Suborbital Spine Research Articles

Description of three new species of the genus Cobitis L., 1758 (Actinopterygii, Cobitidae) in the Iberian Peninsula

Three new species, Cobitis almadae sp. nov., Cobitis atlantica sp. nov., and Cobitis mellaria sp. nov. are described on the basis of morphological and genetic traits. Cobitis almadae sp. nov. is restricted to the Sizandro Drainage in Portugal and can be distinguished from other Cobitis species through a combination of morphometric and genetic traits including large and low peduncle depth, lateral ethmoid (suborbital spine) well developed with long narrow mediocaudal, laterocaudal and mediorostral processes, an elongated and narrow frontoparietal fontanel and a wide third Gambetta’s zone sprinkled with numerous black spots. Furthermore, two autapomorphies are found within its mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Cobitis atlantica sp. nov. inhabits the northern Atlantic rivers of the Iberian Peninsula from the Minho Drainage to the Alcoa Drainage and can be differentiated from other Cobitis species through a set of morphometric and genetic traits including short and high peduncle depth,a well-developed lateral ethmoid (suborbital spine) with short and wide mediocaudal, laterocaudal and mediorostral processes, wide frontoparietal fontanel, and developed ventral pigmentation in adult individuals. In females, the Gambetta’s fourth row has 10-16 blotches reaching the ventral pigmentation in the caudal region and the third Gambetta’s zone is narrow with black spots. Cobitis mellaria sp. nov inhabits the Valle Drainage in southern Spain and is distinguished from other Cobitis species through the following morphometric and genetic traits: low peduncle depth, lamina circularis with convex outer edge, lateral ethmoid (suborbital spine) with short laterocaudal process and large mediorostral process, elongated frontoparietal fontanel, no ventral pigmentation in adults. In females, Gambetta’s fourth row has 10-15 blotches. One autapomorphy is found within the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of Cobitis mellaria sp. nov.

New Data on the Distribution of the Bulgarian Spined Loach <i>Cobitis strumicae</i> (Teleostei: Cobitidae) in Turkey

This study reports the presence of Cobitis strumicae Karaman, 1955 in Terme Stream (Samsun-Black Sea-Turkey). Molecular and morphometric approaches were used together to prove the existence of the species in Terme Stream. The family Cobitidae represents a unique element of ichthyofauna. Even while sexual dimorphism can take many different forms, taxonomy studies have only used a small number of morphological features, leaving many concerns unanswered. In addition to the assessments of phenotypic traits (Gambetta’s longitudinal zones, Canestrini’s scales, suborbital spine morphology, barbel and mental lobe morphology), mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cyt b) (1140 bp) sequence variation was studied in molecular analysis. We present the phylogenetic relationships of morphologically diagnosable subgenus Bicanestrinia from Asia Minor and Balkans in here. Samples from Terme (Accession Numbers: ON116344 and ON116345) and GENBANK were combined in the phylogenetic analysis. Our findings offered a significant distribution update of C. strumicae from Terme Stream, a southern coastal Black Sea drainage, and support the vicariance theory, according to the results of this study.

A northward range extension of Thysanophrys papillaris (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) to Taiwan

The smallknob flathead, Thysanophrys papillaris Imamura et Knapp, 1999, is redescribed based on six specimens collected from southern Taiwan, which constitutes a northward range extension of the species [previously recorded from the Andaman, Timor, and Arafura seas (eastern Indian Ocean), and Nha Trang, Vietnam (western Pacific Ocean)]. Thysanophrys papillaris is distinguished from all congeneric species in having a combination of 11 second dorsal-fin rays, 12 anal-fin rays, 58–75 scale rows below the lateral line (slanting downward and forward), a longer snout (snout length / orbital diameter ratio 1.1–1.3), 1 or 2 small papillae on the eye, the upper iris lappet with short branches, a single preorbital spine and 3–5 suborbital spines. Previously suggested intraspecific variation in the number of eye papillae is confirmed.

Cobitis indus, a new spined loach from the Dalaman River in the Eastern Aegean Sea basin (Teleostei: Cobitidae).

