aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology

Stefano Valdesalici, Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen and Didier Pillet

aqua International Journal of Ichthyology, pp. 128-135, Volume 21 issue 3, 15 July 2015

Abstract

Moema beucheyi, new species, is described from a seasonal pool in the Río San Miguel drainage, Río Madeira basin, Bolivian Amazon. The new taxon is similar to M. heterostigma, M. ortagai/M. quiii, M. pepotei, and M. piriana in that males possess filamentous rays on the pectoral-fin tips, and to M. heterostigma and M. ortegai in exhibiting an orange color pattern on the body and fins. M. beucheyi differs from all known congeners by presence of distinctive orange lateral stripe outlined by a series of brown dots on the caudal fin, greenish-grey pigmentation on the ventral portion, and greater numbers of scales in the transverse and circumpeduncular series.

PDF (216 KB)

REFERENCES

COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1989. Descrição e relações filogenéticas de dois gêneros novos e três espécies novas de peixes anuais neotropicais (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae). Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 49: 221-230.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1992. Sistemática e distribuição do gênero Moema (Cyprinodontiformes; Rivulidae), com a descrição de uma nova espécie. Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 52: 619-625.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1995. Pearl killifishes – the Cynolebiatinae: systematics and biogeography of the neotropical annual fish subfamily. TFH, Neptune City, 128 pp.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1998. Phylogeny and classification of Rivulidae revisited: evolution of annualism and miniaturization in rivulid fishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplo –
cheiloidei). Journal of Comparative Biology 3: 33-92.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2001. The neotropical annual fish genus Cynolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae): phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic revision and biogeography. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 12: 333-383.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2003. Moema heterostigma, a new annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Brazilian Pantanal, Rio Paraguay basin. Ichyological Exploration of Freshwaters 14: 289-294.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2004. Moema apurinan sp. n. and Aphyolebias boticarioi sp. n. (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae): two new annual killifishes from the
Rio Purus basin, Brazilian Amazon. Zootaxa 707: 1-12.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2014. Phylogeny and evolutionary radiation in seasonal rachovine killifishes: biogeographical and taxonomical implications. Vertebrate Zoology 64 (2): 177-192.
COSTA, W. J. E. M., SARMIENTO, J. & BARBERA, S. 1996. A new species of the annual fish genus Pterolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Rio Mamoré
basin, Bolivian Amazon. Ichyological Exploration of Freshwaters 7: 91-95.
HOEDEMAN, J. J. 1958. The frontal scalation pattern in some groups of toothcarps (Pisces, Cyprinodontiformes). Bulletin of Aquatic Biology 1: 23-28.
HUBER, J. H. 2014. Nomenclatural changes regarding some taxa names created by DeKay, McClelland, Myers, Steindachner, Valenciennes, following the new availability of old publications as electronic archives on the Internet. Killi-Data Series 2014: 24-35.

Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen and Christian Silva Pinto

aqua International Journal of Ichthyology, pp. 136-143, Volume 21 issue 3, 15 July 2015

Abstract

Melanorivulus imperatrizensis, new species, collected in a small spring, at the middle rio Tocantins basin, northeast Brazil, is described. Melanorivulus imperatrizensis differs from all other species of the genus Melanorivulus by possessing all fins orange (vs. orange fins absent in other species of Melanorivulus or orange distal stripe on M. dapazi). The hypothesized close relationship between M. imperatrizensis and M. parnaibensis suggests a historical biogeographic relationship between Southern Amazonian tributaries and Rio Parnaíba.

PDF (261 KB)

REFERENCES

COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1991. Redescrição do gênero Rivulus (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae), com notas sobre R. stellifer e R. compactus e a descrição de duas novas espécies do Brasil central. Revista Brasileira de Biologia 51: 327-333
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1995a. Revision of the Rivulus punctatus species-complex (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 3: 207-226.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1995b. Pearl killifishes: The Cynolebiatinae. Systematics and Biogeography of a Neotropical annual fish subfamily (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). TFH Publications, Neptune City, 128 pp.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 1998. Phylogeny and classification of Rivulidae revisited: origin and evolution of annualism and miniaturization in rivulid fishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei). Journal of Comparative Biology, 3: 33-92.
COSTA,W. J. E. M. 2003. A new species of the genus Rivulus Poey, 1860 from the Parnaiba river basin, northeastern Brazil (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae).
Boletim do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro 511: 1-7.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2005. Seven new specie of the killifish genus Rivulus (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae), from the Paraná, Paraguay and upper Araguaia river basins, central Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology 3: 69-82.
COSTA,W. J. E. M. 2006a. Relationships and taxonomy of the killifish genus Rivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae) from the Brazilian Amazonas
river basin, with notes on historical ecology. aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology 11: 133-175.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2006b. Descriptive morphology and phylogenetic relationship among species of the Neotropical annual killifish genera Nematolebias and Simpsonichthys (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae). Neotropical Ichthyology 4: 1-26.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2007a. Five new species of the aplocheiloid killifish genus Rivulus, subgenus Melanorivulus, from the middle Araguaia river basin, central Brazil
(Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 13: 55-68.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2007b. Taxonomic revision of the seasonal South American killifish genus Simpsonichthys (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae). Zootaxa 1669: 1-134.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2007c. Taxonomic of the plesiolebiasine killifish genera Pituna, Plesiolebias and Maratecoara (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), with descripitions of nine new species. Zootaxa 1410: 1-41.

