Yellow Blotches Research Articles

Branchiostegus biendong, a New Tilefish from Vietnam (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae).

A new tilefish, Branchiostegus biendong, is described on the basis of three specimens (181-209 mm in standard length [SL]) collected from a local fish market of Quy Nhon on the South China Sea coast of central Vietnam. It can be distinguished from 17 congeners in having the following combination of characters: six diagonal scale rows exposed on cheek; cheek scales moderately large (diameter 2.2-2.5% SL); predorsal ridge black; cheek almost silver with an oval-shaped, yellow blotch along ventral margin of eye; dorsal fin translucent yellowish with narrow black margin overlapping stronger yellowish coloration dorsally; upper lobe of caudal fin with 5-6 yellow stripes and tip with black blotch; and lower lobe of caudal fin navy blue. A key to five species of Branchiostegus from Vietnamese waters is provided.

A revision of Callulops doriae (Anura: Microhylidae), with descriptions of four new species.

I investigate the taxonomy of frogs currently assigned to the single species Callulops doriae, which is unique in the genus for its warty, dark-spotted dorsum and large yellow or orange blotches in the groin and on the hidden surfaces of the thighs. I show that many species are currently encompassed under this single name, I remove Manthophryne neuhaussi from synonymy, and I describe four new species, three of which have long been in museum collections, and one of which is newly collected by me. Each of these new species is most readily distinguished by their unique color patterns, but additional morphological features-primarily morphometric-also serve to distinguish among them. Despite this partition of C. doriae, additional museum specimens cannot be assigned to any of the species treated here and certainly represent unrecognized species. But the poor states of preservation of some of these and the absence of color-pattern information in life preclude describing them until new material of each is available. Three of the six species treated herein, which occur in the southern portion of the Papuan Peninsula, were previously included in a molecular phylogeny, and inferred dates of divergence for them accord well with the geological dynamism of this region created by opening of the Woodlark Rift. In two cases, pairs of species are reported in general sympatry, and elevational data suggest that these species are likely to segregate elevationally where their ranges approach each other. At least four of the species treated herein are known to produce viscous glandular secretions that presumably deter predators, and I describe the defensive display of one of these, which I presume is aposematic.

Genetic diversity of Raspberry leaf blotch emaravirus in red raspberries from Serbia

Raspberry leaf blotch emaravirus (RLBV) is a recently characterised virus infecting raspberries reported in several European countries. RLBV causes yellow blotching, the distortion of leaf margins, and the twisting of raspberry leaves. For a long time, similar symptoms were attributed to the feeding damage caused by raspberry leaf and bud mite (Phyllocoptes gracilis). From 2014−2017, a large-scale survey was conducted in Serbia to investigate the degree of association of the observed symptoms with the RLBV infection. A total of 98 symptomatic and asymptomatic samples were collected from 30 locations. All collected samples were tested on the RLBV presence by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using three sets of RNA-specific primers targeting RNA-1, RNA-3, and RNA-5 of the RLBV genome. RT-PCR analysis revealed high incidence of RLBV in tested samples (68.7%). RLBV was confirmed in raspberries ‘Fertödi Zamatos’, ‘Glen Ample’, ‘Meeker’, ‘Polana’, ‘Tulameen’ and ‘Willamette’. Twenty-one isolates were selected for sequencing the portion of the nucleocapsid (NC) gene. The nucleotide sequences of the isolates showed 93.2−100% identity. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed significant genetic variability of the Serbian RLBV isolates based on the nucleocapsid-encoding sequences and revealed the existence of two main clusters. Phylogenetic analysis of the 45 RLBV sequences from Finland, Slovakia, Scotland, and this study also confirmed the existence of two main clusters of isolates.

