Tooth Patch Research Articles

First record of wavy jaw slopefish, Cymatognathus aureolateralis (Acropomatiformes: Symphysanodontidae), in Davao Gulf, Philippines

Two individuals of wavy jaw slopefish, Cymatognathus aureolateralis, were collected from a fish landing area in the coastal municipality of Governor Generoso in Davao Gulf, Philippines. This extends the species’ known geographic distribution northward, approximately 579 kilometers from Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, where it was first described. The specimens collected from Davao Gulf have similar overall appearance, including the elevated tooth patch that is distinct for this genus. Morphological and meristic characters were also comparable with the measurements and counts provided for the specimen from Indonesia. Although interconnectivity of C. aureolateralis between southern Mindanao and North Sulawesi is possible given the similar bathymetric contour along the stretch of the Sangihe arc, larval transport remains unclear due to the prevailing oceanographic currents. The new records of marine fishes reported recently in Davao Gulf emphasizes the importance of strengthened management measures through an ecosystem-based approach to sustain biodiversity amid various anthropogenic threats.

Armigatus felixi sp. nov. An Albian double armored herring (Clupeomorpha, Ellimmichthyiformes) from the Tlayúa lagerstätte, Mexico

Armigatus felixi sp. nov. is described and named here based on three almost complete specimens from the shallow marine Albian deposits of the Tlayúa Quarry, near Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla, Mexico. This second species of Armigatus from America shows the features of the superorder Clupeomorpha and order Ellimmichthyiformes, a series of abdominal scutes as well as the mesoparietal condition and a series of predorsal scutes lateroposteriorly expanded, respectively. Also, this species shows the most outstanding feature of Armigatus, its predorsal scute series is incomplete, which was previously considered as diagnostic and now is present at least other three of its nominal species. In the new species and A. carrenoae show the last predorsal scutes exhibit a subtriangular shape in which a middle spine is protruding backward. Additionally, the new species differs from other nominal specie of Armigatus because its pelvic fin opposes the last part of the predorsal region of the trunk, and its anal and dorsal fins distinctively have 21 and 14 rays respectively. A phylogenetic study suggests that Armigatus is a paraphyletic genus, and its seven nominal species are scattered into the family Armigatidae. In this hypothesis, the Mexican Albian species, A. felixi sp. nov. and A. carrenoae are sister species separated from the Cenomanian Lebanese species, A. alticorpus and A. brevissimus that also are sister species. These last four species noticeably share a peculiar set of characters, as the incomplete predorsal scutes series, a relative low number of predorsal scutes (8–9), and the presence of the osteoglossid tooth patch in the parasphenoid, which reveal that these might be more close related. In the other nominal species of Armigatus, A. dalmaticus, A. namourensis, and probably A. oligodentatus, the predorsal scutes series is complete as in the other ellimmichthyiforms, supporting the idea that these must be allocated in another genus; however, the morphology and relationships of Mexican and Lebanese species deserve an accurate study that goes beyond the present study; therefore, for the moment no nominal species of Armigatus is taxonomically reassigned.

Systematics of Neotropical electric knifefish Tembeassu (Gymnotiformes, Apteronotidae)

A new species of the poorly known and critically endangered ghost knifefish Tembeassu is described from the upper Paraná and Araguari rivers, Brazil, using external anatomy and X-ray microcomputed tomography (µCT scan). Tembeassu titanicus sp. nov. is distinguished from its sole congener, T. marauna, by a unique set of morphometric and meristic characters, in addition to the absence of a tooth patch at the anterior portion of the roof of the oral cavity and the external corner of the mouth slightly passing the vertical through the posterior margin of the posterior nare. To test the monophyly of Tembeassu and reassess its phylogenetic position, a total-evidence approach was performed through a Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum-parsimony analysis (MP). Our results indicate that Tembeassu is monophyletic and the sister taxon of a clade formed by Apteronotus s.s., Megadontognathus, and Parapteronotus (BI); or as part of a large polytomy at the base of Apteronotidae (MP). Species of Tembeassu co-occur in the Paraná River basin, and the absence of the patch of accessory teeth in T. titanicus sp. nov. may indicate that this species accesses a different food resource, and also putatively occupies a different habitat than T. marauna. Comments on the evolution of the mandibular lobe in Gymnotiformes, dentition pattern in Tembeassu, and apteronotid diversity in the Paraná River are provided. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:691CB9A5-5CDB-4BF9-8A6FEAE877563C12

