[Ichthyology • 2024] The Indo-Pacific Stingray Genus Brevitrygon (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae): Clarification of Historical Names and Description of a New Species, B. manjajiae sp. nov., from the Western Indian Ocean

[Bengal whipray] Brevitrygon walga (Müller & Henle, 1841),
 [Dwarf whipray]  B. heterura (Bleeker, 1852), 
[Coromandel Whipray]  B. imbricata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), 
[Sandwich-tail Whipray] Brevitrygon manjajiae Last, Weigmann & Naylor, 2024
[Javan whipray]  B. javaensis (Last & White, 2013) 

DOI: 10.3390/d15121213 

 twitter.com/DiversityMDPI

Abstract

Members of the genus Brevitrygon are small, locally abundant tropical stingrays (family Dasyatidae) occurring in soft sedimentary habitats of inner continental shelves of the Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea to Indonesia. Formerly members of the genus Himantura, whose members lack dorsal and ventral skin folds on the tail (typical of most dasyatid genera), folds are present or rudimentary in some Brevitrygon. Important to artisanal fisheries and known to consist of at least five species, these fishes are possibly the most frequently misidentified of all stingrays. Most were inadequately described in the 19th century, and they are often taxonomically confused due to morphological similarity, ontogenetic variability, and sexual dimorphism. Their nomenclatural history is complex with four of the known species represented within the type series of one species, B. walga (Müller & Henle). Also, the type of the species with which B. walga is most often confused, B. imbricata (Bloch & Schneider) from off southern India and Sri Lanka, is in very poor condition. A lectotype has been designated for B. walga (confined to the Bay of Bengal). The genus also contains B. heterura (Bleeker) from the Indo-Malay Archipelago, B. javaensis (Last & White) from off southern Indonesia, and a new species, B. manjajiae sp. nov., from the western Indian Ocean. The former species are redescribed and redefined based largely on a combination of morphometrics, tail morphology, squamation, and molecular data. Molecular divergences were detected within lineages of B. heterura, B. walga and B. manjajiae sp. nov., requiring further investigation.

Keywords: Chondrichthyes; Elasmobranchii; systematics; taxonomy; diversity; review of genus; nomenclatural discussion; redescriptions; morphology; genetics; NADH2

  Peter R. Last, Simon Weigmann and Gavin J. P. Naylor. 2024. The Indo-Pacific Stingray Genus Brevitrygon (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae): Clarification of Historical Names and Description of a New Species, B. manjajiae sp. nov., from the Western Indian Ocean.  Diversity. 15(12), 1213. DOI: 10.3390/d15121213

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity of the Chondrichthyan Fauna) 

  twitter.com/DiversityMDPI/status/1770119289024176203

[Ichthyology • 2021] Review of the Batfish Genus Malthopsis (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) from Australia , with Descriptions of Five New Species

Malthopsis oculata, M. bulla &  M. mcgroutheri; 
Malthopsis apis &  M. tetrabulla

 Ho & Last, 2021

 DOI: 10.5343/bms.2020.0037

  twitter.com/BullMarSci 

Abstract 

A taxonomic review of the batfish genus Malthopsis in the Australian waters is provided. Eleven valid species are recognized in this study: Malthopsis gigas Ho and Shao, 2010, Malthopsis parva Ho, Roberts and Shao, 2013, Malthopsis asperata Ho, Roberts and Shao, 2013, Malthopsis lutea Alcock, 1891, Malthopsis mitrigera Gilbert and Cramer, 1897, Malthopsis provocator Whitley, 1961, and an additional five species new to science. Four of these new species, Malthopsis apis sp. nov., Malthopsis bulla sp. nov., Malthopsis oculata sp. nov., and Malthopsis tetrabulla sp. nov. belong to a species group lacking spinules on the interspaces between bucklers of the ventral surface, whereas Malthopsis mcgroutheri sp. nov. belongs to another species group characterized by having spinules on the interspaces between bucklers of the ventral surface. Four other taxa were identified during this study that may be undescribed but require further investigation. The Australian endemic species M. provocator, formerly considered to be a synonym of Malthopsis kobayashii Tanaka, 1916, is resurrected herein and two widespread species, M. asperata and M. lutea, are newly recorded from Australia. A key to all Australian species is provided.

