[Ichthyology • 2022] Sciadonus alphacrucis • A New Species of the rare deep-sea Genus Sciadonus Garman, 1899 (Ophidiiformes: Bythitidae) from off Brazil, with a discussion of the evolution of troglomorphism and miniaturization in the aphyonid clade

Sciadonus alphacrucis  

  Melo, Gomes, Møller & Nielsen, 2022

 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2021.103684

 

Highlights: 

• A new species of the rare genus Sciadonus is discovered from Brazilian waters.

• Highly specialized reproductive apparatus enables internal fertilization and viviparity in a deep-sea fish.

• The depletion of sunlight resulted on convergent evolution of troglomorphic traits in deep-sea fishes and cave fishes.

• Human activities of oil and natural gas exploration, fisheries and littering may be impacting rare deep-sea species.

Abstract

A new species of the rare, deep-sea genus Sciadonus Garman, 1899 (Bythitidae) is described based on two specimens obtained by the Brazilian R/V Alpha Crucis on the continental slope off São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil, western South Atlantic. It differs from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: body pale lacking dark pigmentation except for on female claspers; a pair of dermal tissue flaps anteriorly on lower jaw; pelvic-fin rays present; precaudal vertebrae 39 or 40 and total vertebrae 74 or 75. The key to the species of Sciadonus is updated. A discussion of the presence and differentiation between troglomorphic and miniature characteristics among the species in the aphyonid clade is provided and compared with other bythitids.

 

Keywords: Aphyonid clade, Continental slope, Western South Atlantic, R/V Alpha Crucis

 Sciadonus alphacrucis sp. n. ; western South Atlantic, São Paulo State, off Ilhabela, 794 m depth
 MZUSP 125949, holotype, female, 82.7 mm SL
 MZUSP 125950, paratype, male, 60.3 mm SL.

Order Ophidiiformes Berg, 1937.

Family Bythitidae Gill, 1861.

 

 Sciadonus alphacrucis n. sp.  

Etymology: The specific name honors the Brazilian R/V Alpha Crucis. A noun in apposition.

Marcelo Roberto Souto de Melo, Amand Alves Gomes, Peter Rask Møller and Jørgen G. Nielsen. 2022. A New Species of the rare deep-sea Genus Sciadonus Garman, 1899 (Teleostei, Bythitidae) from off Brazil, with a discussion of the evolution of troglomorphism and miniaturization in the aphyonid clade. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 180, 103684. DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2021.103684

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[Crustacea • 2023] Glyptothoa sagara • A Fish Parasitic Deep-Sea Cymothoid (Isopoda) from the Indian Ocean

Glyptothoa sagara

Helna, Aneesh, Kumar & Ohtsuka, 2023

 

DOI: 10.6620/ZS.2023.62-51 

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Glyptothoa sagara gen. and sp. nov. is described from the host fish Glyptophidium macropus Alcock, 1894 (Ophidiidae), at depths 300 to 650 metres from the southwest coast of India. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of the species was sequenced and compared with other closely related branchial cymothoid genera. Both morphological and molecular data corroborate the inclusion of this parasitic isopod as a new genus, and we describe Glyptothoa sagara gen. and sp. nov. The following combinations of characters characterise the genus: cephalon immersed in pereonite 1; dorsum vaulted; all coxae visible in dorsal view; coxae shorter than or as long as pereonites; pereonites 4–7 slightly decrease in width towards one side, slightly asymmetrical, lateral margins slightly constricted, in hunched side; relatively wide pleon, with large lateral gaps between pleonites; antennula narrowly separated by rostrum, slender, shorter than antenna; antenna with 13 articles, buccal cone obscuring antennal bases; brood pouch arising from coxae 1–4, 6; oostegite 1 bilobed; pleopods rami all simple, without proximomedial lamellar lobe, without folds or thickened ridges. The adult life stages, such as females (ovigerous and non-ovigerous), males and transitional stage of the new species are described. The species is currently known only from the type locality and the type host. The ecological remarks of the newly described taxon are also provided. The following species are transferred from Elthusa Schioedte and Meinert, 1884: Glyptothoa myripristae (Bruce, 1990) comb. nov., Glyptothoa propinqua (Richardson, 1904) comb. nov. and Glyptothoa caudata (Schioedte and Meinert, 1884) comb. nov.

