scholarly journals Upeneus floros, a new goatfish from South Africa and Mozambique, with updated taxonomic accounts for U. guttatus and U. pori and a key to Western Indian Ocean Upeneus species (Mullidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4834 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-555
Author(s):  
FRANZ UIBLEIN ◽  
GAVIN GOUWS ◽  
MARK LISHER ◽  
BERNARDINO S. MALAUENE
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Coi Barcoding ◽  
Group Species ◽  
Fin Spines

The highly diverse goatfish genus Upeneus (Mullidae) requires enhanced attention regarding the possible occurrence of undescribed species in insufficiently explored regions. This study focuses on the South-Western Indian Ocean region (SWIO), and on the so-called japonicus-group, a taxonomic species group of Upeneus. Based on in-situ observations and collections in Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the Floros goatfish, U. floros n. sp., is described. Detailed comparative studies of colour patterns and morphological characters of all other 13 japonicus-group species were undertaken as well as COI barcoding. The new species occurs in the coastal area between Angoche, N Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal and partly overlaps in distribution with two similar species, U. guttatus, widely distributed in the Indo-W Pacific, and U. saiab, assumed to be endemic in a small area off Angoche. Two additional japonicus-group species occurring in the SWIO, U. seychellensis from the Seychelles Bank and U. pori from the Mediterranean Sea (as Lessepsian migrant), Northern Red Sea and Madagascar, were also compared. Because specimens as well as in-situ photographs of U. floros have been erroneously identified as either U. guttatus or U. pori during previous studies, updated taxonomic accounts and diagnoses are provided for these species taking size-related and population differences into account. For U. pori, of which a single preserved specimen from SW Madagascar was known so far, a new record from NE Madagascar is reported based on three specimens and a fresh-colour photo. Upeneus floros can be distinguished from U. guttatus and U. pori by a combination of three characters: head length, first dorsal-fin height and number of gill rakers. Upeneus guttatus can be distinguished from the other two species by disproportionally higher anterior dorsal-fin spines vs. a proportional decrease of dorsal-fin spines in height, barbels mostly yellow vs. white or creamy-white, and slightly fewer pectoral-fin rays. COI barcoding detected a clear distinction between U. guttatus and U. floros and U. pori, respectively, but no significant divergence between the two latter species. COI barcoding also failed to differentiate several other Upeneus species which are clearly distinguished morphologically. Possible interrelationships between species distribution patterns and physical oceanography are discussed. An identification key for the 22 WIO Upeneus species is provided. 

Callogobius winterbottomi, a new species of goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Western Indian Ocean

Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3630 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
NAOMI R. DELVENTHAL ◽  
RANDALL D. MOOI
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Caudal Peduncle ◽  
Additional Specimen ◽  
Group A ◽  
Urogenital Papilla ◽  
A New Species

Callogobius winterbottomi new species is described from the 33.8 mm SL holotype and two paratypes (32.2 mm SL and 22.9 mm SL) from the Comoros, Western Indian Ocean. It is distinguished from all other known Callogobius species by the following combination of characters: sensory pores absent, 23–26 scales in lateral series, and sensory papillae pre-opercular row not continuous with transverse opercular row. One additional specimen of Callogobius winterbottomi was located from South Africa. A new standardized naming system for Callogobius sensory papillae rows is presented for identification and clarification of character states among Callogobius species. The new species is tentatively placed among what we term the “sclateri group”, a clade including C. sclateri (Steindachner) and three other species that exhibit a modified female urogenital papilla with lateral distal flaps and elongate ctenii on the caudal peduncle scales. Callogobius tutuilae (Jordan & Seale) is removed from synonymy with C. sclateri because it has partially united pelvic fins (vs separate) and the preopercular sensory papillae row is continuous with the transverse opercular row (vs separate).