Tolerance of the winter soft wheat varieties and collection samples to a complex of the most harmful diseases in the conditions of nizhny Don

On the fields with infectious backgrounds more than one thousands of varieties and samples of collection and breeding material of winter wheat are annually estimated for resistance to six diseases (brown and yellow rust, leaf blotch, powdery mildew, loose and kernel smut). Among the collection material there have been identified the samples tolerant and resistant to all studied diseases as well as the samples with complex resistance to 3–6 pathogens (e. g. “Maris Kinsman”, “Tucan”, “Liwilla”, “KS93V76”, “PL 178383” and others). Such varieties of the Inter-Station Variety Testing (ISVT) from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France as “Etana”, “Kurs”, “Rotaks”, “Solokha”, “Shestopalovka” cannot be artificially infected with the diseases. There has been identified a small percentage among the present varieties and collection samples tolerant to such diseases as powdery mildew, leaf blotch and kernel smut. The winter soft wheat varieties developed in the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” both widely cultivated in production, and introduced for study in the SVT in recent years, are characterized by a high resistance to 2–4 studied diseases. These are the varieties “Tanais”, “Rostovchanka 7”, “Aksiniya”, “Nakhodka” which are recommended to plant after fallow forecrops and the varieties “Krasa Dona”, “Ermak”, “Donskoy Syurpriz”, “Don 107”, “Izyuminka”, “Asket”, “Lidiya” which are recommended to plant after non-fallow forecrops. The identified resistant varieties are recommended for wide cultivation, and the sources of resistance to a complex of the main harmful diseases on the Nizhny Don can be used in the breeding programs on immunity.

Biological and molecular characterization of Potato yellow blotch virus, a new species of the genus Potyvirus

A new species of the genus Potyvirus infecting potatoes, with the proposed name Potato yellow blotch virus (PYBV), was discovered in a breeding line 99m‐022‐026 in Scotland. The infected plants show isolated yellow blotches on the leaves. The genome of PYBV contains a large open reading frame encoding a single polyprotein of 3054 amino acids. Sequence analysis shows that PYBV is closely related to Potato virus A (PVA), with an overall 72% identity at the nucleotide level for the whole genome. The least conserved P1 protease gene shares only 50% nucleotide identity with PVA. The host range of PYBV was comparable to PVA on solanaceaous and non‐solanaceous indicator plant species with the exception of Solanum demissum A and Y. Different symptoms were also observed for PYBV and PVA in Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana hesperis and Nicotiana occidentalis P1. The susceptibility of potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars to PYBV and PVA was similar. In over 5 years of investigation, PYBV has not been found in commercial seed and ware potato crops in Scotland.

A new species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from central Laos

We describe a new species of the genus Lycodon Boie based on an adult male specimen from Khammouane Province, central Laos. Lycodon banksisp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) dorsal scales in 17-17-15 rows, dorsal scales on the anterior 2/3 of the body length smooth, the six central dorsal scale rows of the posterior 1/3 of the body length feebly keeled; (2) supralabials 8; (3) infralabials 10; (4) loreal in contact with the eye; (5) cloacal single; (6) ventral scales 241; (7) dorsal surface of body with 87 greyish yellow blotches; (8) ventral surface of body and tail uniformly grey cream. Based on the molecular comparison, Lycodon banksisp. nov. is placed in a clade with other species previously considered to be members of the genus Dinodon. The new species is at least 9% genetically divergent from other species within this clade as shown by a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b. This discovery increases the number of Lycodon species known from Laos to eleven.

Chelidoperca tosaensis, a new species of perchlet (Serranidae) from Japan and the Philippines, with geographic range extension of C. stella to the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Chelidoperca tosaensis is described as a new species based on 84 specimens from Japan and the Philippines taken from depths of 60–302 m. The species can be distinguished from all known congeners by having the following combination of characters: scale rows between lateral line and base of spinous dorsal fin 3; pored lateral-line scales 37–42 (modally 39); scale rows in longitudinal series 39–43 (modally 40); no longitudinal dark stripe or row of dark blotches on body side. The new species is additionally characterized by having a combination of numerous, scattered, yellow spots on dorsal and anal fins with red streak or cluster of reddish spots over bases of about 4–6th dorsal-fin spines; large ocellated red spot with pinkish white border present on membrane between opercular spines; pelvic fin with middle area yellow with whitish spine, and whitish first, second and fifth soft rays; caudal fin with about three transverse rows of yellow spots centrally and posteriorly, two fan-shaped rows of red blotches on basal third, and a pair of white blotches with a pair of yellow blotches between white blotches on the base. Diagnostic characters of Chelidoperca stella, previously known only from its type locality in the Andaman Sea, are updated based on 12 specimens from Taiwan, the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam and the Philippines. These specimens represent the first records of the species from the Pacific Ocean.

