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Larval body shape changes and developmental timing were examined in two clingfish species from the south-east Pacific Ocean, Gobiesox marmoratus and Sicyases sanguineus. Ontogenetic allometry showed no interspecific variation and <7 mm standard length ( LS) larvae of both species occupied similar morphospace, but larger G. marmoratus showed increased body depth while larvae of S. sanguineus developed a flattened head and maintained a hydrodynamic body. Estimated developmental timing suggests that larval body shape changes were faster in G. marmoratus than in S. sanguineus prior to settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Le vivaneau madras Lutjanus madras (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1831), jusqu'à présent connu uniquement dans l'océan Indien, a été signalé dans l'océan Pacifique centre-ouest sur la base d'un spécimen unique (221,3 mm de longueur standard) collecté à l'île de Panay, République des Philippines. Cette observation suggère que cette espèce a une répartition géographique plus importante que celle qui était précédemment reconnue, s'étendant au-delà d'une barrière biogéographique bien établie pour les organismes marins. Les variations morphologiques intra-spécifiques de cette espèce sont également discutées. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dwarfgobies in the genus Eviota are currently represented by 111 valid described species, occurring throughout the Indo-Pacific Ocean except for the eastern Pacific region, mainly in coral-reef habitats. A dichotomous diagnostic key to 107 of these species is presented, with information on characters, type material, references for the original descriptions, distributions, and photographs of each species. All of the species described from the first, in 1871, up to April 2016 are included; four more described after that date are listed, but not included in the key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species belonging to the Indo-Pacific gobiid genus Amblygobius are described from mud-bottom habitats. Amblygobius calvatus n. sp. is described on the basis of 9 specimens, 23.7-48.0 mm SL, from the El Nido area of northern Palawan in the Philippines. Diagnostic features for the new species include usual counts of 15 segmented dorsal and anal-fin rays, scales entirely cycloid, no scales on the head (including the side of the nape and upper opercle), 80-86 longitudinal body scales, 24-26 transverse body scales, a strongly lanceolate caudal fin, a grayishbrown color in life with two orange-brown stripes on the head and body, 8-11 small black spots or saddles on the upper back, a blackish moustache-like marking above the upper lip, a horizontally oval orange-brown spot on the opercle, and a white pectoral-fin base with a central, horizontally-elongate, reddish-brown marking. Amblygobius cheraphilus n. sp. is described from 11 specimens, 14.6-32.9 mm SL, collected near the town of Alotau in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. It differs from congeners on the basis of a combination of features, including usual counts of 13 segmented dorsal and anal-fin rays, scales entirely cycloid, no scales on the head except for the side of the nape, 56-60 longitudinal scales, 14-18 transverse scales, a moderately lanceolate caudal fin, a grayish color in life with two reddish-brown stripes on the head and body with the lower stripe containing a prominent oval dark-brown spot on the opercle and ending in a dark-brown spot on the caudal-fin base, a series of small brown saddles on the back and predorsal region, and a faint ocellus on the upper caudal-fin rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three species of dwarfgobies new to science are described from the western Pacific Ocean: Eviota lateritea from New Caledonia, Eviota maculibotella from Vietnam, and Eviota singula from Palau. Eviota lateritea usually lacks all cephalic sensory-canal pores, although individual specimens may have PITO, AITO, and SOT. Eviota maculibotella lacks the POP and IT pores, and E. singula lacks all pores. Some pectoral-fin rays are branched in all three species, and all have distinctive color patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of dragonet, Callionymus petersi from northern New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, is described on the basis of five specimens collected with dredges and trawls in about 181-207 m depth from off northwestern New Hanover and off Kavieng. The new species is characterized within the subgenus Bathycallionymus by a short head (3.9-4.3 in SL); eye large (2.1-2.3 in head length); preopercular spine with a long, slightly upcurved main tip, a small antrorse serra followed by two large curved points on its dorsal margin and a strong antrorse spine at its base, ventral margin smooth, slightly concave; first dorsal fin higher than second dorsal fin in the male, slightly lower than second dorsal fin (female), with 4 spines, first spine filamentous (male only); second dorsal-fin high, distally convex (male) or low, distally nearly straight (female), with 9 unbranched rays (last divided at base); anal fin with 9 unbranched rays (last divided at base); 18 pectoral-fin rays; caudal fin elongate (male), the two median rays unbranched, elongate but barely filamentous (male), or distally rounded, without filaments (female); pectoral-fin base with a large dark