Cobitis indus, new species, from the Dalaman River drainage, is distinguished from other Cobitis species in the eastern Aegean Sea basin by having two laminae circularis, a bifurcate suborbital spine, a narrow caudal peduncle, pigmentation zone 4 with 1724 small blotches often fused into a stripe, pigmentation below Z4 usually absent, and one black, comma-shaped spot at the upper caudal-fin base. It is further distinguished from its closest relative, C. dorademiri, by having 13 diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA COI barcode region and a K2P nearestneighbour distance of 2.32.7%. This is the fourth Cobitis species found in the Dalaman River drainage making this river the most species-rich in spined loaches in the Middle East.

Sinibotia lani, a new species of botiid loach (Teleostei: Botiidae) from Guangxi, China.

Sinibotia lani, a new botiid loach is described from the Zuojiang River, located in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. The species differs from other members of Sinibotia by a combination of the following morphological characters: body depth 17.5-21.1% SL; snout length shorter than postorbital length of head; eye diameter 10.2-13.2% HL; interorbital width 16.0-18.6% HL; suborbital spine reaching or extending beyond postorbital margin of eye; lower lip with pair of fleshy button-like clusters of papillae; dorsal-fin origin opposite to pelvic-fin origin, pelvic fin not reaching anus; includes six dark vertical bars on the body. A key to the species of Sinibotia is provided.

Comparative Taxonomically Important Osteological Characters of Loach Fishes from Iran (Cypriniformes: Cobitoidea)

Some osteological characters are studied in 40 species of seven genera and two families (Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae) of the loach fishes from Iran. The characters include: dorsal- and anal-fin formula, precaudal and caudal vertebrae, caudal skeleton, caudal-fin formula and suborbital spine. All these features, especially caudal skeleton, appear to be useful as a taxonomic tool in study of the loaches. Formulae for all characters were developed, relationships among the families, genera and species are discussed and monophyly of members of Cobitidae and Nemacheilidae is proposed.

Review and re-description of Sabanejewia species in Iran (Teleostei: Cobitidae)

The Iranian species of the genus Sabanejewia are reviewed based on morphological, osteological and molecular characters of the mtDNA COI barcode region. Two species, Sabanejewia aurata and Sabanejewia caspia are recognized and diagnoses are presented for both species. They are distinguishable through body pattern, length of caudal peduncle, snout and post orbital distance, shape of scale and suborbital spine, caudal complex skeleton and also the number of fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions. Here we re-describe both Iranian spined loaches.

Review of the genus Cobitis in the Middle East, with the description of eight new species (Teleostei: Cobitidae).