Review of Carangoides (Perciformes: Carangidae) from the Red Sea, with a new record of Imposter Trevally Carangoides talamparoides Bleeker, 1852

Ten species of Carangoides from the Red Sea are reviewed. Imposter Trevally, Carangoides talamparoides Bleeker, is reported from the Red Sea for the first time on the basis of four small specimens and three adults trawled off Jizan, southern Saudi Arabia. Previously known from the Gulf of Oman east to Guam, its distribution range is extended to the Red Sea. Carangoides talamparoides superficially resembles C. malabaricus and may be easily confused, but it differs generally in lower gill raker counts, 25–31 (vs. 32–38), longer snout, the length 10.0–13.6% fork length in adults (vs. snout shorter, 8.5–10.8% fork length in adults); and premaxilla with slightly concave anterodorsal margin laterally (vs. premaxilla with distinctly concave margin laterally); greenish yellow blotch dorsoposteriorly on orbit membrane (vs. no blotch on orbit membrane); and white tongue (vs. tongue mainly dark). Description is provided for Red Sea specimens of Carangoides talamparoides and brief accounts for nine other Red Sea congeners. A key and table are also provided to help distinguish Red Sea Carangoides species, and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the COI barcoding region is presented for all available Red Sea species and other Indo-Pacific species of the genus Carangoides.

A new species of Zingiber (Sect. Dymczewiczia: Zingiberaceae) from northwestern Myanmar

In the course of study on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in Myanmar revealed two species assignable to section Dymczewiczia by its terminal inflorescence. Based on the herbarium studies, Z. capitatum is newly recorded from Myanmar and the other species is easily distinguished from any other taxa in the section by yellow to orange inflorescence bracts, very small inconspicuous lateral staminodes, and pale yellow labellum with pale yellow streaks, purple-red to dark maroon tinge and numerous pale yellow blotches. It is described as new to science, namely as Z. flavofusifome. The photographic data for new species and key to species in section Dymczewiczia occurring in Myanmar are also provided.

An Initial Assessment of Coral Disease Prevalence on Tourism Areas of Pasir Putih Beach, Java Sea

The increasing tourist industry along Java seashore might cause pollution and harm the coral reef ecosystems. The present study was carried out to quantify indicators of coral disease prevalence at sites inside and outside in the snorkeling tourism hotspot of Pasir Putih coastal waters, East Java, Indonesia. Coral disease rapid assessment was conducted in June, 2015. The prevalence of coral disease on the reef building corals was calculated as the mean percentage of coral colonies affected by disease per 50 m2 transect quadrats. Results of the present study showed that total of 78 coral colonies observed, 33 colonies were affected by diseases. Mean prevalence for all diseases observed was 42.30±4.9% SE. The disease prevalence at site inside the snorkeling tourism hotspot (50.00%) was higher than that of outside (38.88 %). Six disease states detected were white syndrome (13.89±1.31% SE), white band (7.41±2.62% SE), yellow blotch (3.70±2.62% SE), dark spot syndrome (3.70%), white plague (1.85%) and growth anomaly (1.85%). The prevalences of disease in the coral genus were found to be 17.95% in Acropora sp., 12.82% in Favia sp., 1.28% in Diploastrea sp., 3.85±2.71% SE in Porites sp., 2.56% in Favites sp., 1.28% in Goniastrea sp. and 1.28% in Montipora sp. To our knowledge, this is the first study of quantitatively coral disease on Pasir Putih coastal waters, Java Sea. This early study revealed that tourism activity might be resulting in the decrease of the coral health in the coral tourism areas.

Two new Oreophryne species from the Fakfak Mountains, West Papua Province of Indonesia (Anura, Microhylidae)

On the basis of material collected in the year 2008 in the Fakfak Mountains, Bomberai Peninsula, West Papua Province of Indonesia, two new microhylid frogs in the genus Oreophryne are described. Both new species are small (males 23.9 – 24.1 mm snout-vent length and 16.2 – 17.8 mm SVL) and belong to those Oreophryne that have a ligamentous connection between the procoracoid and the scapula, and by rattling or chirping advertisement calls. The larger species is further characterized by a mostly uniform dark grey-brown or black dorsal colouration with numerous small white flecks and yellow blotches on the hind limbs. The smaller species is characterized by a very small body size, and by a chirping call, this of great similarity to the call of the allopatric Choerophryne arndtorum.