COSTA,W. J. E. M. 2008. Rivulus kayabi, a new killifish from the Tapajós river basin, southern Brazilian Amazon (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 18: 345-350.
COSTA,W. J. E. M. 2009. Rivulus megaroni, a new killifish from the Xingu River drainage, southern Brazilian Amazon (Cyprinodontiformes:Rivulidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 20: 365-370.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2011a. Phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of Anablepsoides, Atlantirivulus, Cynodonichthys, Laimosemion and Melanorivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 22: 233-249.
COSTA, W. J. E. M. 2011b. Comparative morphology, phylogenetic relationships, and historical biogeography of plesiolebiasine seasonal killifish (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162:131-148.
COSTA, W. J. E. M., BRAGANÇA P. H. N. & OTTONI, F. 2015. A new miniature killifish of the genus Melanorivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the coastal
plains of north-eastern Brazil. Vertebrate Zoology 65 (1): 31-35.
HOEDEMAN, J. J. 1958. The frontal scalation pattern in some groups of tooth carps. Bulletin of Aquatic Biology 1: 23-28.
TAYLOR, W. R. & VAN DYKE, G. C. 1985. Revised procedures for staining and clearing small fishes and other vertebrates for bone and cartilage study. Cybium 9: 107-119.
VALDESALICI S., GIL J. R. G. & NIELSEN, D. T. B. 2011. Rivulus albae, a new species of killifish (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from northeastern Brazil. Vertebrate Zoology 61: 105-108.
VARI, R. P. 1989. Systematics of the Neotropical characiform genus Psectrogaster Eigenmann and Eigenmann (Pisces: Characiformes). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 481: 43 pp.

Hamed Mousavi-Sabet, Hossein AnvariFar and Fahime Azizi

aqua International Journal of Ichthyology, pp. 144-152, Volume 21 issue 3, 15 July 2015

Abstract

Alburnoides tabarestanensis n. sp., is described from Tajan River in the southern Caspian Sea basin, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. It is distinguished from the remaining Alburnoides species occurring in Iranian freshwaters by a combination of the following characters: a completely scaleless ventral keel; a terminal mouth with the tip of the mouth cleft between level of middle of pupil and lower margin of pupil; 47-52 lateral line scales to posterior margin of hypurals; 2.5-4.2 pharyngeal teeth; usually 16-18 scales around caudal peduncle; typically 39-41 total vertebrae; caudal vertebral region equal or slightly longer than abdominal region (most frequent vertebral formulae 19+20, 20+20 and 20+21); usually 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays; usually 12½ or 13½ branched anal fin rays; usually 7 branched pelvic fin rays; 11-13 branched pectoral fin rays; and usually 8 or 9 total gill rakers in the outer row on first left arch.

PDF (186 KB)

REFERENCES

BERG, L. S. 1948-1949. Freshwater fishes of the USSR and adjacent countries. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem (1962-1965). 3 volumes.
BOGUTSKAYA, N. G. & COAD, B. W. 2009. A review of vertebral and fin-ray counts in the genus Alburnoides (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) with a description of six new
species. Zoosystematica Rossica 18: 126-173.
BOGUTSKAYA, N. G., ZUPANCIC, P. & NASEKA, A. M. 2010. Two new species of freshwater fishes of the genus Alburnoides, A. fangfangae and A. devolli (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae), from the Adriatic Sea basin in Albania. Proceedings of the Zoological Institute 314: 448-468.
COAD, B. W. 2014. Freshwater Fishes of Iran. Available at http://www.briancoad.com (accessed on 15 October 2014).
COAD, B. W. & BOGUTSKAYA, N. G. 2009. Alburnoides qanati, a new species of cyprinid fish from southern Iran (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae). ZooKeys 13: 67-77.
COAD, B. W. & BOGUTSKAYA, N. G. 2012. A new species of riffle minnow, Alburnoides holciki, from the Hari River basin in Afghanistan and Iran (Actinopterygii:
Cyprinidae). Zootaxa 3453: 43-55.
HUBBS, C. L. & LAGLER, K. F. 1958. Fishes of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, xv + 213 pp.
SEIFALI, M., ARSHAD, A., YAZDANI MOGHADDAM, F., ESMAEILI, H. R., KIABI, B. H., KHALIJAH DAUD, S. & ALIABADIAN, M. 2012. Mitochondrial Genetic Differentiation of spirlin (Actinopterigii: Cyprinidae) in the south Caspian Sea basin of Iran. Evolutionary Bioinformatics 8: 219-227.

Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen and Didier Pillet: Spectrolebias bellidoi, a new annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae: Cynolebiatinae) from the upper Río Grande basin, Amazon basin, Bolivia, pp. 180-187

Abstract

Spectrolebias bellidoi n. sp. is described from a temporary pool from the upper Río Grande, Río Mamoré basin, Departamento Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the unique shape of the female’s anal fin, which is composed of two parts, a rounded anterior area, and a posterior portion (from the 14th-15th rays onwards), gradually decreasing in size (vs. entire anal fin with a rounded outline) and a higher number of analfin rays (30 vs. 21-28), in females. It can be additionally distinguished from all congeners, with the exception of S. reticulatus and S. pilleti, by the position of the dorsal fin, which has its origin anterior to the origin of the anal fin in
males..

