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Atherinella eriarcha Jordan & Gilbert, 1882. Longfin Silverside. To at least 8.5 cm (3.3 in) SL (Personal communication: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Fish Collection, La Jolla, California). Bah��a San Hip��lito, southern Baja California (Watson in Moser 1996) to Colombia (Lavenberg and Chernoff in Fischer et al. 1995), including lower Gulf of California (Lavenberg and Chernoff in Fischer et al. 1995). Depth: surface (Personal communication: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Fish Collection, La Jolla, California), intertidal to 15 m (50 ft) (min.: Robertson and Allen 2002; max.: Personal communication: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Fish Collection, La Jolla, California)., Published as part of Love, Milton S., Bizzarro, Joseph J., Cornthwaite, Maria, Frable, Benjamin W. & Maslenikov, Katherine P., 2021, Checklist of marine and estuarine fishes from the Alaska-Yukon Border, Beaufort Sea, to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, pp. 1-285 in Zootaxa 5053 (1) on page 92, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5053.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5578008, {"references":["Moser, H. G. (Ed.). (1996) The early stages of fishes in the California Current region. CALCOFI Atlas, No. 33.","Fischer, W., Krupp, F., Schneider, W., Sommer, C., Carpenter, K. E. & Niem, V. H. (1995) Guia FAO para la identificacion para los fines de la pesca. Pacifico centro-oriental. Volume II, Vertebrados, Parte 1. Volume III, Vertebrados, Parte 2. FAO, Rome.","Robertson, D. R. & Allen, G. R. (2002) Shorefishes of the tropical eastern Pacific: an information system. CD-ROM. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama."]}

Leuresthes tenuis (Ayres, 1860). California Grunion. To 19 cm (7.5 in) TL (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983). Tomales Bay, northern California (Roberts et al. 2007) to Bah��a Magdalena, southern Baja California (Miller and Lea 1972). Depth: intertidal to 18 m (60 ft) (Miller and Lea 1972)., Published as part of Love, Milton S., Bizzarro, Joseph J., Cornthwaite, Maria, Frable, Benjamin W. & Maslenikov, Katherine P., 2021, Checklist of marine and estuarine fishes from the Alaska-Yukon Border, Beaufort Sea, to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, pp. 1-285 in Zootaxa 5053 (1) on page 93, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5053.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5578008, {"references":["Eschmeyer, W. N. & Herald, E. S. (1983) A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes of North America from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.","Roberts, D., Lea, R. N. & Martin, K. L. (2007) First record of the occurrence of the California grunion, Leuresthes tenuis, in Tomales Bay, California, a northern extension of the species. California Fish and Game, 93, 107 - 110.","Miller, D. J. & Lea, R. N. (1972) Guide to the coastal marine fishes of California. California Department of Fish and Game Fish Bulletin, 157."]}

This checklist of the Mediterranean fishes of Israel enumerates 469 species which is an addition of 62 species since the previous checklist of 2005. This new checklist includes 58 Condrichthys and 411 Osteicthys species. Most newly-recorded species are of Red Sea origin (Lessepsian migrants)—38 species, 25 species are from previously poorly investigated habitats, mainly deep water, while two species reached the Mediterranean most likely by ballast water and two are aquaculture escapees. The dramatic increase in the number of Lessepsian migrants (an average of 2.5 species per year) is most likely due to the increased water influx between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, following the recent opening of the new parallel, 72 km, “new canal” and the enlargement of other parts of the Suez Canal.

ATHERINIDAE Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 Atherina mocho: Ben-Tuvia, 1953a; Ben-Tuvia, 1953c. Atherina mochon: Ben-Tuvia, 1971a. Atherina boyeri: Gon, 1979 (Gen. Biol., Heb.); Gon & Ben-Tuvia, 1983 (Gen. Biol.); Goren & Galil, 1998 (Heb.); Ben-Tuvia & Golani, 1993 (Gen. Biol.); Golani, 1996; Golani, 1997 (Heb.); Ogorek, 1999; Golani, 2003; Ethad, 2004 (Heb.); Golani, 2005; Golani et al., 2007; Stern, 2010; Levitt, 2012 Goren, et al., 2016. * Atherinomorus forskalii (R��ppell, 1838) Atherina forskalii: Bodenheimer, 1937. Atherina pinguis: Haas & Steinitz, 1947; Ben-Tuvia, 1953c. Hepsetia pinguis: Ben-Tuvia, 1953a; Ben-Tuvia, 1953b; Perlmutter, 1956. Pranesus pinguis: Fowler & Steinitz, 1956; Ben-Tuvia, 1966; Ben-Tuvia, 1971a; Lourie, 1972 (Ichthyoplan, Heb.); Paperna, 1972 (Parasit.); Diamant, 1977 (Heb.); Ben-Tuvia, 1978; Por, 1978; Fischthal, 1980 (Parasit.). Atherinops lacunosus: Ben-Tuvia, 1985. Atherinomorus lacunosus: Diamant et al., 1986; Goren & Galil, 1998 (Heb.); Ivantsoff & Crowley, 1991 (Syst.); Ben-Tuvia & Golani, 1993 (Gen. Biol.); Golani, 1993b (Feed.); Golani, 1996; Golani & Ben-Tuvia, 1996; Golani, 1997 (Heb.); Golani, 1998a; Golani, 1998b; Ogorek, 1999; Bucciarelli et al., 2002 (Gen.); Golani, 2002a; Golani, et al., 2002; Golani, 2003; Ethad, 2004 (Heb.); Goren & Galil, 2005; Golani et al. 2007. Atherinomorus forskalii: Golani, 2005; Kimura et al., 2007., Published as part of Golani, Daniel, 2021, An updated Checklist of the Mediterranean fishes of Israel, with illustrations of recently recorded species and delineation of Lessepsian migrants, pp. 1-108 in Zootaxa 4956 (1) on page 30, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4956.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4691195, {"references":["Ben-Tuvia, A. (1953 a) Mediterranean fishes of Israel. Bulletin of the Sea Fisheries Research Station, Haifa, 8, 1 - 40.","Ben-Tuvia, A. (1953 c) Fishes caught off Caesarea, on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Bulletin of the Research Council of Israel, 2 (4), 439.","Ben-Tuvia, A. (1971 a) Revised list of the Mediterranean fishes of Israel. Israel Journal of Zoology, 20, 1 - 39.","Gon, O. (1979) The biology of Boyer's sand smelt, (Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810), (Atherinidae) in the Bardawil Lagoon. M. Sc. Thesis. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 48 pp. [in Hebrew]","Gon, O. & Ben-Tuvia, A. (1983) The biology of Boyer's sand smelt, Atherina boyeri Risso in the Bardawil Lagoon on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai. Journal of Fish Biology, 22, 537 - 547. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1095 - 8649.1983. tb 04213. x","Ben-Tuvia, A. & Golani, D. (1993) Some observations on the biology of atherinid fishes from the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts of Israel. Pour qui la Mediterranee ou 21 eme Siecle? Le Systeme Littoral Mediterraneen. Actes Du Colloque Scientifique, Montpellier, France, 58 - 63 pp.","Golani, D. (1997) Handbook of the Fishes of Israel. Keter Publishing House Ltd. Jrusalem. 269 pp. [in Hebrew].","Ogorek, R. (1999) Ecological aspects of the fish community in the Shikmona reef. M. Sc. Thesis. Tel-Aviv University, 74 pp. [in Hebrew]","Golani, D. (2003) Fish assemblages associated with net pen mariculture and an adjacent rocky habitat in the Port of Ashdod, Israel (eastern Mediterranean) - preliminary results. Acta Adritica, 44, 51 - 59.","Ethad, D. (2004) Fishes caught in the Electric Company's Haifa power station's filtering systems in relation to environmental conditions and in comparison to fish assemblages from ancient coastal sites. M. Sc. Thesis. University of Haifa, 98 + 4 pp. [in Hebrew with English abstract]","Levitt, Y. (2012) The impact of depth gradient on the status of alien species along the Mediterranean Sea coast of Israel. M. Sc. Thesis. Tel-Aviv University, 90 pp.","Bodenheimer, F. S. (1937) Prodromus Faunae Palestinae. Mem. Inst. Egypt, 233, 271 - 275.","Haas, G. & Steinitz, H. (1947) Erythrean fishes on the Mediterranean coast of Palestine. Nature, 160, 28. https: // doi. org / 10.1038 / 160028 b 0","Ben-Tuvia, A. (1953 b) New Erythrean fishes from the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Nature, 172, 464 - 465. https: // doi. org / 10.1038 / 172464 b 0","Fowler, H. W. & Steinitz, H. (1956) Fishes from Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel and Oman. Bulletin of the Research Council of Israel, 5 B (3 - 4), 260 - 292.","Ben-Tuvia, A. (1966) Red Sea fishes recently found in the Mediterranean. Copeia, 1966, 254 - 275. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1441133","Lourie, A. (1972) Distribution and occurrence of the young stages of fishes in the upper layers along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. M. Sc. Thesis. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 85 pp. [in Hebrew]","Paperna, I. (1972) Parasitological implications of fish migration through interoceanic canals. 17 e Congress of Internatioal Zoology, Monte Carlo, 5 + iv pp. [mimeo]","Diamant, A. (1977) A quantitative and qualitative analysis of a fish community of an artificial reef in the Mediterranean Sea, with comparison to those of natural biotopes. M. Sc. Thesis. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 106 pp. [in Hebrew]","Ben-Tuvia, A. (1978) Immigration of fishes through the Suez Canal. Fishery Bulletin, 76 (1), 249 - 255.","Por, F. D. (1978) Lessepsian Migration. The Influx of Red Sea Biota into the Mediterranean by Way of the Suez Canal. Ecological Studies, 23. Springer - Verlag, Berlin, 228 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / 978 - 3 - 642 - 66728 - 2","Fischthal, J. H. (1980) Some digenetic trematodes of marine fishes from Israel's Mediterranean coast and their zoogeography, especially those from the Red Sea immigrant fishes. Zoologica Scripta, 9, 11 - 23. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1463 - 6409.1980. tb 00647. x","Ben-Tuvia, A. (1985) The impact of the Lessepsian (Suez Canal) fish migration on the eastern Mediterranean ecosystem. In: Moraitou-Apostolopoulou, M. & Kiortsis, V. (Eds.), Mediterranean Marine Ecosystems. Plenum Publishing Corporation, pp. 367 - 375. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / 978 - 1 - 4899 - 2248 - 9 _ 17","Diamant, A., Ben-Tuvia, A., Baranes, A. & Golani, D. (1986) An analysis of rocky coastal eastern Mediterranean fish assemblages and a comparison with an adjacent small artificial reef. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 97, 269 - 285. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / 0022 - 0981 (86) 90245 - 5","Ivantsoff, W. & Crowley, L. E. L. M. (1991) Review of the Australian silverside fishes of the genus Atherinomorus (Atherinidae). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 42, 479 - 505. https: // doi. org / 10.1071 / MF 9910479","Golani, D. (1993 b) Trophic adaptations of Red Sea fishes to the eastern Mediterranean environment - review and new data. Israel Journal of Zoology, 39, 391 - 402.","Golani, D. (1998 a) Distribution of Lessepsian migrant fish in the Mediterranean. Italian Journal of Zoology, 65 (suppl.), 95 - 99. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 11250009809386801","Golani, D. (1998 b) Impact of Red Sea fish migrants through the Suez Canal on the aquatic environment of the easrern Mediterranean. Bullitin of the Yale School of Forestry and Environment Studies, 103, 375 - 387.","Bucciarelli, G., Golani, D. & Bernardi, G. (2002) Genetic cryptic species as biological invaders: the case of a Lessepsian fish migrant, the hardyhead silverside Atheinomorus lacunosus. Journal of Experiment Marine Biology and Ecology 273, 143 - 149. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / S 0022 - 0981 (02) 00138 - 7","Golani, D. (2002 a) Lessepsian fish migration - charaterization and impact on the eastern Mediterranean. In: Ozturk, B. & Basusta, N. (Eds.), Workshop on Lessepsian Migration Proceedings. Turkish Marinre Research Foundation, Istanbul, 9, pp. 1 - 9.","Goren, M. & Galil, B. S. (2005) A review of changes in the fish assemblages of Levantine inland and marine ecosystems following the introduction of non-native fishes. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 21, 364 - 370. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1439 - 0426.2005.00674. x","Kimura, S., Golani, D., Iwatsuki, Y., Tabuchi, M. & Yoshino, T. (2007) Redescriptions of the Indo-Pacific atherinid fishes Atherinomorus forskalii, Atherinomorus lacunosus and Atherinomorus pinguis. Ichthyological Research, 54, 145 - 159. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10228 - 006 - 0386 - 7"]}