Animal Tissue Compost as a Potential Substrate Amendment for Production of Four Annual Floriculture Crops

The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of using animal tissue compost (ATC) as a substrate amendment for ornamental plant container production. The compost was produced using soiled sawdust bedding mixed with assorted animal tissues and actively composted for at least 6 months and cured for 6 to 10 months. Five substrate treatments that consisted of four different ratios of ATC and Canadian sphagnum peatmoss were formulated, all containing 20% medium grade horticultural perlite. Four species [geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum ‘Maverick Red’), marigold (Tagetes erecta ‘Inca II Yellow’), pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana ‘Delta Premium Yellow Blotch’), and petunia (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Prostrate Wave Purple Improved’)] were evaluated with weekly plant measurements. Geranium and petunia exhibited 100% survival for all treatments. Marigold and pansy showed 100% survival for the control treatment (0% ATC) and the treatment with the smallest amount of ATC (20% ATC). Treatments for pansy and marigold with more than 40% ATC exhibited 40% to 90% survival. All ATC substrate treatments produced the same number of flowers and buds as the control in geranium, marigold, and petunia, while the treatments containing 20% to 60% of ATC for pansy exhibited more flowers and buds than the control. Measurements of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) varied based on treatment. Based on the species and the ratios of peat, ATC, and perlite tested here, ATC has the potential to be a peat extender in floriculture substrates when used in ratios of 20% or less.

A new species of Psychrophrynella (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the Cordillera Real, Department La Paz, Bolivia.

We describe a new species of Psychrophrynella from a single locality in the Cordillera Real, in the Andes of Department of La Paz, Bolivia. Psychrophrynella teqta sp. nov. is highly variable in color pattern and differs from the species geographically closer mostly by presenting yellow or red blotches, usually absent in other species. In addition, the new species differs from all species in the genus because the males have a pulsed call. Males of this species show parental care, and the high number of eggs per nest suggest that perhaps more than one clutch might be attended by a single male. As other species in the genus, the new species is infected by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and thus, a conservation threat is already present upon its discovery.

Validade da técnica de foto-identificação para analisar marcas naturais em Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Anura: Bufonidae)

Individual identification is useful for answering a variety of biological questions about animal life histories. Most of the techniques used to mark amphibians are invasive and can cause negative effects, compromising individual survivorship and biasing studies. Photo-identification consists in the identification of specimens based on photographic records of unique color-design patterns. This technique has been used with success in several amphibian species. Melanophryniscus montevidensis is an endangered anuran species inhabiting the Uruguayan Atlantic coast. The general pattern of coloration is black with red and yellow blotches on the belly. In this study, we validated the technique of photo-identification assisted by software for individual recognition in M. montevidensis using natural markings. Field trips were performed over 16 months during which, the ventral color pattern of specimens was photographed. The photos were edited and analyzed with the Wild-ID 1.0 software for photographic reconnaissance. An efficiency of 100% was obtained in the visual recognition and 90% in the detection of recaptures using the software. The use of photo-identification using natural marks is an effective technique in this species, because the color pattern of the belly was highly variable among individuals and remained unchanged in individuals over the 16 month period. In this evaluation the use of software for photo-identification was necessary for the treatment of large databases.

A New Species of Wolf Snake (Serpentes: Colubridae: Lycodon ) from Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha, India

A new species of the wolf snake is described from Odisha, India. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to Lycodon jara , but differs by its well defined collar. The collar is white in hatchlings and white with yellow blotches on the dorsal side in juvenules and adults. The snout is projected beyond the lower jaw (vs. not beyond in L. jara ). The post-oculars are one or two (vs. 2 always in L. jara ). Twin spots are present on each scale of the body except the 6 – 7 rows of scales in the collar region (vs. each scale in L. jara ). The color of twin spots is white in hatchlings and yellow in adults in the new species. The yellow tinges on the head shields are much less as compared to L. jara in the adults of the new species.

First Report of Infection of Cherry Rusty Mottle Associated Virus in Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) in Washington State.

