[Ichthyology • 2022] Rhonciscus pauco • A New Species of Deep-sea Grunt (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae) from Puerto Rico

Rhonciscus pauco 

 Tavera​, Schärer-Umpierre & Acero P., 2022

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13502

 

Abstract

A fourth species of the genus Rhonciscus (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae) is described from various specimens collected by small-scale fishers from the insular upper slope of western Puerto Rico. The new species was molecularly recovered as sister to the Eastern Pacific R. branickii, to which it bears many morphological similarities. It is distinguished from other Rhonciscus species by the number of scale rows between the dorsal fin and the lateral line (7), larger and thus fewer scales along the lateral line (48–50), large eyes (9.4–10.4 times in SL), longer caudal peduncle (15.2–20% of SL), larger sized penultimate (14.7–19.1% in SL) and last (7.4–9.5% in SL) dorsal fin spines which translates to a less deeply notched dorsal fin, and its opalescent silver with golden specks live coloration. This grunt, only now recognized by ichthyologists, but well known by local fishers that target snappers and groupers between 200 and 500 m in depth, occurs in far deeper waters than any western Atlantic grunt.

Rhonciscus pauco, sp. nov. OMNH 86864, holotype, 266 mm SL,
from Tres Cerros, Rincón, Puerto Rico.

Rhonciscus pauco, sp. nov. Underwater photograph taken at 218 m depth in western Puerto Rico.

 Image: NOAA NCCOS 2022.

Rhonciscus pauco sp. nov. 

Opalescent Grunt

(Spanish name: Ronco opalescente)

Diagnosis. A species of the genus Rhonciscus with XIII, 12 (total 25) dorsal-fin rays; anal-fin rays III, 7; pectoral-fin rays 15–16, 17(1); rather elongate body, maximum depth 32–37.4% SL; convex predorsal profile; eye large, its diameter 9.4% to 10.4% SL; snout subequal to eye, its length 7.6% to 11.5% SL; very coarse serrations on angle of preopercular margin; pectoral fin long (28–32.5% SL) extending beyond the tip of pelvic fin, barely reaching anus; head length 30–37.3% SL; longest dorsal-fin spine (fifth) (12.1–19.1% SL); relatively long and much thicker second anal-fin spine (16.4–21.8% SL), long caudal peduncle (15.2–20% of SL), and a large size of the penultimate (14.7–19.1% in SL) and last dorsal-fin (7.4–9.5% in SL) spines which translate to a less deeply notched dorsal fin, eye diameter 0.5 to 0.6 times length of anal fin spine; maxilla reaching anterior border of pupil; seven scale rows between dorsal fin and lateral line; 48 to 50 lateral–line scales.

Distribution. Rhonciscus pauco is found on the deep shelf and upper slope of the western coast of the northeastern Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. We are uncertain of the species’ exact range, but fishers report capturing them exclusively in fine sediment habitats distributed between the municipalities of Rincón and Mayagüez, off western Puerto Rico (Fig. 1). No additional information is currently available.

Habitat. Collection depths range from 200–360 m in fine unconsolidated sediment or mud habitats (Fig. 5).

Etymology. The name pauco comes from the fisher’s nickname Paúco, Edwin Font, who already knew of this fish locally called burro or ronco (grunt). Mr. Font was the first to report and provided specimens to MS, although it is recognized by various fishers as a component of the deep-water catch in western Puerto Rico.

