Systematic revision of the flatfish genus Peltorhamphus Günther, 1862 (Teleostei: Pleuronectiformes: Rhombosoleidae), including description of a new species from Southeastern New Zealand, with biological and ecological summaries for the species

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4905 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-104
Author(s):  
THOMAS A. MUNROE

The flatfish genus Peltorhamphus Günther, 1862 (Pleuronectiformes: Rhombosoleidae) and its constituent species are redescribed based on examination of 1885 specimens. Four species are considered valid: three previously described (P. novaezeelandiae Günther, 1862, P. latus James, 1972, and P. tenuis James, 1972) and P. kryptostomus n. sp., described herein. Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae, P. latus, and P. tenuis have widespread distributions on soft sediments in shallow coastal and inner continental shelf waters off both islands of New Zealand. Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae has also been reported at the Chatham Islands. Previous reports of P. novaezeelandiae from Norfolk Island are erroneous. Peltorhamphus kryptostomus n. sp. has the most restricted geographic distribution in shallow coastal waters of the Otago-Southland region along the southeastern coast of South Island. The four species of Peltorhamphus are morphologically similar and overlap in many traditional meristic and morphometric features rendering identifications difficult, especially of juveniles and earlier life-history stages. Furthermore, throughout New Zealand waters, as many as three of the species possibly occur sympatrically, while in inshore areas of southeastern South Island, all four species may occur in sympatry. Novel morphological characters discovered in this study, combined with traditional diagnostic characters were used to identify and diagnose the species. Peltorhamphus tenuis is the most distinctive of the four, differing from congeners in the following combination of characters: greater length of second ocular-side pectoral-fin ray; its higher numbers of dorsal- and anal-fin rays and total vertebrae; having a series of small scales (best developed in specimens >70 mm SL) on blind sides of dorsal- and anal-fin rays (scales absent in congeners); its elongate body; and ocular-side pigmentation. The other three species are more similar morphologically and have frequently been misidentified both in fish collections and in some previous literature on these fishes. Of these three, P. novaezeelandiae, the largest in the genus, is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: its large size (reaching 510 mm SL vs. ≤ 200 mm SL); rounded head shape; blind-side squamation; the second ocular-side pectoral-fin ray shorter than body depth; ontogenetic variation in interorbital width; greater distance (4–8 scales wide) between ventral margin of lower eye and dorsal (upper) margin of rostral hood above the mouth; and 2–6 fleshy, finger-like filaments on the inner anteroventral margin of the fleshy skinfold on the ocular-side lower jaw. Peltorhamphus latus differs from congeners by the combination of: its short (maximum 150 mm SL), relatively deep body and bluntly pointed snout; blind-side squamation; relatively long, robust gillrakers on first gill arch, with upper limb gillrakers long, but not usually overlapping tips of dorsalmost gillrakers on the lower limb; black pigment on entire roof of mouth; relatively large eyes and narrow interorbital width (without significant ontogenetic variation); short diagonal distance (usually 2–3 scales wide) between ventral margin of lower eye and dorsal (upper) margin of rostral hood above the mouth; and absence of finger-like filaments on the inner anteroventral margin of the fleshy skinfold on the ocular-side lower jaw. Peltorhamphus kryptostomus n. sp. is distinguished from congeners by the combination of: its deep body and smoothly rounded snout; blind-side squamation; long, robust gillrakers on the first gill arch, with some posterior gillrakers on the upper limb overlapping tips of the first and second dorsalmost gillrakers on the lower limb; black pigment on the entire roof of the mouth; relatively large eyes and relatively narrow interorbital width; wide distance between ventral margin of lower eye and upper margin of rostral hood (3–6, usually 4–5, scales wide); and 1–4 finger-like filaments on the inner anteroventral margin of the fleshy skinfold on the ocular-side lower jaw. Ecological and life-history information are summarized for each species, and a key to juveniles > 40 mm SL and adults is also provided. Re-assessment of the number of valid species of Peltorhamphus provides better understanding of species diversity within this genus and within the Rhombosoleidae, as well as that for the flatfish assemblage residing in New Zealand waters. 

