First morphometry, reproduction, and genetic data for Blennius ocellaris (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Black Sea

Two specimens of the butterfly blenny, Blennius ocellaris, were caught off the coast of Ordu (Black Sea, Turkey) in April 2021 by trammel net. The aim of this paper is to further document occurrence and distribution of the butterfly blenny for the Black Sea and for Turkish marine ichthyofauna and to provide first morphometric, reproduction, and genetic data on this species to the Black Sea fauna species. Some morphometric and meristic characters were measured and presented as the percentage of total length (TL%). All morphometric measurements except eye diameter, pre-anal length, and maximum body depth were higher in the male individual. It was observed that the head makes up almost 1/4 of the body. It was determined that the ripe eggs were in their final stage of development (Stage IV). Gonad’s weight of a female individual was 2.85 g and the number of eggs was determined as 2993. The mean egg diameter was measured as 1070.7 ±15.63 μm (from 1050.2 to 1123.1 μm). The mitochondrial DNA gene regions of 16S rRNA and COI of the specimens were sequenced and analyzed. The generated partial sequences of COI and 16S rRNA were 621 bp and 551 bp, respectively. The maximum likelihood tree generated with the COI gene sequences retrieved from the GenBank database demonstrated geographic region-based distinction and sequences of the Black Sea specimens nested with the reference specimen sequences from the Western Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

A new sisorid catfish of the genus Pseudolaguvia (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from Nagaland, north-eastern India

Pseudolaguvia vespa, new species, is described from the Tsücha River, Mokokchung district, Nagaland, India. The new species can be distinguished from congeners in having the following combination of characters: length of dorsal-fin spine 12.3–16.8% SL, a smooth anterior edge of the dorsal-fin spine, caudal peduncle depth 9.0–10.5% SL, body depth at anus 15.6–17.7% SL, caudal fin length 20.7–24.5% SL, pectoral fin length 20.1–24.1% SL, interorbital distance 22.7–28.1% SL, thoracic adhesive apparatus extending to midway between base of last pectoral-fin ray and pelvic-fin origin, and live specimens with two irregular, chrome-yellow bands on the body.

A new species of stone loach of the genus Mustura (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from Chindwin River drainage, Manipur, north-eastern India

Mustura taretensis, a new nemacheilid loach, is described from the Taret River, a tributary of the Yu River, Chindwin River drainage, Manipur, India. The new species is distinguished from all its congeners by a unique combination of the following characters: body with 12–13 irregular dark-brown blotches or bars on flank, alternating with 11–16 irregular dark-brown saddles on the back; dorsum of head with a distinctly visible rhomboid dark-brown mark encircling a pale oval area on the nape; dorsal fin with 9½­ or 10½ branched rays; lateral line complete; a well-developed free posterior chamber of air bladder, the halves of air bladder capsules connected by a manubrium; poorly developed processus dentiformis; suborbital flap present in males; and body depth 12.8–16.0 % SL. The generic status of Mustura chindwinensis, M. dikrongensis, M. tigrina and M. tuivaiensis are also discussed in the paper.

A new record of a rare labrid, Suezichthys notatus (Actinopterygii: Labridae), from Taiwan, with comparison to related species from Taiwan

Three specimens of a rare labrid, Suezichthys notatus (Kamohara, 1958) were recently collected from local markets, which were captured from deep-water off northern and southwestern Taiwan, and represent a new record for Taiwan. Suezichthys notatus can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters: scale rows above lateral line 2½; low scaly sheath present at base of dorsal and anal fins; dorsal-fin element IX, 11; anal-fin elements III, 10; lateral line scales 25‒26, each with simple, unbranched laterosensory canal tube; cheek scale rows behind and below eye 2 and 2‒3 respectively; a group of prominent dark blotches extending from the interorbital region dorsoposteriorly; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 3.7‒3.9 in standard length; short pelvic fin without filamentous extension, 2.2‒2.5 in head length. Suezichthys resembles the labrid genus Pseudolabrus, comparison of Taiwanese species of Suezichthys with those of Pseudolabrus are given.

Genetic variability of productivity traits and evaluation of exterior of Holstein cows depending on body type

The aim of the research is to study the selection and genetic parameters of the characteristics of productivity and the exterior of Holstein first-calf cows, depending on their body type. Research methods. Based on the data from the SELEX database, we researched the performance indicators and measurements of the trunk of first calving cows in the amount of 4049 heads. Based on the RENUMF90 software shell of the BLUPF90 program, we obtained digital values of the genetic variability of productivity indicators and the external structure of animals in accordance with the equation of the mixed model. Results. The most broad-bodied animals classified as airysomal type had the highest milk yield in the first lactation, and exceeded animals of the leptosomal type by 563.3 kg (p ≤ 0.001). According to the "B" system, broad-bodied cows are superior to narrow-bodied animals: stature – by 1 point (p ≤ 0.001); body depth – by 0.8 points (p ≤ 0.01); rump width – by 1.9 points (p ≤ 0.001); rump angle – by 0.9 points (p ≤ 0.01); fore udder attachment – by 1 point (p ≤ 0.01). Animals of the narrow-bodied type reliably (p ≤ 0.001) had a high genetic relationship between milk yield in 305 days of first lactation and the mass fraction of protein in milk (0.59 ± 0.005). At the same time, the leptosomal type of cows also had the greatest correlation between milk yield and mass fraction of fat (0.51 ± 0.005) (p ≤ 0.001). According to body measurements, the highest correlation coefficients were found in animals of the airysomal type – 0.24 ... 0.50. All Holstein heifers of different body types have high heritability coefficients in terms of fat mass fraction (h2 = 0.37 ... 0.49) and protein mass fraction (h2 = 0.42 ... 0.51). Scientific novelty. For the first time, studies of the genetic variability of productivity indicators and the exterior of Holstein cows, depending on their body type, were conducted.