Jose Tavera​, Michelle T. Schärer-Umpierre and Arturo Acero P. 2022. A New Species of Deep-sea Grunt, Rhonciscus pauco (Lutjaniformes: Haemulidae), from Puerto Rico. PeerJ. 10:e13502 . DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13502

[Ichthyology • 2021] Etelis boweni • A New Cryptic Deepwater Eteline Snapper (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from the Indo‐Pacific

 

Etelis boweni 

 Andrews, Fernandez‐Silva, Randall & Ho, 2021

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14720 

  hawaii.edu 

 Photo: NOAA Fisheries

Abstract

A new species of Etelis is described based on 16 specimens collected from the Red Sea and Western Australia, with confirmed genetic records throughout the Indo‐West Pacific. It is similar to and was often misidentified as Etelis carbunculus Cuvier, with both species sharing the diagnostic character of low number of developed gill rakers. Nonetheless, the two species are genetically divergent and differ morphologically in adult body length; proportions of eye, snout, cheek and caudal fin; shape of head, opercular spine and sagittal otolith; and coloration of the tip of the upper caudal fin. Etelis boweni has a wide Indo‐west Pacific distribution that largely overlaps with E. carbunculus, and the two species are often caught on the same fishing line.

Keywords: Actinopterygii, cryptic species, ichthyology, Pisces, snappers, taxonomy

 

Etelis boweni sp. nov.

Bowen's Red Snapper, Giant Ruby Snapper

Etymology: The authors are grateful to name this fish after Dr. Brian W. Bowen of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaiʻi, in recognition of his contributions to the field of Ichthyology, and in particular for his use of molecular genetic techniques in support of the taxonomy of fishes.

A fresh caught specimen of Etelis boweni sp. nov. from East Bank, American Sāmoa in 2016, weight 31 kg, estimated >1 m total length.

Photo: NOAA Fisheries

 

Kimberly R. Andrews, Iria Fernandez‐Silva, John E. Randall and Hsuan‐Ching Ho. 2021. Etelis boweni sp. nov., A New Cryptic Deepwater Eteline Snapper from the Indo‐Pacific (Perciformes: Lutjanidae). Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14720  

 hawaii.edu/news/2021/04/16/newly-discovered-ehu

 facebook.com/MNMRC/posts/4225631444122511

 twitter.com/ToBoLab/status/1383178764356493312

[Ichthyology • 2020] Pristipomoides amoenus (Snyder 1911), A Valid Species of Jobfish (Pisces, Lutjanidae), with comparisons to P. argyrogrammicus (Valenciennes 1832)

Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus (Valenciennes, 1832)

in Shimose, Suzuki & Iwatsuki, 2020. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4728.4.5

Abstract

Platyinius amoenus Snyder 1911 has long been considered a junior synonym of Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus (Valenciennes 1832), however, the two are discernible as distinct species from color patterns and counts of gill rakers based on examination of their type materials and non-type specimens. Furthermore, genetic differences based on molecular analysis among the two species (mtDNA, COI gene) strongly support the validity of both species. Pristipomoides amoenus can be readily distinguished from P. argyrogrammicus in having no white margin to the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, silvery blue spots continuing inside dorso-lateral yellow blotches, and presence of modally10 (vs. modally 12) lower gill rakers. Both species were collected sympatrically around Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan.

Keywords: Pisces, COI, fishery target, morphology, mtDNA, Platyinius, validity

Tamaki Shimose, Nobuaki Suzuki and Yukio Iwatsuki. 2020. Pristipomoides amoenus (Snyder 1911), A Valid Species of Jobfish (Pisces, Lutjanidae), with comparisons to P. argyrogrammicus (Valenciennes 1832). Zootaxa. 4728(4); 469–476. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4728.4.5

[Ichthyology • 2007] Lutjanus alexandrei • A New Species of Snapper (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from Brazil, with Comments on the Distribution of Lutjanus griseus and L. apodus