PDF (31 KB)

Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen and Didier Pillet: Austrolebias accorsii, a new annual fish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae: Cynolebiatinae) from the upper río Grande basin, Amazon basin, Bolivia, pp. 172-179

Abstract

Austrolebias accorsii new species is described from Bolivia, departamento de Santa Cruz, Rio Grande, upper Mamoré basin. This is the first record of the genus Austrolebias at the Amazon basin. Austrolebias accorsii new species is distinguished from other members of the Austrolebias bellottii species group by the following combination of characters: absence of dots or spots on body and fins (vs. presence), absence of bars on body (vs. presence), anal-fin origin between neural spines (13th-14th vs. 5th-11th) in males. Austrolebias accorsii females differ from females of other species of the Austrolebias bellottii species group by the combination of a higher number of anal-fin rays (31-32 vs. 23-30), colour pattern of the sides of body light yellowish brown, without bars; usually 1-3 black spots on anterocentral portion of flanks, surrounded by metallic green spots, black spots of random size and quantity on the posterior portion of the body to the caudal peduncle (vs. with bars, one to sixteen black spots on anterocentral portion of flanks without metallic green spots, absent black spots in peduncle
caudal)..

PDF (32 KB)

Volume 21, Issue 4 – 15 October 2015
New Scientific publication – started delivery on October 15, 2015

Full Text | PDF (2,1 MB)

Shima Bakhshalizadeh, Ali Bani1 and Shahram Abdolmalaki: Growth traits of two sturgeon species, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii and Acipenser nudiventris, in the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea, pp. 154-164

Abstract

The life history traits of the Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, and ship sturgeon, Acipenser nudiventris, obtained from Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea, were studied through analysis of the pectoral fin spine section. The specimens were obtained from commercial fisheries between October 2008 and June 2010.The interpretation of growth bands in the pectoral fin spine sections was carried out objectively using the direct reading of thin sections and by image analysis. The maximum age recorded for the specimens of Russian sturgeon and ship sturgeon were 27 and 32 years respectively. The estimates of asymptotic length (L∞) and the growth coefficient (K) of Russian sturgeon were 180.95 cm and 0.07 per year respectively. Ship sturgeon had an asymptotic length of 190.67 cm and a growth coefficient of 0.15 per year. The total mortality coefficient (Z) for Russian sturgeon and ship sturgeon were estimated to be 1.14 and 0.79 per year respectively. Annual mortality rates were calculated at 68 percent for Russian sturgeon and 55 percent for ship sturgeon. This study revealed high mortality, low survive rate of studied species that is due to fishing pressure and degradation of environmental conditions. The knowledge of life history of Russian sturgeon and the ship sturgeon in the Iranian Waters of the Caspian Sea have implication in management of the sympatric Russian sturgeon and the ship sturgeon stocks.

PDF (571 KB)

Ship Sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris) live preserved. Photo by S. Bakhshalizadeh

Stefano Valdesalici and José Ramón García Gil: Laimosemion mabura, a new killifish from the Essequibo River drainage, Guyana (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), pp. 166-171

Abstract

Laimosemion mabura, new species, is described from a small stream belonging to the Essequibo River drainage, central Guyana. Males of Laimosemion mabura are similar to those of L. dibaphus, to which the new species may be closely related, in possessing bluish black pigmentation on the caudal peduncle, but differ in certain morphological characters and elements of colour pattern. The new species belongs to the L. geayi species group, and is distinguished from other members of this assemblage by male colour pattern.

PDF (37 KB)

Laimosemion mabura, CSBD F1700, male, holotype, 31.9 mm SL (below) & MSNG 57656, female, paratype, 28.4 mm SL (above), Guyana, Essequibo River drainage. Photo by S. Valdesalici

Abstract

PDF (32 KB)

Austrolebias accorsii n. sp., holotype, ZUEC 10792, male, 37.7 mm SL. Photo by G. Dethu.

Abstract

PDF (31 KB)

Spectrolebias bellidoi, holotype, male, ZUEC 10794, 28.9 mm SL. Photo by G. Dethu.

Book review: The freshwater fishes of Suriname by Jan H. A. Mol, pp. 188-189

Volume 21, Issue 3 – 15 July 2015
New Scientific publication – started delivery on July 15, 2015

Full Text | PDF (1,1 MB)

Stefano Valdesalici and Wolfgang Eberl: Aphyosemion jeanhuberi, a new killifish species of the Aphyosemion ogoense species group (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae), with remarks on the identity of Aphyosemion louessense (Pellegrin, 931), pp. 110-119

Abstract

Aphyosemion jeanhuberi, new species, is described from the border area between Gabon and Congo (Brazzaville) in the Massif du Chaillu. It can be distinguished from the remaining members of the Aphyosemion ogoense species group by a unique colouration of males. Despite obvious differences and its geographically isolated distribution range, specimens of this species have been hitherto erroneously considered as belonging to Aphyosemion louessense; remarks on the latter species based on recent collections are given together with an identification key for the species of the Aphyosemion ogoense species group.

PDF (319 KB)

Aphyosemion jeanhuberi, holotype, MNHN-IC-2014-2717, male, 33.4 mm SL. Congo: Isiengui, stream Bilala, 18 km N of Divenié. Photo by W. Grell.

Tyson R. Roberts: Mimicry of a Bean Seed by the Amazonian Aspredinid Catfish Amaralia hypsiura (Kner 855), pp. 120-127

Abstract

Amaralia hypsiura can modify its typically bunocephalid or aspredinid-catfish shape, hiding many of its features including all of its fins, so that it resembles a large bean or seed of the spermatophyte family Leguminosae or Fabaceae. This is accomplished mainly by adpressing both pectoral fins and folding the tail and caudal fin tightly around one side of the body and head. In so doing, Amaralia radically transforms itself from the bilaterally symmetrical form of a vertebrate animal into the radially symmetrical form of a seed. The fish then remains motionless until it unfolds itself. While mimicry of plant parts and camouflage to resemble plants or woody background is well known in fishes, mimicry of a seed apparently has not been reported previously. It possibly facilitates prey capture by Amaralia, which feed on the large yolky eggs of orally-brooding or otherwise parentally-guarding loricariid catfishes. It might also be involved in predator avoidance. Mimicry and camouflage involving vegetation is now known in a wide variety of freshwater and marine fishes.