Description of two new species of Bassozetus (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) and a redescription of Bassozetus robustus Smith and Radcliffe 1913

Two new deepwater assfish species, Bassozetus trachibranchus and Bassozetus squamosus, are described from the 29 western Atlantic and four western Indian and western South Pacific specimens, respectively. In addition, a redescription of Bassozetus robustus Smith and Radcliffe in Radcliffe 1913, with which both of the above two new species have been previously confused, is provided on the basis of 14 specimens and its distributional range is revised to the western Pacific Ocean. The three species are separable from the 13 known congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays (116–126), anal-fin rays (95–103), oblique scale rows (30–47), pelvic-fin length (14.3–21.7% SL), a single well-developed median bashibranchial tooth patch, and one or two deep indentations on the sagitta dorsal margin, plus long gill rakers (10–14 in B. robustus) and head, predorsal and prepelvic lengths (20.5–22.8% SL, 19.4–21.1% SL and 15.3–18.1% SL, respectively, in B. robustus). Additionally, B. trachibranchus, B. squamosus and B. robustus are distinguishable from each other as follows: oblique scale rows (39–45 in B. trachibranchus, 44–47 in B. squamosus, and 30–36 in B. robustus), eye diameter to head length ratio (greater in B. squamosus than in similarly sized specimens of the other species), pelvic fin length/distance between pelvic and anal fins ratio (smaller in B. robustus than in similarly sized specimens of the other species), and 2nd to 4th lower limb morphology (many small tooth patches arranged along the outer ridges in B. trachibranchus, absent or a few only in the other species).

A new deep-water species of snake eel, Xyrias anjaalai sp. nov. (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from the Western Indian Ocean.

A new species of snake eel Xyrias anjaalai sp. nov. (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) is described from morphological analysis of 12 specimens and molecular analysis of four specimens, caught off Kollam, Kerala, southwestern India, by deep-sea trawling. X. anjaalai is distinguished from its congeners by having a large eye diameter, a short snout, a different dentition pattern as in the 3rd row of maxillary teeth beginning at the level of the 4th vomerine tooth between the two existing rows in the inner series of maxillary teeth, an irregular tooth patch for approximately 1/10th of the lateral side of the dental arch in the distal portion and a vertebral count of predorsal vertebrae 18-21, preanal vertebrae 73-76 and total vertebrae 147-149. Phylogenetic relationships of X. anjaalai with other species in Ophichthidae were examined using partial nucleotide sequences of the COI gene (617 bp). The genetic analyses suggest that the new species is closest to X. revulsus followed by Apterichtus klazingai with Kimura 2 parameter (K2P) values of 0.6 and 2.8% respectively. In the phylogenetic reconstruction, sequences of X. anjaalai formed a distinct clade demonstrating their uniqueness as a separate species.

Not your father's homodonty-stress, tooth shape, and the functional homodont.

