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The reproductive biology of Centroberyx gerrardi (Gunther) was investigated across ~2,000 km of its southern Australian distribution, encompassing different jurisdictions and varying environmental features. Greater gonad mass and prevalence of spawning fish, along with lower ratios of lengths at maturity:maximum lengths and ages at maturity:maximum ages, were identified at the western-most (Capes) and eastern-most (Great Australian Bight; GAB) regions. Across the study region, spawning peaks in summer/autumn, when water temperatures are warmest. Regional differences in potential “reproductive output,” while not consistent with the eastward decline in mean monthly water temperature, may instead be related to summer upwelling in the Capes and GAB, driving greater oceanic productivity prior to peak spawning, supporting larval survival. In autumn, the prevailing southward and eastward flowing, downwelling Leeuwin Current (LC) strengthens, providing a dispersal mechanism along the west and south Australian coasts, but limiting upwelling effects. Predicted changes in environmental conditions and their potential impacts on C. gerrardi are discussed, in particular how these factors may affect recruitment to stocks and fisheries, requiring a better understanding of source-sink relationships for this species. As environmental changes occur, management strategies to sustain fish resources must adapt to spatially variable and changing reproductive output and be collaborative across jurisdictions.

Percomorph fishes represent over 17,100 species, including several model organisms and species of economic importance. Despite continuous advances in the resolution of the percomorph Tree of Life, resolution of the sister lineage to Percomorpha remains inconsistent but restricted to a small number of candidate lineages. Here we use an anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) dataset of 132 loci with over 99,000 base pairs to identify the sister lineage of percomorph fishes. Initial analyses of this dataset failed to recover a strongly supported sister clade to Percomorpha, however, scrutiny of the AHE dataset revealed a bias towards high GC content at fast-evolving codon partitions (GC bias). By combining several existing approaches aimed at mitigating the impacts of convergence in GC bias, including RY coding and analyses of amino acids, we consistently recovered a strongly supported clade comprised of Holocentridae (squirrelfishes), Berycidae (Alfonsinos), Melamphaidae (bigscale fishes), Cetomimidae (flabby whalefishes), and Rondeletiidae (redmouth whalefishes) as the sister lineage to Percomorpha. Additionally, implementing phylogenetic informativeness (PI) based metrics as a filtration method yielded this same topology, suggesting PI based approaches will preferentially filter these fast-evolving regions and act in a manner consistent with other phylogenetic approaches aimed at mitigating GC bias. Our results provide a new perspective on a key issue for studies investigating the evolutionary history of more than one quarter of all living species of vertebrates.

The collection of the Museu Oceanográfico D. Carlos I is a historical specimen, instrument, and document collection that has been housed at the Aquário Vasco da Gama since 1935. The collection is largely the result of several scientific campaigns conducted by Dom Carlos de Bragança between 1896 and 1907. Specifically, the ichthyological collection consists of 675 surviving catalogue records of specimens caught, acquired or offered to D. Carlos I between 1892 to 1907, and includes the type specimen for Odontaspisnasutus Bragança, 1904 (junior synonym of Mitsukurinaowstoni Jordan, 1898), along with several specimens of deep sea species. All specimens were captured in coastal Portuguese waters, and were preserved in alcohol, formalin, or mounted.

Family Berycidae Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 —Splendid alfonsino 1,968 specimens were caught at depths between 643 and 914 m. Length data were available for 698 specimens ranging from 21 to 48 cm TL (36.5 ± 4.4). Habitat and Distribution: benthopelagic on continental shelves and slopes, seamounts, and oceanic ridges in a depth range from 25 to 1,300 m, usually 200– 800 m. Circumglobal distribution, in temperate to tropical waters excluding the northeastern Pacific. In the eastern Atlantic, from Ireland to South Africa. Vulnerability: DD (IUCN), HV (FishBase). Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829 — Beryx 18 specimens were caught at depths between 643 and 877 m. Length data were available for 11 specimens ranging from 44 to 58 cm TL. Length data available during the exploratory surveys carried out in the 1980 s was from 24 to 59 cm TL, but the total number of individuals caught was not reported. Habitat and Distribution: benthopelagic with a worldwide distribution, occurring in tropical, subtropical and some temperate areas of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and in the western Mediterranean Sea. In the eastern Atlantic, from Greenland, Iceland and Norway to western Sahara and South Africa. Vulnerability: DD (IUCN), HHV (FishBase).