Lutjanus alexandrei

 Moura & Lindeman, 2007 

Abstract

Snappers of the family Lutjanidae contain several of the most important reef-fishery species in the tropical western Atlantic. Despite their importance, substantial gaps exist for both systematic and ecological information, especially for the southwestern Atlantic. Recent collecting efforts along the coast of Brazil have resulted in the discovery of many new reef-fish species, including commercially important parrotfishes (Scaridae) and grunts (Haemulidae). Based on field collecting, museum specimens, and literature records, we describe a new species of snapper, Lutjanus alexandrei, which is apparently endemic to the Brazilian coast. The newly settled and early juvenile life stages are also described. This species is common in many Brazilian reef and coastal estuarine systems where it has been often misidentified as the gray snapper, Lutjanus griseus, or the schoolmaster, L. apodus. Identification of the new species cast doubt on prior distributional assumptions about the southern ranges of L. griseus and L. apodus, and subsequent field and museum work confirmed that those species are not reliably recorded in Brazil. The taxonomic status of two Brazilian species previously referred to Lutjanus, Bodianus aya and Genyoroge canina, is reviewed to determine the number of valid Lutjanus species occurring in Brazil. Twelve species of Lutjanus are now recognized in the western Atlantic, eight of which occur in Brazil (one endemic). A key for the identification of all western Atlantic Lutjanus species and their known distributional ranges is also provided.

Key words: Lutjanus alexandrei new species; snappers; biogeography; Brazil

FIGURE 2. Underwater photograph of Lutjanus alexandrei. Parcel das Paredes (17°53’54”S, 38°57’13”W), Abrolhos Bank, Bahia, Brazil (R.L. Moura).

 FIGURE 3. Early juvenile individual of Lutjanus alexandrei, 27 mm SL, collected in the mouth of Rio Mamucabas, Tamandaré (08°49'S, 035°05'W), State of Pernambuco, Brazil, 1 m depth (Beatrice P. Ferreira & Sérgio Resende, 18 February 2005).

mapress.com/zootaxa

Etymology. The specific name honors the pioneer Brazilian naturalist Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira (1756–1815), whose many years of field work in Brazil during the late 18th Century remain underrecognized due to the confiscation of his and others’ collections at Lisbon’s Museu da Ajuda in 1808 (Oliveira & Daly 2001). Ferreira collected many specimens that were ultimately described as new without any reference to his efforts. The common name Brazilian snapper is proposed for L. alexandrei.

Distribution, ecology and behavior. The Brazilian snapper, Lutjanus alexandrei is only recorded from the tropical portion of the southwestern Atlantic continental shelf, and has a narrower latitudinal range than other Western Atlantic species of Lutjanus. It is known from the state of Maranhão (00°52’S) to the southern coast of the state of Bahia (18°0’S), Brazil, in areas under the influence of the west-flowing Equatorial Current (northern Brazil) and the south-flowing Brazil Current (northeastern Brazil). It is apparently absent from oceanic islands. Additional collections may show an even broader distributional range for this species, as was the case with 48 other poorly known reef-fish species in the southwestern Atlantic (Moura et al. 1999).

Habitats of the Brazilian snapper include coral reefs, rocky shores, coastal lagoons with brackish water, mangroves and other shallow habitats with a mixture of soft- and hard-bottom. Recorded depths range from intertidal (early stages only) to at least 54 m (Feitoza et al. 2005 — identified as L. apodus). During the day, adults of L. alexandrei were observed on reefs as solitary individuals or in small groups showing restricted activity. Adults can co-occur with L. jocu (see figure on page 40 in MMA 2002, several L. alexandrei were misidentified as L. jocu). These mixed groups are often composed of large (> 20 cm), probably adult, individuals. Similar to several other Lutjanus species, this species appears to be active predominantly during crepuscular and nocturnal periods. Juveniles smaller than 10 cm SL can be common in mangroves and rocky tidepools, sometimes together with L. jocu juveniles, and may also occur in other shallow habitats. Based on available information, early juvenile stages of L. alexandrei are uncommon or rare in deeper, offshore reef habitats, as in many congeners (Lindeman et al. 1998, Lindeman & DeMaria 2005).