The diversity of Cobitis in the Middle East is reviewed, resulting in the recognition of 30 species, of which eight are described herein as new. Two species, C. amphilekta and C. kellei, seem to be extinct. Hypotheses on species-level diversity derived from distance and Poisson tree process analyses of DNA barcode data are tested against morphometric and morphological characters including colour patterns. For species pairs separated by small K2P distances in COI sequence data we follow a practitioner-oriented diagnostic species concept, in which we recognise species only if differentiated morphologically (including by colour pattern). For all 30 species we provide diagnoses and identification keys. Cobitis afifeae, new species, from the Büyük Menderes River drainage in the Aegean Sea basin, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, a row of blotches below Z4, a small, roundish or comma-shaped black spot at the upper caudal-fin base, and elevated mental lobes. Cobitis aliyeae, new species, from the lower Seyhan and Ceyhan River drainages, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, the blotches in Z2 and Z4 anterior to the dorsal-fin origin usually well separated from each other, and the pigmentation in Z1 well distinguished from the pigmentation in Z2. Cobitis anabelae, new species, from the lower Orontes River drainage, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, the pigmentation in Z2 formed by small, brown spots, always much smaller than blotches in Z3, much smaller than the pupil diameter, Z2 and Z3 well separated, and no pigmentation below Z4. Cobitis erkakanae, new species, from the Gölbasi Lakes, adjacent to the Ceyhan River drainage, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, no blotches below Z4, the blotches in Z2 and Z4 being horizontally elongated and often fused with adjacent ones, and the caudal fin with 4-6 wide, regularly-shaped, brown bands. Cobitis emrei, new species, from the Lake Sapanca basin is distinguished by having one lamina circularis in the male, a large black spot at the upper caudal-fin base, and Z3 fully covered by very small spots forming a sand-like pattern. Cobitis joergbohleni, new species, from the Sultan marshes in Central Anatolia is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, and the flank colour pattern being completely disorganised, not following the Gambetta zones. Cobitis pirii, new species, from the endorheic Lake Eğirdir basin and the Mediterranean Aksu and Köprü Rivers, is distinguished by having two laminae circularis in the male, a simple external part of the suborbital spine and two distinct rows of small blotches in Z4, one along the lateral midline and one distinctly below. Cobitis troasensis, new species, from the Tuzla River drainage, is distinguished by having one lamina circularis in the male and 25-36 small, comma-shaped brown blotches in Z4. A lectotype is designated for Cobitis battalgilae. As First Revisers, priority is given to Cobitis fahireae over C. kurui. Cobitis damlae and C. kurui are treated as synonyms of C. fahireae. Cobitis strumicae and C. taenia are recorded for the first time from Anatolia and C. saniae is newly documented from the Black Sea basin in Georgia. The Poisson tree process analysis of COI data proposed 31 groups, most of which could be distinguished by morphological characters. Cobitis troasensis is described based on morphological data alone.

Body pigmentation and meristic characteristics of Balkan golden loach (Sabanejewia balcanica) from the water catchment area of the river Sava

Abstract The taxonomic research of eight populations of Sabanejewia balcanica from the water catchment area of the river Sava included the analysis of the meristic characteristics and pigmentation of their bodies. The analyzed sample contained 98 specimens collected in the areas of the rivers Turija, Gostelja, Brka, Suturlija, Suha, Tinja and Trebačka. The aim of this paper was to specify the meristic and pigment characteristics of this species at the location of the water catchment area of the river Sava, which are frequently used in describing new taxa. The meristic traits investigation included the analysis of the number of rays in dorsal, ventral, pectoral, anal and caudal fins. In the analysis of body pigmentation, the number and arrangement of suborbital spines, blotches or spots were determined. The results of this research indicated that there were no intrapopulation differences in Sabanejewia balcanica from the water catchment area of the river Sava in terms of meristic characteristic and body pigmentation.

Cobitis nalbanti, a new species of spined loach from South Korea, and redescription of Cobitis lutheri (Teleostei: Cobitidae).

Cobitis nalbanti, new species, is described from the South Korean Han and Geum Rivers, draining to the Yellow Sea. It differs from its congeners by having a wide, ovoid lamina circularis; rounded scales with a large, slightly-displaced focal zone; a relatively long, protruded snout; the suborbital spine not reaching the center of the eye; the mandibular barbel not reaching the anterior edge of the eye; usually 12-14 dark brown blotches in the fourth Gambetta's zone; a single elongated black spot on the upper part of the caudal-fin base; the only streak on the head running from the tip of the snout to the nape, across the eye; 2n=48-51 and NF=66. Cobitis nalbanti was previously identified as C. lutheri. Morphological analysis of C. lutheri shows that it is distinct in having a short obtuse snout, the suborbital spine reaching the center of the eye, the mandibular barbel reaching the anterior edge of the eye, usually less than 12 dark brown blotches in the fourth Gambetta's zone, two spots at the caudal-fin base, several dark streaks on the head, and 2n=50, NF=70. A lectotype is selected for C. lutheri. Cobitis lutheri has a wide distribution in the Amur River basin, several rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), and in the northern part of Sakhalin Island.

Review of the scorpionfish genus Pteroidichthys (Scorpaenidae), with descriptions of two new species.