Key words: Marine fish parasite, Branchial cavity, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, Cymothoidae, New genus, Indian Ocean, Phylogeny

TAXONOMY 

Suborder Cymothoida Wägele, 1989 

Superfamily Cymothooidea Leach, 1814 

Family Cymothoidae Leach, 1814 

Genus Glyptothoa gen. nov.

Type species: Glyptothoa sagara sp. nov.; original designation. 

Etymology: The new generic name is the abbreviation of the host genus name (Glyptophidium) – “Glypto” combined with the ending – thoa indicating the family affinity. Gender is feminine. 

Diagnosis: Ovigerous female (bold = key features): Body dorsally vaulted, two times as long as wide, widest at pereonite 3. Cephalon partially immersed in pereonite 1, anterior margin with acute ventrally directed rostral point. Pereonites 2–7 coxae visible in dorsal view, all coxae shorter than pereonite; pereonites 4–7 slightly asymmetrical, lateral margins slightly constricted, in hunched side. Pereonites 4–7 slightly decrease in width towards one side. Pleon short, c. 15% BL, pleonites all visible, ...

Species included: Glyptothoa sagara sp. nov.; 

Glyptothoa propinqua (Richardson, 1904) comb. nov., 

Glyptothoa myripristae (Bruce, 1990) comb. nov., and 

Glyptothoa caudata (Schioedte and Meinert, 1884) comb. nov.

Glyptothoa sagara sp. nov. 

Etymology: The specific name is derived from the Sanskrit word “sagara”, literally meaning the “gathering together of waters,” i.e., the ocean. Further, it is a reminder of the importance of the ocean for the sustainable development of life underwater and its conservation.

Ameri Kottarathil Helna, Panakkool Thamban Aneesh, Appukuttannair Biju Kumar and Susumu Ohtsuka. 2023. Glyptothoa gen. nov., A Fish Parasitic Deep-Sea Cymothoid (Crustacea: Isopoda) from the Indian Ocean, with Four Species, Including One New Species.  Zool Stud. 62:51. DOI: 10.6620/ZS.2023.62-51

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[Ichthyology • 2023] Spectrunculus stenostio • The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) Revisited with Description of A New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei

  

Spectrunculus stenostio 

Uiblein, Møller & Nielsen, 2023

DOI: 10.1643/i2023005  

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photos by F. Uiblein & P. R. Møller

 

Abstract

After a preceding revision based on 87 specimens, the systematics of the abyssal giant cuskeel genus Spectrunculus Jordan and Thompson, 1914 has been revisited, based on the examination of 34 additional specimens and new otolith shape data of the holotype of S. grandis. From the latter, a clear distinction in otolith ostium width could be found in specimens from the Atlantic, Southern Indian Ocean, and Southwest Pacific, which were formerly identified as S. grandis. Consequently, the new species, S. stenostio, is described, which has a narrower ostium when related to its length or to sulcus length and differs also in the combination of three body shape characters, three meristic characters, and maximum size from the three other congeners, S. crassus (Atlantic, East Pacific), S. grandis (Pacific), and the previously synonymized S. radcliffei (Pacific, Southern Indian Ocean, Southeast Atlantic). The latter species is here resurrected based on a rather short pre-anal length and additional morphometric as well as meristic and maximum size differences. An identification key for the four species of Spectrunculus is provided.