Rodrigo L. Moura and Kenyon C. Lindeman. 2007. A New Species of Snapper (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from Brazil, with Comments on the Distribution of Lutjanus griseus and L. apodus.  Zootaxa. 1422: 31–43.

 http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01422p043.pdf

New Snapper Species Discovered in Brazil

https://news.mongabay.com/2007/03/new-snapper-species-discovered-in-brazil/

http://www.conservation.org/NewsRoom/pressreleases/Pages/030907-New-Species-of-Snapper-Discovered-in-Brazil.aspx 

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/03/13/new_species_of_snapper_discovered_in_brazil.html

[Ichthyology • 2016] Lutjanus sapphirolineatus • Validity of A Blue Stripe Snapper, Lutjanus octolineatus (Cuvier 1828) and A Related Species, L. bengalensis (Bloch 1790) with A New Species (Pisces; Lutjanidae) from the Arabian Sea

Lutjanus sapphirolineatus 

Iwatsuki, Al-Mamry & Heemstra, 2016
 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.3.5

Abstract

Lutjanus octolineatus (Cuvier 1828), previously considered a junior synonym of Lutjanus bengalensis (Bloch 1790), is shown to be a valid species and lectotypes are designated. Both species are redescribed. The two species have overlapping distributions in the Indian Ocean, but are clearly separable by different dorsal-fin spine counts, blue-striped pattern on the body and the presence or absence of a subocular extension of cheek scales. Lutjanus octovittata (Valenciennes 1830), formerly assigned to synonymy of L. bengalensis, is considered a junior synonym of L. octolineatus based on examination of the holotype. Lutjanus sapphirolineatus n. sp., a species formerly misidentified as L. bengalensis, is described based on 10 specimens from Oman and Somalia. The new species differs from the three species above by a combination of different characters. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1, 603 bp) genetic marker, also strongly supports the validity of each species of the blue-striped snapper complex as distinct.

Keywords: Pisces, Lutjanus octolineatus, L. bengalensis, validity, L. sapphirolineatus n. sp., taxonomy, blue-striped snapper complex, Indian Ocean

Lutjanus bengalensis (Bloch 1790) 

Yukio Iwatsuki, Juma M. Al-Mamry and Phillip C. Heemstra. 2016. Validity of A Blue Stripe Snapper, Lutjanus octolineatus (Cuvier 1828) and A Related Species, L. bengalensis (Bloch 1790) with A New Species (Pisces; Lutjanidae) from the Arabian Sea. Zootaxa. 4098(3) 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4098.3.5

researchgate.net/profile/Yukio_Iwatsuki

[Ichthyology • 2013] Two new species of Snappers (Lutjanidae: Lutjanus) from the Indo-West Pacific ; Lutjanus indicus from Indian Ocean & L. papuensis from western Pacific

Abstract

Two new species of snappers, genus Lutjanus, are described from Indo-West Pacific seas. Lutjanus indicus is described from 20 specimens, 54.7–226 mm SL, from western Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Bahrain. It has also been photographed at Oman and the Andaman Islands (tissue sample also taken). It has invariably been confused with its sibling species, L. russellii, from the western Pacific. Comparison of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) genetic marker utilised in DNA barcoding produced a genetic divergence of about 4.1 % between L. indicus and its closest congener, L. russellii. In addition, significant colour differences are useful for separating the two species, specifically a series of seven narrow yellow-to-brown stripes on the side, obliquely rising (except lower two) dorsally and posteriorly, which are present on both juveniles and adults of L. indicus. Lutjanus papuensis is described from four specimens, 173–259 mm SL, collected at Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua and purchased from fish markets at Bali and western Java, Indonesia. It has also been observed at Timor Leste, northern Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It is most closely related to L. bitaeniatus from eastern Indonesia and north-western Australia, but differs notably by its unique colour pattern (bluish to grey on upper side, yellow-orange below lateral line with bright yellow anal and pelvic fins), wider interorbital, deeper body shape, and flatter snout-forehead profile. Its status was also confirmed by genetic analysis. Comparison of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) genetic marker utilised in DNA barcoding produced a genetic divergence of about 2.7 and 3.9 % between L. papuensis and its closest congeners, L. bitaeniatus and L. lemniscatus, respectively.