Teeth tell the tale of interactions between predator and prey. If a dental battery is made up of teeth that look similar, they are morphologically homodont, but if there is an unspecified amount of regional specialization in size or shape, they are morphologically heterodont. These are vague terms with no useful functional implication because morphological homodonty does not necessarily equal functional homodonty. Teeth that look the same may not function the same. Conical teeth are prevalent in fishes, superficially tasked with the simple job of puncture. There is a great deal of variation in the shape and placement of conical teeth. Anterior teeth may be larger than posterior ones, larger teeth may be surrounded by small ones, and patches of teeth may all have the same size and shape. Such variations suggest that conical dentitions might represent a single morphological solution for different functional problems. We are interested in the concept of homodonty and using the conical tooth as a model to differentiate between tooth shape and performance. We consider the stress that a tooth can exert on prey as stress is what causes damage. To create a statistical measure of functional homodonty, stress was calculated from measurements of surface area, position, and applied force. Functional homodonty is then defined as the degree to which teeth along the jaw all bear/exert similar stresses despite changes in shape. We find that morphologically heterodont teeth are often functionally homodont and that position is a better predictor of performance than shape. Furthermore, the arrangement of teeth affects their function, such that there is a functional advantage to having several smaller teeth surrounding a singular large tooth. We demonstrate that this arrangement of teeth is useful to grab, rather than tear, prey upon puncture, with the smaller teeth dissipating large stress forces around the larger tooth. We show that measurements of how shape affects stress distribution in response to loading give us a clearer picture of the evolution of conically shaped teeth.

Revision of the fish family Euclichthyidae (Pisces: Gadiformes) with the description of two new species from the Western Pacific.

Members of the benthopelagic fish family Euclichthyidae, also known as the Eucla cods, occur on the upper continental slopes off Australasia at 220-1040 m depths. Euclichthyids essentially differ from other gadiform fishes in a combination of two almost contiguous dorsal fins with the second much longer based, a deeply notched anal fin with its anterior portion greatly elevated, jugular pelvic fins consisting of 3 partly united filiform upper rays and 3 free filamentous lower rays, an asymmetrical caudal fin with 5 hypurals fused into two plates, and no chin barbel, or vomerine and palatine tooth patches. Additional characters attributed to the group by other published studies include: no horizontal diaphragm within the posterior chamber of the swim bladder, no swim bladder-auditory capsule connection, presence of a luminous organ, and cranial muscle adductor arcus palatini divided by a strong ligament running from the lateral ethmoid and palatine to the medial face of the hyomandibular. Widely considered to be monotypic since its erection in 1984, the group consists of a single genus and three allopatric species, Euclichthys polynemus McCulloch, 1926 (Western and southern Australia, New Zealand), and two new taxa, E. microdorsalis sp. nov. (northeastern Australia) and E. robertsi sp. nov. (eastern Australia and New Caledonia). Eucla cods are morphologically conservative with both new species superficially resembling the type species, E. polynemus. Euclichthys microdorsalis sp. nov. is the most anatomically and morphologically divergent member of the group in having a shorter first dorsal fin, longer snout, relatively small eye compared to its interorbital width, and fewer caudal-fin rays and primary rakers on the outer gill arch than its congeners. Euclichthys robersti sp. nov. differs from E. polynemus in being smaller with a more slender head, and having a smaller eye, longer anal-fin base and tail, smaller scales, fewer primary rakers on the outer gill arch, more elongate oval otoliths, and usually having a X and/or Y bone in the caudal skeleton (both absent in other Euclichthys). Little is known of their biology but available material suggest that early juveniles remain pelagic in the open ocean with adults benthopelagic near the sea floor. Diagnoses and a key are provided for the three species.

New Record of Dolphin fish species (Pompano Dolphin: Coryphaena equiselis- Linnaeus, 1758) Family Coryphaenidae in Sidi Kerir area, west off Alexandria, Egyptian Mediterranean Sea

Twenty five morphometric characters of coryphaena equiselis (family: coryphaenidae) were taken for the identification of this species. The body elongated and laterally compressed with a deeply forked caudal fin. The fins have no spines but contain the number of rays; dorsal-fin rays (57), pectoral fin rays (22), each ventral fin rays (5), anal fin rays (25) and vertebrae count (33). The body depth is less than 25% of its standard length (SL). This low value is attributed to the vent fullness. The head is blunt, the dorsal fin extends above the eye to the caudal fin forming about 86.9% of SL. Anal fin started slightly in front of the midpoint of the body (40.0% SL). Pectoral fins and ventral fin bases are situated on the same vertical line between them. Each pectoral fin length about 12.04% of its standard length (SL), that considered as one of the main distinguish characters of this species where each pectoral fin length about 1/2 head length. The tooth patch on the tongue is a rough spot of tooth-like structures present on the tongue, large and square in shape; dorsal and pectoral fins black while ventral, anal and caudal fins are white. The presence of black small dots scattered on head and the trunk of the body.