(A–C) Spectrunculus stenostio: (A) HT, ZMUB 18493, 825 mm SL, N Atlantic (F. Uiblein); (B) SAIAB 11892, 706 mm SL, S Indian Ocean (F. Uiblein); (C) NMNZ P.033111, 1030 mm SL, SW Pacific (P. R. Møller).
(D–F) S. crassus: (D) ZMUB 18355, 187 mm SL, N Atlantic (MAR-ECO cruise); (E) HT, MNHN 1886-0552, 284 mm SL, N Atlantic (J. Pfliger); (F) ZMUB 18463, 500 mm SL, N Atlantic (MAR-ECO cruise);
(G–I) S. grandis: (G) HT, BMNH 1887, 675 mm SL (F. Uiblein); (H) NMNZ P.041204, 840 mm SL, SW Pacific (P. R. Møller); (I) CAS 25724, 1270 mm SL, NE Pacific (Moulin Studios, San Francisco, used with permission);
(J–M) S. radcliffei: (J) HT (postlarva), FMNH 57123, 56 mm SL, NW Pacific (FMNH Zoological Collections, used with permission); (K) SAM 47240, 541 mm SL, S Atlantic (F. Uiblein); (L) ZMUC P2397445, 945 mm SL, NW Pacific (M. A. Krag); (M) ZMUC P2397724, 1020 mm SL, NW Pacific (M. A. Krag). Length of black or white scale bars is 5 cm.

Spectrunculus stenostio: (A) HT, ZMUB 18493, 825 mm SL, N Atlantic (F. Uiblein); (B) SAIAB 11892, 706 mm SL, S Indian Ocean (F. Uiblein); (C) NMNZ P.033111, 1030 mm SL, SW Pacific (P. R. Møller).

Spectrunculus stenostio, new species

Diagnosis.—Number of dorsal-fin rays 137–148, anal-fin rays 102–112, total vertebrae 80–88, pre-anal length 47–55% in SL, pelvic- to anal-fin origin 34–44% in SL, orbit length 9.9–12 in % HL, otolith ostium width 15–21 in % sulcus length and 19–29 in % ostium length; maximum size to 110 cm SL.

Etymology.—The new species name is composed of the Greek word for narrow “stenós” and the otolith structure “ostium.” The ablative of the combined term is “stenostio,” meaning “with a narrow ostium.”

Distribution.—This species is distributed in the North Atlantic and Southern Indian Ocean to the Southwest Pacific (1694 to 3050 m depth). There are no records from the South Atlantic.

Franz Uiblein, Peter R. Møller and Jørgen G. Nielsen. 2023. The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of A New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 111(3):467-485 (2023). DOI: 10.1643/i2023005 

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[Ichthyology • 2020] Lucifuga gibarensis • A New Species of the Cave-fish Genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), from eastern Cuba

 Lucifuga gibarensis 

Hernández, Møller, Casane & García-Machado, 2020

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.946.51373

Abstract

Recently, a barcoding study and a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Cuban species of the cave-fish genus Lucifuga Poey, 1858 revealed the existence of different evolutionary lineages that were previously unknown or passed unnoticed by morphological scrutiny (i.e., cryptic candidate species). In the present study, Lucifuga gibarensis is described as a new species restricted to anchialine caves in the northeastern karst region of the main island. The species was earlier described as a variety of Lucifuga dentata, but since the name was introduced as a variety after 1960, it is deemed to be infrasubspecific and unavailable according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature Art. 15.2. The new species differs from L. dentata by pigmented eyes vs. eyes absent and lack of palatine teeth vs. present. Lucifuga gibarensis seems to be most similar to the Bahamian species L. lucayana by showing pigmented eyes, 13 or 14 precaudal vertebrae and ten caudal fin rays. However, differs from it by a larger size of the pigmented eye (1.1–1.9 vs. 0.9–1.0% SL) and number of posterior lateral line neuromasts (30–33 vs. 34–35).

Keywords: Anchialine caves, Gibara, Holguin, speleology, taxonomy, viviparous brotulas

Figure 3.  Lucifuga gibarensis sp. nov. in Cueva El Baga, Gibara municipality, northern Holguin province, Cuba;
 a unsampled specimen, 27 November 2014 b ZMUC P771732, 45.0 mm SL, male, photo taken immediately prior to collection.

Taxomomy

Family Bythitidae

Genus Lucifuga Poey, 1858

Type species: Lucifuga subterranea Poey, 1858 by subsequent designation of Jordan and Evermann, 1896, type locality: El Cajio cave, but not precisely stated for L. subterranea, which was referred originally from caves of San Antonio, middle-south Havana province, Cuba.