Neostethus lankesteri Regan, 1916 Material examined. MALAYSIA • 3, 27– 35 mm TL; Kedah State, Semeling, Semeling Bridge; 5.680°N, 100.470°E; 17 Jul. 2019; Sébastien Lavoué leg.; USMFC (108) 00001., Published as part of Zainal Abidin, Danial Hariz, Lavoué, Sébastien, Mohd Abu Hassan Alshari, Norli Fauzani, Mohd. Nor, Siti Azizah, A. Rahim, Masazurah & Mohammed Akib, Noor Adelyna, 2021, Ichthyofauna of Sungai Merbok Mangrove Forest Reserve, northwest Peninsular Malaysia, and its adjacent marine waters, pp. 601-631 in Check List 17 (2) on page 619, DOI: 10.15560/17.2.601

Background The caudal fin of teleosts is a highly diverse morphological structure and a valuable source of information for comparative analyses. Within the Atherinomorpha a high variation of conditions of the caudal-fin skeleton can be found. These range from complex but basal configurations to simple yet derived configurations. When comparing atherinomorph taxa, it is often difficult to decide on the homology of skeletal elements if only considering adult specimens. However, observing the development of caudal-fin skeletons allows one to evaluate complex structures, reveal homologies and developmental patterns, and even reconstruct the grundplan of the examined taxa. Results We studied the development of the caudal-fin skeleton in different atheriniform, beloniform and cyprinodontiform species using cleared and stained specimens. Subsequently we compared the development to find similarities and differences in terms of 1) which structures are formed and 2) which structures fuse during ontogeny. For many structures, i.e., the parhypural, the epural(s), the haemal and neural spines of the preural centra and the uroneural, there were either no or only minor differences visible between the three taxa. However, the development of the hypurals revealed a high variation of fusions within different taxa that partly occurred independently in atheriniforms, beloniforms and cyprinodontiforms. Moreover, comparing the development of the ural centra exposed two ways of formation of the compound centrum: 1) in atheriniforms and the beloniforms Oryzias and Hyporhamphus limbatus two ural centra develop and fuse during ontogeny while 2) in cyprinodontiforms and Exocoetidae (Beloniformes) only a single ural centrum is formed during ontogeny. Conclusions We were able to reconstruct the grundplan of the developmental pattern of the caudal-fin skeleton of the Atheriniformes, Beloniformes and Cyprinodontiformes as well as their last common ancestors. We found two developmental modes of the compound centrum within the Atherinomorpha, i.e., the fusion of two developing ural centra in atheriniforms and beloniforms and the development of only one ural centrum in cyprinodontiforms. Further differences and similarities for the examined taxa are discussed, resulting in the hypothesis that the caudal-fin development of a last common ancestor to all atherinomorphs is very much similar to that of extant atheriniforms.

The abundance of early stages of the surf silverside Notocheirus hubbsi in nearshore waters of central Chile, collected in samplings set up to assess the lunar cycle during austral spring and summer is reported. A total of 19 specimens were collected with light traps, 16 larvae (7.89-16.20 mm SL) in austral spring and 3 juveniles (30.70-34.60 mm SL) in summer. Capture per unit effort (CPUE) varied from 0.33 to 2.00 ind. light trap-1 night-1 during the entire study period (September 2015-February 2016, and September 2016-February 2017). N. hubbsi catches recorded maximum abundance during the new moon and no catches during full moon.

The Lake Eyre hardyhead (Craterocephalus eyresii) is an endemic freshwater fish living in the Lake Eyre basin in South Australia. Here, I report the full mitogenome description and the phylogenetic position of this species based on the mitogenome phylogenetics. The mitogenome is 16,602 bp-long with the standard 37 genes all included, with a genomic structure typical of a vertebrate mitogenome. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis to confirm this species position was conducted, using a data set including publicly available 28 atherinomorphs, nine percomorphs, and two outgroups. The result confirms C. eyresii position's in Atherinoidei. The complete mitogenome data of C. eyresii reported here would be useful for further genetics, phylogeography, and phylogenetics studies involving this species.

Loma acerinae is a xenoma-forming fish microsporidium described from common ruffe Gymnocephalus cernua (Perciformes: Percidae) and also found in Ponto-Caspian gobies (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae). This casts doubt on the strict host specificity of this parasite. The largest subunit RNA polymerase II (rpb1) was used as a genetic marker of the parasite isolated from six host species of Perciformes (G. cernua from the Baltic Sea), Atheriniformes (Atherina boyeri from the Azov Sea) and Gobiiformes (Neogobius spp. and Zosterisessor ophiocephalus from the Black Sea and Ponticola kessleri from the Caspian Sea basin). Two major rpb1 haplogroups were found with 98.5% identity between the groups. Notably, Haplogroup I was associated with Neogobius spp. samples (n = 6) only, whereas Haplogroup II included the samples from other host species (n = 7). These findings confirm the broad distribution and host range of L. acerinae, but also indicate that certain patterns of host-driven intraspecific polymorphism may exist. Furthermore, the study revealed low similarity between the ribosomal RNA gene sequences of L. acerinae and the type species, Loma morhua (as well as other species of the genus). This suggests loose genetic association within the genus, and may raise the need for the taxonomic revision of L. acerinae.

Two new species of miniature silverside fishes are described from coastal habitats in the tropical Atlantic: Membras pygmaea sp. nov., from Brus Lagoon, Honduras, and M. procera sp. nov., from the Gulf of Urabá, Colombia. These new species belong to the martinica species-group within the genus Membras Bonaparte. The monophyletic martinica species-group (see below) contains four additional species, all coastal, marine that extend from the east coast of North America to São Paolo State, Brazil. Within the martinica species-group, all but M. martinica are miniature species, ranging from 41–60 mm SL. The smallest species, M. pygmaea sp. nov., is mature at 24 mm SL. A geometric morphometric analysis shows: (i) each species of the martinica species-group occupies its own portion of shape space; and (ii) none of the miniature species possess the shapes of small immature M. martinica. While some of the literature suggests that miniaturization may involve paedomorphosis, our results show that the miniatures accelerate to adult body forms.