A taxonomic review of the scorpaenid genus Pteroidichthys Bleeker, 1856 resulted in recognizing four valid species, including two new species; P. acutus n. sp., P. amboinensis Bleeker 1856, P. caussei n. sp., and P. noronhai (Fowler 1938). The genus Pteropelor Fowler, 1938 is regarded as a junior synonym of Pteroidichthys. Rhinopias godfreyi Whitley 1954, previously treated as a valid species, is herein regarded as a junior synonym of P. amboinensis. Pteroidichthys amboinensis and P. caussei have two spines and six soft rays in the anal fin and a supplemental preopercular spine, whereas P. acutus and P. noronhai have three spines and five rays, and lack the spine. Pteroidichthys amboinensis differs from P. caussei in having flexible dorsal-fin spines (vs. rigid in the latter) and tentacles on the supraocular and posterior lacrimal spines well developed, their lengths greater than the orbit diameter (vs. less than orbit diameter). Pteroidichthys noronhai differs from P. acutus in having a relatively short snout, its length shorter than (vs. longer than in the latter) the postorbital length, and a distance between tips of the lateral lacrimal and first suborbital spines shorter than or subequal to (vs. longer than) that between tips of the first and second suborbital spines. Pteroidichthys acutus is known from the western Pacific in depths of 73-400 m, P. amboinensis from the Indo-West Pacific in 7-43 m, P. caussei from the South Pacific in 68-122 m, and P. noronhai from the western Pacific and Western Australia in 52-215 m.

Platycephalus clavulatus Cantor, 1849 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae), a Junior Synonym of Cociella punctata (Cuvier, 1829)

The validity of the platycephalid species Platycephalus clavulatus Cantor, 1849 , described from a single specimen collected in the sea of Pinang (=Penang), Malaysia, is evaluated. Although it has been suggested that the holotype of the species is a specimen registered as BMNH 1860.3.19.270 in the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH), which is identifiable as Cociella punctata (Cuvier, 1829), the total length (TL) of the holotype reported by Cantor is 5 7/8 inches (=149 mm), significantly longer than the damaged BMNH specimen, which is estimated to have had a TL of 121 mm. According to the original description of P. clavulatus, the holotype has 11 second dorsal and anal fin rays, one preorbital spine, and two suborbital spines, values which agree with those of C. punctata, a species widely distributed in the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, including Penang. Although these characters are also present in Cociella crocodila (Cuvier, 1829), that species is known only from Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. We conclude that P. clavulatus is conspecific with C. punctata and is a junior synonym of that species.

Descriptions of four new species of Thysanophrys (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) from the Western Indian Ocean

Four new species of Thysanophrys are described from the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). T. rarita, known from a single specimen taken off Somalia, is provisionally placed in Thysanophrys and is distinguished by its color pattern and number of preocular and suborbital spines. T. tricaudata is described from three specimens taken at SCUBA stations off southwestern Sri Lanka. They differ from other western Indian Ocean (WIO) Thysanophrys in color pattern, lack of ocular flaps, number of dorsal fin spines and scale counts. The remaining two new species are somewhat similar to the widespread Indo-Pacific species, T. chiltonae Schultz (1966). T. randalli is described from specimens taken at the Amirante Islands and Mauritius. It may also be widespread in the Indo-Pacific, but differs from T. chiltonae in nasal spine structure, color pattern, type of iris lappet margin, and in having a much shorter maximum size. T. springeri also appears to be a smaller species than T. chiltonae and, aside from one record off Djibouti, is restricted to Red Sea. It also differs from T. chiltonae in color pattern, in having fewer pectoral rays and fewer scale rows between the second dorsal-fin insertion and the lateral line. Although T. chiltonae is relatively common in the northern Indian Ocean, it does not appear to have entered the Red Sea.