blotch; sides of body with a series of dark blotches, each of the anterior blotches broken into 2-4 vertical dark streaks; first dorsal fin with a large ocellated black blotch extending over the second and third membranes (male), or mostly confined to the third membrane (female); second dorsal fin pale (male) or spotted with grey; anal fin distally dark (male), with distal dark spots (female); caudal fin with a grey streak in lower section (male), or lowermost membrane black (female). The new species is compared with similar species. Revised keys to callionymid fish species of New Guinea, as well as of the subgenus Bathycallionymus, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of lanternshark, Etmopterus benchleyi n. sp., is described from eight specimens collected off the Pacific coast of Central America at depths ranging between 836 and 1443 meters. The new species is placed in the Etmopterus spinax clade by a lack of flank markings and the moderately short, slender, hook-like, conical dermal denticles distributed over the body. It can be distinguished from its closest congeners based on a combination of coloration, proportional body measurements, meristic counts, arrangement of dermal denticles, and size at maturity. The dorsal fins of the new species are either similar in size or the second dorsal fin is slightly larger than the first vs. the second dorsal fin distinctly larger than the first in E. granulosus, E. princeps, and E. litvinovi. The pre-oral length is shorter in the new species (6.9-9.0% TL) than in its closest congeners, E. granulosus (7.9-11.3% TL) and E. princeps (9-10% TL). The tooth count in the lower jaw is higher in E. benchleyi (30-36) than in E. granulosus (28), but lower than in E. litvinovi (40-50) and E. princeps (40-50). Photophores in E. benchleyi are sparse compared to other etmopterids and difficult to identify due to its uniform black color. This new species is also distinct from other members of the E. spinax clade in having dense concentrations of dermal denticles closely surrounding the eyes and gill openings. E. benchleyi is the only Etmopterus species presently known from the Pacific coast of Central America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How fish functional morphology shapes species co-existence and assemblage diversity patterns is a fundamental issue in ecological research. In fishes, much is known about the ecomorphological relationships of feeding morphology in coral reef fishes and in freshwater taxa inhabiting distinct environments. However, little is known about the patterns and processes shaping morphological variation in other oceanic taxa; particularly those inhabiting soft bottom habitats. In this study, we assessed patterns of feeding ecomorphology in seven demersal teleost species associated with soft bottoms of the continental shelf in the central Mexican Pacific Ocean. Feeding analyses indicated that some species groups shared similar diets. Likewise, patterns of morphological variation based on geometric morphometrics demonstrated that some taxa did not differ in body shape, while patterns of variation in other species were seen in body length and height, caudal peduncle height and the anal fin anterior insertion point. A multivariate association between diet composition data and overall body shape indicated significant ecomorphological relationships, describing a continuum between species displaying benthopelagic morphology and specializing on prey with high speed swimming ability (Engraulidae), versus species with benthic morphology and specializing on fast escape prey (crustacea). The clear ecomorphological patterns observed for these seven species at both the individual and species levels imply that environmental conditions and resource availability allow these taxa to differentially inhabit and exploit the soft bottom ecosystem. Fish diversity is principally represented by the benthic morphology, although benthopelagic morphology, also show a high degree of success in this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored an approach to using morphological variables of suqid body and beaks to identify different geographic populations for Dosidicus gigas . We tested this approach using a total of seventeen morphological variables of body and beaks measured for 1490 squids sampled outside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters off Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Linear regression analysis showed significant and positive relationships between beak morphometric variables and mantle lengths. All measured beak variables were significantly different among the three regions ( p < 0.001), with samples from the areas off Chile and Ecuador having the largest and smallest beaks, respectively. The morphometrics of squid beaks showed a significant sexual dimorphism and were useful for sex determination ( p < 0.001), although considerable overlaps were found in the scatter-plots. Hard structure (i.e., beaks) variables were shown more effective than soft body in population discrimination, although a stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) suggested that both the body and beak morphometric variables are useful for the geographic population discrimination. We found that the standardized beak and body variables are more effective in separating D. gigas potentially geographic populations than the original variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined results based on morphological characters and analyses of partial sequences of the 16s rRNA and coI genes confirm the validity of a new, cryptic, symphurine tonguefish from the western North Pacific Ocean. Symphurus leucochilus n. sp., a diminutive species reaching sizes to c. 67 mm standard length, is described from nine specimens that were collected from fish-landing ports and from trawls made at c. 150 m off Taiwan and Japan. Symphurus leucochilus shares many similar features with those of Symphurus microrhynchus and that of several undescribed species that are morphologically similar to S. microrhynchus. Symphurus leucochilus has also been misidentified as Symphurus orientalis in fish collections because of shared similarities in some aspects of their morphology. The new species differs from all congeners by the following combination of meristic, morphological and pigmentation features: a predominant 1-2-2-2-2 pattern of interdigitation of proximal dorsal-fin pterygiophores and neural spines; 12 caudal-fin rays; 89-92 dorsal-fin rays; 76-80 anal-fin rays; 49-51 total vertebrae; four hypurals; 75-83 longitudinal scale rows; 32-35 transverse scales; 15-17 scale rows on the head posterior to the lower orbit; absence of a fleshy ridge on the ocular-side lower jaw and a membranous connection between the anterior nostril and lower part of the eye; a narrow interorbital space and dorsal-fin origin anterior to the vertical through the anterior margin of the upper eye; absence of both dermal spots at bases of anterior dorsal-fin rays and melanophores on the isthmus; uniformly yellow to light-brown ocular-side colouration without bands; dorsal and anal fins with alternating series of dark rectangular blotches and unpigmented areas; a uniform white blind side and a bluish-black peritoneum. Despite overall similarities in morphology between S. leucochilus and S. orientalis, as well as between two of the nominal species morphologically similar to S. microrhynchus, analyses of partial 16s rRNA and coI gene sequences show that S. leucochilus, S. orientalis and the two other nominal species represent three distinct lineages within the genus Symphurus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acanthopagrus latus, long considered a single valid Indo-West Pacific Ocean species, characterized by having yellow pelvic, anal and caudal fins, is reviewed and separated into A. latus (east Asian shelf) and Acanthopagrus longispinnis (Bengal Bay), and three new species: Acanthopa-grus morrisoni sp. nov. (north-western Australia), Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. [Middle East (except for the Red Sea) to coasts of Iran and Pakistan, and western Indian coast] and Acanthopa-grus sheim sp. nov. (The Gulf). Although A. latus as redefined considerably varies in morphology and colouration, it can be recognized as a discrete east Asian endemic, with the following nominal species being junior synonyms: Chrysophrys auripes, Chrysophrys xanthopoda, Chrysophrys rubroptera and Sparus chrysopterus. Chrysophrys novaecaledoniae, known only from the holotype (type locality: Nouméa, New Caledonia), is a questionable junior synonym of A. latus, the lack of subsequent collections suggesting that the type locality is erroneous. Acanthopagrus longispinnis is differentiated from the other species in the complex by consistently having 12 dorsal-fin spines and a much larger second anal-fin spine, 21-26% (mean 23%) of standard length (Ls) (v. 14-24%, mean 18-21% in the other four species). Acanthopagrus morrisoni sp. nov. has the entire caudal fin yellow with a wide black posterior margin (persisting in preserved specimens) and consistently 3 1/2 scale rows between the fifth dorsal-fin spine base and the lateral line. Acanthopagrus sheim sp. nov. has the pelvic, anal and lower caudal fins vivid yellow, with two (rarely three) small black blotches on the lower inter-radial membranes between the spinous and soft dorsal-fin rays. Acanthopagrus arabicus sp. nov. consistently has 4 1/2 scale rows between the fifth dorsal-fin spine base and the lateral line, whereas A. latus always has black streaks proximally on the inter-radial membranes between the yellow anal-fin rays. A neotype and lectotye, respectively, are designated for A. latus and A. longispinnis. The p-distance (net nucleotide substitutions per site) of partial mitochondrial 16s ribosomal RNA genes (538 bp) among the above species (except A. longispinnis) and three other congeners (Acanthopagrus berda, Acanthopagrus pacificus and Acanthopagrus bifasciatus) strongly indicates that each is a distinct species. A key is provided for the 20 species of Acanthopagrus currently known from the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new records of Hydrolagus melanophasma, one juvenile female from off the central Mexican coast and one adult male from off the coast of Ecuador, confirm the presence of this species throughout its known range in the eastern Pacific Ocean, from southern California, U.S.A., to Valdivia, Chile. This report gives a description and comparison of proportional measurements, head shape and colouration for juvenile and adult H. melanophasma. A taxonomic key to distinguish the eastern Pacific Ocean species of Hydrolagus is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In situ observations and collections of Chaunacops coloratus (Garman, 1899) from seamounts in the eastern North