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3297 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
THOMAS A. MUNROE

Since its description, Azyygopus Norman, 1926 was considered by subsequent authors to be a monotypic genus in the Or-der Pleuronectiformes comprised only of A. pinnifasciatus Norman, 1926, known from deep waters (90–900 m, usually200–600 m) off the southern and southeastern coasts of Australia. In 1961, a subspecies, A. pinnifasciatus flemingi Niels-en, was described based on three specimens collected at 610 m in the Tasman Sea off the South Island, New Zealand. Fromits description to contemporary literature evaluating its status, recognition of A. p. flemingi as a distinct taxon has beenrejected by all but two studies reporting on Azygopus from New Zealand waters. Until the late 20th century, specimens ofAzygopus had been rarely collected off New Zealand and little was known about these fishes. Over the past 25 years, col-lecting by scientific expeditions and expanding deep-sea fisheries have captured over 195 specimens of Azygopus from avariety of deep-sea locations around New Zealand. Recently-captured specimens of Azygopus collected around New Zea-land and deposited in fish collections have been identified as either A. pinnifasciatus Norman or A. flemingi Nielsen, sug-gesting the possibility that two species of Azygopus occur in New Zealand waters. This study examined the holotype, aparatype, and 25 non-type specimens of A. pinnifasciatus collected off Australia, and the most comprehensive series ofspecimens of Azygopus collected from New Zealand waters. These specimens included the holotype and two paratypes ofA. p. flemingi and 191 other specimens collected from throughout the entire depth range (153–942 m) and representingwide coverage of geographic areas around New Zealand where Azygopus have been collected. Comparisons of these spec-imens indicate that a second species, A. flemingi Nielsen, should be recognized in the genus Azygopus, and that this speciesis the only member of this genus occurring in New Zealand waters. Azygopus flemingi is readily distinguished from A.pinnifasciatus by conspicuous differences in ocularand blind-side color patterns, in numbers of ocular-side pelvic-finrays, total vertebrae, lateral-line scales, and gillrakers on the first gill arch, morphology of blind-side scales and squama-tion patterns, length of blind-side pectoral fins, presence/absence of scales between upper jaw and ventral margin of lowereye, and pigment patterns on dorsal and anal fins of adults. Adult A. flemingi and A. pinnifasciatus are sexually dimorphic in several features. Data on maximum size and size at maturity, and depth of occurrence are summarized for A. flemingi.


Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2203 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAO-YING LEE ◽  
THOMAS A. MUNROE ◽  
HONG-MING CHEN

Symphurus multimaculatus new species, described from nine specimens captured in deep waters off Taiwan, is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: predominant 1–2–2–2–2 pattern of interdigitation of dorsal pterygiophores and neural spines, 14 caudal-fin rays, 92–94 dorsal-fin rays, 79–82 anal-fin rays, 9 abdominal and 50–51 total vertebrae, 5 hypurals, deep body (28.6–35.1 % SL), small scales (102–108 scales in longitudinal series, 45–48 scales in transverse row), blackish-brown ocular-side opercle, bluish-black blind-side opercle, uniformly reddish-brown to dark-brown ocular-side background pigmentation with some specimens also having 5–7 mostly complete crossbands, and uniformly white to light-yellow blind side with dense patches of blackish-brown chromatophores predominantly covering pterygiophore regions of the dorsal and anal fins. Symphurus multimaculatus were retrieved from commercial catches of fishing trawlers landed at three regional fish ports operating in deep waters off northeastern and southwestern Taiwan. The only information associated with these specimens is the general region of capture based on where fishing trawlers operate. Data on relative abundance, depth of capture, geographic distribution, and microhabitat conditions where this species is captured are unavailable at this time.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narelle Hall ◽  
Maria Constantinou ◽  
Mark Brown ◽  
Belinda Beck ◽  
Suzanne Kuys