 

 Hsuan-Ching Ho and Peter Last. 2021. Review of the Batfish Genus Malthopsis from Australia (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae), with Descriptions of Five New Species.  Bulletin of Marine Science. 97(1); 165-218. DOI: 10.5343/bms.2020.0037

  twitter.com/BullMarSci/status/1358872049054277634

 

  

     

[Ichthyology • 2018] Review of the Batfish Genus Halicmetus Alcock, 1891 (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) from Australian Waters, with Descriptions of Two New Species; Halicmetus westraliensis & H. drypus

Halicmetus westraliensis 

 Ho & Last. 2018

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.2 

Abstract

A taxonomic review of species of the Indo–Pacific batfish genus Halicmetus occurring in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone is provided. Treatments of six species in the region, including diagnoses of the widespread Halicmetus niger Ho, Endo & Sakamaki, 2008, H. reticulatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912 and H. ruber Alcock 1891, a reclassification of the poorly known H. marmoratus Weber, 1913, and descriptions of two new species, Halicmetus westraliensis n. sp. (an Australian endemic) and H. drypus n. sp. (from the northern sector of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone off Norfolk Island). The Australian species can be distinguished from each other and regional congeners by a combination of morphometrics, meristics and colouration. A key is provided for all known species of the genus.

Keywords: Pisces, taxonomy, review, Halicmetus, new species, Australia

Halicmetus Alcock 

Halicmetus Alcock, 1891:27. 

Type species: Halicmetus ruber Alcock, 1891, by monotypy.

....

Valid species. Halicmetus is represented in the Indo–Pacific by six valid nominal taxa: 

H. drypus n. sp., H. marmoratus Weber, 1913, H. niger Ho, Endo & Sakamaki, 2008, H. reticulatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, H. ruber Alcock, 1891, and H. westraliensis n. sp., and one undescribed species, H. cf. ruber (sensu Ho et al., 2008).

Halicmetus westraliensis sp. nov.,
CSIRO CA3647, holotype, 68.4 mm SL. 

Halicmetus westraliensis sp. nov. 

Vernacular name: West Australian Shortnose Seabat.

Etymology. The name westraliensis is a reference to the type locality, Western Australia.

Halicmetus drypus sp. nov. 

Vernacular name: Pink Shortnose Seabat  

Etymology. From the Greek drypus, referring to the pink plant genus Drypis of the Tribe Drypideae, family Caryophyllaceae.

Halicmetus marmoratus Weber, 1913 

Vernacular name: Marbled Shortnose Seabat

Halicmetus ruber Alcock, 1891 

Vernacular name: Red Shortnose Seabat

Halicmetus reticulatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912
Vernacular name: Reticulated Shortnose Seabat

Halicmetus niger Ho, Endo & Sakamaki, 2008 

Vernacular name: Black Shortnose Seabat

Hsuan-Ching Ho and Peter R. Last. 2018. Review of the Batfish Genus Halicmetus Alcock, 1891 from Australian Waters, with Descriptions of Two New Species (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae). Zootaxa. 4508(2);  179–196. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.2

[Ichthyology • 2017] Notoraja sereti • A New Species of Velvet Skate (Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae) from Papua New Guinea

Notoraja sereti 

White, Last & Mana, 2017  

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4244.2.4   

Abstract

A new arhynchobatin skate, Notoraja sereti n. sp., is described based on three specimens collected from off Madang (Papua New Guinea) at depths of 800–980 m. This medium-size Notoraja skate shares with other velcro skates from the Western Pacific, N. alisae, N. fijiensis, N. inusitata and N. longiventralis, a ventral surface covering of fine denticles giving the skin a velvety feel. Notoraja sereti differs from all of these species in having a shorter snout (preorbital length 10.1–11.1 vs. 11.5–14.5% TL, prenasal length 8.2–8.9 vs, 9.8–12.1% TL), shorter head (dorsal head length 15.2–16.2 vs. 17.1–19.3% TL, ventral head length 21.6–22.9 vs. 22.9–25.9% TL), fewer pectoral-fin radials (total radials 58–60 vs. 61–74), and fewer vertebrae (predorsal diplospondylous centra 66–71 vs. 72–82, predorsal centra 90–95 vs. 98–107, total centra 126–131 vs. 135–152).

Keywords: Pisces, Notoraja, new species, velcro skate, Papua New Guinea

FIGURE 1: Dorsal view of the holotype of Notoraja sereti n. sp. (NTUM 10067, female 459 mm TL) immediately post-capture. 

Etymology. Named after the highly respected French ichthyologist, Dr. Bernard Séret, who has contributed greatly to the taxonomy of sharks and rays, and in particular to our knowledge of skates of the genus Notoraja. English name: Papuan Velvet Skate.

