical through the dorsal fin origin. Additional useful diagnostic characters are the scaled isthmus, absence of the adipose fin, and the terminal mouth. The new species is only known from the córrego Taquara and its tributaries, a tributary of ribeirão do Gama, upstream from lago Paranoá, in the upper rio Paraná basin. In accordance to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, the new species is categorized as Critically Endangered.

A New Species of the Anchovy Genus Stolephorus Lacepède 1803 from North Sumatra, Indonesia, and Redescriptions of Stolephorus pacificus Baldwin 1984 and Stolephorus teguhi Kimura, Hori and Shibukawa 2009 (Teleostei: Clupeiformes: Engraulidae).

Stolephorus leopardus sp. nov. is described here, and Stolephorus pacificus and Stolephorus teguhi are redescribed. Those three species are distinguished among congeners by the presence of more than 30 gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch and a short maxilla, posteriorly just reaching the anterior border of the preopercle. Stolephorus pacificus and S. teguhi have rarely been reported since they were originally described, and therefore detailed morphological data and further diagnostic characters are provided. Stolephorus leopardus, in turn, is described based on four specimens collected on Nias Island, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The new species can be distinguished from S. pacificus and S. teguhi by a shorter pectoral fin (15.6-16.3% of standard length vs. longer than 16.5%), a longer snout (4.7-4.8% of standard length vs. < 4.5%), and an intermediate number of total gill rakers on the first gill arch (63-68 in S. leopardus vs. 57-63 in S. pacificus and 72-82 in S. teguhi). In addition, the new species differs from S. pacificus in having a dark line on the dorsum (vs. line absent), numerous melanophores laterally on the head (vs. a few melanophores on the snout and mandible tips), and higher counts of branched anal-fin rays [19-21(modally 19) vs. 17-19 (18)]. Stolephorus leopardus is further distinguished from S. teguhi by a shorter anal-fin base (22.4-22.5% of standard length vs. 22.7-25.3%).

A New Species of Greeneye (Chlorophthalmidae) from the Waters of Vietnam

A new species, Chlorophthalmus basiniger, was described, which differs from other representatives of the genus in the specific pigmentation of the dorsal fin, the structure of the outer tooth pads of the dentalia symphysis, the absence of teeth on the tongue and their presence in the middle part of the vomer, a short snout relative to the eye, and relatively short pectoral fins. The species composition of the greeneye genus Chlorophthalmus of the fauna of Vietnam has been clarified; in addition to the described species, C. acutifrons, C. nigromarginatus and C. cf. pectoralis were observed in the water area of the country, a key has been compiled to identify them.

Four new species of Careproctus (Cottoidei: Liparidae) from the deep-water vicinity of the southern Kuril Islands (Western North Pacific).

Four new species of Careproctus (Cottoidei: Liparidae) are described from the Bussol Strait (the deepest channel of the Kuril archipelago) and two neighboring abyssal basins of the Western North Pacific. Careproctus laperousei sp. nov. from the northern slope of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (depths of 4796-4803 m) has the following characters: vertebrae 57, pectoral-fin rays 26, principal caudal-fin rays 8 and pore pattern 2-6-7-1; it differs from the most similar congeners from the North Pacific in having a black peritoneum, short head (22.5 % of standard length, SL) and large disk (37.0 % of head length, lc). Careproctus brevipectoralis sp. nov. from the Kuril Basin of the Sea of Okhotsk (depths of 3301 m) has the following characters: vertebrae 55, pectoral-fin rays 26, caudal-fin rays 9, pore pattern 2-6-7-1 and peritoneum black; it differs from congeners by the absence of pleural ribs, deep and compressed leaf-like body (greatest depth 119 % lc, depth above anal-fin origin 113 % lc), small head (18 % SL), short pectoral fin (11 % SL) and cartilaginous-like tissue surrounding the dorsal fin. Careproctus pulcher sp. nov. and Careproctus globulus sp. nov., both having 46 vertebrae, are found on the Pacific side of the Bussol Strait at depths of 2350-2358 m. Careproctus pulcher sp. nov. is characterized by pectoral-fin rays 31-32, caudal-fin rays 10, pore pattern 2-6-7-1 and peritoneum pale; it differs from the most similar congeners in having a shorter head (25.5-26.3 % SL in adults) and gill opening reaching ventrally to 4th pectoral ray. Careproctus globulus sp. nov. has the following characters: pectoral-fin rays about 24, caudal-fin rays 8 and peritoneum black; it differs from other species in having a globular body, deep curve of vertebral column and pore pattern 2-5-6-1. Thus, based on these collections, the underwater sill of the Bussol Strait is inhabited by different species of Careproctus than the neighboring abyssal plains, Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and the Kuril Basin of the Sea of Okhotsk. Careproctus laperousei sp. nov. is the most deep-water Careproctus in the North Pacific.