PDF (88 KB)

Amaralia hypsiura, 41.0 mm standard length, Rio de las Piedras near Puerto Maldonado, Peruvian Amazonas. Lateral view. Photo by T. R. Roberts.

Stefano Valdesalici, Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen and Didier Pillet: Moema beucheyi (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), a new annual killifish from the Río Madeira basin, Bolivian Amazon, pp. 128-135

Abstract

PDF (216 KB)

Moema beucheyi, male, holotype, 68.6 mm SL: Bolivia, río San Miguel drainage (in life). Photo by G. Dethu.

Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen and Christian Silva Pinto: Melanorivulus imperatrizensis, a new species of killifish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the rio Tocantins basin, Brazil, pp. 136-143

Abstract

PDF (261 KB)

Melanorivulus imperatrizensis, ZUEC 10506, holotype, male, 31.8 mm SL (in life). Photo by D. Nielsen.

Hamed Mousavi-Sabet, Hossein AnvariFar and Fahime Azizi: Alburnoides tabarestanensis, a new species of riffle minnow from the southern Caspian Sea basin in Iran (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae), pp. 144-152

Abstract

PDF (186 KB)

Alburnoides tabarestanensis n. sp., Iran, Mazandaran province, Tajan River, holotype, VMFC AL201MH, male, 68 mm SL. Photo by H. Mousavi-Sabet.

Book review: Indian Ocean Reef Guide: Maldives-Sri Lanka-Thailand-South Africa-Mauritius-Madagascar-East Africa-Seychelles by H. Debelius, pp. 153

THE FRESHWATER FISHES OF SURINAME
By Jan H. A. Mol
Published by Brill Academic Pub, Leiden- Boston, 2012.
889pp.
Price $83.00
ISBN 9789004210745

This unique work contains for the first time all 64 inland fish families as well as the species of the 9 recognized subfamilies in the Characidae, with the exception of Serrasalminae, which is a good family, the Serrasalmidae, with the Piranhas and Pacus, also the subfamily Briconinae has family status, Briconidae, and the same applies to the subfamily Iguanodectinae, which is correct Iguanodectidae.
A correction should also be done for the family Alestidae, which is restricted to Africa, instead for this family text the correct topic should read Chalcidae, for the species Chalceus macrolepidotus. But for the family Loricariidae, the 3 subfamilies represented in Suriname are correctly identified, the Loricariinae, Hypostominae and the Hypoptopomatinae.
The book compromises 487 inland species, which is 6 more than the previous record from Suriname, and it is very well explained in the introduction, which again is really worth reading, very well researched and written. Also the Origins of the Surinamese freshwater fish fauna in chapter two is an excellent account, well researched with a geological time-table pertaining to the fish evolution in the neo-tropics and Suriname.
The faunal composition in chapter three is again very well written with the 487 species occurrences in the 7 river systems, Corantjin River, Nickerie River, Coppename River Saramacca River, Suriname River, Comme wijne
River, Maronwijne River (also known as Maroni), and those species which have as type locality just ‘Suriname’. Also details with remarks which are brackish water species and those entering from the Atlantic.
Chapter four is about the ecology, climate and the tropical freshwater ecosystems, really worth reading carefully, it includes an extensive account of white-water, black-water and clearwater habitats. There is great photography of water colours, habitats above and below water, and fishes in nature, in their biotope, with or without aquatic vegetation. There are photos of estuaries, rainforest creeks, and again above and below water pictures, and the
main waterfalls and rapids. It also shows some of its wetlands and plains, as well as the Brokopondo reservoir with its habitat degradation. The exotic species are shown, where the tilapine Oreochromis mossambicus dominates, as elsewhere around the globe.
Chapter eight has an account of ‘Dangerous Fishes’, which I cannot – at all – agree to, nor to the text or the photos shown. For instance there is a injury shown at a man’s foot from a Serrasalmus rhombeus, but it happened in a recreation park (in captivity), which is not unusual, those fishes do not belong there. In nature no piranha ever has attacked a human these are only fairy tales, it belongs to sensationalism. The one fish which is also shown and one should be aware of, is the electric eel, and the sting rays. The latter will never harm anyone, if
one walks carefully in rivers or lakes.

I found the colour comparison of Surinamese fishes in chapter nine with very nice photos an excellent account as well, this is rarely done and one should more often publish the different colour pattern in different populations.
The chapter 10 explains the external anatomy of fishes, and a key is given in chapter 11 for all families and subfamilies.
With chapter 12 starts the main part of this thick book, from page 136 to page 807, with a detail account of each one of the 487 species. And most species are shown in live photography, naturally of several species only preserved specimens could be shown, and of a few only drawings (mainly the Corydoras species). Some of the photos unfortunately are from the Book Atlas des Poissons d’ Eau Douce de Guyane (in which I contributed together with the late Jacques Géry), and show specimens from different locations, not Suriname populations
(or species). A good example is the Anostomus ternetzi from Suriname. It is very different from Le Bail’s photo on page 180, and I believe the Suriname species is an undescribed one, and not ternetzi. Hemigrammus unilineatus is also a Le Bail photo from the Atlas (as H. unilineatus cayennsis), and for sure there is a different species of population in Suriname. Also other photos from Le Bail and the Atlas, are miss-identified or not populations or species from Suriname. And under some photo is written ‘live’ although only preserved specimens
are shown (i.e. page 277, 295, top, 299, bottom, 349, bottom, 2 pictures on 345, etc.). I think this could have been avoide. But all in all this is a magnificent and very unique book, and any scholar, ichthyologist, taxonomist, nature as well as aquatic habitat lover of freshwaters, should have it. Probably never again will such a magnum work be done.
Congratulations Jan H. A. Mol.
Heiko Bleher

PLANQUETTE, P., KEITH, P. & LE BAIL, P.-Y. 1996. Atlas des poissons d’eau douce de Guyane. Tome 1. Service du Patrimoine Naturel, Institut d’Ecologie et la Gestione de la Biodiversité, MNHN, Paris Cedex, 429pp.