Family Berycidae Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 ���Splendid alfonsino 1,968 specimens were caught at depths between 643 and 914 m. Length data were available for 698 specimens ranging from 21 to 48 cm TL (36.5 �� 4.4). Habitat and Distribution: benthopelagic on continental shelves and slopes, seamounts, and oceanic ridges in a depth range from 25 to 1,300 m, usually 200��� 800 m. Circumglobal distribution, in temperate to tropical waters excluding the northeastern Pacific. In the eastern Atlantic, from Ireland to South Africa. Vulnerability: DD (IUCN), HV (FishBase). Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829 ��� Beryx 18 specimens were caught at depths between 643 and 877 m. Length data were available for 11 specimens ranging from 44 to 58 cm TL. Length data available during the exploratory surveys carried out in the 1980 s was from 24 to 59 cm TL, but the total number of individuals caught was not reported. Habitat and Distribution: benthopelagic with a worldwide distribution, occurring in tropical, subtropical and some temperate areas of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and in the western Mediterranean Sea. In the eastern Atlantic, from Greenland, Iceland and Norway to western Sahara and South Africa. Vulnerability: DD (IUCN), HHV (FishBase)., Published as part of Ba��on, Rafael, Arronte, Juan Carlos, Rodriguez-Cabello, Cristina, Pi��eiro, Carmen-Gloria, Punzon, Antonio & Serrano, Alberto, 2016, Commented checklist of marine fishes from the Galicia Bank seamount (NW Spain), pp. 293-333 in Zootaxa 4067 (3) on page 320, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4067.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/256670

A commented checklist containing 139 species of marine fishes recorded at the Galician Bank seamount is presented. The list is based on nine prospecting and research surveys carried out from 1980 to 2011 with different fishing gears. The ichthyofauna list is diversified in 2 superclasses, 3 classes, 20 orders, 62 families and 113 genera. The largest family is Macrouridae, with 9 species, followed by Moridae, Stomiidae and Sternoptychidae with 7 species each. The trachichthyd Hoplostethus mediterraneus and the morid Lepidion lepidion were the most abundant species. Biogeographically, the Atlantic group, with 113 species (81.3%) is the best represented, followed by the Lusitanian one with 17 species (12.2%). Data on species abundance, as number of individuals caught, size and depth are reported. Habitat, distribution and vulnerability status are commented. Moreover, biometric data and meristic counts are also reported for several species. The results obtained showing a high fish biodiversity and a sensible number of threatened species, strongly support the future declaration of the Galicia Bank as a Marine Protected Area., SI

Background. The study is a contribution to Project CELFISH which involves genetic identification of populations of fish species presenting a particular economic importance or having a potential to be used in the so-called commercial substitutions. The EU fish trade has been showing a distinct trend of more and more fish species previously unknown to consumers being placed on the market. Molecular assays have become the only way with which to verify the reliability of exporters. This paper is aimed at pinpointing genetic markers with which to label and differentiate between two populations of splendid alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834, a species highly attractive to consumers in Asia and Oceania due to the meat taste and low fat content. Materials and methods. DNA was isolated from fragments of fins collected at local markets in Japan (MJ) (n = 10) and New Zealand (MNZ) (n = 18). The rhodopsin gene (RH1) fragment and 16 microsatellite DNA fragments (SSR) were analysed in all the individuals. The sequences obtained were processed using the BioEdit and BLAST software, whereas SSR data were processed with the GeAlEX analysis package. Results. The BioEdit software-aided comparison of MJ and MNZ nucleotide sequences of the rhodopsin gene fragments were identical and showed 100% agreement with the alfonsino sequence deposited under access number DQ197832. The preliminary analysis of SSR markers showed all the loci analysed in both populations to be polymorphic, and when randomly selected specimens were assigned to the original populations. The affinity test correctly identified the provenance of all those specimens. Conclusion. The results obtained constitute a tool for molecular differentiation between alfonsino populations collected in the FAO 81 (New Zealand) and FAO 71 (Japan) areas for the purpose of catch quota control and for checking the agreement between the label declaration and the actual product.