Metal concentrations in corals from South Africa and the Mascarene Basin: A first assessment for the Western Indian Ocean

Chemosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 124784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica van der Schyff ◽  
Nee Sun Choong Kwet Yive ◽  
Hindrik Bouwman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Metal Concentrations

scholarly journals Morphology and distribution of the acorn barnacle Tetraclita reni nom. nov. (Crustacea: Cirripedia) in Madagascar and adjacent waters

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2019 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
BENNY KWOK KAN CHAN ◽  
CHIH-HSIUNG HSU ◽  
PEI-CHEN TSAI
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Light Microscopy ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
The South ◽  
Acorn Barnacle ◽  
Distribution Record

In Madagascan waters, both Tetraclita rufotincta Pilsbry 1916 and T. africana Ren 1989 have been reported. Tetraclita rufotincta is more widely distributed than T. africana, extending to the western Indian Ocean and east Africa. Tetraclita africana is reported from Madagascar and no further distribution record has been made apart from its type locality. Both species have pink parietes and are similar in size, which could lead to identification confusion. In this study, we revealed that T. africana differed from T. rufotincta in having multicuspidate setae on cirrus III, a feature that can be observed with both light microscopy and SEM. Additionally, the tergum of T. africana has a rounded spur and a larger basi-scutal angle than that of T. rufotincta. However, since the name Tetraclita africana has been pre-occupied under the name Tesseropora (Tetraclita) wireni africana Nilsson-Cantell, 1932, we, therefore, propose herein a replacement name, Tetraclita reni nom. nov. Based on museum specimens examined, Tetraclita reni nom. nov. is present in northeastern and southern Madagascar and Mauritius but absent from Yemen, Kenya, South Africa, Aldabra and northwestern Madagascar, suggesting the distribution of T. reni nom. nov. could be confined to the south and northeast of Madagascar and adjacent waters.

scholarly journals Litsea glutinosa (Indian laurel).

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Angel Duenas-Lopez
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Litsea Glutinosa

Abstract Litsea glutinosa belongs to the family Lauraceae. It is a small- to medium-sized tree, 3-20 m tall, semi-evergreen, and fast-growing dioecious (Chowdhury et al., 2008; Ramana and Raju, 2019). It is native to India, South China to Malaysia, Australia and the western Pacific islands, and introduced and established in South Africa, the western Indian Ocean, and the south-western Pacific (New Caledonia), Mauritius and other tropical regions (Dassanayake, 1995). It has been introduced as a crop (Vos, 2004) and as an ornamental in tropical countries (EPPO, 2019). It has escaped from cultivation and is naturalized in some of the introduced areas. L. glutinosa has many uses in its area of origin as well as in some of its areas of introduction (ISSG, 2015). It is used principally as a binder for tablet formulations, and in the incense stick industry (Ramana and Raju, 2017).L. glutinosa is considered invasive in South Africa, where it is declared an invader plant (Henderson, 2001) and in the Indian Ocean (MacDonald et al., 1991; ISSG, 2015; PIER, 2019) on the islands of Mauritius (Mauritius Island and Rodrigues Island) (PIER, 2019) and Mayotte (Vos, 2004; ISSG, 2015; PIER, 2019). Jacq et al. (2005) do not consider L. glutinosa to be invasive globally, and ISSG (2015) considers it a small tree with high invasion potential, displacing native plant species in disturbed environments, although there is no evidence yet of its impact. It is classified by the IUCN (2019) as a species of Least Concern.

A review of the Acanthopagrus bifasciatus species complex (Pisces: Sparidae) from the Indian Ocean, with redescriptions of A. bifasciatus (Forsskål 1775) and A. catenula (Lacepède 1801) YUKIO IWATSUKI (Japan) & PHILLIP C. HEEMSTRA (South Africa)

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3025 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUKIO IWATSUKI ◽  
PHILLIP C. HEEMSTRA
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Southern Population ◽  
Northern Population ◽  
Mascarene Islands ◽  
Colour Patterns

The Doublebar Seabream, Acanthopagrus bifasciatus (Forsskål 1775) with two conspicuous vertical black bars across the head has long been recognized as a distinctive species from the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean. Two distinct colour patterns are associated with two allopatric populations except southern Oman and Somalia which appears to be a zone of overlap: a northern population (Red Sea, through Persian Gulf, to Pakistan) with dorsal and caudal fins immaculate yellow; and a southern population (east coast of Africa from the Horn of Africa to South Africa, Madagascar, and Mascarene Islands) having the dorsal fin with a wide black margin and caudal fin rear margin with a narrow black edge (and both black margins disappearing with growth in specimens over 30 cm SL). Both populations resulted in the two valid species: A. bifasciatus for the northern population and A. catenula (Lacepède 1801) for the southern population. Nominal species (junior synonyms) of the two species are discussed.