ABSTRACT Introduction Army recruit injuries occurring during basic training can lead to high personal and organizational burdens potentially threatening deployment capability. Previous military surveillance describing recruit injury as defined by physical therapy presentations is limited to 1-year duration or includes only male infantry recruits or trained personnel. Research describing injury incidence and trends specific to New Zealand Army basic training recruits over a longer period will better inform future injury prevention programs. Aims To identify the incidence and patterns of injuries reported from physical therapy presentations for New Zealand Army recruits undertaking basic training over a 4-year period. Materials and Methods This retrospective observational study identified injuries from physical therapy service presentations in New Zealand Army recruits from 2008 to 2011. All male and female New Zealand Army recruits who presented to physical therapy, following medical triage, were included. Recruit physical therapy presentations for injury and respiratory and other conditions were collated. Injury incidence was grouped by body region (upper limbs, lower limbs, and combined spinal regions) and site (joint or segment), and cumulative and injury incidence rates were calculated. Results One thousand eight hundred and ninety-six (1,697 males and 199 females) New Zealand Army recruits commenced basic training between 2008 and 2011. One thousand six hundred and eighty-three physical therapy presentations occurred for recruit injury during New Zealand Army basic training over 4 years. Lower limb injuries accounted for over 75% (n = 1,285) of the overall demand for physical therapy service during recruit basic training. Injuries sustained at the knee and below accounted for 67% of all reported injury presentations. Conclusion Four years of injury surveillance using physical therapy presentations identified the lower limb, with the knee and below as the most commonly injured regions in New Zealand Army recruits. Injury prevention interventions for New Zealand Army recruits should aim to reduce lower limb injuries. Future research on injury surveillance would benefit from incorporating clear injury and severity definitions, established injury classification systems, and standardized incidence calculations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Ronald Fricke ◽  
Daniel Golani ◽  
Brenda Appelbaum-Golani ◽  
Uwe Zajonz

The scorpionfish Scorpaena decemradiata n. sp. is described from off the coast of Israel in the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea. The new species is similar to S. porcus Linnaeus, 1758, but is characterized by dorsal fin spines XII, soft dorsal fin rays 10 (the last divided at base); pectoral fin rays 16, uppermost branched pectoral fin ray is the second; lacrimal with 2 spines over maxilla that point at nearly right angle from each other, the posterior pointing ventrally and slightly anteriorly; occipital pit well developed; anteriormost mandibular lateral-line pores small, separated; scales ctenoid; 59-62 scale rows in longitudinal series; scales absent on chest and pectoral fin base; and cirri developed over entire head and body, but no cirri on lower jaw. An updated checklist of the species of the genus Scorpaena Linnaeus, 1758 and a key to the species of the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea are presented.


1965 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick M. Hart ◽  
J. Job Faber

The differences between fetal deep body temperature and maternal aortic temperature were measured in 10 New Zealand white rabbits of 22—29 days gestation with thermocouples thrust into the fetuses immediately after the animals had been killed by a warmed overdose of sodium pentobarbital. Fetal temperatures exceeded maternal temperatures by —2.51 + 0.099.X °C, where X is the gestational age in days. There is 95% confidence that fetal temperatures exceeded maternal temperature by at least 0.25 °C at a fetal age of 29 days. Permanently implanted thermocouples in six nonpregnant rabbits showed that the ventral surface of the abdominal cavity is colder than the aorta, and that the dorsal surface is slightly warmer. Fetal heat loss is partly via the umbilical circulation and partly via the fetal body surface. tissue temperatures in rabbits; fetal heat loss Submitted on September 28, 1964


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001590
Author(s):  
Aaron Drovandi ◽  
Malindu E Fernando ◽  
Tejas P Singh ◽  
Torres Woolley ◽  
Jonathan Golledge

IntroductionHyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been suggested to improve healing of lower limb ulcers, though the quality of available evidence is weak to moderate. This study assessed the opinions and use of HBOT by specialists treating lower limb ulcers.Research design and methodsAccredited vascular surgeons and podiatrists in Australia and New Zealand were sent an online survey via their professional organizations. The survey asked about their use and opinions of HBOT in treating lower limb ischemic, neuropathic and venous ulcers. Data were summarized with descriptive statistics. Non-parametric tests were used to compare survey results obtained from vascular surgeons and podiatrists.Results61 vascular surgeons and 40 podiatrists completed the survey. Thirty-seven specialists used HBOT for treating lower limb ulcers, with the remainder indicating they did not feel there was a role for HBOT (n=25) or did not have access to HBOT (n=39). Less than 8% of specialists indicated that HBOT frequently or always had a role in treating ischemic, neuropathic or venous ulcers. Compared with podiatrists, vascular surgeons were significantly less likely to indicate HBOT had a treatment role for any ulcer type (p<0.001, p=0.004, and p<0.001, respectively), though significantly more likely to indicate they currently used HBOT for treating lower limb ulcers (p<0.001). Most specialists (n=76) believed that a large clinical trial is needed to determine the efficacy of HBOT in treating lower limb ulcers.ConclusionsVascular surgeons and podiatrists do not feel HBOT has a frequent role in treating lower limb ulcers, but do feel there needs to be a large clinical trial to test its value.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  