OLIVEIRA, C. et al. 2011. Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling. BMC evolutionary biology, 11: 275. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-275 reference page

Stefano Valdesalici and Wolfgang Eberl

aqua International Journal of Ichthyology, pp. 110-119, Volume 21 issue 3, 15 July 2015

Abstract

PDF (319 KB)

REFERENCES

AMIET, J. L. 1987. Faune du Cameroun. Vol. 2. Le genre Aphyosemion Myers (Pisces: Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Sciences Naturelles, Compiègne. 262 pp.
COLLIER, G. E. 2007. The genus Aphyosemion: Taxonomic history and molecular phylogeny. Journal of the American Killifish Association, 39: 147-168.
HOEDEMAN, J. 1958. The frontal scalation pattern in some groups of toothcarps (Pisces: Cyprinodontiformes). Bulletin of Aquatic Biology, 1 (3): 23-28.
HUBER, J. H. 1980. Rapport sur la deuxième Expédition au Gabon (août 79). Etude des Cyprinodontidés récoltés. Revue française d’Aquariologie Herpétologie, 7 (2): 37-42.
HUBER, J. H. 2000. Killi-Data 2000. Updated checklist of taxonomic names, collecting localities, and bibliographic references of oviparous Cyprinodont fishes (Cyprinodontiformes). Société Française d’Ichtyologie, Paris. 538 pp.
HUBER, J. H.2013. Reappraisal of the phylogeny of the african genus Aphyosemion (Cyprinodontiformes) focused on external characters, in line with molecular data,
with new and redefined subgenera. Killi-Data Series 2013: 4-20.
HUBER, J. H. & RADDA, A.C. 1979. Die Rivulinae des südlichen Kongo (Brazzaville). 2. Der Aphyosemion lujae-Komplex. Aquaria 26: 175-185.
MURPHY, W. J. & COLLIER, G. E. 1999. Phylogenetic relationships of African killifishes in the genera Aphyosemion and Fundulopanchax inferred from mitochondrial
DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 11: 351-360.
PELLEGRIN, J. 1931. Poissons de la Louessé (Kouilou) recueillis par M. A. Baudon. Description d’une Variété nouvelle. Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France 56:
219-221.
SCHEEL, J. J. 1968. Rivulins of the Old Word. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publication, Neptune City. 480 pp.
VALDESALICI, S. 2010. Nothobranchius boklundi (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae): a new annual killifish with two male colour morphs from the Luangwa River basin, Zambia. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 16 (2): 51-60.
WILDEKAMP, R. H. 1982. Prachtkärpflinge. Alfred Kernen Verlag, ISBN 3-87401-045-7. 208 pp.
WILDEKAMP, R. H. 1993. A World of Killies: Atlas of the Oviparous Cyprinodontiform Fishes of the World. Volume I. American Killifish Association, Inc., Mishawaka, Indiana. 312 pp.

Tyson R. Roberts

aqua International Journal of Ichthyology, pp. 110-119, Volume 21 issue 3, 15 July 2015

Abstract

PDF (88 KB)

REFERENCES

BREDER, C. M. 1946. An analysis of the deceptive resemblance of fishes to plant parts, with critical remarks on protective coloration, mimicry and adaptation. Bulletin of the Bingham Oceanographic Collection 10 (2): 1-49.
CATARINO, M. F. & ZUANON, J. 2010. Feeding ecology of the leaf fish Monocirrhus polyacanthus (Perciformes: Polycentridae) in a terra firme stream in the Brazilian Amazon. Neotropical Ichthyology 8 (1): 183-186.
EIGENMANN, C. H. & ALLEN, W. R. 1921. A leaf mimicking fish. Biological Bulletin 41 (5): 301-305.
FOWLER, H. W. 1954. Os peixes de água doce do Brasil. Vol. 2. Arquivos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 9: i-ix+1-400.
FRIEL, J. P. 1992. A phylogenetic revision of Amaralia, a genus of oophagous banjo catfishes. Abstracts, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 1992, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, p. 104.
FRIEL, J. P. 1994. A phylogenetic study of the neotropical banjo catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Aspredinidae) Ph.D.thesis, Duke University, Durham, NC, 256 pp.
KNER, R. 1855. Ichthyologische Beiträge [Subtitles I-III]. Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe 17: 92-162, pls. 1-6.
MCKAYE, K. R. 1981. Field observation on death feigning: a unique hunting behavior by the predatory cichlid, Haplochromis livingstonii, of Lake Malawi. Environmental Biology of Fishes 6: 361-365.
PIRES, T. H. S., CAMPOS, D. F., RÖPKE, C. P., SODRÉ, J., AMADIO, S. & ZUANON, J. 2014. Ecology and life-history of Mesonauta festivus: biological traits of a broad ranged and abundant neotropical cichlid. Environmental Biology of Fishes DOI 10.1007/s10641-014-0314-z
RANDALL, J. E. 2005. A review of mimicry in marine fishes. Zoological Studies 44 (3): 299-328.
RANDALL, J. E. & RANDALL, H. A. 1960. Examples of Mimicry and Protective Resemblance in Tropical Marine Fishes. Bulletin of Marine Science 10 (4): 444-480.
ROBERTS, T. R. & KULLANDER, S. O. 1994. Endemic cichlid fishes of the Fwa River, Zaire: systematics and ecology. Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwaters 5 (2): 97-154
ZAMPROGNO, C. & ANDRADE, G. V. 1986. Camuflagem em jovens de pacu, Myleus sp. (Characiformes, Myleinae). Revista Brasileira de Biologia 46 (2): 415-418
ZUANON, J., CARVALHO, N. & SAZIMA, I. 2006. A chamaeleon characin: the plant-clinging and colour-changing Ammocryptocharax elegans (Characidiinae: Crenuchidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 17 (3): 225-232, pl. 1.