Membras procera sp. nov. Fig. 3B, Table 1 Holotype. ANSP 153427 (36.6 mm SL); Colombia: Gulf of Urab��, 8 17.0��� N, 76 49.5���W; R. V. Pillsbury, 11 July 1966. Paratypes. All lots collected with holotype. ANSP 153428 (36.1 mm SL); UMML 30095, 2 (34.0��� 36.3 mm SL). Diagnosis. A species of Membras belonging to the martinica species-group, distinguishable from all congeners by the following characters: anus between anal fin origin and pelvic fin insertion; tips of pelvic fins reaching anterior margin of vent; posterior margins of predorsal and lateral scales strongly laciniate; lateral scales 42���44; predorsal scales 20���22; length of spinous dorsal fin 8.5���9.5% SL; least depth of caudal peduncle 7.3���8.6% SL. Description. Morphometric data given in Table 1. Values for holotype indicated by asterisks; number of examined specimens with a given count in parentheses. A dwarf species, known from specimens less than 40 mm SL, yet specimens with large testes and large eggs. Body slender, elongate with belly curving gracefully to slender, elongate caudal peduncle. Anus almost midway between pelvic fin insertion and anal fin origin. Spinous dorsal fin just anterior to origin of anal fin and posterior to anus. Dorsal fins well separated. Base of second dorsal fin terminates posterior to anal fin. Head length Pigmentation in alcohol. Overall, a lightly pigmented species, most pigment contained on lateral stripe. Top of head with posterior heart-shaped brain pigment with deeply incised central notch; anterior portion with a blotch of pigment; remainder of frontals almost immaculate. Ethmoid region irregularly pigmented with a few scattered flecks. One or two large melanophores under nasal bones. Premaxila dusky dorsally becoming sparser laterally, not extending to labial ligament. Dentary with a row of dark, large melanophores, largest under labia ligament, extending to joint with quadrate. Gular region immaculate. Infraorbital series, opercular bones and branchiostegals with relatively few scattered pigment specks. Lateral stripe less than a scale width anteriorly expanding to 1.5 scales at mid-body and decreasing to less than a scale on the caudal peduncle. Lateral stripe with several rows of distinct melanophores, the darkest and largest along the dorsal margin. Usually two rows of melanophores between upper edge of lateral stripe and dorsum; scale margins not outlined or crosshatched. Predorsal and interdorsal stripes with a single file of melanophores; postdorsal stripe with one or two rows. Body below lateral stripe and breast without pigment. Row of melanophores from posterior margin of anus along sides of anal fin and under caudal peduncle to caudal fin. Spinous dorsal fin with a few large melanophores along anterior spines. Second dorsal and anal fins with melanophores along rays not on membranes. Pelvic fin immaculate. Pectoral fin with melanophores present only on inner surface of basal part of rays; fleshy base of fin lacking pigment spots. Distribution and Habitat. The species is only known from the Gulf of Urab�� in eastern Colombia. It was collected in open water about 1 km offshore. The species was captured at night when lights were submerged below the surface waters to 1 m off the R.V. Pilsbury. Etymology. The species-group name, procera, an adjective derived from the Latin, meaning long or slender, in reference to the overall shape of this species., Published as part of Chernoff, Barry, Machado-Allison, Antonio, Escobedo, Jennifer, Freiburger, Michael, Henderson, Elijah, Hennessy, Andrew, Kohn, Grace, Neri, Nola, Parikh, Aashni, Scobell, Sophie, Silverstone, Benjamin & Young, Emily, 2020, Two new miniature silverside fishes of the genus Membras Bonaparte (Atheriniformes, Atherinopsidae) from the Tropical North Atlantic Ocean, pp. 191-202 in Zootaxa 4852 (2) on pages 197-198, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4852.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/4409798

Chernoff, Barry, Machado-Allison, Antonio, Escobedo, Jennifer, Freiburger, Michael, Henderson, Elijah, Hennessy, Andrew, Kohn, Grace, Neri, Nola, Parikh, Aashni, Scobell, Sophie, Silverstone, Benjamin, Young, Emily (2020): Two new miniature silverside fishes of the genus Membras Bonaparte (Atheriniformes, Atherinopsidae) from the Tropical North Atlantic Ocean. Zootaxa 4852 (2): 191-202, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4852.2.4

Key to the Genus Membras Bonaparte 1A. Rostral sensory system 4+2, without four large pits at margin of frontal bones; scales around body 20���27, modally 22................................................................................................. M. gilberti 1B. Rostral sensory system 4+2+4, with four large deep pits at margin of frontal bones (in largest specimens the two intermediate pits may fuse with the two posterior pits); scales around body 13���19, modally 16................................... 2 2A. Anus located just anterior to origin of anal fin; tips of pelvic fins not reaching anterior margin of vent; predorsal scales 21���26, modally 23���24; posterior margins of scales laciniate................................................ M. martinica 2B. Anus positioned closer to base of pelvic fin than to origin of anal fin; tips of pelvic fins reaching or extending beyond anterior margin of vent; predorsal scales 16���21, modally 19���20; posterior margins of scales smooth or laciniate................ 3 3A Posterior margins of predorsal and lateral scales strongly laciniate............................................... 4 3B Posterior margins of predorsal and lateral scales smooth or irregular............................................. 5 4A Lateral scales 38���39; predorsal scales 16���18, modally 18; length of spinous dorsal fin 6.4���6.9% SL, mean = 6.8%; least depth of caudal peduncle greater than 9.2���9.5% SL, mean = 9.4%........................................... M. argentea 4B. Lateral scales more than 40; predorsal scales 20���21, modally 21; length of spinous dorsal fin 8.8���9.0% SL, mean = 8.8%; least depth of caudal peduncle 7.4���8.6% SL, mean = 8.2%.......................................... M. procera sp. nov. 5A. Precaudal vertebrae 17���18; pre-anal-fin length 6.3���6.4% SL, mean = 63.6%; orbit diameter 6.5���6.7% SL, mean = 6.6%; lateral stripe becomes diffuse at base of caudal fin, lacking a distinctive mark.................................. M. dissimilis 5B. Precaudal vertebrae 14���16, modally 15; pre-anal-fin length 5.6���6.2% SL, mean = 6.0%; orbit diameter 6.8���8.5% SL, mean = 7.7%; lateral stripe ends distinctly before hypural base there can be a diffuse spot or crescent mark present...............6 6A. Least depth of caudal peduncle 8.5���10.5% SL, mean = 9.7%; body depth 15.7���18.1% SL, mean = 16.9%; total gill rakers, first arch 15���18, modally 16���17....................................................................... M. analis 6B. Least depth of caudal peduncle 6.7���8.5% SL, mean = 7.7%; body depth 13.5���15.9% SL, mean = 14.8%; total gill rakers, first arch 16���20, modally 18 or 19............................................................ M. pygmaea sp. nov., Published as part of Chernoff, Barry, Machado-Allison, Antonio, Escobedo, Jennifer, Freiburger, Michael, Henderson, Elijah, Hennessy, Andrew, Kohn, Grace, Neri, Nola, Parikh, Aashni, Scobell, Sophie, Silverstone, Benjamin & Young, Emily, 2020, Two new miniature silverside fishes of the genus Membras Bonaparte (Atheriniformes, Atherinopsidae) from the Tropical North Atlantic Ocean, pp. 191-202 in Zootaxa 4852 (2) on page 194, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4852.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/4409798

The current status of the inland waters ichthyofauna of Turkey is revised, and an updated checklist of the freshwater fishes is presented. The latest checklist included all species listed in the available previous study that was published in 2015, which is now updated after a period of five years. We revised the validity of previously accepted species and added newly described and reported species in Turkey. Some previously erroneously reported species and not established alien fishes were excluded from this checklist. A total of 384 fish species belonging to 20 orders and 34 families have been reported in the inland waters of Turkey. Among these, 15 species (3.9%) are non-native and 208 species (54.2%) are considered as endemic to Turkey. A total of 119 species previously reported from Turkey have been excluded from Turkish ichthyofauna list, either in the present study or in previous studies.