Anatomical, taxonomic, and phylogenetic reappraisal of a poorly known ghost knifefish, Tembeassu marauna (Ostariophysi: Gymnotiformes), using X-ray microcomputed tomography.

A detailed osteological study of the poorly known and critical endangered ghost knifefish, Tembeassu marauna, from the rio Paraná, Brazil, was conducted using X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT scan). A redescription of the external anatomy was performed, including the unusual presence of a rostral patch of extra teeth on the region of the upper lip anterior to the premaxilla and the prominent anterior fleshy expansions in both upper and lower lips. The newly surveyed characters were included and analyzed in light of a recent morphological data matrix for Gymnotiformes. In spite of some uncertainties that remains as to phylogenetic allocation of the genus, the most probable hypothesis is that Tembeassu is the sister group of a clade that includes Megadontognathus and Apteronotus sensu stricto. The phylogenetic analysis also supports that Tembeassu is considered a valid genus of Apteronotidae. An amended diagnosis for the genus is also provided.

A new sea catfish, Netuma patriciae (Siluriformes: Ariidae), from the Philippines

A new sea catfish (Ariidae), Netuma patriciae, is described based on the holotype and nine paratypes, 127.3–303.4 mm in standard length, collected from Panay and Luzon islands, Philippines. The new species most resembles N. thalassina (Ruppell 1837), in sharing counts of anal-fin rays (17–19 in N. patriciae, 15–17 in N. thalassina) and a distinct dorsomedian head groove (longitudinal length of the groove, 33.7–40.1% of head length, 22.3–31.0%). However, the new species can be easily distinguished from the latter in having fused vomerine tooth patches, and more numerous free vertebrae (43–44 vs. 41–42 in N. thalassina). Although N. bilineata (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1840a) has also fused vomerine tooth patches, the new species is distinguished by having fewer free vertebrae (43–44 vs. 47–51 in N. bilineata) and longer dorsomedian head groove (33.7–40.1% of head length vs. 0–9.7%). The new species can also be easily distinguished from both N. thalassina and N. bilineata by having a filamentous dorsal-fin ray (longest dorsal-fin ray 26.9–35.9% of standard length vs 20.3–23.3% in N. thalassina, 20.9–25.3% in N. bilineata, standard length > 127 mm) and a U-shaped junction of dorsomedian head ridge (vs. V-shaped in both species).

Epinephelus fuscomarginatus (Perciformes: Epinephelidae), a new species of grouper from off the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

A new species of epinephelid fish from northeastern Australia is described based on five specimens 408-564 mm SL collected by deep water demersal dropline fishing. Epinephelus fuscomarginatus sp. nov. is known from the Capricorn Channel, off the southern end of the Swain Reefs, Qld, Australia, in depths of 220-230 m. It is distinguished by a combination of dorsal-fin rays XI, 14, pectoral-fin rays 17, anal-fin rays III, 8, caudal-fin rounded, lateral-line scales 60-67, gill rakers 9-10 + 16-19 = 25-28, body depth 3.0-3.4 in SL, angle of preopercle broadly rounded, bearing 4-9 small non-prominent serrae, midlateral part of lower jaw with 2 rows of teeth, tooth patches on vomer and palatines narrow, in 2-3 and 2-4 rows, respectively, and coloration including broad dark brown margins to the soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins. There are no dark spots on the head, body, or fins at any known size and in subadults there are two faint pale brown bars radiating from the eye to the posterior margin of the opercle, and diffuse irregular brown wavy bars and blotches on the sides of the body. Comparison of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO 1) genetic marker utilised in DNA barcoding produced modest but consistent genetic divergences of 1.10% and 2.70 % between E. fuscomarginatus sp. nov. and its closest sampled congeners, E. magniscuttis and E. epistictus, respectively. Further evidence is presented to indicate that populations of E. epistictus currently recognised from the Indian Ocean east to the Indo-Australian Archipelago may be distinct from those from the Sea of Japan to the East China Sea.