Roa haraguchiae, a new species of butterflyfish (Teleostei: Perciformes: Chaetodontidae) from Japan and the Philippines

A new butterflyfish, Roa haraguchiae, is described on the basis of eight specimens (63.2–92.8 mm standard length: SL) collected from Japan and the Philippines. The new species is most similar to Roa rumsfeldi Rocha, Pinheiro, Wandell, Rocha and Shepherd 2017, known only from the holotype from the Philippines. Both species are distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters: long snout (12.6–14.1% of SL), lesser head depth (46.2–54.9%), short postorbital area (12.1–14.1%) and pectoral fin (27.9–32.4%), and second and third bands on the body without blackish edges. The new species is however easily distinguished from R. rumsfeldi (based on the original description and an additional Philippine specimen) in having 5–8 non-pored lateral-line scales (vs. 13 scales in the latter), 11 or 12 scale rows above the lateral line (vs. 8), 22–28 scale rows below the lateral line (vs. 19), 10–12 scale rows under the longer axis of a black blotch on the dorsal-fin soft-rayed portion (vs. 8), the anterior margin of the second body band not reaching anteroventrally to the pelvic-fin spine base, and the pelvic-fin spine and first soft ray white (vs. black).

A Miocene pearleye, Benthalbella praecessor, sp. nov. (Teleostei, Aulopiformes), from Sakhalin Island, Russia: the first known skeletal record for the family Scopelarchidae

ABSTRACTFishes of the family Scopelarchidae, commonly known as pearleyes, are basal alepisauroids that occur worldwide at depths between 300 and 1,000 m. A new pearleye species, Benthalbella praecessor, sp. nov., is described from the middle Miocene (late Langhian–early Serravallian; 14.6–13.1 Ma) deposits of the Kurasi Formation, Sakhalin Island, Russia, based on 24 well-preserved specimens. These specimens consist primarily of articulated skeletons and represent the first fossil skeletal remains for the family Scopelarchidae. Benthalbella praecessor appears to be closely related to the extant B. dentata and is characterized by a unique combination of morphological and meristic features, including 54–56 vertebrae, dorsal fin with 8–9 rays, anal fin with about 19–22 rays, very short pectoral fin containing 26–28 rays, elongate pelvic fin, enlarged second infraorbital, subopercle larger than the opercle, and urohyal with a posterodorsally directed hook-like process along its anterodorsal margin. Paleoecological considerations suggest that Benthalbella praecessor was a deep-sea fish that inhabited the cold-temperate waters of the northwestern Pacific about 14 Ma.

A new species of Neenchelys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae: Myrophinae) from the eastern Indian Ocean.

A new worm eel, Neenchelys andamanensis, is described based on a single specimen collected from a depth of 520-531 m, Andaman Sea, eastern Indian Ocean. The new species is similar to N. daedalus, N. nudiceps, and N. similis in its total vertebral count and slender body, however, it differs from the latter three in having a shorter tail (60% TL vs. 70-76%), more numerous preanal vertebrae (77 vs. 59-71), and shorter pectoral fins (2.4% HL vs. 21-27%). Although the new species resembles N. mccoskeri in some proportional characters, the former species is distinguishable from the latter by its higher total vertebral count (221 vs. 172-184), position of the dorsal-fin origin (horizontal distance from the origin to a vertical through mid-anus 65% of trunk length vs. 46-59%) and width of the interorbital region (4.5% of head length vs. 8.2-16%). A revised key to the species of Neenchelys is provided.