Atherininae Risso 1827 Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 [N]―[LC], Big-scale sand smelt/Gümüș baligi/All coasts of Anatolian brackish waters, translo- cated to many reservoirs in Anatolia (Bilecenoglu et al. 2002; Kuru 2004; Geldiay & Balik 2007; Fricke et al. 2007; Bilecenoglu et al. 2014; Kuru et al. 2014; Çiçek et al. 2015)., Published as part of Çiçek, Erdogan, Sungur, Sevil & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, Freshwater lampreys and fishes of Turkey; a revised and updated annotated checklist 2020, pp. 241-270 in Zootaxa 4809 (2) on page 257, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4809.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/3934124, {"references":["Bilecenoglu, M., Taskavak, E., Mater, S. & Kaya, M. (2002) Checklist of the marine fishes of Turkey. Zootaxa, 113 (1), 1 - 194. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 113.1.1","Kuru, M. (2004) Recent systematic status of inland water fishes of Turkey. Journal of Education Faculty of Gazi, 24, 1 - 21.","Geldiay, R & Balik, S. (2007) Freshwater Fishes of Turkey. V. Edition, Ege University Press, Bornova, Izmir, 638 pp.","Fricke, R., Bilecenoglu, M. & Sari, H. M. (2007) Annotated checklist of fish and lamprey species (Gnathostomata and Petromyzontomorphi) of Turkey, including a Red List of threatened and declining species. Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde, Serie A (Biologie), 706, 1 - 172.","Bilecenoglu, M., Kaya, M., Cihangir, B. & Cicek, E. (2014) An updated checklist of the marine fishes of Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 38, 901 - 929. https: // doi. org / 10.3906 / zoo- 1405 - 60","Kuru, M., Yerli, S. V., Mangit, F., Unlu, E. & Alp, A. (2014) Fish Biodiversity in Inland Waters of Turkey. Journal of Academic Documents for Fisheries and Aquaculture, 1 (3), 93 - 120.","Cicek, E., Sungur-Birecikligil, S. & Fricke, R. (2015) Freshwater fishes of Turkey: A revised and updated annotated checklist. Biharean Biologist, 9 (2), 141 - 157."]}

8. The likewise Atherina presbyter Cuvier, 1829 was reported by the Deveciyan (1915: 115), also with the market details, but the objection could not be understood with self reference to commenter only., Published as part of Art��z, M. Levent & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, Response to the comments regarding " The marine teleost fishes of the Sea of Marmara; an updated and annotated checklist " by Art��z & Fricke (2019), pp. 395-400 in Zootaxa 4802 (2) on page 397, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4802.2.13, http://zenodo.org/record/3991001, {"references":["Deveciyan, K. (1915) Balik ve balikcilik. Duyun-i Osmaniye varidat-i mahsuse idare-yi merkeziyesi matbaasi, Istanbul, 60 pp. [in Ottomane]"]}

Artüz, M. Levent, Fricke, Ronald (2020): Response to the comments regarding "The marine teleost fishes of the Sea of Marmara; an updated and annotated checklist" by Artüz & Fricke (2019). Zootaxa 4802 (2): 395-400, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4802.2.13

Atherina boyeri Risso 1810 ���Big-scale sand smelt Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Atherina mochon Cuvier 1829 by George et al. (1964: 16); subsequently recorded as Atherina boyeri Risso by Mouneimn�� (1977: 65); as Atherina boyeri Risso 1810 by Mouneimn�� (2002: 106); recently recorded as Atherina boyeri by Bariche et al. (2009: 3). Material in collection: AMNH, AUBM and USNM. Distribution. Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, Black Sea, Sea of Azov, eastern Atlantic: southern North Sea to Mauritania including Canary Islands; introduced into lakes in Turkey. Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 1 January 2008); Med. (LC: 16 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, NIS, unknown. Occurrence: Common. Low priority for conservation action. Aulopiformes, Published as part of Bariche, Michel & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, The marine ichthyofauna of Lebanon: an annotated checklist, history, biogeography, and conservation status, pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 4775 (1) on pages 37-38, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4775.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3983887, {"references":["George, C. J., Athanassiou, V. A. & Boulos, I. (1964) The fishes of the coastal waters of Lebanon. Miscellaneous Papers in the Natural Sciences. The American University of Beirut, 4, 1 - 24.","Mouneimne, N. (1977) Liste des poissons de la cote du Liban (Mediterranee orientale). Cybium, 3 (1), 37 - 66.","Mouneimne, N. (2002) Poissons marins du Liban et de la Mediterranee orientale. INCAM-EU / CNRS Lebanon, Beyrouth, 271 pp."]}

This is an annotated checklist of the marine fish species of Lebanon (Levant coast, eastern Mediterranean). It comprises a total of 367 fish species distributed in 159 families and 27 orders, out of which 70 species are non-indigenous and 28 are recorded for the first time from Lebanon. The checklist includes all names and citations of species found in the literature, as well as references to specimens available in museum collections. It also includes an updated zoogeographic distribution and conservation status for each species. Threats were estimated based on surveys and observations made over the last two decades; broadly categorized conservation actions were also suggested.

Atherinomorus forskalii (R��ppell 1838) ���Red Sea hardyhead silverside Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Atherina pinguis Linnaeus 1803 by George et al. (1964: 16); subsequently recorded as Pranesus pinguis (Lacep��de) by Mouneimn�� (1977: 65); as Pranesus pinguis (Lacep��de 1803) by Mouneimn�� (2002: 107); recently recorded as Atherinomorus lacunosus by Harmelin-Vivien et al. (2005: 628); as Atherinomorus lacunosus by Bariche et al. (2007: 112); as Atherinomorus lacunosus by Bariche et al. (2009: 3); as Atherinomorus forskalii by Bariche et al. (2015: 2366). Material in collection: AUBM and USNM (as Atherina hepsetia pinguis). Material in collection: AUBM Distribution. Red Sea endemic; Mediterranean Sea (Red Sea immigrant). Conservation. IUCN: Global (NE). Capture and threats: Unknown. Occurrence: Very common. Non-indigenous species, no conservation action needed., Published as part of Bariche, Michel & Fricke, Ronald, 2020, The marine ichthyofauna of Lebanon: an annotated checklist, history, biogeography, and conservation status, pp. 1-157 in Zootaxa 4775 (1) on pages 116-117, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4775.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3983887, {"references":["George, C. J., Athanassiou, V. A. & Boulos, I. (1964) The fishes of the coastal waters of Lebanon. Miscellaneous Papers in the Natural Sciences. The American University of Beirut, 4, 1 - 24.","Mouneimne, N. (1977) Liste des poissons de la cote du Liban (Mediterranee orientale). Cybium, 3 (1), 37 - 66.","Mouneimne, N. (2002) Poissons marins du Liban et de la Mediterranee orientale. INCAM-EU / CNRS Lebanon, Beyrouth, 271 pp.","Harmelin-Vivien, M. L., Bitar, G., Harmelin, J. G. & Monestiez, P. (2005) The littoral fish community of the Lebanese rocky coast (eastern Mediterranean Sea) with emphasis on Red Sea immigrants. Biological Invasions, 7, 625 - 637. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10530 - 004 - 5852 - 4","Bariche, M., Sadek, R., Al-Zein, M. S. & El-Fadel, M. (2007) Diversity of juvenile fish assemblages in the pelagic waters of Lebanon (eastern Mediterranean). Hydrobiologia, 580, 109 - 115. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10750 - 006 - 0461 - 0","Bariche, M., Torres, M., Smith, C., Sayar, N., Azzurro, E., Baker, R. & Bernardi, G. (2015) Red Sea fishes in the Mediterranean Sea: a preliminary investigation of a biological invasion using DNA barcoding. Journal of Biogeography, 42 (12), 2363 - 2373. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / jbi. 12595"]}