scholarly journals Variation in population size of Bouton’s snake-eyed skink (Reptilia: Scincidae) at Black Rock in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
W.D. Haacke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Good Position ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The Indian Ocean

Bouton’s snake-eyed skink Cryptoblepharus boutonii sp. occurs in scattered island or coastal populations in the Indian Ocean. The most southern known population occurs on Black Rock on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. This tiny population was monitored over a period of 14 summer seasons and a final check was made 10 seasons later. This population consisted of an average of about 58 individuals, but has fluctuated by more than 100 %, suggesting that its existence is very tenuous. The re-check during October 2001 produced very positive figures, indicating that this population, observed over 23 years, is doing very well, is maintaining its numbers within acceptable parameters and is in a good position to survive without special precautions.

A review of the deepwater cardinalfish genus Epigonus (Perciformes: Epigonidae) of the Western Indian Ocean, with description of two new species

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4382 (2) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAKOTO OKAMOTO ◽  
OFER GON
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Gulf Of Aden ◽  
Gill Rakers ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
Opercular Spine ◽  
Abdominal Vertebra

The fishes of the genus Epigonus Rafinesque, 1810 in the Western Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden) are reviewed. Twelve species of the genus are recognized: Epigonus angustifrons Abramov & Manilo, 1987; E. denticulatus Dieuzeide, 1950; E. elongatus Parin & Abramov, 1986; E. exodon Okamoto & Motomura, 2012; E. lenimen (Whitley, 1935); E. macrops (Brauer, 1906); E. marimonticolus Parin & Abramov, 1986; E. marisrubri Krupp, Zajonz & Khalaf, 2009; E. pectinifer Mayer, 1974; E. robustus (Barnard, 1927); E. telescopus (Risso, 1810); E. waltersensis Parin & Abramov, 1986, and two new species, E. bispinosus n. sp. and E. idai n. sp. Epigonus bispinosus and E. idai belong to the E. constanciae group, defined as having a pungent opercular spine, more than 45 pored lateral-line scales, and lacking an isolated dorsal fin spine between the first- and second dorsal fins. Epigonus bispinosus differs from other members of the group in having two small spines on the symphysis of lower jaw, a pair of ribs on the last abdominal vertebra, 10 + 15 vertebrae, 31–33 gill rakers and lacking a maxillary mustache-like process. Epigonus idai differs from other members of the group in having a pair of ribs on the last abdominal vertebra, 4–5 tiny projections present on symphysis of lower jaw, 10 + 15 vertebrae, strongly ctenoid scales, and 28–29 gill rakers, and in lacking a maxillary mustache-like process. A key to the species, photographs, diagnoses, and distributions in the Western Indian Ocean are given. 

Descriptions of four new species of Thysanophrys (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) from the Western Indian Ocean

Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3608 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
LESLIE W. KNAPP
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Color Pattern ◽  
Northern Indian Ocean ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Spine Structure ◽  
Pacific Species

Four new species of Thysanophrys are described from the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). T. rarita, known from a single specimen taken off Somalia, is provisionally placed in Thysanophrys and is distinguished by its color pattern and number of preocular and suborbital spines. T. tricaudata is described from three specimens taken at SCUBA stations off southwestern Sri Lanka. They differ from other western Indian Ocean (WIO) Thysanophrys in color pattern, lack of ocular flaps, number of dorsal fin spines and scale counts.  The remaining two new species are somewhat similar to the widespread Indo-Pacific species, T. chiltonae Schultz (1966). T. randalli is described from specimens taken at the Amirante Islands and Mauritius. It may also be widespread in the Indo-Pacific, but differs from T. chiltonae in nasal spine structure, color pattern, type of iris lappet margin, and in having a much shorter maximum size. T. springeri also appears to be a smaller species than T. chiltonae and, aside from one record off Djibouti, is restricted to Red Sea. It also differs from T. chiltonae in color pattern, in having fewer pectoral rays and fewer scale rows between the second dorsal-fin insertion and the lateral line. Although T. chiltonae is relatively common in the northern Indian Ocean, it does not appear to have entered the Red Sea.

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