Pacific Ocean lend new behavioral, morphological and molecular data to an under-sampled, deep-sea group of fishes in the order Lophiiformes. Seven observations were made at Davidson Seamount, 130km southwest of Monterey, CA, and from the Taney Seamount chain, 290km west of Moss Landing, CA, from depths ranging from 2313 to 3297m. Specimens were collected at both locations. Morphometric and meristic analyses were performed to identify individuals to the species level. These observations of C. coloratus provide greater latitude and depth distributions in the eastern North Pacific Ocean than previously known. Detailed habitat information indicated the fish occurred near manganese-encrusted volcanic talus slopes, a highly rugose habitat. Video observations revealed possible ontogenetic color changes in which small fish were blue and large fish were red. Video recorded rapid, vertical swimming as an escape response and maneuvering, or walking, with pectoral and pelvic fins and esca deployment. Phylogenetic analyses used here verify what has been known since Garman first described C. coloratus in 1899, that Chaunax and Chaunacops are closely related; molecular tools complement previous knowledge and genetic information created has been submitted to GenBank for further use by the scientific community. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The scavenging fish communities at abyssal depths of the Pacific Ocean are dominated by two species of macrourids; the rough abyssal grenadier Coryphaenoides yaquinae and the abyssal grenadier C. armatus (). These two species are morphologically very similar, and in the absence of physical specimens are notoriously difficult to distinguish from photographic data. In an era of increasing reliance on imaging technology in the deep sea, we provide an analysis of images of the two species from around the Pacific Rim with supplementary data from the Atlantic and Southern Oceans. Our results show that image-specific morphometric characters are inadequate to distinguish the two species. However, the way in which artificial illumination is reflected from the body is both sufficient, and consistently different to distinguish between the two species. The results are also corroborated by known geographic and bathymetric distributions. This analysis is intended to provide a reliable method of identification from deep-sea imaging systems in the absence of standard fishing techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report the discovery of an enigmatic, small eel-like fish from a 35 m-deep fringing-reef cave in the western Pacific Ocean Republic of Palau that exhibits an unusual suite of morphological characters. Many of these uniquely characterize the Recent members of the 19 families comprising the elopomorph order Anguilliformes, the true eels. Others are found among anguilliforms only in the Cretaceous fossils, and still others are primitive with respect to both Recent and fossil eels. Thus, morphological evidence explicitly places it as the most basal lineage (i.e. the sister group of extant anguilliforms). Phylogenetic analysis and divergence time estimation based on whole mitogenome sequences from various actinopterygians, including representatives of all eel families, demonstrate that this fish represents one of the most basal, independent lineages of the true eels, with a long evolutionary history comparable to that of the entire Anguilliformes (approx. 200 Myr). Such a long, independent evolutionary history dating back to the early Mesozoic and a retention of primitive morphological features (e.g. the presence of a premaxilla, metapterygoid, free symplectic, gill rakers, pseudobranch and distinct caudal fin rays) warrant recognition of this species as a ‘living fossil’ of the true eels, herein described as Protanguilla palau genus et species nov. in the new family Protanguillidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A draconematid nematode Prochaetosoma dokdoense sp. nov., first discovered in December 2006 at a subtidal zone of Dokdo, Korea, the northwest Pacific Ocean, is described. This new species was obtained from coarse detritus and shell gravels. Prochaetosoma dokdoense sp. nov. differs from all the species hitherto described by the following combination of characteristics: longer slender body (910-1175 μm), elongate loop-shaped amphidial fovea in male (distal end of ventral arm slightly curved anteriorly), eight cephalic adhesion tubes in both sexes positioned just anterior to swollen pharyngeal region, number of posterior sublateral adhesion tubes (6 in male and 6-10 in female) and posterior subventral adhesion tubes (7-8 in male and 8-9 in female), longer spicule length (78-86 μm), long cylindro-conoid tail (114-131 μm in male and 116-131 μm in female) and higher ratio c' (6.5-7.5 in male and 7.4-9 in female). A table comparing the major differential diagnostic characteristics of the species of the genus Prochaetosoma Micoletzky, 1922 is presented. For a reliable understanding of the geographic distribution and species identification of the genus Prochaetosoma, a pictorial key showing the relative length of non-annulated tail terminus to total tail length in both sexes is included, together with a dichotomous species identification key based on adults and fourth-stage juvenile as far as known. This is the first record of the genus Prochaetosoma in the northwest Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a study conducted on the existence of Gazza minuta Leiognathidae fishes in the Persian Gulf. Topics discussed include evidence of the fish species in the Oman sea and in Iranian waters, no previous record of species in the Persian gulf, morphological and phylogenetic differences between Gazza minuta and other species and; attribution of Gazza minuta through ballast waterways of persian gulf.