Para la Argentina, han sido citadas cinco especies continentales del género Odontesthes: O. bonariensis, O. hatcheri, O. humensis, O. perugiae y O. retropinnis. Históricamente, las entidades presentes en la Provincia Parano-Platense, han presentado serios problemas sistemáticos y nomenclaturales, particularmente en la identificación, ya que las descripciones son poco precisas y además, se ha hallado hibridización entre algunas de las especies. Por otra parte, existen importantes problemas faunísticos, como por ejemplo los debidos a las conexiones de las poblaciones del Río de la Plata y los ambientes costeros restringidos como la Bahía Samborombón y la albúfera de Mar Chiquita. El objetivo general de este trabajo es realizar una revisión taxonómica de las entidades incluidas en el género Odontesthes presentes en la Provincia Parano-Platense, establecer la distribución de cada una de ellas y analizar los ejemplares cuyos caracteres no coiciden con el de las especies descriptas y que en general fueron colectados en ambientes con solapamiento de especies, mediante un análisis morfométrico y estadístico, que se complementa con un análisis molecular. Las muestras provinieron de dos fuentes, por una parte de campañas realizadas en diversas localidades de la Argentina; paralelamente, se revisaron las colecciones ictiológicas de varias Instituciones nacionales e internacionales cubriendo todo el rango de distribución conocido de las especies. Para el análisis morfométrico se aplicaron distintos tratamientos estadísticos; entre las técnicas de análisis multivariado, se emplearon el Análisis de Componentes Principales (ACP) y el análisis Cluster con el propósito de testear las variaciones inter e intraespecíficas y para evaluar si existieron diferencias entre los grupos se aplicó un análisis de similitud (ANOSIM). Los datos morfométricos y merísticos fueron tratados por separado en los análisis. El análisis molecular fue llevado a cabo con el estudio del gen mitocondrial citocromo b, a partir de muestras colectadas en la Bahía Samborombón, definida en este tesis como el mayor área de solapamiento de las especies tratadas. Se han analizado 4.087 ejemplares del género Odontesthes de 92 localidades de Argentina, Brasil y Uruguay y además, 40 ejemplares tipo y paratipos. En este trabajo se provee por primera vez una clave identificatoria con caracteres morfológicos y merísticos que incluye las cinco especies del género Odontesthes presentes en la región de estudio, registrando el mayor rango de tallas analizado. Con respecto al análisis de cada especie se determinó que Odontesthes bonariensis se identifica por la siguiente combinación de caracteres: inserción de la Dorsal 1 a nivel de la vertical proyectada desde el ano, distancia predorsal 1 entre el 50,5 y el 62,6 %LS, de 11 a 13 hileras de escamas en la línea transversal, de 11 a 14 hileras de escamas entre la Dorsal 2 y la Anal, de 20 a 22 escamas alrededor del pedúnculo caudal y de 30 a 49 branquiespinas totales en el primer arco branquial. Odontesthes humensis se caracteriza por tener la inserción de la Dorsal 1 por delante de la vertical que se proyecta desde el ano, la distancia predorsal 1 entre el 53,3 y 60,1 %LS, el ojo grande (18,3 y 35,3 %LC), de 11 a 13 hileras de escamas en la línea transversal, de 5 a 8 escamas entre las aletas dorsales, de 11 a 13 hileras de escamas entre la Dorsal 2 y la Anal y entre 15 y 23 branquiespinas totales en el primer arco. En O. perugiae la aleta Dorsal 1 se ubica por detrás de la vertical que se proyecta desde el ano, hocico largo (22,7-37,6 %LC) mayor a la longitud del ojo, la distancia predorsal 1 es de 55,1 a 62,6 %LS, el hocico largo (22,7-37,6 %LC), de 8 a 9 hileras de escamas en la línea transversal, de 4 a 8 escamas entre las aletas dorsales, de 9 a 10 hileras de escamas entre la Dorsal 2 y la Anal, y entre 19 y 34 branquiespinas totales en el primer arco. Odontesthes retropinnis es una especie poco conocida para nuestro país y se caracteriza por tener la inserción de la aleta Dorsal 1 por detrás de la vertical que se proyecta desde el ano, la distancia predorsal 1 de 55,4 a 73,0 %LS, de 8 a 9 hileras de escamas en la línea transversal, de 3 a 6 escamas entre las aletas dorsales, de 8 a 9 hileras de escamas entre la Dorsal 2 y la Anal y entre 38 y 65 branquiespinas totales en el primer arco. Históricamente, entre los caracteres más importantes en la determinación de estas especies se destaca el número de branquiespinas del primer arco. A partir del análisis de una gran variedad de tallas, se determinó que este carácter por sí sólo no puede utilizarse en la identificación, ya que varía con la ontogenia durante la cual gran parte de las especies superponen el rango de variación del número de branquiespinas. Por otra parte, el análisis de alometrías durante el desarrollo evidenció que esta fuente de caracteres es también útil en la identificación de las especies del género Odontesthes. Los análisis multivariados evidenciaron la presencia de morfotipos intraespecíficos en O. retropinnis e interespecíficos entre O. bonariensis y O. argentinensis, que solapan su distribución en ambientes mixohalinos, como los es la Bahía Samborombón y se determinó que el único carácter que permite la identificación de las especies cuando se hallan en simpatría es el número de escamas alrededor del pedúnculo caudal (14 a 17 en O. argentinensis vs. 20 a 22 en O. bonariensis) En cuanto al análisis molecular de poblaciones que solapan su distribución en el Río de la Plata, se estudiaron ejemplares de O. bonariensis, O. argentinensis y morfotipos intermedios entre estas especies. Se determinó una alta riqueza haplotípica a partir del análisis del gen citocromo b. Por primera vez se determinan tres haplotipos compartidos entre O. bonariensis y O. argentinensis. Este trabajo de tesis representa el primer antecedente con material que incluye gran parte de la variabilidad de formas entre las dos especies, que se da en un ambiente mixohalino. No se ha podido atribuir los morfotipos a ninguna de las dos especies, ya que estos comparten haplotipos con ambas. El análisis de distribución de las diferencias pareadas, el test D y Fs de Fu determinó que en el Río Ajó no podría descartarse la hipótesis de un evento de expansión poblacional reciente. Es de destacar que se analiza por primera vez, de manera conjunta, material de O. bonariensis de ambientes que se supone corresponderían a su distribución natural, es decir. El estudio de las especies en sus rangos geográficos nativos es clave para entender cómo la actividad humana ha influido en la fragmentación espacial o en la homogeneización de las especies., Five freshwater species of the genus Odontesthes has been named for Argentina: Odontesthes bonariensis, O. hatcheri, O. humensis, O. perugiae and O. retropinnis. Historically, the species present in the Paranaense Province, have showed serious systematic and nomenclatural problems, particularly regarding identification, due to the fact that descriptions are not quite accurate and, in addition, spontaneous hybridization events have occurred among some of the species. Furthermore, there are important faunistic problems, such as those due to the connections in Río de la Plata’s populations and the restricted coastal zone as in the case of Samborombón bay and Mar Chiquita’s coastal lagoon. The aim of this work was to carry out a taxonomic review of the species included in the Odontesthes genus present in the Parano-Platense Province, establishing the current distribution of each one of them and analyze the specimens whose characters do not match that of the described species and which in general were collected in environments with overlapping species, through a morphometric and statistical analysis which is complemented by a molecular analysis. Samples came from sampling sites among diverse places in Argentina and parallelly, ichthyological collections from national and international institutions were examined, covering the whole known distribution range of the species. For the morphometric analysis different statistical treatments were used; among the multivariate analysis techniques, the Principal Components Analysis (ACP) and the Cluster analysis were used in order to test the inter and intraspecific variations and to assess whether there were differences between the groups a similarity analysis was applied (ANOSIM). The morphometric and meristic data were treated separately. Molecular analysis was carried out with the study of the cytochrome b, based on samples collected in Samborombón bay, a place that is defined in this thesis as being the largest overlapping area of the species here treated. A total of 4.087 specimens belonging to genus Odontesthes were collected and analyzed, from 92 localities in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, and, furthermore, 40 type and paratype specimens. In this work, an identication key of genus Odontesthes with morphological and meristic characters is being provided for the first time, the largest size range ever analysed. From the analysis of each species, it was determined that Odontesthes bonariensis is identified by the following combination of characters: insertion of Dorsal 1 at the level of the vertical projected from the anus, predorsal distance 1 between 50.5 and 62.6% LS, from 11 to 13 rows of scales in the transverse line, from 11 to 14 rows of scales between Dorsal 2 and Anal, from 20 to 22 rows of scales around the caudal peduncle and from 30 to 49 total gill rakers in the first branchial arch. Odontesthes humensis is characterized by the insertion of the Dorsal 1 anterior of the vertical that projects from the anus, the predorsal distance 1 between 53.3 and 60.1% LS, large eye (18.3 and 35, 3% LC), from 11 to 13 rows of scales in the transverse line, from 5 to 8 scales between the dorsal fins, from 11 to 13 rows of scales between Dorsal 2 and Anal and between 15 and 23 total gill rakers in the first arch. In O. perugiae the Dorsal 1 is located posterior to the vertical that projects from the anus, long snout (22.7-37.6% LC) longer than eye length, the predorsal distance 1 is 55,1 to 62,6% LS, long snout (22,7-37,6 %LC), from 8 to 9 rows of scales in the transverse line, from 4 to 8 scales between the dorsal fins, from 8 to 10 rows of scales between the Dorsal 2 and the Anal, and between 19 and 34 total gill rakes in the first arch. Odontesthes retropinnis is a species little known for our country and is characterized by having the insertion of the Dorsal fin 1 posterior to the vertical that projects from the anus, the predorsal distance 1 from 55.4 to 73.0% LS, from 8 to 9 rows of scales in the transverse line, from 3 to 6 scales between the dorsal fins, from 8 to 9 rows of scales between Dorsal 2 and Anal and between 38 and 65 total gill rakers in the first arch. Historically, the most important character in the determination of these species was the number of gill rakers of the first arch. From the analysis of gill rackers number in individuals of the five species along their entire size range it was determined that this character alone cannot be used in the identification, since it varies with the ontogeny and in part of the species. On the other hand, the analysis of alometries during the development evidenced that this type of characters is also useful in the identification of the species of the genus Odontesthes. Multivariate analyzes showed the presence of intraspecific morphotypes in O. retropinnis and interspecific between O. bonariensis and O. argentinensis, which overlap their distribution in mixohalin environments, such as the Samborombón Bay and the only character that allows the identification of the species when they are in sympatry is the number of scales around the caudal peduncle (14 to 17 in O. argentinensis vs. 20 to 22 in O. bonariensis). As for the molecular analysis of populations that overlap their distribution in the Río de la Plata, specimens of O. bonariensis, O. argentinensis and intermediate morphotypes between these species, were studied. High haplotypic richness was determined from the analysis of the cytochrome b. For the first time, three haplotypes shared between O. bonariensis and O. argentinensis, are defined. This work represents the first record with material including a large portion of the variability of shapes among the two species that occurs in mixohaline environment. Morphotypes could not be attributed to either of the two species, since they share haplotypes with both. Mismatch distribution and a neutrality test analysis determined that in the Río Ajó the hypothesis of a recent population expansion event could not be dismissed. It is worth pointing out that for the first time, in the present work O. bonariensis material together from environments that are supposed to correspond to their natural. The study of the species in their local geographical status is crucial for understanding how human activity has influenced either in spatial fragmentation or in homogenization of the species., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Melanotaenia sahulensis sp. nov. Sahul Rainbowfish (figs 5 & 7; tables 4–5) Melanotaenia maccullochi non Ogilby, 1915 — Allen (1981) (in part): 87 (Fig. 5 Pahoturi River, and Fig. 6 Jardine River); Allen & Cross (1982) (in part): 52 (image page 30, Pahoturi River); Merrick & Schmida (1984) (in part): 164 (plate 140, Jardine River); Leggett & Merrick (1987) (in part): 142 (plate 64, Jardine River); Allen (1989) (in part): 98 (plate 28, Pahoturi River); Paxton et al. (1989) (in part): 350; Allen (1991) (in part): 91 (plate 5, no. 6); Allen (1995) (in part): 56 (images on cover and page 43, lower image page 31 “ PNG ” — captions reversed, page 124, PNG); Herbert & Peeters (1995) (in part): 51 (plate 58, Blue Valley Lagoon); Herbert et al. (1995) (in part): 18; Lundberg et al. (2000) (in part): 51 (Figure 26 bottom image); McGuigan et al. (2000) (in part): 715; Unmack (2001) (in part): 1061; Allen et al. (2002) (in part): 152 (image Skull Creek); Hitchcock (2002): 120; Johnson (2003) (in part): 143; Pusey et al. (2004) (in part): 242; Allen et al. (2006) (in part): 692; Allen et al. (2008) (in part): 92 (image of male, Sigabaduru and female, Bensbach River, PNG); Tappin (2010) (in part): 282 (images PNG, Skull Creek); Cook et al. (2012) (in part): 265; Hitchcock et al. (2012): 18; Unmack et al. (2013) (in part): 19; Aland (2014): 815 (image page 813); Graf et al. (2015) (in part): 870; Schmida (2015) (in part): 86 (images Skull Creek, Burster Creek, Moa Island); Pusey et al. (2017) (in part): 39 (point data distribution map). Material examined (267 specimens, 13.4–48.4 mm SL). Holotype: WAM P.26757-001, male, 45.0 mm SL, Pahoturi River, Sigabadu (09° 14.75ʹS, 142° 44.05ʹE), Paratypes: AMS I.21008-005, 105 specimens, 32.4–40.6 mm SL, Bamaga area (19 km NE) (10° 25.2ʹS, 142° 00ʹE), Queensland, seine, G. Webb, 2 September 1972; QM I.21792, 24.7 mm SL, Burster Creek (10° 54ʹS, 142° 20ʹE), Queensland, R. Leggett, 2 September 1985; QM I.27642, 13 specimens, 24.5–36.2 mm SL, Woomera Ck drainage (billabong), near Lockerbie (10° 52ʹS, 142° 28ʹE), Queensland, J. Short, 28 October 1990; QM I.38845, 5 specimens, 30.3–32.9 mm SL, creek on Kubin-St Paul Road, Moa Island (10° 12.5ʹS, 142° 16.4ʹE), Queensland, dip net, G. Aland, 23 March 2011; QM I.39247, 7 specimens, 16.1–29.4 mm SL, Scrubby Creek, Silver Plains (13° 44.7ʹS, 143° 28.5ʹE), Queensland, electrofisher, P. Graham, B. Herbert & J. Peeters (QFS), 10 June 1993; QM I.39613, 32.9 mm SL, Sand dune lake, near Harmer Creek (11° 57.5ʹS, 142° 56.2ʹE), Queensland, electrofisher, Queensland Fisheries Service /CYPLUS, 29 October 1992; QM I.39862, 2 specimens, 23.4–28.1 mm SL, Harmer Creek tributary (11° 58.9ʹS, 142° 50.6ʹE), Queensland, Queensland Fisheries Service, 7 August 1993; QM I.39872, 25.3 mm SL, Blue Valley Lagoon, Cody Creek system (10° 50.3ʹS, 142° 28.2ʹE), Queensland, Queensland Fisheries Service, 15 August 1993; QM I.39886, 2 specimens, 23.2–25.1 mm SL, Harmer Creek, Shelburne Bay (11° 58.7ʹS, 142° 53.4ʹE), Queensland, Queensland Fisheries Service, 8 August 1993; WAM P.26555-001, 11 specimens, 31.4– 40.1 mm SL, Bamaga area (19 km NE) (10°53ʹS, 142°24ʹE), Queensland, seine, G. Webb, 2 September 1972; WAM P.26757-002, female, 38.7 mm SL, collected with holotype; WAM P.27818-001, 43 specimens, 20.6–31.5 mm SL, Bensbach River, side billabong near Lodge (08°51ʹS, 141°13ʹE), seine, G. Allen & J. Paska, 29 September 1982; WAM P.28149-002, 9 specimens, 23.3–32.0 mm SL, small tributary of Fly River, Oboe (07°36ʹS, 141°19ʹE), seine, G. Allen & D. Balloch, 15 September 1983; WAM P.31342-008, 2 specimens, 25.3–27.2 mm SL, Bensbach River, vicinity of Lodge (08°50ʹS, 141°14ʹE), fine mesh net, G. Hitchcock, 1 May 1997. Other material examined: AMS I.21237-027, 19 mm SL, Creek before Jardine River (11° 09ʹS, 142° 22.2ʹE), D. Hoese & G. Allen, 1979; AMS I.21247-003, 29 specimens, 17–25 mm SL, Bridge Creek, Jardine River system (11° 13.2ʹS, 142° 22.8ʹE), D. Hoese, 1979; NTM S.17828-001, 5 specimens, 28.2–41.1 mm SL, Kia Creek, Moa Island (captive stock) (10° 11.0ʹS, 142° 17.0ʹE), B. Hansen, 2012; NTM