Morphology and postnatal ontogeny of the dentition of Chthonerpeton indistinctum (Gymnophiona: Typhlonectidae)

Abstract The gross morphology, histology and postnatal ontogeny of the dentition of the viviparous and direct-developing typhlonectid Chthonerpeton indistinctum were described and compared with other caecilian species. C. indistinctum exhibited the typical pedicellated condition present in lissamphibians, with a conical monocuspid crown. Our histological analysis demonstrated that the tissue joining crown and pedicel was formed by two bands (internal and external), whereas the external band circumvented the complete periphery of the tooth junction. Likely this condition was not described for another gymnophionan species. In viviparous and some oviparous caecilians, dentition changes radically during ontogeny. Thus, there is a foetal dentition arranged in multiple rows of teeth (i.e. tooth patch), which is replaced by single tooth rows in neonate or juvenile individuals. Details of dentition in the lower jaw of neonate specimens are firstly reported for C. indistinctum herein, adding another member of Typhlonectidae. In some slightly larger specimens the foetal tooth patch on the lower jaw coexisted with a lingual row of the adult-type teeth, indicating that replacement of foetal dentition in the lower jaw did not take place just after birth. The number of teeth, a character widely employed among caecilian species descriptions, varies during postnatal ontogeny. Hence, we concluded that at least for typhlonectid caecilians, tooth number should not be considered as a character with a strong taxonomic value without considering the intraspecific ontogenetic variation. An extensive survey exploring the relationship between body length and tooth count becomes necessary to test the usefulness of tooth counts in species diagnosis.

Long-term effects of arrested metamorphosis on dental systems in Salamandra salamandra (Salamandridae: Urodela)

We describe the dental systems of six larvae of Salamandra salamandra hypophysectomized in 1976 under an earlier project to arrest metamorphosis. Larvae cover roughly three developmental stages from early (intrauterine) larval stage to early metamorphosis. Animals survived surgery and lived up to 16 months until fixation. One specimen was studied by histological serial sections. In the period until fixation larvae grew from approximately 3 cm to 7 cm in length (dependent on the developmental stage before surgery) retaining their larval appearance. Changes in the dental systems depended on the stage the larvae had reached before surgery. Generally, after surgery some traits had started or continued development, such as appearance of maxillae as well as resorption of the palatinal tooth patches and the coronoids in the youngest larva examined, whereas other traits had been largely retained and even continued to grow (e. g. larval dentate vomers). In three larvae, the anterior part of the palatines was covered by the posterior margin of the vomer giving the impression of a ‘vomeropterygopalatinum’, known from some newts as temporary fusion of vomer and palatine in consequence of a delayed metamorphosis. However, in the Salamandra-larvae both elements appeared to be connected syndesmotically rather than to be fused by bone tissue The oldest larva (metamorphic stage IV, approximately at the onset of metamorphosis), had lost the palatinal portion of pterygopalatina and had reduced the tooth patches of the vomers to a single row, but outgrowth of the vomerine bar had not taken place.

A new deepwater assfish, Bassozetus nielseni sp. nov. (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), from the North Atlantic and West Indian oceans

A new deepwater assfish, Bassozetus nielseni sp. nov., is described from 29 specimens [147–615 mm in standard length (SL)] collected from the North Atlantic and West Indian oceans. It is distinguished from 13 congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 122–129, long rakers on first gill arch 11–14, oblique scales 20–25, abdominal vertebrae 13–14, head length 18.1–21.3 % SL, body depth at anal-fin origin 8.2–14.6 % SL, predorsal length 16.4–20.1 % SL, tail length 62.7–68.0 % SL, posterior tip of pelvic-fin rays anterior to anus, a single median basibranchial tooth patch, dorsal margin of sagittal otolith smooth, and fins pale yellowish brown (preserved condition).