Escolar ( Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) is a large, mesopelagic fish that inhabits tropical and temperate seas throughout the world, and is a common bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries that target tuna and swordfish. Few studies have explored the biology and natural history of escolar, and little is known regarding its population structure. To evaluate the genetic basis of population structure of escolar throughout their range, we surveyed genetic variation over an 806 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial control region. In total, 225 individuals from six geographically distant locations throughout the Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, South Africa) and Pacific (Ecuador, Hawaii, Australia) were analyzed. A neighbor-joining tree of haplotypes based on maximum likelihood distances revealed two highly divergent clades (δ = 4.85%) that were predominantly restricted to the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific ocean basins. All Atlantic clade individuals occurred in the Atlantic Ocean and all but four Pacific clade individuals were found in the Pacific Ocean. The four Atlantic escolar with Pacific clade haplotypes were found in the South Africa collection. The nuclear ITS-1 gene region of these four individuals was subsequently analyzed and compared to the ITS-1 gene region of four individuals from the South Africa collection with Atlantic clade haplotypes as well as four representative individuals each from the Atlantic and Pacific collections. The four South Africa escolar with Pacific mitochondrial control region haplotypes all had ITS-1 gene region sequences that clustered with the Pacific escolar, suggesting that they were recent migrants from the Indo-Pacific. Due to the high divergence and geographic separation of the Atlantic and Pacific clades, as well as reported morphological differences between Atlantic and Indo-Pacific specimens, consideration of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific populations as separate species or subspecies may be warranted, though further study is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caranx hippos species complex comprises three extant species: crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) (Linnaeus, 1766) from both the western and eastern Atlantic oceans; Pacific crevalle jack (Caranx caninus) Günther, 1868 from the eastern Pacific Ocean; and longfin crevalle jack (Caranx fischeri) new species, from the eastern Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea and Ascension Island. Adults of all three species are superficially similar with a black blotch on the lower half of the pectoral fin, a black spot on the upper margin of opercle, one or two pairs of enlarged symphyseal canines on the lower jaw, and a similar pattern of breast squamation. Each species has a different pattern of hyperostotic bone development and anal-fin color. The two sympatric eastern Atlantic species also differ from each other in number of dorsal- and anal-fin rays, and in large adults of C. fischeri the lobes of these fins are longer and the body is deeper. Caranx hippos from opposite sides of the Atlantic are virtually indistinguishable externally but differ consistently in the expression of hyperostosis of the first dorsal-fin pterygiophore. The fossil species Caranx carangopsis Steindachner 1859 appears to have been based on composite material of Trachurus sp. and a fourth species of the Caranx hippos complex. Patterns of hyperostotic bone development are compared in the nine (of 15 total) species of Caranx sensu stricto that exhibit hyperostosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep-sea ceratioid anglerfish genus Bufoceratias Whitley is revised on the basis of all known material. Three species are recognized: Bufoceratias wedli (Pietschmann), now represented by 69 specimens collected from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean; Bufoceratias thele (Uwate), 11 specimens from the western Pacific; and a new species, Bufoceratias shaoi, described on the basis of four specimens from the Western Indian and Western Pacific oceans. The new species differs from its congeners by having a short illicium and an unusually large and morphologically complex esca. Diagnoses and descriptions are given for all taxa and a revised key to the species of the genus is provided. Diceratiids are found in all three major oceans of the world, but they are conspicuously absent from the eastern Pacific. In contrast to the midwater life style generally assumed for most ceratioids, at least some diceratiids, especially larger individuals, are associated with the bottom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cardinal fish, Apogonichthyoides sialis, previously known from the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, is reported from the south-west coast of India (Kerala coast). The specimens are described and figured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]