Opportunistic plankton surveys were conducted within a 5-nmi radius of nine offshore oil and gas platforms in Bass Strait, south-eastern Australia, in February 1998 and 1999 (summer) and August 1998 (winter). The 108 day-night samples collected alongside (vertical tows) and nearby (surface and oblique tows) platforms yielded 1526 larval and early juvenile fishes representing 55 taxa from 45 families. Epipelagic/mesopelagic taxa dominated the catches, whereas hard/soft habitat-associated taxa were uncommon. Carangidae (36.2%) and Myctophidae (31.5%) dominated in summer and winter, respectively. The most abundant taxon was Trachurus declivis (Carangidae, 35.1%), followed by Bovichtus angustifrons (Bovichtidae, 8.7%), Scomberesox saurus (Scomberesocidae, 3.7%), Centroberyx affinis (Berycidae, 3.0%) and Arripis trutta (Arripidae, 1.7%). Fish concentrations (nos. per 100 m 3 ) alongside platforms did not differ significantly between day and night across all surveys. Likewise, concentrations nearby platforms in February 1999, including those of T. declivis , did not vary significantly by tow type (surface vs. oblique) or day vs. night. The far greater diversity and abundance recorded in February 1999 are likely the result of upwelling conditions over the eastern Bass Strait shelf during the sampling period, and which were not detected in February 1998. In the absence of data on adult fishes associated with the Bass Strait platforms, and given the limited availability of reefs directly around the area, it could be argued that some of the taxa caught may originate from spawning around neighboring natural reefs, particularly those off the Gippsland coastline and the south-east corner of mainland Australia. However, the prime position of the platforms almost right in the center of a productivity “hotspot” would have a confounding effect on the potential source(s) of larval fishes in that region of south-eastern Australia. The role of platforms as potential de-facto reefs for juvenile fishes in Bass Strait, as well as spawning areas, is discussed based on the findings of this study, the first on early stages of fishes around oil and gas platforms in Australia.

Summary This paper provides comparative information on the reproductive biology of the alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834, species with commercial interest in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. A total of 846 individuals from Azores (14.0–42.0 cm fork length), 621 from Madeira (17.2–50.0 cm fork length) and 643 from the Canaries (18.2–38.9 cm fork length) were used for the study. The alfonsino is gonochoric with no evidence of sexual dimorphism. Females are more abundant than males; this dominance probably reflects certain differences in the spatial distribution and/or the catchability of males and females in the Macaronesian archipelagos. The spawning season was distinct for the three Macaronesian areas, with an observed North–South variation in the reproductive period: September–March in the Azores, March–June in Madeira and July–September in the Canary Islands. The size at sexual maturity estimated for Madeira and the Canary Islands is similar (32 and 30 cm fork length, respectively), while for the Azores it is reached at smaller length (23 cm fork length). The differences observed in the size at sexual maturity can be explained by the different exploitation levels in each archipelago. Life-history parameters of the alfonsino suggest that this species has a specialistic life-history strategy and fisheries based on this species are more susceptible to growth overfishing and population depletion.

Laan, Richard Van Der, Eschmeyer, William N., Fricke, Ronald (2014): Family-group names of Recent fishes. Zootaxa 3882 (2): 1-230, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1

Family Berycidae Lowe 1839 Berycidae Lowe 1839:76 [ref. 2829] (family) Beryx Centroberycinae Whitley 1951a:62 [ref. 4711] (subfamily) Centroberyx, Published as part of Laan, Richard Van Der, Eschmeyer, William N. & Fricke, Ronald, 2014, Family-group names of Recent fishes, pp. 1-230 in Zootaxa 3882 (2) on page 78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7047777, {"references":["Lowe, R. T. (1839) A supplement to a synopsis of the fishes of Madeira. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1839 (7), 76 - 92. (October, ref. 2829]","Whitley, G. P. (1951 a) New fish names and records. Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, for 1949 - 50: 61 - 68. [2 April, ref. 4711]"]}