Combinations of Linear Type Traits Affecting the Longevity in Hungarian Holstein-Friesian Cows

Several research studies confirm the association of the linear type traits with longevity, but only with one trait at a time. The aim of our study was to analyse the influence of combinations for linear type traits on longevity in the Hungarian Holstein-Friesian cows. Data were provided by four herds; the filtered dataset consisted of 17,717 cows. From the 14 available linear type traits, the most important combinations were identified based on principal components and cluster analysis. From the six identified combinations, only three (chest width-body depth, fore udder attachment-udder depth, angularity-rear udder height) proved to have a significant effect on longevity. A wide chest and deep body caused a high-risk ratio of culling. The lowest risk ratio was observed with cows having intermediate chest width and intermediate body depth. Very angular cows having low rear udder height were at the highest risk of culling. The lowest culling risk was found in cows with a lack of angularity and high rear udder height. Weak and loose fore udder along with deep udder had increased culling risk. Strong and tight fore udder subclasses were the most favourable as their risk ratios decreased towards the shallowing of udder depth.

Callogobius falx, a new species of goby from southern Japan

Callogobius falx n. sp. (Gobiidae) is described on the basis of two specimens (14.4 and 23.1 mm in standard length: SL) from the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan. The new species is characterized by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays VI-I, 8 or 9; anal-fin rays I, 7; pectoral-fin rays 18 or 19; lateral scale rows 20–22; body depth moderate, neither particularly slender nor deep (depth at pelvic-fin origin 18.3–20.0% of SL); pelvic-fin base with frenum; caudal-fin length moderate, margin rounded; cephalic sensory-canal pores absent; interorbital papillae row separated, forming two rows (one row in 14.4 mm paratype); postorbital papillae row not continuous with upper cranial papillae row; preopercular and transverse opercular papillae rows connected, forming single transverse row; body with three oblique black bars, angled upwards anteriorly and continuous with black bars on dorsal fins, anteriormost bar extending from 1st dorsal fin to midline of body, posterior two bars extending from second dorsal fin to dorsal surface of body and caudal peduncle, respectively; pectoral fin white, upper half widely (ca. 1/2 length of rays) margined with black; caudal-fin base with narrow sickle-like bar.

A new species of Glyptothorax (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from the Brahmaputra River basin, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Glyptothorax rupiri, a new sisorid catfish, is described from the Brahmaputra River basin in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India. It differs from its congeners in the Indian subcontinent by the following combination of characters: the presence of plicae on the ventral surface of the pectoral spine and first pelvic-fin ray; a posteriorly serrated dorsal-fin spine, its length 11.3–12.2% SL; body depth at anus 11.2–13.4% SL; a thoracic adhesive apparatus longer than broad, with a V-shaped median depression which opens posteriorly; an arrow-shaped anterior nuchal plate element; adipose-fin base length 10.9–12.6% SL; nasal barbel not reaching anterior orbital margin; 14–18 serrae on posterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine; body with two longitudinal pale-cream stripes; densely tuberculated skin; and the presence of numerous tubercles on the dorsal surface of pectoral and pelvic-fin rays.

Pseudanthias hangapiko, a new anthiadine serranid (Teleostei, Serranidae, Anthiadinae) from Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Pseudanthias hangapikosp. nov. (Teleostei, Serranidae, Anthiadinae) is herein described from three specimens collected from a depth of 83 m in a mesophotic coral ecosystem off Hanga Piko, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile. Pseudanthias hangapikosp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners in live coloration and by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays X, 17; anal-fin rays III, 8; pectoral-fin rays 16 (left side of one specimen 17); vertebrae 10+16; scales relatively large, two scales above lateral-line to base of fifth dorsal spine, and 16–17 circumpeduncular scales; gill rakers 11+23; and a slender body, with greatest body depth 3.6 (3.4–3.8) in SL. The most similar DNA barcodes (mitochondrial COI gene) are from Pseudanthias ventralis Randall, 1979 and Pseudanthias hawaiiensis Randall, 1979, with 16.8% and 17.0% uncorrected divergence, respectively. This fish is one of four new species that were documented from a pair of technical dives at a single location in Rapa Nui, emphasizing the high number of undescribed species likely still unknown in mesophotic coral ecosystems, especially in geographically remote locations. Pseudanthias hangapikosp. nov. adds to the Rapa Nui ichthyofauna, which hosts the second-highest level of endemism in both shallow and deep-water fishes.