Volume 21, Issue 2 – 15 April 2015
New Scientific pubblication – started delivery on April 15, 2015

Full Text | PDF (1,3 MB)

Keith C. Martin and Susan Barclay: Distribution and status of Banded Rainbowfish Melanotaenia trifasciata (Melanotaeniidae) populations in north-eastern Queensland, pp. 54-65

Abstract

The Banded Rainbowfish Melanotaenia trifasciata has a wide but patchy distribution across northern Australia. It reaches its southern range limit in north-eastern Queensland, where it has been historically recorded from a number of locations from the Normanby River in the north, to the Hull River in the south. In this study, all recorded localities of the species in the region were re-surveyed to determine the current extent and status of populations in the region. Melanotaenia trifasciata populations were confirmed at 15 sites within four drainage systems including two small streams draining the Mount Stuckey massif, the McIvor-Morgan Rivers system, streams of the Wyalla Plain and Cooper Creek in the Cape Tribulation area. The population in the McIvor-Morgan system appears to be extensive, but populations in the other three drainage areas, especially Cooper Creek are extremely limited and likely vulnerable to environmental change. Records from sites where M. trifasciata had been previously recorded, but could not be confirmed are most likely attributable to either misidentifications of similar species (particularly M. splendida and M. utcheensis), failed translocations or historical extinctions. There is some evidence that the species previously had a wider distribution in the region. Melanotaenia trifasciata populations in north-eastern Queensland are particularly fragmented and habitat specific. All populations occur in coastal lowland situations and prefer clear, heavily shaded, perennially flowing streams. None of the populations occur within currently protected areas.

Full Text | PDF (226 KB)

Melanotaenia trifasciata (adult males) from north-eastern Queensland: a) stream near Mount Stuckey; b) McIvor River; c) Wyalla Plain (Russell Creek); and d) Cooper Creek. Photos by K. C. Martin.

Gerald R. Allen, Renny K. Hadiaty, Peter J. Unmack and Mark V. Erdmann: Rainbowfishes (Melanotaenia: Melanotaeniidae) of the Aru Islands, Indonesia with descriptions of five new species and redescription of M. patoti Weber and M. senckenbergianus Weber, pp. 66-108

Abstract

The Aru Archipelago is a relict of the former land bridge connecting Australia and New Guinea and its freshwater Melanotaenia strongly reflect this past connection. Sea level changes over the past 2-3 million years have apparently provided sufficient isolation for the radiation of a minispecies flock consisting of at least seven species. Melanotaenia patoti and M. senckenbergianus were described from the islands by Weber in the early 1900s, but subsequently considered as junior synonyms of the New Guinea mainland species M. rubrostriata and M. goldiei respectively. Recent collections by the authors facilitated a reassessment of their status based on morphological and genetic investigations, consequently both are here recognised as valid and redescriptions are provided. In addition, the current study reveals the existence of five new taxa described herein. M. albimarginata n. sp. is described from 36 specimens,
35.3-90.9 mm SL, collected at Kobroor Island. It is allied to the “Australis” group of species of Australia and southern New Guinea. It differs from its closest Aru relatives, M. patoti and M. aruensis, on the basis of colour pattern, caudal peduncle depth, lateral scale counts and average number of cheek scales. Melanotaenia aruensis n. sp. is described from 19 specimens, 38.5-76.4 mm SL from Trangan and Kobroor islands. It is superficially similar to M. albimarginata and M. patoti, but exhibits marked genetic separation, unique colour pattern features, and several slight morphological differences. Melanotaenia kolaensis, M. picta, and M. wokamensis n. spp. are described from 95 (17.9-78.8 mm SL), 51 (17.2-93.2 mm SL), and 156 (14.1-75.6 mm SL) specimens respectively, collected at Kola, Kobroor, and Wokam islands. They comprise a close-knit group allied to the “Goldiei” group (along with M. senckenbergianus), but are differentiated on the basis of live colour patterns and various genetic, morphometric, and meristic features.

Full Text | PDF (968)KB

MSNG 8133, Pimelodella gracilis (Valenciennes 1835), 87.19 mm SL, Argentina, Tucumán.

INDIAN OCEAN REEF GUIDE
Maldives-Sri Lanka-Thailand-South Africa-Mauritius-
Madagascar-East Africa-Seychelles.
By H. Debelius
Published by ConchBooks,
Harxheim, Germany, 2013. 321pp. Price 39.80€
ISBN 978-3-939767-52-7