S.18153-001, 7 specimens, 30.1–48.4 mm SL, Skull Creek, near Bamaga (captive stock) (10° 57.6ʹS, 142° 19.8ʹE), D. Wilson, 2017; QM I.17766, 10 specimens, 18.4–21.8 mm SL, Bridge Creek, Jardine River system (11° 14ʹS, 142° 22ʹE), D. Hoese, 1979; QM I.21420, 47 specimens, 13.4–20.9 mm SL, Conical Hill Lake, Shelburne Bay (11° 56ʹS, 143° 08ʹE), P. Saenger, 1984; QM I.21801, 5 specimens, 20.1–22.4 mm SL, Bamaga Rd, creek north of Sanamere Lagoon (11° 07ʹS, 142° 22ʹE), R. Leggett, 1985; QM I.38290, 4 specimens, 25.1–27.0 mm SL, Kai Creek, Moa Island (10° 11ʹS, 142° 17ʹE), G. Aland, 2008; QM I.39877, 6 specimens, 24.1–25.9 mm SL, Creek at Temple Bay (12° 14.9ʹS, 143° 04.8ʹE), Queensland Fisheries Service, 1993; SMF 12636, 4 specimens, 28.8–31.2 mm SL, Ditches at Merauke (08° 28ʹS, 140° 20ʹE), A. Werner & E. Frech, 1973; WAM P.26381-004, 1 specimen, 22 mm SL, Jardine River, south of crossing (11°10ʹS, 142°22ʹE), G. Allen & party, 1978; WAM P.26717-019, 3 specimens, 18–20 mm SL, Small tributary of Jardine River (11°09ʹS, 142°22ʹE), G. Allen & D. Hoese, 1979; WAM P.26719-005, 21 specimens, 21–29 mm SL, Bridge Creek, Cape York Road crossing (11°13ʹS, 142°23ʹE), G. Allen & D. Hoese, 1979; WAM P.26754-002, 3 specimens, 30–32 mm SL, Sadi Tiperrse Creek, Morehead (08°43ʹS, 141°39ʹE), R. Moore, 1973; WAM P.26754-003, 2 specimens, 31–32 mm SL, Sadi Tiperrse Creek, Morehead (08°43ʹS, 141°39ʹE), R. Moore, 1973; WAM P.26759-002, 2 specimens, 29–30 mm SL, Sadi Swamp, Morehead (08°42ʹS, 141°39ʹE), R. Moore, 1973; WAM P.26760-001, 24 mm SL, Bensbach River, Balamuk (08°57ʹS, 141°15ʹE), R. Moore, 1973; WAM P.26767-002, 11 specimens, 19–31 mm SL, Pahoturi River, Sigabadu swamps (09°20ʹS, 142°38ʹE), R. Moore, 1973; WAM P.27011-004, 19 mm SL, Creek south of Jardine River crossing (11°10ʹS, 142°22ʹE), G. Allen, 1978; WAM P.27816-002, 19 specimens, 18–28 mm SL, Balamuk River, Bensbach (08°54ʹS, 141°17ʹE), G. Allen, 1982; WAM P.27817-001, 11 specimens, 22–27 mm SL, Bensbach River, upstream of Lodge (08°51ʹS, 141°13ʹE), G. Allen & J. Paska, 1982; WAM P.27823-005, 3 specimens, 22–28 mm SL, Bensbach River, upstream of Lodge (08°53ʹS, 141°12ʹE), G. Allen & J. Paska, 1982. Diagnosis: A species of Melanotaenia with well-contrasted dark lateral body stripes, distinguished by the following combination of characters: dorsal rays V–VII, I,7–10 (mode 8); total anal rays I,15–17 (mode 16); total procurrent caudal rays 12–16 (mode 13); lateral scales 31–34 (mode 33); cheek scales usually 9–12; total gill rakers on first arch 14–18; vertebrae 32–35 (mode 34); body very deep, greatest depth 2.6–3.7 (mean 3.0) in SL and wide, greatest width 1.7–2.9 (mean 2.0) in HL; maxilla relatively long 3.2–4.2 (mean 3.6) in HL; long predorsal distance 1.8–2.2 (mean 2.0) in SL; colour in life silver to grey body with a series of black lateral stripes; fins with distinct contrasting colour zones separated by a thick dark submarginal band, most pronounced in nuptial males. Description: Based on 52 specimens, 15.6–48.4 mm SL; counts and measurements that appear in parentheses refer to the minimum and maximum values for the paratypes and other specimens where different from the holotype. Dorsal rays VI (V–VI, rarely VII) + I,8 (8–10, rarely 7; median 8); total anal rays I,16 (15–17, median 16); pectoral rays 13 (11–14); pelvic rays I,5; branched caudal rays 15; total procurrent caudal rays 14, 7 + 7 (12–16, 6–7, rarely 8 + 6–7); lateral scales 32 (31–34, median 33); transverse scales 9 (9–10, rarely 11); predorsal scales 14 (13–17); prepelvic scales 13 (12–17); cheek scales 12 (8–13, median 10); circumpeduncular scales 12 (12–14); gill rakers on first branchial arch 3+13 (2–4 + 12–15), total gill rakers on first arch 16 (14–18); total vertebrae 34 (32–35, median 34), precaudal vertebrae 19 (18–21, median 19). Meristic data are summarised in Table 4. Head length 3.6 (3.0–4.4) in SL; body depth 3.2 (2.6–3.7, mean 3.0) in SL; greatest width of body 2.2 (1.7–2.9, mean 2.0) in HL; snout length 3.5 (3.1–4.2, mean 3.6) in HL; eye diameter 3.0 (2.5–3.1) in HL; bony interorbital width 2.6 (2.3–2.9) in HL; depth of caudal peduncle 2.2 (1.8–2.7) in HL; length of caudal peduncle 1.5 (1.2–2.0) in HL. Jaws about equal, oblique, premaxilla with an abrupt bend between the anterior horizontal portion and lateral part; maxilla ends below anterior edge of pupil or slightly anterior to this level; maxillary length 3.7 (3.2–4.2, mean 3.6) in HL; lips thin; teeth villiform to narrowly conical with slightly curved tips, extending on to outer surface of lips; teeth of upper jaw in about 3–5 irregular rows anteriorly, reduced to 1–2 rows posteriorly where clearly exposed when mouth closed; teeth in lower jaw in about 5–7 irregular rows anteriorly, reduced to a single row posteriorly. Scales of body cycloid, relatively large, and arranged in regular horizontal rows; scales of midlateral row with small rounded to vertically elongate, shallow pit at centre, beginning at about 9 th– 12 th scale; row of small, truncated scales along bases of dorsal and anal fins, forming a low sheath on anal fin; no scales on membranous portions of fins except 3-6 transverse rows of small scales basally on caudal fin and cluster of several small scales (posteriormost largest) medially at base of pelvic fins; scale margins smooth or with slight crenulations; predorsal scales extending forward to about middle of interorbital space; preopercle (cheek) covered with 8 (8–13) scales; main body of operculum covered with 17 (9–25) scales and with single row of about 5–7 additional small scales on anterior limb (i.e. interopercular directly below lower edge of preopercle). Predorsal distance 2.0 (1.8–2.2, mean 2.0) in SL (46.3–54.4, mean 49.8 as a % of SL); preanal distance 2.0 (1.6–2.0 in SL); prepelvic distance 2.7 (2.2–2.8) in SL; length of second dorsal fin base 5.7 (4.6–6.7, mean 5.5) in SL; length of anal fin base 3.1 (2.5–3.6) in SL. First dorsal fin origin slightly anterior to about two-thirds pupil width in front of anal-fin origin; longest spine (usually third or fourth) of first dorsal fin 1.2 (1.0–2.2) in HL, its adpressed tip reaching to base of first to fourth soft ray of second dorsal fin in males and to about origin of second dorsal fin in females; longest (generally penultimate and 1-2 rays anterior to penultimate in male and first in female) rays of second dorsal fin 1.5 (1.2–2.3) in HL, adpressed posterior rays extending about two-thirds to full length of caudal peduncle in males to about one-half length in females and juveniles; longest (about 8 th or 9 th) anal ray 1.5 (1.1–2.5) in HL; pelvic fin tips when adpressed reaching to base of first or second soft anal ray in male and to anal fin origin or slightly beyond in female; length of pelvic fins 1.5 (1.2–2.2) in HL; length of pectoral fins 1.3 (1.1–1.6) in HL; length of caudal fin 1.4 (1.0– 1.5 in HL); caudal fin moderately forked, caudal concavity 2.4–6.9 in HL. A summary of proportional measurements is shown in Table 5. Colour in life: Generally silver-white to grey-brown on upper half of body, lower half of body white; seven or eight black body stripes, intensity typically increasing to full and bold as adults; head brownish grey, lips greyish sometimes with hint of yellow or orange; small square shaped red to orange mark on the upper operculum; iris silver; fins colourful, with distinct zonation in the dorsal and anal fins formed by a thick submarginal dark grey to black band; a thin area of colour above the band on the fin margins (white through orange, sometimes red) and below the black band typically an area of yellow to orange (figs 5 & 7). Colour intensifies in nuptial males with more prominent body stripes and bright fin coloration; sexual dimorphism is more obvious than in the other two species treated. A faint and sometimes brighter pale yellow to orange nape stripe can be ‘flashed’ by courting males or to a lesser degree by sparring males. Colour in alcohol: Generally light brown to yellowish tan with 7–8 brown stripes on side of body as described above, although stripes sometimes faint and barely detectable, especially on long-preserved specimens; fins mainly translucent yellowish to whitish with dark bands on basal and distal portions of dorsal and anal fins frequently evident on male specimens (Fig. 7). Prepelvic scales (PreP) M. maccullochi M. sahulensis sp. nov. M. wilsoni sp. nov. 1 7 2 2 19* 37 15 9 22 36* 2 6 33.2 33.8 32.2 33 34 32 69 59 30 Precaudal vertebrae (VPC) Species 18 19 20 21 Avg. Med. n M. maccullochi M. sahulensis sp. nov. M. wilsoni sp. nov. 22 2 18 44 28* 11* 3 28 1 1 18.7 19.5 18.4 19 19 18 69 59 30 Comparisons: Most easily separated from other Australian members of the maccullochi species group based on silver-grey body colour, bold and full body stripes as adults and tri-tone dorsal and anal fins (see full respective comparisons under other species). Distribution and habitat: Museum records are displayed in Figure 1, with M. sahulensis sp. nov. native to northeast Cape York Peninsula, Australia and southern central New Guinea. Locations include the northern tip and east coast of Cape York from the Jardine River, Bamaga area, Shelburne Bay area and around as far south as Scrubby Creek; Torres Strait (Moa Island); Papua New Guinea from the Pahoturi to Bensbach river systems including the mid-Fly; and Indonesia from the Merauke area. This patchy distribution comprises a broad range with regional habitat variation, but includes larger lateral floodplain systems and small swampy creeks including dune lakes, with dense cover. Cape York habitat generally consists of small streams and Pandanus swamps in sand-soil country. During non-flood periods the water is typically clear with ample cover in the form of either log debris or aquatic vegetation. The species also occurs in lily lagoons and is most frequently found in acid waters (pH 5.5–7.0). Information specific to this species has been merged and confused with M. maccullochi s.s. and to a lesser degree M. wilsoni sp. nov. The largest wild fish recorded in this study was 40.6 mm SL (49.7 mm TL: AM I.21008-005), and fish attributable to this form (e.g. Skull Creek) grow larger in captivity (around 50 mm SL or 60 mm TL: NTM S.18153-001). Remarks: This species has been recognised as a distinct colour form since its discovery (Allen 1981; Lundberg et al. 2000), with strong genetic divergence noted in mtDNA studies (Cook et al. 2012; Unmack et al. 2013) and now supported with nuclear genetic markers. Somewhat subtle morphological characters support the striking colour and genetic divergence, with diagnosis apparently masked by large within site/region variability. There appears to be regional variation in fin colour of this species, with the margin of the dorsal and anal fins, and to a lesser degree caudal and pelvic fins, ranging from white (e.g. Moa Island, Sigabaduru), through whiteorange (e.g. Skull Creek) to red (western Papua New Guinea) — this last colour form was first observed in captive fish in Australia in the 1990s and likely originated from Bensbach or Morehead where fish are known to have been collected and imported. The form with red fin margins could lead to confusion with M. maccullochi s.s. but the thick marginal band creating fin colour zones, black body stripes and silver grey base body colour allow ready identification (genetic examination with mtDNA genetic markers also indicated no major divergence of this colour form with other conspecific populations of M. sahulesnsis sp. nov.). Etymology: The new species is named sahulensis with reference to the Pleistocene-era continent Sahul which comprised the land masses of Australia and New Guinea connected under low sea-level and is reflected in the modern distribution of the species. It is also a tribute to the Australian and New Guinea Fishes Association (which maintains the journal Fishes of Sahul) that has done much to promote and document native fishes of the region, especially rainbowfishes., Published as part of Hammer, Michael P., Allen, Gerald R., Martin, Keith C., Adams, Mark & Unmack, Peter J., 2019, Two new species of dwarf rainbowfishes (Atheriniformes: Melanotaeniidae) from northern Australia and southern New Guinea, pp. 201-234 in Zootaxa 4701 (3) on pages 218-224, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3557999, {"references":["Ogilby, J. D. (1915) On some new or little-known Australian fishes. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 3, 117 - 129.","Allen, G. R. (1981) The \" maccullochi species group \" of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) with the description of Melanotaenia papuae, new species. Revue francaise d'Aquariologie Herpetologie, 8, 47 - 56.","Allen, G. R. & Cross, N. J. (1982) Rainbowfishes of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Angus and Robertson Publishers, Sydney, 141 pp.","Merrick, J. R. & Schmida, G. E. (1984) Australian Freshwater Fishes: Biology and Management. Griffith Press, Adelaide, 409 pp.","Leggett, R. & Merrick, J. R. (1987) Australian Native Fishes for Aquariums. JR Merrick Publications, Artarmon, New South Wales, 241 pp.","Allen, G. R. (1989) Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T. F. H. Publications, New Jersey, 240 pp.","Paxton, J. R., Hoese, D. F., Allem, G. R. & Hanley, J. E. (1989) Zoological Catalouge of Australia. Voulume 7 Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 665 pp.","Allen, G. R. (1991) Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of New Guinea. Christensen Research Institute, Madang, 269 pp.","Allen, G. R. (1995) Rainbowfishes in Nature and the Aquarium. Tetra-Verlag, 179 pp.","Herbert, B. & Peeters, J. (1995) Freshwater Fishes of Far North Queensland. DPI Queensland, Brisbane, 74 pp.","Lundberg, J. G., Kottelat, M., Smith, G. R., Stiassny, M. L. J. & Gill, A. C. (2000) So many fishes, so little time: an overview of recent ichthyological discovery in continental waters. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 87, 26 - 62. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 2666207","McGuigan, K., Zhu, D., Allen, G. R. & Moritz, C. (2000) Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of melanotaeniid fishes in Australia and New Guinea. Marine and Freshwater Research, 51, 713 - 723. https: // doi. org / 10.1071 / MF 99159","Unmack, P. J. (2001) Biogeography of Australian freshwater fishes. Journal of Biogeography, 28, 1053 - 1089.","Allen, G. R., Midgley, S. H. & Allen, M. (2002) Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth, 394 pp.","Hitchcock, G. (2002) Fish fauna of the Bensbach River, southwest Papua New Guinea. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 48, 119 - 122.","Johnson, J. (2003) Freshwater and upper estuarine fishes. In: Ryan, M. & Burwell, C. (Eds), Wildlfie of Tropical North Queensland. Queensland Museum, Brisbane, pp. 135 - 169.","Pusey, B., Kennard, M. & Arthington, A. (2004) Freshwater Fishes of North-Eastern Queensland. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, 684 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1071 / 9780643092082","Allen, G. R., Cross, N. J., Bray, D. J. & Hoese, D. F. (2006) Melanotaeniidae. In: Beesley, P. L. & Wells, A. (Eds.), Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Part II. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing, pp. 689 - 695.","Allen, G. R., Storey, A. W. & Yarro, M. (2008) Freshwater Fishes of the Fly River Papua New Guinea. Ok Tedi Mining and Tropical Reef Research, Tabubil, 216 pp.","Tappin, A. R. (2010) Rainbowfishes: Their Care and Keeping in Captivity. Art Publications, Brisbane, 510 pp.","Cook, B. D., Unmack, P. J., Huey, J. A. & Hughes, J. M. (2012) Did common disjunct populations of freshwater fishes in northern Australia form from the same biogeographic events? Freshwater Science, 33, 263 - 272. https: // doi. org / 10.1086 / 674936","Hitchcock, G., Finn, M. A. & Burrows, D. W. J. (2012) Fishes from fresh and brackish waters of islands in the Torres Straight, far north Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 56, 13 - 24.","Unmack, P. J., Allen, G. R. & Johnson, J. B. (2013) Phylogeny and biogeography of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from Australia and New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 67, 15 - 27.","https: // doi. org / 10.1093 / sysbio / syu 017 Aland, G. (2014) Moa Island fish survey. Fishes of Sahul, 28, 812 - 817. Allen, G. R. (1980) A generic classification of the rainbowfishes (family Melanotaeniidae). Records of the Western Australian","Graf, J. A., Herder, F. & Hadiaty, R. K. (2015) A new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae), Melanotaenia garylangei, from western New Guinea (Papua Province, Indonesia). Fishes of Sahul, Journal of the Australia New Guinea Fishes Association, 29, 870 - 881.","Schmida, G. (2015) Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Vol. 2. Nature-Shots, Lower Beechmont, Queensland, 182 pp.","Pusey, B. J., Burrows, D. W., Kennard, M. J., Perna, C. N., Unmack, P. J., Allsop, Q. & Hammer, M. P. (2017) Freshwater fishes of northern Australia. Zootaxa, 4253 (1), 1 - 104. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4253.1.1"]}