Enobarbus is a synonym of Lepidocephalichthys (Osteichthyes, Cobitidae)

External and internal morphological characters of the holotype of Enobarbus maculatus were examined and compared with those of other cobitid species to verify whether Enobarbus is a distinct genus. Analyses of radiographs demonstrated that the neural spines and the pterygiophores of the dorsal fin are of irregular shape, often doubled, reduced or bent. The holotype of E. maculatus bears an ossified structure on the last pectoral-fin ray, a structure otherwise known only from males of the genus Lepidocephalichthys. In Lepidocephalichthys, the shape of the ossified structure is species-specific, and the structure of Enobarbus is very similar to that of Lepidocephalichthys thermalis, the only other known species of the family Cobitidae occurring at the type locality of Enobarbus. Furthermore, the cranial and the axial skeleton of E. maculatus is similar to that of L. thermalis, except for the pterygiophores and the neural spines, that are strongly malformed in Enobarbus. In general, the results presented here show that the genus Enobarbus shares the most important characters (thickening of last two pectoral-fin rays in males, structure of swimbladder capsule, shape of neurocranium and suborbital spine) with Lepidocephalichthys and that its long dorsal fin is correlated with strong malformations of the vertebral column and the fin ray insertions. Consequently, the only known specimen of Enobarbus is most likely a teratological male of L. thermalis, and Enobarbus is a junior synonym of Lepidocephalichthys.

Redescription of †Cobitis longipectoralis Zhou, 1992 (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) from late early Miocene of East China

Here we revise a fossil cobitid species †Cobitis longipectoralis Zhou, 1992, based mainly on a well-preserved specimen collected recently from the taxon’s type locality of the late early Miocene of Shanwang, Shandong Province, East China. The new specimen, along with those collected by Zhou, enables us to provide an emended diagnosis and more detailed description of the species by focusing on the characters such as the structures of the suborbital spine and the presence and shape of the lamina circularis at the base of the second pectoral fin ray in adult males, the presence of a frontoparietal fontanelle, and a quadrate-metapterygoid fenestra, etc. The long pectoral fin, initially considered by Zhou as the most important character of the species, however, turns out to be not diagnostic for the species. †Cobitis longipectoralis Zhou, 1992 is not only the most informative and best-preserved early cobitid fossil known thus far but also the only and earliest cobitid fossil from East Asia.

Morphological comparisons of the Indo-West Pacific scorpionfish, Parascorpaena aurita, with a closely related species, P. picta, with first records of P. aurita from East Asia (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae)

The poorly known scorpionfish Parascorpaena aurita is redescribed on the basis of 96 specimens from the Indo-Pacific and compared in detail with a closely related species, P. picta. The two species can be distinguished from other congeners by lacking a suborbital spine below the eye and having usually 17 or 18 pectoral-fin rays. Examination of a large number of specimens of each species revealed that P. aurita differs from P. picta in a number of scale counts and morphometrics, and morphology of the suborbital and interorbital ridges, and occiput. Previously published photographs and/or specimen lists identified as P. picta included both species. Parascorpaena aurita is widely distributed in the IndoPacific, including East Asia (first records), whereas P. picta is restricted to Southeast Asia and Australia.

Sebastapistes taeniophrys (Fowler 1943): a valid scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) from the Philippines

The poorly known scorpionfish, Scorpaena taeniophrys, originally described from two specimens from the Philippines, is redescribed as a valid species of Sebastapistes. Sebastapistes taeniophrys differs from all other congeners in having a combination of 15 pectoral-fin rays, 31–33 scale rows in longitudinal series, 11–14 pored lateral-line scales, 3 predorsal scale rows, 12 gill rakers, 3 suborbital spines, absence of coronal spines, lower opercular spine with a median ridge and not covered with scales, ctenoid body scales, several dark transverse bands on ventral surface of mandible, a distinct elongate black blotch distally between the second or third and seventh dorsal-fin spines, and no black blotch on the nape.

Morphological Relationships Between Polyploid Hybrid Spined Loaches of the GenusCobitis(Teleostei: Cobitidae) and their Parental Species