A new goatfish of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae) from Lombok, Indonesia and first verified record of U. asymmetricus for the Indian Ocean.

Upeneus lombok n. sp. is described from two specimens collected off Lombok, Indonesia, at depths of 54-76 m, and one subadult specimen from the local fish market at Tanjung Luar, Lombok. Four specimens of U. asymmetricus were collected at the same fish market representing the first record of the species since its description from two Philippine Islands in 1954. These two species are compared in detail and with five congeneric species that all share a 7-spined dorsal fin and a high gill-raker count. Upeneus lombok n. sp. differs from all other congeners in having a short snout (snout length 9.0-9.6% SL) combined with a low anal fin (anal-fin height 12-13% SL in adults, 15% in single subadult). The newly recorded U. asymmetricus specimens differ from their types only slightly and all eight specimens together differ from all congeneric species in the combination of 7 dorsal spines, 12-14 pectoral fin rays, 26-28 total gill rakers, short pectoral fins (pectoral-fin length 18-21% SL) and short jaws (upper jaw length 8.7-11% SL). In both species the caudal-fin colour patterns of fresh fish are of diagnostic significance, the only exception being a close similarity between Upeneus lombok n.sp., U. saiab, and U. seychellensis. Additional comparisons with 14 Upeneus species which overlap in distribution or occur in nearby areas are also made. Needs for further taxonomic exploration of the Indonesian-Philippine region and for enhanced attention to the economic and ecological importance of Upeneus species are discussed.

Two new species of the tooth-carp Aphanius (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) and the evolutionary history of the Iranian inland and inland-related Aphanius species.

Two new species of Aphanius are described from the Kol drainage in southern Iran (Aphanius darabensis n. sp.) and the endorheic Kavir Basin in northern Iran (A. kavirensis n. sp.), and compared with eight closely related species. Aphanius darabensis n. sp. is sister to A. shirini, from which it is distinguished by molecular characters (cytochrome b) and the combination of three morphological characters: 9-18 flank bars in males (vs. 7-10), females with irregular vertical patches of brown color on the flank (vs. prominent dark brown blotches of round or irregular shape), and symmetrically-shaped triangular to trapezoid otoliths with a rostrum distinctly longer than the antirostrum (vs. quadrangular to trapezoid otoliths with short and equally sized rostrum and antirostrum). Aphanius kavirensis n. sp. is closely related to a group containing A. sophiae, A. mesopotamicus and A. pluristriatus, from which it is distinguished by cytochrome b characters and the combination of three morphological characters: females with irregularly arranged large blotches of dark brown color on the flank, short pectoral fin in both sexes (13.4-18.1% SL in males, 11.2-18.3% SL in females), and asymmetrically shaped triangular to trapezoid otoliths with a pronounced predorsal region. Our tree based on the cytochrome b data demonstrates that the Iranian inland and inland-related Aphanius species (IIRAS) form a monophyletic clade with three subclades (A. vladykovi -, A. shirini -, A. sophiae subclades). The A. sophiae subclade, which is the most diverse of the three subclades, can be further divided into three lineages (A. isfahanensis -, A. farsicus -, A. sophiae lineages). The temporal diversification of the IIRAS clade is discussed and two evolutionary groups of Aphanius are depicted. Aphanius vladykovi, together with A. shirini, A. darabensis n. sp. and A. isfahanensis characterize the "old" evolutionary group. Their divergences may have happened 10-5 m.y. ago (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene). Aphanius farsicus, A. arakensis, A. sophiae, A. mesopotamicus, and A. pluristriatus, together with Aphanius kavirensis n. sp., represent the "young" evolutionary group, which developed in the Late Pleistocene (100,000-11,700 y. ago) and Early to Middle Holocene (c. 11,700-4,000 y. ago).