Büyükten Küçüğe Oto-kodlayıcılar ile dişlerin konumlandırılması*

Localization of teeth is a prerequisite task for most of the computerized methods for dental images such as medical diagnosis and human identification. Classical deep learning architectures like convolutional neural networks and auto-encoders seem to work well for tooth detection, however, it is non-trivial because of the large image size. In this study, a coarse-to-fine stacked auto-encoder architecture is presented for detection of teeth in dental panoramic images. The proposed architecture involves cascaded stacked auto-encoders where sizes of the input patches increase with the successive steps. Only the detected candidate tooth patches are fed into the successive layers, thus the irrelevant patches are eliminated. The proposed architecture decreases the cost of detection process while providing precise localization. The method is tested and validated on a dataset containing 206 dental panoramic images and the results are promising.

A new genus and species of the family Symphysanodontidae, Cymatognathus aureolateralis (Actinopterygii: Perciformes) from Indonesia.

A new genus and species of the percoid family Symphysanodontidae, Cymatognathus aureolateralis are described based on three specimens collected from North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The new species shares with the confamilial genus Sym-physanodon the unique supraneural and spinous dorsal-fin pterygiophore insertion pattern usually of 0/0/0+2+1/1/, T-shaped first supraneural, foreshortened base of the penultimate ventral procurrent caudal-fin ray, well-developed outer tooth patches at anterior tips of both jaws as well as along the medial surface of most of the length of the coronoid process of the dentary. The new species, however, is distinguishable from members of Symphysanodon by the following diagnostic characters: posterior tip of coronoid process of dentary abruptly depressed, so that teeth on anterior portion appear as an elevated patch, anterior tip of upper jaw not notched, and posterior nostril horizontally slit-like. Although the new species superficially resembles the members of the genus Giganthias (Giganthiidae) and some members of the subfamily Anthiadinae (Serranidae) in the unique characters it shares with Symphysanodon, it differs from Giganthias in having the above-mentioned unique pterygiophore insertion pattern and tips of all dorsal- and pelvic-fin spines smooth (vs. pterygiophore insertion pattern 0/0/2/1+1/1/, and tips of second, third and/or fourth dorsal- and pelvic-fin spines serrated), and from the members of Anthiadinae in having two flat opercular spines (vs. three) and 10+15 = 25 vertebrae (vs. 10 + 16-18 = 26-28). A revised diagnosis of the Symphysanodontidae is presented.

Comparative studies on the gill rakers of some marine fishes with different feeding habits