* □ Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 – Splendid alfonsino; Imperador-de-costa-estreita ①, Alfonsim ②, Alfonsim-da-costa-estreita ③, Published as part of Carneiro, Miguel, Martins, Rogélia, Landi, Monica & Costa, Filipe O., 2014, Updated checklist of marine fishes (Chordata: Craniata) from Portugal and the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf, pp. 1-73 in European Journal of Taxonomy 73 on page 44, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2014.73, http://zenodo.org/record/3866515

* □ Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829 – Alfonsino; Imperador ①②, Alfonsim ②, Alfonsim-da-costalarga ③, Published as part of Carneiro, Miguel, Martins, Rogélia, Landi, Monica & Costa, Filipe O., 2014, Updated checklist of marine fishes (Chordata: Craniata) from Portugal and the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf, pp. 1-73 in European Journal of Taxonomy 73 on page 44, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2014.73, http://zenodo.org/record/3866515

The study of the Portuguese marine ichthyofauna has a long historical tradition, rooted back in the 18th Century. Here we present an annotated checklist of the marine fishes from Portuguese waters, including the area encompassed by the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf and the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history collections, together with new revisions and occurrences. It comprises a total of 1191 species, distributed among 3 superclasses, 4 classes, 42 orders, 212 families and 617 genera. If considering only the EEZ and present territorial waters, this list represents an increase of 230 species (27.8%) and of 238 species (29.0%), when compared to the information available in FishBase (2012) and in the last checklist of marine and estuarine fishes of Portugal (1993), respectively. The order Perciformes shows the highest diversity, with 54 families, 162 genera and 299 species. Stomiidae (80 species), Myctophidae (71 species) and Macrouridae (37 species) are the richest families. From the listed species, 734 are present off mainland Portugal, 857 off the Azores and 766 off Madeira. Within the limits of the examined area, three species are reported for the first time in mainland Portugal and twenty-nine records are identified as doubtful. A total of 133 species have been recorded from the extended Portuguese continental shelf (2 off mainland Portugal, 117 off the Azores and 14 off Madeira), two of which are common to the Azores and Madeira extensions. Biogeographically, the Atlantic group is the most important (548 species – 46.01%), followed by the Lusitanian group (256 species – 21.49%), the African group (71 species – 5.96%), the Boreal group (34 species – 2.85%), the Mediterranean group (31 species – 2.60%), the Macaronesian group (21 species – 1.76%), the Atlantic/African group (19 species – 1.60%) and the Mediterranean/African and the Arctic groups, each with only 1 species (0.08%). Regarding the preferences for vertical habitat, the demersal fishes are the most important group (305 species – 25.61%), followed by the mesopelagic group (228 species – 19.14%), the bathypelagic group (164 species – 13.77%), the benthopelagic group (147 species – 12.34%), the bathydemersal group (115 species – 9.66%), the reef-associated group (88 species – 7.39%), the pelagic group (74 species – 6.21%), the epipelagic group (58 species – 4.87%) and 1 species (0.08%) of the benthic group. The oceanic habitat is the best represented group comprising 446 species (37.45%), followed by the shelf group (199 species – 16.71%), the slope group (164 species – 13.77%), the inner shelf group (89 species – 7.47%), the coastal group (70 species – 5.88%), the outer shelf group (29 species – 2.43%) and the oceanic/shelf group (7 species – 0.59%).

Based on specimens collected from outside of the Japanese waters by Russian research vessels, we confirmed the distribution of the baloon alfonsin, Beryx mollis Abe, from the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Result of comparison with Japanese specimens is discussed with notes on some morphological characters showing geographical variation., 本文ファイル1ページ目、73号63ページに掲載の正誤表あり, 紀要論文