This book deals with all range of marine animals to be found in the Indian Ocean, molluscs, corals, crustaceans, other marine invertebrates, cartilaginous fish, bony fish, reptiles, and mammals . It covers the Indian Ocean and its rim, from the eastern coast of Africa, to Sri Lanka, Thailand and the western coast of Sumatra. Differently from other reef guides, which tend to be limited in their scope, or overly technical, this book is well balanced. The marine animals dealt with are referred both by their common and scientific names to aid those wanting to do further research. This is a comprehensive publication regarding the animal groups of this part of the world. In stating this, I must admit my personal interest. The reviewer is an enthusiastic scientist and diver who has explored the whole Indian Ocean with his camera for such a long time.
The expected users of this guide are the ichthyologists and marine biologists in general, but the whole content of the book will appeal to fish taxonomists in particular. The book is fascinating and the strength of this guide lies in its detailed and high quality colour photographs and other biological data. The foreword by the well-known systematic ichthyologist, Dr Philip Heemstra, highlights the content of this book to be of a high scientific standard. I have personally communicated with Dr. Heemstra during the identification of some fish species collected from the Arabian Sea coast of Oman; he is a world-renowned enthusiastic scientist.
It has been separated into four main sections, introduction, species accounts, bibliography and indices of scientific and common names. An additional small section contains fish famous stories like the Indian Ocean largest fish, the sharks significant for the Maldives, the Latimeria and some other interesting stories. In the Introduction, the author briefly describes the Indian Ocean region and specifically their coral reefs. He also considers the common threats to this part of the ocean, which include overfishing, dynamite or cyanide fishing, oil spills, bleaching of corals and the recent global rise in temperature.
The bulk of the book is devoted to species accounts that aim to illustrate, identify, describe in illustrations and outline the distribution and biology of each species. It starts with an introduction to each major taxonomic group and provide colour images of each species presented. For some species, more than one picture is given to depict geographical variation as they have been sighted in different localities, which is one of the strong points of the book. The book lists over 900 species of marine organisms, belonging to ten marine animal groups: cnidarians (21 families), flatworms (1 family), molluscs (30 families), crustaceans (18 families), echinoderms (11 families), cartilaginous fishes (15 families), bony fishes (63 families), reptiles (3 families), and mammals (2 families). The author cast his attention evenly as far as possible on the animal groups dealt with in this book. An understanding of the distribution and biology of the species as components of the distinct ecosystems across the Indian Ocean as described in the species accounts section, is an obvious prerequisite for any ecological management plan for these areas. The famous fish stories in this book provide an educational reading, constituting a variety of small accounts on the conservation and behaviour of several marine organisms that have been attracting man´s attention over the centuries. I personally particularly enjoyed the texts on Latimeria and on the Indian Ocean largest fishes. Finally, the bibliography section is unexpectedly short and contains some of the main references treating the different marine animal groups covered by the book. As a fish taxonomist that has worked in Oman, I found this book most helpful in the process of fish identifications. The author unfortunately did not included IUCN criteria for conservation status in the species accounts, which in my opinion is an important piece of information. Also, a good addition to an eventual new edition of this guide would be to include identification keys. The book has an attractiveness and simplicity of format that has ensured its position as a top-selling fish identification guide. It is a very useful book and should be of great help to those interested in marine fish species, from amateurs to professionals enjoying the fascination of Indian Ocean diversity. The arrangement of the book is well suited to both laboratory and field work, although I would suggest a waterproof paper for the next edition or a special edition to further enhance its utility. The layout and quality of the publication live up to the high standard we have come to expect from the publisher and its relatively low price ensures that readers will find the book to be excellent value for money.
Laith A. Jawad
4, Tin Turn place, Flat Bush, Manukau,
Auckland, New Zealand
Email: laith_jawad@hotmail.com

Abstract

PDF (31 KB)

Abstract

PDF (32 KB)

Volume 22, Issue 1 – 15 January 2015
New Scientific publication – started delivery on July 15, 2015

Full Text | PDF (1,6 MB)

Gerald R. Allen, Peter J. Unmack and Renny K. Hadiaty: The Goldiei group of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from the Birds Neck Region of New Guinea (Papua and West Papua Provinces, Indonesia) with descriptions of five new species and recognition of Melanotaenia dumasi Weber, pp. 1-32

Abstract
Genetic investigations reveal the closely-related “Goldiei” group of melanotaeniids from the Birds Neck region of western New Guinea contains at least six species, including five new taxa, which are described herein. Members of this group share a wide range of morphological and meristic features and lack notable differences, although discrepancies in modal or average values are sometimes useful. Due to their great similarity, the species in this group are most reliably distinguished on the basis of genetic differences and their allopatric geographic distributions. Three of the new species, including M. bowmani, M. grunwaldi, and M. mamahensis, represent the first descriptions of this southern New Guinea lineage from northern drainages. The ancestral species possibly colonised northward via the Omba-Woromi corridor, a low elevation (to 160 m) area linking the respective southern and northern drainages. The remaining three species, including the previously described M. dumasi Weber (previously considered a synonym of M. goldiei) from the Yamur Lake area and two new taxa, M. etnaensis and M. lacunosa from the vicinity of Etna Bay, inhabit southern drainages.

PDF (740 KB)

Aquarium photographs of Melanotaenia etnaensis, adult male, (upper), approximately 100 mm SL and female, approximately 65 mm SL, Ambalanga River, Etna Bay, West Papua Province, Indonesia. Photos by G. R. Allen.