The present study aimed to compare between gill rakers of some marine fishes with different feeding habits. A total of 78 specimens in 13 species belonged to 6 fish families: Sparidae (Sparus aurata, Diplodus noct, Rhapdosargus haffara and Boops boops); Family: Mugilidae (Mugil cephalus, Mugil capito and Liza aurata); Family: Siganidae (Siganus rivulatus and Siganus luridus); Family: Synodontidae (Saurida undosquamis and Synodus saurus); Family: Clupeidae (Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus) and Family: Carangidae (Caranx sexfasciatus) were collected by irregular visits from land fish market in different localities of Egyptian Mediterranean Sea and Suez Gulf; during the period from March, 2014 to November, 2014. Results showed that, the first gill arch formed of one piece, consisting of two limbs (upper and lower limbs). The gill arch carried two rows of gill rakers on its concave border and two rows of gill filaments on its convex one. The gill rakers in the anterior row (oral row) are longer, more in number and more developed than that of the posterior row (aboral row). The gill arch in family Sparidae is bow-like shape. The anterior gill rakers on the first gill arch of most sparid species are short, conical in shape adapted to carnivorous feeding. The gill arch of fish species in Mugilidae is mostly crescent-shaped and rarely bow-shaped. The anterior gill rakers on the first gill arch are long and great in number adapted to detritus feeding. The gill arch in family Synodontidae is V shaped. The anterior gill rakers on the first gill arch appeared as clusters of small tooth patches adapted to piscivores feeding. The gill arch in family Siganidae is hook-like shape. The anterior gill rakers on the first gill arch were needle spine in shape with secondary projections adapted to herbivorous feeding. The gill arch in fish species of Clupeidae is V like shape. Gill rakers are well developed and arranged in only one row. They are numerous and elongated adapted to seizing food items in the plankton feeding. The gill arch in fish species of Carangidae is bow-like shape. Gill rakers are moderate in length and number adapted to carnivorous feeding. According to the different feeding habits, the results showed that, the highest average length of the first gill arch (mm) is recorded in carnivore and piscivore fish. The maximum averages number and the length of the anterior gill rakers are recorded in detritivore fish and plankitivore fish. The highest percentages of the anterior gill raker length /gill arch length ratio (%) are recorded in plankitivore fish and detritivore fish. Results showed that, the maximum inter raker space (µm) and the inter raker space/gill arch length (%) is recorded in carnivore fish. The maximum breadth at the raker base (µm) in the anterior row of rakers is recorded in piscivore fish. The highest breadth at the raker base/gill arch length (%) in the anterior row of rakers is recorded in carnivore, piscivore and planktivore fish. The highest posterior gill raker length (µm) and the posterior gill raker length /gill arch length ratio (%) are recorded in detritivore fish. In conclusion: The morphological characters of the gill rakers in the first gill arch were differ in species studied according to different feeding habits. So that, can be used in determine the fish family and feeding habits.

A new species of Anthiadinae (Teleostei: Serranidae) from São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago, Brazil, Equatorial Atlantic.

A new species of Anthiadinae, Odontanthias cauoh, is described from São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago (SPSPA), Brazil, Equatorial Atlantic. The new species differs from its only Atlantic congener by a combination of several characters: pectoral-fin rays 20; total gill rakers on first arch 39; vomerine tooth patch with a posterior prolongation; pelvic fin not reaching base of last anal-fin ray; dorsal, anal and pelvic fins scaleless; and coloration (dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins mostly dark red). The record of the new species contributes to increase the fish endemism in SPSPA.

A new deepwater assfish, Bassozetus mozambiquensis sp. nov. (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae), from the western Indian Ocean

A new deepwater assfish, Bassozetus mozambiquensis sp. nov., is described from a single specimen (431 mm SL) collected from the western Indian Ocean. Originally identified as Bassozetus compressus (Gunther 1878), it was subsequently found to be distinguishable from 12 valid species of the genus due to the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 117; long rakers on first gill arch 14; oblique scales ca. 30; total vertebrae 65; pelvic-fin length 9.5 % of standard length; a single median basibranchial tooth patch; sagittal otolith lacking a small process on anterior margin, dorsal margin smooth, an ostial channel present.

Chaunax multilepis sp. nov., a new species of Chaunax (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae) from the northern Indian Ocean.

A new species of Chaunax is described on the basis of eight type and five non-type specimens. This species belongs to the Chaunax abei species group and can be distinguished from congeners in the group by having a continuous tooth patch on the vomer, not divided into two patches, and four or five neuromasts in the lower preopercular series. It can be further separated by the following combination of characters: large green spots on dorsal surface; simple spinules on dorsal surface; 12 pectoral-fin rays; 13-16 neuromasts in pectoral series; 30-37 neuromasts in lateral-line proper; typically four neuromasts on caudal-fin base; typically 7 neuromasts in mandible; typically 12 gill rakers on second gill arch; gill chamber and buccal cavity pale; and peritoneum black.