Surface ichthyoplankton concentrations along a shore-normal transect across the Sydney continental shelf and upper slope changed between three replicate nights in January and April of 1994. Over 70 families of fish were recorded, which, during January, included: Myctophidae (49% of individuals), Carangidae (14%), Gonostomatidae (11%) and Pomacentridae (8%); and during April included: Gonorhynchidae (43%), Myctophidae (10%), Berycidae (11%) and Serranidae (6%). Multidimensional scaling analysis identified inshore and offshore communities, which nightly moved between the nearshore and mid-shelf stations. During January no distinct near-surface water masses could be identified from the temperature-salinity data, although the shelf waters were under the influence of forcing by the local wind stress and the East Australian Current. Good agreement between the cross-shore transport in the near-surface layer and the temporal variability of the icthyoplankton was nevertheless found. The sampling during April was performed during a period of relatively steady oceanographic conditions, and two water masses were identified from the hydrographic data. Temporal ichthyoplankton variability at any station was correspondingly less during the April period and stable inshore and offshore communities were identified, that shifted with characteristic water masses. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the large variance often associated with ichthyoplankton distribution within a similar water mass may be interpreted by the dynamics in cross-shelf flows, which has implications for the selection of control sites used when studying environmental impacts of coastal outfalls.

Due to the growth in population, urban centers and industries along coastal regions, the wastes generated by these reach aquatic environment, which in turn move into the organisms including fishes. Marine fishes act as conduits of potentially toxic heavy metals to the humans. The present study presents the results obtained from heavy metal concentrations found in fishes. The ichthyofaunal samples from fish landing centers located in the coastal city of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu were collected and analyzed for Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu. The study is based on 69 species of fishes belonging to 14 orders, 63 genera and 50 families. For the heavy metal extraction, all the fish samples were subjected to dissection, drying and acid digestion. Highest concentration of zinc (118.85 ppm) was recorded in Corangoidae family and lowest level of zinc was recorded in Berycidae family. The family Ophichthidae had the highest concentration of Copper (49.425 ppm) and the family Serranidae had the lowest concentration of Copper (0.25 ppm). The family Scorombidae had the highest concentration of Lead (40.075 ppm) and the family Ophichthidae had lowest concentration of Lead (0.975 ppm). The highest concentration of cadmium (4.975 ppm) was recorded in Terapontidae and lowest concentration of Cadmium (0.05 ppm) was noted in the family Synodontidae. From this study, the relative dominance of the heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb) in fish sample was observed in the following sequence: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. These results revealed that, the fishes could be good indicators of aquatic environmental pollution and the observed levels of heavy metals were above the limits prescribed by WHO/FAO.

The fifth and sixth documented occurrences of the splendid alfonsino Beryx splendens from the Mediterranean Sea are reported. One female and one male adult specimen were captured off the Cilento coast, Tyrrhenian Sea in July 2007 and July 2010, respectively. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA (control region) confirmed the morphological identification and revealed a 1–2% sequence divergence with North-eastern Atlantic populations of this species. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the gonads showed ripe ovary and testes in both individuals. Two giant red shrimps Aristeomorpha foliacea and beaks of the cephalopod Histioteuthis bonnellii were found in the stomachs of the female and male, respectively. Two species of parasites were found: the third-stage larvae of the nematode Anisakis physeteris in the body cavity of both individuals, and spores of the myxozoan Ceratomyxa maxima in the gallbladder of the male. The genetic analysis showed a high level of gene flow between Mediterranean and North-eas...