During late spring of 2012 in Snohomish County of Washington State, chlorotic yellow leaf blotch symptoms suggestive of a virus infection were observed on Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) planted in a hedge row. Leaf samples from representative trees were initially tested for the presence of Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV) and Plum pox virus (PPV) by ELISA with antibodies specific to CLRV and general potyvirus, respectively (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, IN). The ELISA test yielded negative results for both viruses. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was pursued to detect other viruses known to infect Prunus spp., namely American plum line pattern virus (APLPV), Apple chlorotic leafspot virus (ACLSV), Cherry mottle leaf virus (CMLV), Cherry raspleaf virus (CRLV), Cherry virus A (CVA), Prune dwarf virus (PDV), and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), as well as CLRV and PPV. None of these viruses were detected. However, RT-PCR with a generic primer pair Fovea2/AdPr (3) that amplifies the coat protein (CP) coding sequence and 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of several members of the family Betaflexiviridae yielded a 1.4-kb amplicon that was cloned into pCR2.1 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. KF356396). The sequences from three clones were 99.8% identical to each other at the nucleotide level. Comparison of the consensus CP coding region with the nucleotide sequence database revealed 86 to 93% identity to Cherry rusty mottle associated virus (CRMaV), and only 73 to 75% identities to Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV) (1) and 71 to 76% identities to Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) (4) isolates from sweet cherry (P. avium). This result suggested that the cloned fragment represents a strain of CRMaV. Prunus avium 'Bing' and 'Sam,' and P. serrulata 'Kwanzan' were grafted with bark patches from the symptomatic tree and observed for induction of cherry rusty mottle disease (CRMD) symptoms. Ninety days after grafting, symptoms typical of CRMD consisting of chlorotic yellow mottle appeared on 'Bing,' 'Sam,' and 'Kwanzan' indicators. Small necrotic spots also appeared on the leaves of the latter. Angular necrotic lesions on 'Sam' and epinasty of 'Kwanzan' that are diagnostic symptoms of cherry necrotic rusty mottle disease (CNRMD) and cherry green ring mottle disease (CGRMD), respectively, were absent from graft inoculated indicators. Further RT-PCR tests on the indicators using primers specific to CNRMV, CGRMV, and CRMaV (2) yielded negative results for CNRMV and CGRMV but showed positive amplification for CRMaV. The results of the woody indexing corroborate the presence of CRMaV but the absence of CNRMV and CGRMV in the symptomatic Portuguese laurel. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CRMaV in Portuguese laurel in the United States and the first description of symptoms associated with CRMaV in this host. As a potential reservoir of CRMaV, Portuguese laurel could play an important component in management of CRMD in cherry production areas where this ornamental cherry is also present.

BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTAGONISTIC BACTERIA AGAINST YELLOW BLOTCH OF OYSTER MUSHROOM

Yellow blotch of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) caused by Pseudomonas agarici is considered as a fatal disease to mushroom and diminish food quality for humans. Chemical control of yellow blotch in oyster mushroom has received little efficiency and these chemicals are hazardous to human life, decrease soil fertility and cause pollution. Alternatively biological control is the available strategy against soil borne diseases. The objectives of this research were 1.) To isolate different strains fluorescence, actinomycetes, and phosphate solublizing bacteria in rhizospheric soil from selected plants of different regions. 2.) To examine the antagonistic agent against Pseudomonas agarici. 3.) To characterize the antagonistic bacteria on the basis of biochemical and molecular (16S-r DNA sequencing). 50 strains of fluorescence, actinomycetes, and phosphate solublizing bacteria were collected from different regions. During examination of fluorescence strain K1, K8, K14 were found antagonistic. The above consequences reveal that fluorescence bacteria have high capability of antagonistic property. During biochemical characterization on the basis of methyl-red, VogesProskauer, Indole Production IAA production, gram’s staining, antibiotic assay it was found that antagonistic bacteria showed approximately the same result as Indole production, IAA production gram’s negative and the MIC of Antibiotic assay. Strains were identified Pseudomonas fluorescence, according to the characteristics of its morphology and homology analysis (BLAST) of its 16S-r DNA sequencing.

First Report of Alfalfa mosaic virus Occurrence in Hydrangea in the United States.