A New Species ofBujurquina(Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Río Danta, Ecuador, with a Key to the Species in the Genus

Bujurquina pardus is described from 12 specimens collected in 1989 from the Río Danta in the upper reaches of the Río Tigre drainage in the Pastaza province of Ecuador. It is distinguished from all other Bujurquina by a pattern of small dark spots arranged in rows along its flanks. Bujurquina pardus can be further distinguished from all other Bujurquina by the combination of whitish hyaline dorsal-fin lappet margins, rather than black lappets margins, and a lateral band which reaches the dorsal edge of the caudal peduncle, rather than only reaching the soft dorsal-fin base. It can be further distinguished from many of its congeners by the presence of spotting on the spinous dorsal fin and in having short pectoral fins (<32% of SL). A key to all the currently described species of Bujurquina is provided.Bujurquina pardus se describe de 12 individuos colectados en 1989 en el Río Danta en la cuenca superior del Río Tigre, Provincia de Pastaza, Ecuador. Se distingue de todas las otras especies de Bujurquina por el patrón único de pequeños puntos oscuros dispuestos en filas a lo largo de los flancos. Bujurquina pardus se distingue además de todas las otras especies de Bujurquina por la presencia de extensiones blancas, en lugar de negras, en la aleta dorsal y una banda lateral que se extiende hasta el borde dorsal del pedúnculo caudal, en lugar de alcanzar solamente la base de la aleta dorsal blanda. La especie puede distinguirse de muchos de sus congéneres por la presencia de puntos oscuros en la porción espinosa de la aleta dorsal y por tener aletas pectorales cortas (<32% de la longitude estándar). Se provee una clave para todas las especies descritas de Bujurquina.

Newly Recognized Diagnostic Characters of the Poorly Known Lionfish Pterois brevipectoralis (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae), with Notes on Fresh Coloration

Pterois brevipectoralis (Mandrytsa, 2002), previously known only from the holotype and two paratypes collected from the Saya de Malha Bank (western Indian Ocean), in depths of 57-90m, is redescribed on the basis of 10 additional specimens collected from the type locality and the Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mascarene Islands. The species is characterized by the presence of usually XIII, 10 dorsal-fin rays, usually 16 pectoral-fin rays, a relatively low number (6-10) of dark blotches on the pectoral-fin membrane, a relatively short pectoral fin [longest ray 44.5-66.4 (mean 53.4)% SL; not extending beyond the level of the posterior end of the dorsal-fin base in specimens over 91.3mm SL], ctenoid scales covering the head and dorsolateral body, and the posterior portion of the pectoral-fin rays (not associated with fin membrane) with several bands. In addition, extremely large (greater than orbit diameter), fan-like skin flaps on the tip of the posterior lacrimal spine and the posterior margin of the preopercle in large adults are recognized herein as diagnostic characters for the species. The first report of fresh coloration, based on a specimen from the Saya de Malha Bank, is included, and ontogenetic changes in various features are described in detail.

A new worm eel Neenchelys mccoskeri (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Taiwan and Japan

The myrophine ophichthid eel Neenchelys mccoskeri sp. nov. is described from the holotype and 47 paratypes, 266–522 mm in total length (TL), collected from Taiwan and Japan. The species is characterized by having a small head (6.4–7.7 % TL), a slender body (body depth at gill opening 1.5–3.2 % TL), its dorsal-fin origin located at mid trunk, and a mean vertebral formula of 36.9-65.0-178.7. Neenchelys mccoskeri is similar to Neenchelys daedalus McCosker 1982, but is clearly distinguished from the latter by its shorter tail length (57–63 % TL vs. 73–74 %), the location of its dorsal-fin origin (distance from dorsal-fin origin to a vertical through the anus 46–59 % of trunk length vs. 60–68 %; predorsal length 21–26 % TL vs. 15 %), shorter pectoral fins (1.5–4.3 % of head length vs. 22–23 %), and fewer total vertebrae (172–184 vs. 225–235).