Beryx splendens(splendid alfonsino) is a benthopelagic fish with a circumglobal distribution but is not currently exploited in New Caledonia. The knowledge of the species' biology and genetics may condition the development and management of fisheries, but the genetic structuring and diversity of beryx populations remain largely unclear. To better study these parameters, we used mitochondrial and nuclear markers as part of a comparative approach. Initially,and in order to better target the most appropriate mitochondrial marker for this study, the sequencing of complete mitochondrial genomes of the species and of B. mollisgave us the level of genetic variability within species, marker by marker. Fragments of 815 bpof cytochrome b gene were then sequenced and used in attemptto interpret the species history. A total of 204 individuals from 14 natural geographic populations throughout the world were analyzed. The populations of the EEZ of New Caledonia have also beenthe subject of special study. Finally, the results on the intensity and the spatial distribution of genetic diversity of B. splendenspopulations were further investigated using nuclear markers. Thus, 193 individuals from the three oceans, including one and two populations of B. decadactylusand B. mollis, respectively, were characterized at eight microsatellite loci. Although less contrasting, the latest results are consistent with those obtained by analyzing the mitochondrial marker. Thus, the results indicate a high intraspecific genetic diversity and suggest a population in expansion. A population subdivision between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans was highlighted. On a smaller scale, statistical analysis did not reveal sub-structuring among samples. Our analysis shows that the species tends to follow the ocean currents, suggesting that at least some individuals probably migrate over long distances. This study has detected a large-scale genetic admixture, maintaining the high diversity within the overall population of B. splendens., Le béryx long Beryx splendens est une espèce d'intérêt commercial à distribution circumglobale mais n'est pas encore exploitée en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Les connaissances sur la biologie et la génétique de l'espèce sont susceptibles d'influencer le développement et la gestion de sa pêche. Cependant la structuration et la diversité des populations de béryx sont encore insuffisamment connues. Afin d'étudier ces paramètres de façon approfondie, des marqueurs mitochondriaux et nucléaires ont été utilisés dans le cadre d'une approche comparative. Dans un premier temps et afin de cibler au mieux le marqueur mitochondrial le plus approprié dans cette étude, les séquençages des génomes mitochondriaux complets de l'espèce et de B. mollis ont permis l'estimations du niveau de variabilité génétique intraspécifique, marqueur par marqueur. Des fragments de 815 pb du gène du cytochrome b ont ensuite été séquencés et utilisés pour tenter d'interpréter au mieux l'histoire de l'espèce. Au total, 204 individus issus de 14 populations géographiques naturelles réparties à travers le monde ont été analysés. Les populations de la ZEE de la Nouvelle-Calédonie ont par ailleurs fait l'objet d'une étude particulière. Enfin, les résultats sur l'intensité et la distribution spatiale de la diversité génétique des populations de B. splendens ont été approfondis à l'aide de marqueurs nucléaires. Ainsi, 193 individus, issus des trois océans et incluant une et deux populations de B. decadactylus et B. mollis, respectivement, ont été caractérisés à huit loci microsatellites. Bien que moins contrastés, les résultats obtenus avec ces derniers vont dans le sens de ceux obtenus par l'analyse avec le marqueur mitochondrial. Ainsi, les résultats indiquent une forte diversité génétique chez l'espèce et suggèrent une population globalement en expansion. Une scission de la population de béryx entre l'Atlantique et l'Indo-Pacifique a été mise en évidence. A plus petite échelle, les analyses statistiques n'ont pas mis en évidence de structuration particulière. Nos analyses montrent que l'espèce tendrait à suivre les courants océaniques, suggérant qu'au moins une partie des individus migrent probablement sur de longues distances. Cette étude a permis de détecter un brassage génétique à large échelle océanique, assurant le maintien de la diversité au sein de la population globale de B. splendens.

Mitochondrial control region sequences of 141 alfonsino Beryx decadactylus sampled off the coast of South Carolina were compared with 164 sequences from B. decadactylus collected in the Azores for inferring population structure and demographic history of this deep-water teleost in the North Atlantic Ocean. Analysis of molecular variance showed that 100% of the genetic variation was found within populations, indicating an absence of population structure (Φ(ST) = -0· 003). Neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses of pooled sequences suggested that B. decadactylus in the North Atlantic Ocean have undergone population expansion. These results may indicate that transatlantic gene flow occurs, possibly through passive drift of larvae or adult migration. The potential of a shared stock between the eastern and western North Atlantic Ocean will need to be considered if a directed fishery for B. decadactylus were to develop in the U.S.A.

Age and growth of the alfonsino Beryx decadactylus from the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands were studied based on otolith readings. Alfonsino otoliths are thin and show clear annual growth rings. Specimens ranged in size from 21.0 to 50.0 cm fork length (aged 2 to 10 years) in the Azores, 20.0 to 45.0 cm fork length (1 to 11 years) in Madeira, and 21.0 to 44.0 cm fork length (0 to 9 years) in the Canary Islands. No significant differences in growth parameters were found between males and females in any of the three archipelagos. [...].

