A new deepwater gurnard of the genus Pterygotrigla (Scorpaeniformes: Triglidae) from the southwestern Indian Ocean

A new species of deepwater gurnard, Pterygotrigla (Otohime) madagascarensis sp. nov. is described, based on two specimens collected on the upper continental slope south of Madagascar, in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The new species belongs to the tropical Indo-Pacific subgenus Otohime in having a short rostral projection, short posttemporal spine, long opercular spine and no cleithral spine. It is most similar to P. (O.) multipunctata, and P. (O.) urashimai, in having no large blotch on the first dorsal fin, a jet-black blotch and no white ocellus on the inner pectoral-fin surface, with no scales on the breast and front of the pectoral-fin base. However, the new species differs from the latter two species by the combination of the following characters: first dorsal-fin spines 7, second dorsal-fin rays 12, dusky rays on the inner pectoral-fin surface, one row of blackish botches on second dorsal fin, and no papillae on the dorsal surface of oral cavity. A key is provided for the twelve Pterygotrigla species now in the subgenus Otohime.

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

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.

The tropical species of the subgenus Pterygotrigla (Pisces: Triglidae: Pterygotrigla) with description of a new species

The tropical species of the triglid subgenus Pterygotrigla (Pterygotrigla) are reviewed. Diagnoses, descriptions, and distributions are given for P. ryukyuensis, P. guezei, for two recently described species, P. saumarez and P. gomoni, and one new species. P. cajorarori, described herein. The statuses of the species of the subgenus are discussed and the subgenus is diagnosed. The subgenus lacks a nasal spine and has a short opercular spine, two features that distinguish it from the other two subgenera. The new species, P. cajorarori, has extreme hyperostosis of the head bones and first dorsal fin spines. It has 12+3 pectoral fin rays and is a rare species with few specimens from Japan, Philippines, Australia, and Indonesia.

Epigonus exodon, a new species of deepwater cardinalfish (Teleostei: Perciformes: Epigonidae) from Réunion, western Indian Ocean

A new species of deepwater cardinalfish, Epigonus exodon, is described based on two specimens, 97.0–60.2 mm standardlength, from Réunion (depth 450–480 m), western Indian Ocean. Epigonus exodon belongs the Epigonus oligolepis group,defined as having seven spines on the first dorsal fin, one spine and 10 soft rays on the second dorsal fin, 35–37 poredlateral-line scales to the end of the hypural and lacking an opercular spine and ribs on the last abdominal vertebra. It differsfrom other members of the group in having a narrow tongue, a shallow V-shaped tooth patch on rear two-thirds of tongue, anteriorly projecting teeth on each side of the symphysis of lower jaw, and 26–28 total gill rakers.

Neobythitoides serratus, a new bathyal genus and species from the East China Sea (Teleostei, Ophidiidae)

A new genus and species of Ophidiidae is described on the basis of two specimens from the East China Sea. It is characterized by the following combination of characters: body slender, opercular spine strong, eye small (twice in snout), hind margin of preopercle serrated, two median basibranchial tooth patches with or without a pair of small circular tooth patches, sagitta large with undivided sulcus and 10–11 long rakers on anterior gill arch. It seems most similar to Neobythites, from which it can be separated by the small horizontal diameter of eye window 2.5–2.7 % SL vs. 3.7–6.0 % SL, the serrated hind margin of preopercle vs. preopercle with 0–3 spines and no serration, and a sagitta with undivided sulcus vs. divided sulcus.

On the Interactions Between Suctorial Adhesion, Gill Ventilation and Opercular Spine Erection in Xenocara Occidentalis

1. Except for brief swimming from one site of adhesion to another, the oral sucker of Xenocara is constantly used to anchor the fish to the substratum. 2. During adhesion oral inhalation is by rhythmic water flow through special grooves in the sucker wall. Coarse particles entering with the respiratory water elicit a cough-like response which is associated with large positive pressures in the buccopharynx and opercular cavities, and with enhancement of suctorial adhesion. 3. Stronger adhesion occurs when the fish responds to tactile stimulation, during which large negative pressures are developed throughout the respiratory system and the opercular spines are thrust outward. 4. In all responses separation of suctorial and respiratory function is facilitated by the action of a muscular oral valve. Precise co-ordination between the inlet valves of the maxillary barbels and the oral and opercular valves is important for efficiency of the suction and force pumps before the gills and the opercular suction pump behind them.