Record of the Armored Searobin Peristedion barbiger (Garman, 1899) (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Peristediidae) off Peru with Taxonomic Notes

A large series of Peristedion barbiger (Garman, 1899) was collected in the eastern Pacific off Peru during a joint survey conducted by the Japan Deep Sea Trawlers Association and the Instituto del Mar del Peru in 1998-2003. No detailed description of P. barbiger has been published since the original description, and the availability of 285 new specimens provided an opportunity to determine the extent morphological variability within this species. Our study revealed that the presence or absence of nasal spines and the shape of the preopercular margin, both having been used previously as taxonomic characters, vary intraspecifically. The species is diagnosed as having 16-19 dorsal-fin soft rays; 31-34 bony plates in the upper lateral row; 14-19 lower gill rakers; 17-25 chin barbels in total; short pectoral fin, 13.3-17.8% of SL; a relatively short pair of filamentous barbel on the lip, 26.4-57.1% of HL; a broad, spatulate rostral projection of a length 19.7-39.5% of HL; and a large black spot on the spinous portion of the dorsal fin. In addition, we herein designate a lectotype for P. barbiger.

Effects of morphology on swimming performance in wild and laboratory crosses of brook trout ecotypes

Summary1. Trophic polymorphism is common in fish and is manifested by individual differences in habitat use, food preference, and morphology. The significance of morphological variations among ecotypes is thought to reflect individual specializations in habitat use, however, their functional relationship has rarely been examined.2. The objectives of this study were to determine if littoral and pelagic ecotypes of brook trout differ in their swimming performances, and if so to investigate the functional significance of morphological variations on their swimming performances.3. One‐year‐old laboratory‐raised littoral and pelagic individuals (and hybrids), as well as wild individuals were forced to swim in respirometers at 10, 15, and 20 °C, and 16 morphological characters were measured on each fish.4. The critical swimming test (Ucrit) revealed that pelagic trout reared in the wild are better swimmers than littoral ones. In addition, both laboratory‐raised littoral and pelagic individuals had higherUcritperformances than their hybrids. HighUcrit.was associated with short pectoral, anal, caudal and dorsal fins (wild fish) as well as with high body width (both wild and laboratory‐raised) and body height (laboratory‐raised). Wild littoral individuals had a steeper power curve (i.e. higher energy expenditure due to swimming) than pelagic ones; however, this was compensated by a lower standard metabolic rate for the former, resulting in comparable minimum transport cost for ecotypes. The swimming performances of laboratory‐raised ecotypes were more homogenous than those of wild fish, suggesting an important environmental effect on the performances themselves. Water temperature seemly had little influence on the difference between swimming performances of ecotypes.5. The results of the present study only partially support our hypothesis that critical swimming speed of pelagic individuals will be higher than that of littoral individuals due to their shorter pectoral and dorsal fins and streamlined body shape; highUcritwas associated with short fins but not with streamlined body shape. Because brook trout is not considered a fast swimmer, it is possible that a higher muscular mass provides higher benefits related to thrust for swimming in the pelagic zone than costs due to drag, usually associated with a high aspect ratio.6. Our results also support the cost reduction strategy hypothesis (that higher energy expenditure due to swimming is compensated by a lower standard metabolic rate). This implies that the lower performance, due to the higher energy expenditure, of a given ecotype can be compensated by a low standard metabolic rate, a phenomenon that could apply to all species exhibiting morphological plasticity.7. While previous studies developed conceptual models and predictions relating morphological differences to swimming performance in fishes, this study is one of the first to test such a model. Collectively, our results show that morphological differentiation, associated with trophic polymorphism, have important functional consequences on the swimming energetics of ecotypes.

A shallow water population of Pronotogrammus martinicensis (Guichenot, 1868) (Teleostei: Serranidae: Anthiinae) from South-western Atlantic, Brazil

A population of Pronotogrammus martinicensis (Guichenot, 1868) is described and recognized as a unique shallowwater variation of the species from the Brazilian South-Eastern coast, based on genetic, morphologic and ecological data. It is distinguished from the deep water population by its smaller eye, longer snout, shorter pectoral-fin, color of the adults, and habitat depth.