The ‘maccullochi species group’ of rainbowfishes are small and distinctly patterned freshwater fishes of streams and swamps, comprising around eight species. The species from which the group bears its name, Melanotaenia maccullochi Ogilby, 1915, has been thought to comprise three forms occurring in distinct geographic areas, and recent mitochondrial genetic data provides matching patterns of likely inter-specific divergence. Here we undertake a detailed investigation of the taxonomic status of M. maccullochi using a combined lines of evidence approach incorporating multiple nuclear genetic markers (55 allozyme loci), mitochondrial DNA sequence data (1141 bp cytochrome b) and morphology (examination of a suite of 38 morphometric and meristic characters). As all three datasets provide support for a three-way split, we accordingly describe two new species and redescribe M. maccullochi sensu stricto. McCulloch’s Rainbowfish M. maccullochi, a species with brown body stripes and red fins occurs in northeast Queensland and is redescribed based on 338 specimens, 13.1–53.0 mm SL. This species was one of the first rainbowfishes to become known in the aquarium hobby. A second form with darker stripes on a contrasting light white-grey body and with distinct sub-marginal black bands in the dorsal and anal fins, distributed across northern and eastern Cape York Peninsula, Torres Strait and southern central New Guinea, is described as Sahul Rainbowfish M. sahulensis sp. nov. based on 267 specimens, 13.4–48.4 mm SL. A diminutive and well geographically isolated form occurring below the escarpment of the Tabletop Range in Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory possessing a more prominent and purplish mid-lateral stripe, is described as the Little Rainbowfish Melanotaenia wilsoni sp. nov. based on 50 specimens, 19.3–33.3 mm SL. A combination of morphological characters is useful for separating the respective taxa with M. wilsoni sp. nov. the most distinctive, typically having fewer vertebrae, lateral scales, cheek scales, procurrent caudal rays and anal rays and proportionally a shorter maxilla and snout than either of the other two species. Useful characters for further separating M. sahulensis sp. nov. from M. maccullochi include slightly higher counts of vertebrae, lateral scales and anal rays and proportionally greater body depth, body width and pre-dorsal distance. Information on the known distribution, habitats and conservation status of the three species is summarised, with the Northern Territory species being a narrow-range endemic with specific environmental requirements.