Diagnosis: 

Body moderately elongated and compressed mainly from the abdomen to the caudal end. Snout with two nostrils: anterior nostril tube-shape and smaller, placed near to the upper lip; posterior nostril is a larger hole, placed ca. midway between snout and eyes cavity. The mouth is subterminal with the lower jaw only slightly shorter than the upper. Opercular spines absent. Seven branchiostegal rays.

The entire body is covered with small, rounded cycloid scales; fins naked except for scales on pectoral fin basis. Predorsal area and operculum scaled. Branchiostegal membranes, entire underside of the head, snout, interorbital areas and entire course of the cavernous cephalic system are naked. Origin of dorsal fin approximately above the tip of pectoral fins. Pelvic fin is subjugular with a single ray reaching ca. 1/3 to halfway to the anus. Pectoral fin behind the operculum, peduncle short and narrow. Lateral line with two series of sensory neuromasts: upper and anterior series extends from the head to a point ca. midway between dorsal and anal fin origins; and lower and posterior series extends from a point under and slightly in advance of the end of the upper series to the mid side from the caudal base.

...

Lucifuga gibarensis sp. nov.

Common name: Gibara cave brotula (English)

Lucifuga dentatus variety holguinensis Díaz-Pérez et al., 1987b: 44.

Lucifuga dentatus var. holguinensis Hernández 2005: 15; García-Machado et al. 2011: 471.

Lucifuga holguinensis Proudlove 2019.

Diagnosis: Dorsal fin rays 72–90; anal fin rays 58–72; pectoral fin rays 15–17, caudal fin rays 10; palatine teeth absent; rakers on anterior gill arch 17–19 (long gill-rakers 3); occiput and area between lateral canal and preopercular canal scaled; diameter of pigmented eyes 1.1–1.9% SL; total vertebrae 50–53.

Etymology: The specific epithet refers to the village of Gibara, where the three caves inhabited by this species are located. We do not follow variety epithet used by Díaz-Pérez et al. (1987b), since the L. gibarensis better describes the narrow distribution of the species near the village Gibara instead of the entire region Holguin.

Damir Hernández, Peter Rask Møller, Didier Casane and Erik García-Machado. 2020. A New Species of the Cave-fish Genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), from eastern Cuba. ZooKeys. 946: 17-35. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.946.51373

[Ichthyology • 2016] Abyssobrotula hadropercularis • A New Species of Abyssobrotula (Ophidiiformes, Ophidiidae) from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench

Abyssobrotula hadropercularis

 Ohashi & Nielsen, 2016  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.4.7

Abstract

A new abyssal ophidiid fish, Abyssobrotula hadropercularis, is described on the basis of two specimens caught at two stations at ca. 5000 meters of depth in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. The genus Abyssobrotula Nielsen, 1977 was previously known from the type species, A. galatheae Nielsen, 1977 of which 40–50 specimens now are reported from all oceans at depths greater than 2000 m. One of the specimens from the Puerto Rico Trench captured at 8370 m is still the deepest record for fishes. The new species differs from A. galatheae in having great number of pectoral-fin rays 14–15 (vs 10–11); greater eye diameter (1.2–1.3% SL vs 0.7–0.9% SL); larger prepelvic 14.0–14.5% SL (vs 10.5–12.5% SL) and preanal lengths 42.5% SL (vs 33.0–41.5% SL); opercular spine strongly developed (vs poorly developed); gill rakers on anterior arch robust and close-set (vs rakers thin and well separated). The description of A. hadropercularis makes it necessary to slightly modify the generic diagnosis.

Keywords: Pisces, Abyssal water, Abyssobrotula hadropercularis, Neobythitinae, Western North Pacific

Distribution.— Known from two abyssal (5179–5223 meters) locations in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench,Western North Pacific Ocean.

Etymology.— The specific name, hadropercularis, derives from hadros (bulky) and opercularis (gill cover) in reference to the robust opercle.

 Shinpei Ohashi & Jørgen G.Nielsen. 2016. A New Species of Abyssobrotula (Ophidiiformes, Ophidiidae) from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. Zootaxa. 4132(4): 559–566.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.4.7

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