First zoeal stage of the snapping shrimps Alpheus formosus Gibbes, 1850 and Alpheus malleator Dana, 1852 (Caridea: Alpheidae), with new characters to the genus

The first zoeae of Alpheus formosus Gibbes, 1850 and Alpheus malleator Dana, 1852 are described and illustrated for the first time, based on laboratory-hatched larvae from parental females sampled in Vitória Island, Ubatuba, Brazil. Both species shared many characters with other species of genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798, but they also have some exclusive characters as 10 setae on the basis of the maxilla, first maxilliped with endopod 2-segmented and exopod 4-segmented, second maxilliped with exopod 4-segmented, presence of bud only of the first pereopod, presence of anal spine and simple dorsal setae on the pleon. The zoea I of both species, nevertheless, can be separated by segmentation in the exopod of the antenna (8 in A. formosus, 6 in A. malleator); segmentation in the endopod and exopod of the third maxilliped (5 in A. formosus and 4 in A. malleator); peduncle of antennule 3-segmented in A. formosus (unsegmented or 2-segmented in other species) and presence of a medial tubercle in the proximal segment in the exopod of the antenna of A. malleator (absent in A. formosus, not reported in all other species). In this study three new characters are proposed to be analyzed in zoea of the genus Alpheus: presence of anal spine in both species (absent in Alpheus saxidomus Holthuis, 1980, but not reported in other species) and for the first time reported, presence of a tubercle in the exopod of the antenna (present only in A. malleator) and presence of simple dorsal setae on the pleon (both species), here analyzed under light and scanning electron microscopy.

Gladiopycnodontidae, a new family of pycnodontiform fishes from the Late Cretaceous of Lebanon, with the description of three genera

The osteology of Gladiopycnodus karami gen. et sp. nov., of Monocerichthys scheuchzeri gen. et sp. nov. and of Rostropycnodus gayeti gen. et sp. nov., three new fossil fishes from the marine Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous) of Lebanon, is studied in detail. Some of their cranial characters and the presence of a postcoelomic bone clearly refer these fishes to the order Pycnodontiformes. However, they differ from all other described Pycnodontiformes by two important characters. Their snout is elongated as a rostrum, formed by the enlarged prefrontal and the toothless premaxilla, with this premaxilla sutured by its upper margin to the lower margin of the prefrontal. Their pectoral fin is replaced by a strong spine articulated with the cleithrum. These two apomorphies justify the erection of a new family, the Gladiopycnodontidae. The skull of Monocerichthys scheuchzeri sp. nov. does not differ greatly from a classical pycnodontiform skull and this species seems to be the more primitive member of this new family. Gladiopycnodus karami gen. et sp. nov. and Rostropycnodus gayeti gen. et sp. nov. are much more specialized. They share some apomorphies not present in Monocerichthys scheuchzeri gen. et sp. nov., i. e., an extremely long rostrum and an elongated first anal pterygiophore that sustains with the postcoelomic bone a strong and long anal spine. Gladiopycnodontidae fam. nov. and Coccodontidae share a series of apomorphies that justify the erection of a new superfamily, Coccodontoidea, grouping these two families.

Revision of the larval morphology (Zoea I) of the family Hippolytidae (Decapoda, Caridea), with a description of the first stage of the shrimp Hippolyte obliquimanus Dana, 1852

The aim of this study was to summarize the available data on larval morphology of the first zoea of the family Hippolytidae and describe the first zoeal stage of H. obliquimanus from two geographically distinct populations, Brazilian and Caribbean in order to discuss interand intraspecific variability. Ovigerous females of Hippolyte obliquimanus were collected at Cahuita (Limón, Costa Rica) and at Ubatuba (São Paulo, Brazil). We compiled the published descriptions of all available hippolytid Zoea I (66 spp., 21%), and all zoeae share several characteristics. However, such morphological features cannot be used to distinguish the first zoeae of Hippolytidae from other caridean larvae. Historically, the presence of an exopodal seta at the maxillule and the absence of the anal spine/papilla have been considered as characteristic for the Zoea I of the genus Hippolyte. The results of our revision, however, did not support these conclusions: although H. obliquimanus showed an exopodal seta at the maxillule, four congeners did not bear such structure; moreover, H. obliquimanus as well as one other congener have an anal spine/papilla. All morphological characters observed in the first zoeal stage of H. obliquimanus are shared with others species of the family Hippolytidae. Intraspecific variability in Hippolyte obliquimanus was detected in one morphological aspect: the first zoea had four denticles on the ventral margin of the carapace in the Brazilian population, while specimens from the Costa Rican population had three.

Taxonomic variability and criteria for distinguishing metamorphosing larval and juvenile stages of Limanda ferruginea and Hippoglossoides platessoides (Pisces: Pleuronectidae) from the Scotian Shelf

Metamorphosing larval and juvenile Limanda ferruginea and Hippoglossoides platessoides from the Scotian Shelf were examined to characterize their taxonomic variability and to establish the reliability of criteria for their identification. The species were found to be separable using several characters. Limanda ferruginea had 11 to 12 precaudal and 41 to 44 total vertebrae, 38 to 41 total myomeres, 51 to 67 anal fin rays and usually metamorphosed at less than 16 mm standard length (SL). Hippoglossoides platessoides had 13 to 14 precaudal and 45 to 48 total vertebrae, 44 to 47 total myomeres, 62 to 76 anal fin rays, and usually metamorphosed at greater than 25 mm SL. Anal fin ray counts and size at metamorphosis were of limited diagnostic value only. In addition, stage IV L. ferruginea usually had dark gut pigment and a visible modified first anal pterygiophore (anal spine), whereas H. platessoides had light gut pigment and no visible anal spine. Dark gut pigment also was diagnostic for juvenile L. ferruginea still possessing this character.

A NEW BLENNY FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH RECORDS OF TWO OTHER FISHES NEW TO THE REGION

Allolumpenus (species hypochromus), a new genus most closely allied to Askoldia Pavlenko and Lumpenopsis Soldatov, but differing in having only one anal spine, a scaleless head and no vomerine teeth. Sebastodes wilsoni Gilbert and Lycodapus fierasfer, now first reported from British Columbia.