White, William T., Peter R. Last & Ralph R. Mana. 2017. A New Species of Velvet Skate, Notoraja sereti n.sp. (Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae) from Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa. 4244(2); 219–230.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4244.2.4

[Ichthyology • 2016] Urogymnus acanthobothrium • A New Euryhaline Whipray (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from Australia and Papua New Guinea

Urogymnus acanthobothrium 

Last, White, Kyne, 2016

 DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4147.2.4 

Abstract

The Mumburarr Whipray, Urogymnus acanthobothrium sp. nov. is described from a single specimen taken from the Cambridge Gulf, Western Australia, and from images of 10 other specimens from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea (all observed but not collected). It is a very large ray that attains at least 161 cm disc width, making it amongst the largest of the whiprays. The ventral tail below the caudal sting has a low, short-based fold. A ventral tail fold (or a dorsal fold) has not been recorded for any other himanturin stingray in the Indo-West Pacific. Molecular data suggest it is most closely related to a similar but more widely distributed cognate, U. granulatus. Both of these species share a suboval disc shape, similar squamation patterns, and the tail posterior to the sting is entirely white (at least in small individuals). U. acanthobothrium sp. nov. differs from U. granulatus in having a longer and more angular snout, longer tail, more posteriorly inserted caudal sting, lacks white flecks on the dorsal surface, and the ventral disc is uniformly white (rather than white with a broad black margin). It co-occurs with two other morphologically distinct Urogymnus in the region (U. asperrimus and U. dalyensis). Like U. dalyensis it occurs in both brackish and marine waters. A key is proved to the members of the genus Urogymnus.

Keywords: Pisces, Urogymnus acanthobothrium, Dasyatidae, giant whipray, new species, Australia, Papua New Guinea

Peter R Last, William T White, Peter M Kyne. 2016. Urogymnus acanthobothrium sp. nov., A New Euryhaline Whipray (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Zootaxa. 4147(2);  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4147.2.4

   

Scientists name giant stingray from northern Australia

https://blog.csiro.au/scientists-name-giant-stingray-northern-australia/ 

https://twitter.com/Stickfigurefish/status/761317887172718593

New species of rays found in our oceans http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/news-story/2a55704ace12431f32f27c39bd62e62a

[Ichthyology • 2016] Three New Stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from the Indo–West Pacific; Himantura australis, Taeniura lessoni & Telatrygon biasa

 Taeniura lessoni  

Last, White & Naylor, 2016  

  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4147.4.2 

Abstract

Three undescribed stingrays were discovered as part of a broader revision of the family Dasyatidae that formed part of the Chondrichthyan Tree of Life project. This research forms part of a sequence of papers on rays aimed at describing unnamed species for inclusion in a multi-authored guide to rays of the world. The first part of this series focused on a redefinition of genera of the family Dasyatidae. The new Indo–West Pacific taxa are represented by separate genera from three dasyatid subfamilies: Himantura australis sp. nov. (northern Australia and Papua New Guinea), Taeniura lessoni sp. nov. (Melanesia) and Telatrygon biasa sp. nov. (Indo–Malay Archipelago).

Himantura australis sp. nov., which belongs to a complex of four closely related reticulate whiprays, differs subtly from its congeners in coloration, morphometrics and distribution. Taeniura lessoni sp. nov. is the second species in a genus containing the widely-distributed T. lymma, which is possibly the most abundant stingray in shallow coral-reef habitats of the Indo–Pacific, with the new species apparently restricted to Melanesia. Taeniura lessoni sp. nov. is distinguishable by the absence of a distinctive pair of vivid blue longitudinal stripes on the dorsolateral edges of the tail which is one of the most distinctive features of T. lymma. Telatrygon biasa sp. nov. belongs to a small, recently designated genus of stingrays represented by four species in the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Telatrygon biasa sp. nov. differs from these species in morphometrics. The new species differs markedly from T. zugei in its NADH2 sequence. Telatrygon crozieri is resurrected as a valid northern Indian Ocean representative of the T. zugei complex.

Keywords: Pisces, Dasyatidae, Himantura australis, Taeniura lessoni, Telatrygon biasa, Telatrygon crozieri, new species, Indo–West Pacific

Peter R. Last, William T. White and Gavin Naylor. 2016. Three New Stingrays (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from the Indo–West Pacific. Zootaxa. 4147(4);  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4147.4.2

facebook.com/SouthAmericanIchthyology/photos/1269672333053561

Taeniura lessoni - A New Species of Blue-spotted Stingray https://reefs.com/2016/08/05/taeniura-lessoni-new-species-blue-spotted-stingray/ via @reefscom

New species of rays found in our oceans http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/news-story/2a55704ace12431f32f27c39bd62e62a