Manuscripts accepted or in press

  • Four new goatfishes (Upeneus, Mullidae, Mulliformes) from the Asian Indo-Pacific with a list of valid goatfish species and remarks on goatfish diversity

    • Uiblein Franz
    • Williams Jeff T.
    • Hoang Tuan A.
    • Rajan P. Thomas
    • Bailly Nicolas
    Accepted date: 27 October 2023
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    Based on a large comparative data set available from recent studies of goatfish species of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae, Mulliformes) with seven spines in the first dorsal fin, four new species from the area of the Asian Indo-Pacific are described. Initial search for and discovery of the new species was greatly assisted by the recognition of several subgroups within two rather large taxonomic species groups, the pori and the japonicus groups, each consisting of nine previously described species. Two of the new species, U. aurorae n. sp. from Luzon, Philippines, and U. huan n. sp. from Central Vietnam (NW Pacific), are characterized by relatively low gill-raker counts, while U. brevignathus n. sp. from off SE Yemen (NW Indian Ocean), has high gill-raker counts. All three species share the typical characteristics of the pori-species groups such as height of first dorsal fin decreasing proportionally, pectoral fins shorter or of similar length as pelvic fins, oblique bars on lower caudal-fin lobe present and white, rose-whitish or pale-red barbels in fresh or live fish. The fourth new species, U. andamanensis n. sp. from the Andaman Islands (NE Indian Ocean), resembles most U. guttatus and two other species of the japonicus-species group, which all belong to a subgroup characterized by the first dorsal fin being relatively high with subsequent fin elements decreasing disproportionally in height. While no fresh color information is available for U. brevignathus n. sp. and U. andamanensis n. sp., each of them can be clearly distinguished morphologically and by preserved color from the most similar species. A list of all valid goatfish species is included, with English common names and remarks to clarify validity judgments. The results are discussed with respect to the usefulness of using taxonomic species groupings for facilitating detection of new species and other purposes in continuing studies of the species diversity of goatfishes.

  • Dapalis pauciserratus, a new species of freshwater glassfishes (Teleostei, Ambassidae) from the Lower Oligocene of the Central Paratethys

    • Ahnelt Harald
    • Bradić-Milinović Katarina
    • Schwarzhans Werner
    Accepted date: 23 January 2024
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    Abstract. – We describe a new species of the fossil perciform genus Dapalis (Ambassidae), Dapalis pauciserratus n. sp., based on two articulated skeletons with otoliths in situ from the lower Oligocene of Raljin/Strelac, Babušnica basin, Southern Serbia. This species differs from congeners in the combination of following characters: (i) body elongate, fusiform; (ii) head triangular in shape; (iii) supraoccipital crest distinct; (iv) head without serrations except two large spine-like serrations on the corner of the preopercle; (v) premaxilla with a relatively narrow postmaxillary process located in the distal half; (vi) spines of the first and second dorsal fins, the anal fin and the pelvic fin strong but not massive; (vii) first spine of first dorsal fin long (42% of length of second spine); (viii) otoliths elongate (length : height = 1.4) with a narrow and elongate ostium, indistinct antirostrum, shallow excisura and an asymmetric and prominent rostrum.

  • The complete mitochondrial genome of a new invader fish in France, the pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Walbaum, 1792) (Teleostei, Salmonidae)

    • Denys Gaël
    • Josset Quentin
    • Verde Ferraira Amélie
    • Dettai Agnès
    Accepted date: 23 January 2024
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    The pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Teleostei, Salmonidae) is a North Pacific species. It arrived in Northern Europe through freshwater migration each odd year since 2017, creating management issues. In this study we sequenced a complete mitochondrial genome for a pink salmon caught in the Bresle River (France) with a museum voucher . The sequence is 16 695 bp in length and is similar to previous mitogenomes published within this genus. Length heteroplasmy on the control region for this species was detected, as described in previous molecular studies. We tested several primers commonly used for metabarcoding studies on four markers (12S, 16S, COI and Cytb), and all allow the discrimination of this species. This mitogenome is a reference for molecular identification, for instance in like environmental DNA studies.

  • Length-weight relationships of 13 fish species from Akanda National Park in Gabon, Central Africa

    • MVE BEH Jean-Hervé
    • OUMAR Sadio
    • MBEGA Jean-Daniel
    • LIWOUWOU Jean-Félicien
    • BEN RAIS LASRAM Frida
    • LE LOC'H François
    Accepted date: 09 January 2024
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    This study provides the length-weight relationships (LWRs) for 13 fish species belonging to 10 families. Samples were collected in the mangrove area of Akanda National Park (ANP) in Gabon between May 2017 and March 2018 with fishing trammel gillnets (15 m long and 1.10 m high, 100 mm large mesh outer layers, and one 10, 27, and 40 mm small mesh each net). Fish total length and total weight were measured, with the precision of 1 mm and 1 g, respectively. The LWRs parameters for the 13 fish species had not yet been reported in FishBase for Central Africa. Our study provides large size ranges for Monodactylus sebae and Pseudotolithus senegalensis LWRs for Central Africa. The determination coefficient (r²) between total length and total body weight ranged from 0.946 (Pellonula leonensis) to 0.999 (Pseudotolithus senegalensis). Allometric coefficients b varied from 2.9388 for Parachelon grandisquamis to 3.6258 for Pomadasys perotaei. The results of this study establish important baselines on the LWRs of 13 fish species from Central Africa and could be worthy for fisheries scientists and managers to complement further studies of population dynamics in order to improve management decisions in ANP in Gabon.