Australicola pectinatus n. gen., n. sp. (Pseudophyllidea: Triaenophoridae) is proposed to accommodate a new cestode from a deep-sea fish, the splendid alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834 (Beryciformes: Berycidae), from the Pacific coast of Tasmania. The new genus is placed in the Triaenophoridae, because it possesses a ventral uterine pore, marginal genital pore, and follicular vitellarium. Australicola is characterized by possessing a massive strobila with very short and wide, markedly craspedote proglottids; vitelline follicles forming a transverse equatorial band; a very deep and narrow genital atrium; a wide, convoluted vaginal canal; and unoperculate eggs. Australicola most closely resembles Eubothrium Nybelin, 1922 and Probothriocephalus Campbell, 1979 in having an unarmed scolex, an unarmed cirrus, the vagina anterior to the cirrus-sac, and cortical vitellaria. It differs from these 2 genera, in addition to the characteristics listed above, in possessing a dendritic rather than an entire ovary. Australicola pectinatus n. sp. is the third cestode described from B. splendens.

The feeding habits of Beryx splendens and B. decadactylus were determined from stomach contents obtained on a monthly basis during commercial fishing off the Canary Islands in 1996–1997. Changes in diets were studied in relation to predator size and seasonal variation in the food composition. The diet of both species has much in common with regard to its main components of small fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. More important differences were found in the fish prey of B. decadactylus. A variation in the diet of B. splendens was observed according to its length. Seasonal variations in feeding habits were associated with either variations in the abundance of prey or variations in the depth distribution of predator and prey.

Neolebouria moretonensis n. sp. is described from Gerres subfasciatus (Gerreidae) from Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland and N. lineatus n. sp. is described from Centroberyx lineatus (Berycidae) from off Rottnest Island, south-west Western Australia. C. lineatus represents a new host family and order (Beryciformes) for the genus. The two new species are distinguished within the genus by their entire, tandem to oblique testes and cirrus-sacs that do not extend into the hind-body, by being less than 1 mm in length, and by the position of the genital pore and the relative size of the forebody and post-testicular region. N. lineatus and N. moretonensis are very similar but are distinguished by their caeca which extend further posteriorly in N. moretonensis. There is no apparent pattern in the host-specificity of this genus.

Distributions of small and large larvae of Centroberyx affinis (Berycidae) and Gonorynchus greyi (Gonorynchidae) were examined along a shore-normal transect across the Sydney continental shelf, south-eastern Australia during January and April 1994. Both species were abundant, and 3016 individuals of C. affinis and 3184 individuals of G. greyi were taken. Distributions of small and large C. affinis reflected hydrographic variability and suggested passive dispersal. Previous observations of high year-class variability for this species may therefore reflect oceanographic variability during the larval stage. In contrast, the distributions of G. greyi only partially reflected hydrography and appeared to be influenced by larval behaviour at both sizes. Size distributions during each month indicated protracted spawning periods for both species. Spawning by C. affinis may have occurred over the inner shelf although the location was unclear because of the complexity of nearshore currents. Spawning by G. greyi probably occurred over the outer shelf. An increasing influence of larval behaviour with larval size on the distribution of G. greyi restricted larger individuals to the shelf break; this may have been a response to higher productivity in this region.

One new species is added to the Tasmanian list; Amrnotretis elongatus McCulloch, 1914, from Goose Island, Furneaux Group, Bass Strait. A detailed account, with table of dimensions, is given for two examples of Trygonorrhina fasciata Muller & Henle, 1841 (rulinobatidae). It has hitherto been assumed the Tasmanian fiddler ray is the typical subspecies: however, the present paterial is determined as T. f. guanerius Whitley, 1932. Other species noted are: Dinolestes lewini (Griffith, 1834) (Apogonidae), general specifications of a sample of eight specimens, with extensions of published meristic and morphometric ranges, Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829, B. decadactylus (Gunther, 1859) (Berycidae), Paratrachichthys trailli (Hutton, 1875) (Trachichthydae), the treatment of the last three species including detailed morphometry and various aspects of body form, with some comparison between them.

BERYCIDAE., Published as part of Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H., 1883, Reports on the results of dredging under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, on the east coast of the United States, during the summer of 1880, by the U. S. coast survey steamer " Blake, " Commander J. R. Bartlett, U. S. N., commanding., pp. 183-226 in Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 10 (5) on page 214, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.28095

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