A special feature of spined loaches of the genus Cobitis in Central Europe is the frequent occurrence of diploid-polyploid complexes in which polyploid gynogenetic forms act as sperm parasites to the diploid form. This tight binding of the co-occurring forms results in a high level of phenotypic and ecological similarities. The present study searches for morphological differences between them applying the characters traditionally used in loach taxonomy (body proportions, fin formula, scale shape, lamina circularis, suborbital spine, coloration) in 662 specimens from the Baltic (14 populations) and North Sea (1 population) catchment areas. Ploidy level of each specimen was inferred from blood cell measurements. Discriminant function analysis for biometrical characters and description of qualitative features indicate the morphological distinctness of the two diploid species C. taenia and C. elongatoides. The polyploid unisexual biotypes are very similar to each other and to individuals of sympatric sexual species. The genome dosage effect could be observed in morphological characters, however, in some of them the polyploid biotypes display a mosaic mode of variability: they can be more similar to sympatric parents or to the absent species in the complex, transitional and of a wider variability range. In colouration pattern, the biotypes do not express the whole spectrum of the parental species variability. Meristic traits had no power to identify the different forms.

Threatened fishes of the world: Cobitis linea (Heckel, 1849) (Cobitidae)

Common name: Sagmahi-ye khardar jonubi (Farsi),Southern spined loach (E). Conservation status:None. Identification: Distinguished by dark brownlateral spots being reduced or absent. Males with twoscales of Canestrini or lamina circularis at the base ofthe first and second pectoral fin rays. Laterocaudalprocess of the suborbital spine reduced or absent.Maximum length 89.6 mm SL. Lateral line notpassing the end of the pectoral fin, scales embeddedin the skin with a reduced and eccentric focus (Biancoand Nalbant 1980; Coad 2006, 2007). Distribution:The type locality of Acanthopsis linea is “Bache umPersepolis” (Heckel 1846–1849) in the Kor Riverbasin, Fars Province. Also recorded from the upperKul River basin, but an extensive survey found nospecimens there as many water bodies had driedout. Now known only in Ghadamgah and Sarab-eBeyza spring–stream systems of the Kor River basin,at 30°15′23.0″N, 52°25′36.42″E and 29°57′41.8″N,52°21′11.1″E respectively. Individual abundance islow. Habitat and ecology: Prefers muddy bottoms, anuncommon habitat in this part of Iran where seasonalrain scours rivers. Reproduction: Spawns June–July.Threats: Water diversions severely reduce water level,especially pumping water from the aquifer whichfeeds the systems; drainage rehabilitation; waterpollution from domestic and agricultural sources;drought in recent years; an intensive aquacultureindustry which added a high nutrient load andseven exotic fish species (Cyprinus carpio, Hypo-phthalmichthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idella,Carassius auratus, Pseudorasbora parva, Oncorhyn-chus mykiss, Gambusia holbrooki). Conservationactions: No conservation actions have been takenalthough a report on the unsuitable conditions ofGhadamgah spring–stream system was submitted tothe Department of the Environment with recommen-dations for habitat protection. Conservation recom-mendations: May come under more threat fromcollecting for aquaria. Habitat monitoring and re-search on ecology should be carried out. Captivebreeding of the fish and education of local peopleshould be initiated.

<I>Leptobotia zebra</I>Should Be Revised as <I>Sinibotia zebra</I>(Cypriniformes: Botiidae)

Botia zebra was first described by Wu (1939) but changed to Leptobotia zebra by Chen (1980) based on the presence of the simple suborbital spine. In the present study, sequences of mtDNA cytochrome b gene were analyzed to investigate the systematic position of this species. The molecular data showed that the average genetic distance between samples of Leptobotia zebra and other Leptobotia species was 0.177, while only 0.057 between Leptobotia zebra and Sinibotia pulcher. Molecular phylogenetic analyses indicated that samples of Leptobotia zebra did not cluster with Leptobotia species, they grouped with Sinibotia pulcher forming a sister-group. Further morphological observations were performed on the holotype of Leptobotia zebra and other specimens including formalin-fixed museum specimens and newly collected alcohol-fixed ones. This species was found to bear similar diagnostic characteristics with Sinibotia, such as no scales on the cheek, a pair of button-like papillae on the chin region, and the diagnostic characteristics of Leptobotia as well, such as a simple suborbital spine. Based on both molecular and morphological data, this paper proposes that Leptobotia zebra is a species of the genus Sinibotia, and its valid name should be Sinibotia zebra. Morphological character evolution of genera in the family Botiidae was also discussed.