  • Automated image analysis suggests the consumption of herring eggs by red mullet in the English Channel

    • Cresson Pierre
    • Cordier Remy
    • Delegrange Alice
    Accepted date: 08 January 2024
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    Consumption of fish eggs is a major component of the trophodynamics of several marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, demonstrating the consumption by stomach content analysis is complex, notably due to the high digestibility of eggs. Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) of the Downs substock migrate from the North Sea to spawn in the Eastern English Channel winter. On the basis of an opportunistic sampling of 5 red mullets (Mullus surmuletus) displaying herring eggs in their stomachs, this paper was the opportunity to document for the first time the trophic importance of herring eggs in the English Channel, by combining automated analysis of preys images with stable isotope and C:N ratios measurement. Eggs represented more than 90% of the prey items observed in the stomachs. In addition, low δ13C and high δ15N and C:N ratios demonstrated that this observation do not reflect occasional consumption of eggs, but that eggs are a common prey all through the entire spawning season. Automated image analysis demonstrated efficiency to produce semi-quantitative indicators of the diet, but manual post processing should be implemented if accuracy is needed. This work was nevertheless the opportunity to start the development of a learning set adapted to benthic organisms and available for further similar applications. This work also demonstrated the importance of an holistic approach of trophic interactions to manage exploited species.

  • Cirri and tassel in Zeugopterus regius (Bonnaterre, 1788), Pleuronectiformes, Scophthalmidae.

    • CHANET Bruno
    • DETTAÏ Agnès
    • DAVENPORT John
    Accepted date: 08 December 2023
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    Abstract – Examination of photographs and preserved specimens of Eckström's topknot [Zeugopterus regius (Bonnaterre, 1788), Pleuronectiformes, Scophthalmidae] shows previously undescribed appendages present on the eyed-side and around the eyes. Some cirri are present between the eyed scales and above the eyes. A tassel-like element decorates the top of the left (non-migrating) eye, but not in all individuals. Its relationship with possible geographic or sexual dimorphisms is discussed.

  • First records of Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis and Scophthalmus maximus (Scophthalmidae) from the Canary Islands (north-eastern Atlantic)

    • González, José A.
    • Lorenzo, José M.
    • Telle, Arthur
    Accepted date: 22 August 2023
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    The capture of several individuals of Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis and the sighting of two individuals of Scophthalmus maximus represent the first records for these scophthalmid species from the Canary Islands. It is very likely that both species are present in Canarian waters due to natural range expansions from nearby areas. This work also contributes to the knowledge of the morphological and meristic characteristics of the southernmost populations of these eastern Atlantic cold-temperate species.

  • First record of the fire-eyed loach Barbucca diabolica Roberts 1989 (Cypriniformes: Barbuccidae) for Belitung Island, Indonesia

    • Hasan Veryl
    • Kusumah Wanda
    • Purnawan Marta
    • Nasidi Nasidi
    • Arianto Arianto
    • Wijaya Imam
    • Yusnandar Firman
    • Baptista Yohanes
    • South Josie
    • Ottoni Felipe
    Accepted date: 14 September 2023
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    The fire-eyed loach Barbucca diabolica, found in Southeast Asian freshwaters, is currently known from Thailand, West Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Despite this wide distribution, there are no published reports of this species for Belitung Island (Indonesia). We report the first occurrence of B. diabolica for Belitung Island, based on two specimens collected in the East Belitung Province. This new record extends the species distribution about 600 km southeast from Johor (Malay Peninsular, Malaysia), which is about 400 km east from Musi River (Sumatra, Indonesia), and about 500 km southwest from Kapuas River (Borneo, Indonesia). Here we also register the species for an additional island in Sundaland region.

  • Anomalous specimens of Rhamdia quelen (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) and Gymnotus cf. sylvius (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae)

    • CORREIA-SILVA , G.
    • CORAZZA, Ligia Q.
    • OTTONI, F. P.
    • SILVA, C.V.
    • NUNES, A.V.P.
    • KATZ, A.M.
    • AZEVEDO-SANTOS, V.M.
    Accepted date: 26 September 2023
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    Here we describe anomalies in two Neotropical freshwater fishes. Case 1 refers to a tumor above the left pectoral fin near the operculum of a specimen of Rhamdia quelen (Heptapteridae). Case 2 is a horizontal plane dichotomy of the caudal filament of an individual of Gymnotus cf. sylvius (Gymnotidae). We also provide a brief comment of the possible cause of the anomalies in individuals of both species.  

  • New records of the recently described Pomatoschistus nanus Engin & Seyhan, 2017 (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

    • Kovačić Marcelo
    • Šanda Radek
    • Vukić Jasna
    • Renoult Julien P.
    • Falzon Mark-Anthony
    Accepted date: 28 September 2023
    Status: Sous presse/In press

    Abstract

    New records of the recently described Mediterranean goby Pomatoschistus nanus Engin & Seyhan, 2017 are reported. The species was identified by genetics, morphology and coloration. The records from Malta and Cyprus significantly extend the known geographic distribution of the species. The record from Malta further extends the upper depth limit and the known maximum size of this species, currently considered the smallest fish of the Mediterranean Sea. The morphological variability of P. nanus is discussed.