Suborbital Spine Research Articles

Cobitis pontica sp. nova—a new spined loach species (Cobitidae) from the Bulgarian waters

Spined loaches from the Veleka River (Black Sea coast of Bulgaria), earlier confirmed to represent a separate evolution lineage within a 50-chromosome morph occurring in the Black Sea basin, are described as a new species. This species has the karyotype (2n = 50, NF = 90) similar to one from earlier described C. taurica occurring in the Crimean Peninsula, but differs from it by larger and less numerous spots in the fourth Gambetta’s zone of pigmentation and more anterior position of suborbital spine.

Scorpaenodes quadrispinosus: A New Indo-Pacific Scorpionfish (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae)

Abstract A new scorpionfish species is described from Fiji and Enewetak in the Marshall Islands, where it was collected from high-energy habitats. It is most similar to Scorpaenodes parvipinnis, with which it coexists, but differs in having four suborbital spines instead of five or more, by lacking a spine on the lachrymal ridge, and in coloration. It differs from S. parvipinnis and all other species of Scorpaenodes by having the second spine on the suborbital ridge extending dorsally above the lower orbit margin.

Thysanophrys papillaris, a new species of flathead from the Andaman Sea and Northern Australia (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae)

A new platycephalid,Thysanophrys papillaris, is described on the basis of six specimens (78–121 mm SL) collected from the Andaman Sea and off northern Australia (Timor and Arafura Seas). This new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of a single short papilla on upper surface of eye, longer snout, smaller body scales. 11 second dorsal-fin rays and 12 anal-fin rays, presence of four or more suborbital spines usually, branched short iris lappet, ctenoid lateral-line scales and interopercle not extended posteroventrally.

Ursinoscorpaenopsis kitai, a new genus and species of Scorpaenidae from the East China Sea

A new genus and new species of Scorpaenidae,Ursinoscorpaenopsis kitai, is described based on single specimen, 239.7 mm standard length, collected by bull trawl at the bottom, 132 m deep, in the East China Sea. The specimen had a paranuchal spine, supplemental spine on the last suborbital spine and non-fleshy, polyfurcate pectoral fin rays (all unique to the genus), in addition to an orange-reddish body, toothless palatine, swimbladder, supraneural and five unfused hypurals.Ursinoscorpaenopsis seems to be one of the more primitive genera among the Scorpaenidae.

Cobitis elazigensis, a New Species of Cobitidid Fish from Anatolia, Turkey

A new cobitidid, Cobitis elazigensis, is described from Anatolian Turkey in the province of Elazig. The new species differs from all other members of the genus by having the following combination of characters: two Canestrini’s scales on the pectoral fin, a suborbital spine with a dorso-lateral branch (rarely simple and unbranched), large size, over 180 mm total length, total vertebrae 47–49, lateral spots reduced or absent, a spot at the upper caudal fin base, scales longer than wide with a small focus, dorsal fin rays III, 5–6, usually 6, ventral fin rays III, 6–7, usually 6, and pectoral fin rays I, 7–9.

Description of Laboratory-Reared Larvae of Paralithodes platypus (Decapoda, Anomura, Lithodidae)

Larvae of the blue king crab, Paralithodes platypus (Brandt), were hatched and reared in the laboratory. All larval stages obtained developed in a manner similar to the development reported for other lithodid anomurans. In culture, P. platypus had four zoeal stages and a single glaucothoeal stage. The feature which distinguishes all zoeal stages of this species from zoeae of the other two North Pacific species of Paralithodes — P. camtschatica and P. brevipes — is the presence of 9 + 9 telson processes (including a hair-like second process) rather than 8 + 8 telson processes. Glaucothoes of P. platypus have one more pair of spines in the branchial region of the carapace than do those of P. camtschatica. Glaucothoes of P. platypus have 15 pairs of spines on the dorsal surface of the carapace, not including the spines of the frontal area (rostral complex) or the suborbital spines, whereas glaucothoes of P. camtschatica have 14 pairs of spines, and those of P. brevipes have 13 pairs.