In spring of 2012, a previously unrecorded virus-like disease characterized by conspicuous yellow leaf blotching (calico symptoms) was observed in plants of Hydrangea macrophylla in a single location in Southampton, NY. Bacilliform and spherical particles resembling those of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in partially purified extracts from symptomatic leaf tissue. The identity of the virus was confirmed by immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) (4) using antiserum to AMV (ATCC PVAS 92) that both trapped and decorated the virions. Three primer pairs designed from available AMV RNA 1, RNA 2, and RNA 3 genomic sequences were used to generate amplicons from the hydrangea AMV isolate. Reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR was done using total RNA extracted from symptomatic hydrangea leaf tissue with a Qiagen RNeasy kit, and Ready-to-Go RT-PCR beads (GE Healthcare). Amplicons of 1,049, 1,013, and 658 bp were obtained using the primer pairs AMV1F (5'-ATCCACCGATGCCAGCCTTA)/AMV1R (5'-TTCCGCCTCACTGCTGTCTG), AMV2F (5'-GATCGCCGGAAGTGATCCAG)/AMV2R (5'-TCACCGGAAGCAACAACGAA), and AMV3F (5'-GCCGGTTCTCCAAAGGGTCT)/AMV3R (5'-CGCGTCGAAGTCCAGACAGA), respectively. The PCR products were cloned using a TOPO TA cloning kit (Invitrogen) and three clones of each were sequenced. The sequences obtained from the hydrangea AMV RNA 1 (JX154090), RNA 2 (JX154091), and RNA 3 (JX154092) had 95 to 98% nucleotide sequence identity to homologous genomic sequences of known AMV isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AMV occurrence in H. macrophylla in the United States. This virus has been reported to occur in H. macrophylla in British Columbia (3), but in a previous survey its presence was not detected in hydrangeas in the United States (1). A report of possible AMV infection in H. macrophylla in Italy (2) was based solely on symptomatology and cross-protection tests and therefore cannot be verified. The AMV-infected hydrangea plants were found by ISEM to also contain low concentrations of Hydrangea ringspot virus (HRSV) and Hydrangea chlorotic mottle virus (HdCMV). However, based on previous evidence of single and mixed infections (3), it is unlikely that the calico symptoms observed were influenced by the presence of HRSV and HdCMV. This report is of interest both because AMV, unlike HRSV and HdCMV, causes foliar symptoms that would render hydrangea plant unmarketable, and because the disease can be spread by a number of common aphid species that transmit AMV. It will also serve to alert growers and diagnosticians to the potential threat posed by AMV infection.

Two new fish species of the subfamily Anthiinae (Perciformes, Serranidae) from the Marquesas.

Two new species of anthiine fishes are described from the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Plectranthias flammeus was found at depths from 20-45 m and is characterized by dorsal rays X, 14 or 15, with spines 1-6 bearing fleshy white tabs at their tips, longest fleshy tab on spine 4; 14 unbranched pectoral rays; lateral line incomplete with 16-17 tubed scales; preopercle with 8-10 small spines along posterior margin and 2 antrorse spines on ventral margin; broad, fiery red-orange streak across lower cheek; head and body with irregularly spaced maroon-ringed yellow blotches on a white background; pair of small dark oblong spots (red with black centers in life) on the bases of the middle rays of the caudal fin. Pseudanthias oumati was found on the outer reef slope of Fatu Hiva at a depth of 50-55 m and is characterized by 3rd dorsal spine elongate and tipped with fleshy yellow filament extending beyond tip of spine; lateral-line scales 43; gill rakers 10 + 28; no papillae on posterior edge of orbit; front of upper lip not thickened (male condition unknown); caudal fin lunate; color of female yellow, all fins yellow with narrow magenta margin (except pectoral fin, which lacks magenta); no stripe from snout to pectoral base; small scales located on basal quarter of soft-dorsal fin from segmented rays 1-12; dorsal profile of head slightly concave.

A new record of a flathead fish (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) from China based on morphological characters and DNA barcoding

A new record of Platycephalus sp.1 (sensu Nakabo, 2002) was documented based on morphological characters and DNA barcoding. We collected 174 specimens of the genus Platycephalus from Chinese coastal waters of Dongying, Qingdao, Zhoushan, and Beihai. Samples were identified as Platycephalus sp.1 morphologically. The coloration, meristic traits, and morphometric measurements are consistent with previously published records. In brief, it is an orange-brown flathead fish with dark brown spots scattered on head and body, lateral line scales 83 to 99 with one or two spine-bearing anteriormost pored scale, no yellow blotch on the caudal fin. Cytochrome oxidase I subunit (COI) gene fragments were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The mean evolutionary distance within the species Platycephalus sp.1 was 0.1%. Net evolutionary distances between Platycephalus sp.1 and other species of Platycephalus ranged from 10.8% to 19.7%, which is much greater than the threshold for species delimitation. The COI sequence analysis strongly supports the validity of Platyceohalus sp.1 at genetic level.