scholarly journals On the taxonomy of the first record of rare deep-water rough shark species of Oxynotidae (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes) in the western Indian Ocean

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 11732
Author(s):  
Sarah Viana ◽  
Mark W. Lisher

An immature female specimen of rough shark was collected south of Reunion Island in the Madagascar Basin in 2009 aboard R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, representing the first official record of the family Oxynotidae in the western Indian Ocean.  The specimen is herein identified as Oxynotus sp. due to morphological differences with its closely similar congeners O. centrina and O. bruniensis regarding morphometrics, shape of dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins, shape of the head and colouration, refuting the hypothesis of occurrence of these two species in the region.  These results indicate that Oxynotus sp. is possibly an undescribed species.  A general description of the external morphology, external morphometrics and photographs of Oxynotus sp. are provided.  The specimen has a hepatosomatic index of 36.33% which reveals that it was possibly approaching maturation, suggesting that a viable population of Oxynotus sp. exists in the western Indian Ocean.  Intraspecific variations in O. centrina from the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean are also noticed, requiring further taxonomic scrutiny.  

Check List ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-268
Author(s):  
Clare A. Keating Daly ◽  
Danielle Orrell ◽  
Isabel M. da Silva ◽  
João P. F. Macuio ◽  
Tessa N. Hempton ◽  
...  

This report describes the first record of the piscicolid leech Pontobdella macrothela from Mozambique waters and the first record of P. macrothela parasitizing a Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). The leech, P. macrothela, was found attached externally between the third and fourth gill slits of a shark captured off Vamizi Island, Quirimbas Archipelago, northern Mozambique. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3550 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANZ UIBLEIN ◽  
MARK MCGROUTHER

Upeneus stenopsis n. sp. is described based on four specimens collected off northern Australia and Quezon Island,Philippines, at depths between 165 to 275 m and compared with four closely related species: the deep-water dwellingUpeneus davidaromi (Red Sea) and U. mascareinsis (Western Indian Ocean) and the shallow Indo-West Pacific species,U. subvittatus and U. vittatus. The new species can be distinguished from all other Upeneus species by a narrow caudalpeduncle and a combination of morphometric and meristic characters. This is the first record of a deep-water goatfish ofthe genus Upeneus from the Pacific. A juvenile Upeneus collected off Quezon at 127–142 m depth was also assigned tothe new species and compared to four similar-sized (69–79 mm SL) specimens of U. mascareinsis. A diagnosis is providedfor U. subvittatus, along with evidence of its occurrence in the Eastern Indian Ocean and interspecific comparisons. Thecontinued need to screen scientific fish collections for the occurrence of undescribed species that have successfully colonized and adapted to the depth zone surrounding the ocean margin is outlined.


2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Currie ◽  
Rachel Bristol ◽  
James Millett ◽  
Nirmal Jivan Shah

The 10 km2 island of La Digue, Republic of Seychelles, western Indian Ocean supports the last viable population of the Critically Endangered Seychelles Black Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone corvina. Small populations recorded on adjacent islands since the 1980s appear to be ephemeral and not self-sustaining. We document the results of the first island-wide survey of the flycatcher on La Digue using the playback of conspecific calls at random points. Previous surveys were based largely on counting the number of singing males. The survey was conducted between April and August 2001 and confirmed (i) the current world population is at least 200 individuals (109-145 territories, 218-290 individuals) in a c. 4.4 km2 range, thus accurately quantifying the documented increase in flycatcher numbers since the late 1970s; (ii) territories were more widely distributed than previously recorded and not exclusively associated with coastal plateaux or freshwater bodies, contrary to previous descriptions; and (iii) distribution was determined largely by the presence of high canopy (native) broad-leaved tree species. The importance of canopy height to flycatchers was highlighted by the fact that localized loss of high canopy (native) forest (4%), in a 161 ha study area on the large western plateau, resulted in an equivalent reduction (4%) in the number of territories. In light of our findings we discuss the implications for conservation of the flycatcher on La Digue and its possible translocation.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4353 (2) ◽  
pp. 327
Author(s):  
KAREEN E. SCHNABEL ◽  
INGO BURGHARDT ◽  
SHANE T. AHYONG

Squat lobsters have only recently been recorded from the Macquarie Ridge, which extends south between New Zealand and Antarctica. Among these, Uroptychus insignis (Henderson, 1885) was recorded for the first time outside the western Indian Ocean, exhibiting only subtle morphological differences. Reexamination of the Macquarie Ridge and Indian Ocean specimens attributed to U. insignis using morphological and molecular data revealed the Macquarie Ridge form to represent a separate species. Subtle but consistent morphological differences are evident and partial CO1 sequence data indicates that the specimens collected on Macquarie Ridge differ from those collected in the Indian Ocean by more than 7%. The Macquarie Ridge species is described herein as Uroptychus macquariae n.sp. Subtle morphological differences between the new species and U. insignis are discussed.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. E. Lea ◽  
R. Daly ◽  
C. Leon ◽  
C. A. K. Daly ◽  
C. R. Clarke

A drone was used to study the richness and behaviour of scavengers attracted to the carcass of a sperm whale (Physeter microcephalus) in Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean. Over 30 sharks of 3 species (tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier, bull shark Carcharhinus leucas and tawny nurse shark Nebrius ferrugineus) were recorded scavenging on the carcass. Tiger sharks dominated the scavenging, but with no evidence of agonistic behaviours or hierarchy, and may have facilitated scavenging by other species. Drone use allowed the analysis of such behaviours without observer influence, providing new insights into communal scavenging events.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Jawad ◽  
◽  
Y. Iwatsuki ◽  
S. R. A. Al-Shogebai ◽  
J. M. Al-Mamry ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
A. Armesto ◽  
R. Bañón ◽  
D. Garabana ◽  
P. Durán

The capture of a specimen of Kentrocapros rosapinto at Vema Seamount in the south-east Atlantic Ocean is reported as the first record of this species in the Atlantic Ocean. This species was previously known only from the western Indian Ocean.


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