Key words: snappers, Lutjanus, Lutjanidae, new species, reef fish, taxonomy, DNA barcoding, Indo-Pacific.

Lutjanus indicus, n. sp.

Etymology. The species is named indicus with reference to its Indian Ocean distribution

Distribution and habitat. The new species is known with certainty from the northern continental margin of the Indian Ocean including western Thailand, Myanmar, Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, India, Gulf of Oman (Randall 1995), and Arabian Gulf. Allen and Talbot (1985) recorded L. russellii from the southern Red Sea, Zanzibar, South Africa, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mauritius, and we provisionally include these records as L. indicus, but the status of the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean population needs to be reassessed, preferably utilising genetic analysis.

We observed this species in coral-reef habitat at western Thailand, Myanmar, and the Andaman Islands. It was generally encountered solitary or in small groups in about 5–15 m depth. It is also taken by trawlers in deeper water (to at least 50 m) and regularly appears in fish markets. There is scant information on juvenile habitat, but we suspect it is similar to that of L. russellii young, which consists of brackish mangrove estuaries and lower reaches of freshwater streams.

Lutjanus papuensis, n. sp.

Etymology. The species is named papuensis after the West Papuan location where it was first collected. Also, West Papua (particularly Cenderawasih Bay) appears to be the stronghold of the distribution, judging from its abundance compared to other locations within the known range. The species was also referred to as the Papuan Snapper by Allen and Erdmann (2012).

Distribution and habitat. Allen and Erdmann (2012) reported this species from Indonesia (West Papua Province), Papua New Guinea (Manus Island and Milne Bay Province), and the Solomon Islands (Malaita, Santa Ysabel, and New Georgia). In addition, M. Erdmann observed a single individual at Timor Leste during a 2012 survey. Although two of the paratypes were purchased at fish markets in Bali and western Java, their exact origin is uncertain, given that fishes entering these markets can be caught throughout the Indonesian Archipelago. 

The habitat consists of coastal fringing reefs in about 6–15 m depth. It is generally seen solitarily or in small groups. Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua Province, Indonesia is the only location where we have seen it on a regular basis. Otherwise, it is generally rare. Only six individuals were encountered during a month-long survey by G. Allen at the Solomon Islands in 2004. We have not encountered any juvenile fish or subadults under about 150 mm SL despite considerable searching. It appears likely they are confined to a particular habitat not frequented by divers, perhaps either dense mangroves or deeper reefs (i.e. below 70 m).

Allen, G.R., W.T. White & M.V. Erdmann. 2013. Two new species of snappers (Pisces: Lutjanidae: Lutjanus) from the Indo-West Pacific. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation.  6: 33-51.

http://www.oceansciencefoundation.org/josf/josf6c.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2012] Paracaesio brevidentata • a new snapper (Lutjanidae: Apsilinae) from southeastern Indonesia

Paracaesio brevidentata

by reefbuilders.com

Abstract

Paracaesio brevidentata, a new species of apsiline lutjanid fish from southeastern Indonesia, is described, bringing the total number of known species in this deepwater snapper genus to nine. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: very small teeth in jaws without enlarged canines, tubular lateral-line scales 71–73, pectoral-fin rays 18 or 19, caudal fin deeply forked, penultimate rays of soft dorsal and anal fins not longer than adjacent rays, snout short, maxilla scaly and body purplish brown and caudal fin reddish with upper and lower lobes similar in colour. Members of the genus are distinguished in a key. A specimen of Paracaesio caerulea from southeastern Indonesia represents the first record of this species from Indonesian waters.

Key words: Paracaesio, Lutjanidae, new species, new distribution record, Indonesia, Lombok

White, W.T. and Last, P.R. 2012. Paracaesio brevidentata n. sp., a new snapper (Lutjanidae: Apsilinae) from Indonesia. Zootaxa, 3418: 51-60.

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/f/z03418p060f.pdf

http://reefbuilders.com/2012/08/16/eviota-kermadecensis-paracaesio-brevidentata-species-reef-fish/