Pejerrey is the common name given to Odontesthes species from South America. Every year, individuals of pejerrey called “Gran (Big) Parana” appear during the low-temperature season at rivers in the southern section of the La Plata Basin. Gran Parana fishes are highly appreciated for fishing, and present some biological features different from other well-characterized Odontesthes fish, such as bigger size and migratory behavior. Regulations for the management of pejerrey fisheries within La Plata Basin have not been implemented yet. The aims of the present work were to characterize the Gran Parana pejerrey species by molecular methods and carry out the first population genetic study of Gran Parana pejerrey from the La Plata Basin. All Gran Parana specimens were classified as O. bonariensis, based on both morphology and microsatellite loci. Genetic differentiation was observed between Gran Parana pejerrey and O. bonariensis pejerrey sampled at Chascomus lagoon. In addition, temporal genetic differentiation was observed, suggesting the presence of different cohorts migrating along the basin. The knowledge of population dynamics and differentiation will contribute to figure out fisheries models and to design protective areas for this species under commercial exploitation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Marosatherina ladigesi is locally called the "beseng-beseng' including endemic freshwater fish in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The objective of this was to describe for the first time the development from eggs to the post flexion larval stage under controlled conditions and was to determine the developmental stages of embryonic and larvae of M. ladigesi. This consideration is possible to conduct breeding program of this species commercially and is suitable for commercial culture. MATERIAL AND METHODS Brook stocks were reared for 5 months with fed twice daily with mixture of Daphnia sp., Chironomus sp. and Culex sp. Water was substituted up to 50% each week. Artificial substrate from plastic rope was attached in the tank. The eggs were collected 6 h after laying on the substrate. The larvae were fed twice daily with infusoria, Daphnia sp. and Artemiasalina nauplii. Observations of embryonic development were performed every 6 h until the eggs hatched. Egg samples were observed with 5 eggs at a time. Larvae were observed at the ages of 0.3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 DAH. RESULTS The process of embryonic development takes 204 h after spawning (HAS) or 8.5 days after hatching (DAH). The cleavage stage is composed of 4-8 cell divisions that occur before 12 HAS, 16 cells formed at 12 HAS and 32-64 cells formed at 24-30 HAS, cell multiplication occurs after 36 HAS. The morula stage is 42 HAS, the blastula stage occurs at 54-60 HAS, the gastrula stage occurs at 72 HAS, the neurula stage begins at 84 HAS and the segmentation stage occurs at 96 HAS. The segmentation stage shows already formed eye spots. The yolk stage lasted until 5 DAH, the free flexion stage occurred at 7 DAH, the flexion phase at 10 DAH and the post flexion stage at 15 DAH. The mouth was open65-78 HAS or 3 DAH and the yolk reserves were used for 5 DAH. CONCLUSION M. ladigesi eggs are very adhesive and do not float and the eggs hatch to larvae at 204 HAS or 8.5 DAH at 29±1°C. This study revealed that the flexion stage occurred after 10 DAH and the post flexion stage after 15 DAH. The mouth was open after 65-78 h (3 DAH) and the yolk sac reserves were used for 5 DAH.