Spotted stinger individuals, Inimicus sinensis, collected from Carles, Iloilo, Philippines exhibited previously-unreported sexual dimorphism. Thirty-three morphological measurements, including standard length, and fourteen meristic counts from 99 specimens (47 males and 52 females) were analyzed for sexual dimorphism. Most morphometric characters differed significantly between the sexes, whereas no differences were found in meristic counts. Dorsal and anal-fin and free pectoral-fin ray lengths were greater in male specimens. On the other hand, the head and body region were relatively larger in female specimens. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) extracted two principal components from significantly different parameters, which explained 62.29 % of the cumulative variances. Variations in the two major components resulted from: head width, upper jaw, lower jaw, snout, pre-dorsal, pre-anal-fin, and anal-fin base lengths in PC1 (45.65 %); and orbit diameter and anal-fin base length in PC2 (16.64 %). Additionally, a single anterolateral pore on the body and pores above the lateral-line are described, although no evidence of association with other organs was found.


Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4576 (2) ◽  
pp. 326
Author(s):  
WILLIAN M. OHARA ◽  
FERNADO C. JEREP ◽  
MARCEL R. CAVALLARO

A new species of Microschemobrycon with a restricted distribution was recently discovered in the Rio Curuá, Rio Xingu basin, Pará, Brazil. Microschemobrycon cryptogrammus new species can be promptly distinguished from all congeners by the presence of a rounded, dark, conspicuous caudal-peduncle blotch and by a subjacent dark midlateral stripe visible in life. Additionally, the new species can be distinguished from all its congeners, except M. elongatus, by the presence of a longitudinal dark stripe along the lower jaw. The new species can be distinguished from M. elongatus by presenting lateral line with 36–38 pored scales, anterior and posterior nostrils coalescend, dark chromatophores concentrated along the ventral margin of the caudal peduncle and by the presence in life of a dark spot at the base of the dorsal-fin origin. 


2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter L. Davidson ◽  
David J. Chalmers ◽  
Barry D. Wilson ◽  
David McBride

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4908 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-368
Author(s):  
JO OKAMOTO ◽  
HIROYUKI MOTOMURA

The poorly known sole Brachirus aspilos (Bleeker 1852) is redescribed on the basis of the holotype and 48 non-type specimens from Japan, Taiwan, Philippine, Singapore, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. The species is characterized by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 64–76 (mode 71), anal-fin rays 51–62 (56), pored scales on straight portion of lateral line 93–126 (118); vertebrae 41–44 (43); pectoral-fin rays 4–7 (6) and 4–7 (5) on ocular and blind sides, respectively; pelvic-fin rays 4–6 (5) and 4–5 (4) on ocular and blind sides, respectively; caudal-fin rays 13–15 (14); body slightly elongate, its depth 40.0–51.0 (mean 45.5)% SL; head length 16.1–23.9 (18.6)% SL; pectoral fin on ocular side longer than that on blind side, 5.3–7.6 (6.6)% SL and 4.0–6.0 (4.8)% SL, respectively; pelvic fin on ocular side longer than that on blind side, 4.9–7.4 (6.0)% SL and 4.3–7.5 (5.8)% SL, respectively; body depth below lateral line 21.7–27.1 (23.4)% SL; lips without labial papillae; eyes separated by scaled interorbital space; cycloid or weakly ctenoid scales on blind side; body on ocular side uniformly brown or grey with dark vermiculation, some small white blotches along dorsal- and anal-fin bases, or without remarkable pattern. Brachirus dicholepis (Peters 1877), B. heterolepis (Bleeker 1856), B. marmoratus (Bleeker 1853), and B. sorsogonensis (Evermann & Seale 1907), previously regarded as valid species, are all regarded as junior synonyms of B. aspilos. In addition, specimens previously reported as Dagetichthys marginatus (Boulenger 1900) from the western Pacific Ocean are re-identified as B. aspilos, the former species being considered restricted to South African waters. 


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