David C. Shen and Eugenie Clark: Territorial and reproductive behavior of the three Caribbean Razorfishes of the Genus Xyrichtys (Labridae) at Bonaire, pp. 33-59

Abstract
We conducted field studies of the three known species of Caribbean razorfishes of the genus Xyrichtys at four study sites in Bonaire during 1984, 1985, 1986, and 2013. At one site locally named “Red Slave,” a large colony of rosy razorfish, X. martinicensis and a small colony of green razorfish, X. splendens, were essentially the same during 1985 and 28 years later in 2013. At “Mi Cas,” all three species, X. martinicensis, X. splendens, and the pearly razorfish, X. novacula, were present both in 1984 and 29 years later in 2013. “Triple Whammy” in the Kralendijk harbor contained all three species in the mid-eighties, but in 2013 their presence could not be observed because diving in the harbor was prohibited. However, just south of the harbor at “Double Whammy,” the site that was only studied in 2013, did contain a small colony of X. martinicensis and one harem of X. splendens. All three species are antagonistic interspecifically and intraspecifically, defend their own territories, and have a pecking order based roughly on size. We mapped out colonies from individual territory borders to harem borders to colony borders. We observed their use of “dive sites,” spots in their sandy habitat within their own territory into which they would dive when in danger or for the night. Each fish had two or more of these “dive sites,” which they maintained. We observed 155, 57, and 94 spawnings of X. martinicensis, X. splendens, and X. novacula, respectively. Spawnings occurred in the late afternoon before sunset. There was some egg cannibalism among X. martinicensis and X. splendens, but not with X. novacula. We syringed eggs for lab observation and timed their hatching. Feeding behavior of each species as well as observed interactions with other species are discussed.

PDF (683 KB)

Xyrichtys novacula male with black and white age spots. Photo by D. C. Shen.

Volume 22, Issue 2 – 18 April 2016
New Scientific publication – started delivery on April 18, 2016

Full Text | PDF (2,1 MB)

Stefano Valdesalici and Wolfgang Eberl: Aphyosemion bitteri (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae), a new killifish species from the northern Massif du Chaillu, Gabon, pp. 61-68

Abstract
A new Aphyosemion species is described from Gabon, based on eight specimens collected in a small stream within the hydrographic system of the Ikoy River on the northwestern edge of the Massif du Chaillu. Aphyosemion bitteri, new species, can be distinguished from all species of the genus by its maze-like red pattern on the caudal fin. It belongs to the A. grelli species group (Valdesalici & Eberl 2014) by sharing with A. grelli and A. mengilai the yellow basal two thirds and the greyish marginal third on the unpaired fins of females, but it can be easily distinguished from these two species by differing male coloration and meristics.

PDF (617 KB)

Aphyosemion bitteri, paratype, MSNG 58338, female, 27.3 mm SL. Gabon, Province de la Ngounié, Ikoy River system. Photo by W. Grell.

Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen, Arsênio Caldeira Baptista Junior and Leendert van de Berg: Anablepsoides hoetmeri, a new rivulid (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from Rio Purus drainage, western Amazon basin, Brazil, pp. 69-78

Abstract
Anablepsoides hoetmeri, new species, is described from middle rio Acre, a tributary of the rio Purus, Amazon drainage, Brazil. It is the first species of Anablepsoides described from that basin and the second species belonging to the Anablepsoides limoncochae species group described from Brazil. The remaining species belonging to the A. limoncochae group are mainly found in Peru, but also occur in Colombia and Ecuador. Anablepsoides hoetmeri n. sp. differs other members of the A. limoncochae group by having two longitudinal rows of 18-20 minute contact organs per row on the sides of the body, and by the coloration patterns of both males and females.

PDF (3676 KB)

Anablepsoides hoetmeri, ZUEC 12540, holotype, male, 47.8 mm SL. Photo by J. W. Hoetmer.

Dalton Tavares Bressane Nielsen, Pedro Alvaro Barbosa Aguiar Neves, Eric Venturini Ywamoto and Michel de Aguiar Passos: Melanorivulus polychromus, a new species of killifish from the rio São José dos Dourados drainage, middle rio Paraná basin, southwestern Brazil, with a redescription of Melanorivulus apiamici (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), pp. 79-88

Abstract
A new species of Melanorivulus is described from the middle rio Paraná basin, São Paulo state, Brazil. Melanorivulus polychromus, new species, is found in a tributary of the left bank of the rio Paraná basin, the rio São José dos Dourados. It differs from all congeners by the combination of a metallic green to light green ground colour in males, with 6-8 oblique red bars forming chevronlike rows, the chevron tips along the midline of the body pointing toward the head, and irregular narrow red lines and incomplete red bars along the lower half of the body. Melanorivulus apiamici, also endemic from the middle rio Paraná basin, is redescribed.

PDF (439 KB)

Melanorivulus polychromus, MZUSP 119054, holotype, male, 26.1 mm SL. Photo by P. A. Barbosa Aguiar Neves.

Flávio. C. T. Lima and Nelson Flausino Junior: Hyphessobrycon vanzolinii, a new species from rio Tapajós, Amazon basin, Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae), pp. 89-95

Abstract
Hyphessobrycon vanzolinii, new species, is described from the rio Tapajós, Amazon basin, Pará state, Brazil. The new species can be diagnosed from all its congeners by its unique colour pattern, consisting of a longitudinal, broad, diffuse dark midlateral stripe extending from the snout through the orbit to the base of the middle caudal fin rays, dark pigmentation on the last unbranched ray and first to second branched rays of the dorsal fin, a distal dark stripe along the margin of the anal fin, and the presence of dark pigmentation along the distal margin of the caudal fin. Remarks on the putative relationships of the new species, as well as about the threat posed by a large dam to be build exactly at the only site from where Hyphessobrycon vanzolinii is so far known, are presented.

PDF (363 KB)

Hyphessobrycon vanzolinii, holotype, MZUSP 119105, 32.4 mm SL; Brazil, Pará, rio Tapajós, near São Luís. Photo by G. N. Salvador.

Moema beucheyi (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), a new annual killifish from the Río Madeira basin, Bolivian Amazon

Melanorivulus imperatrizensis, a new species of killifish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the rio Tocantins basin, Brazil

Alburnoides tabarestanensis, a new species of riffle minnow from the southern Caspian Sea basin in Iran (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae)

Spectrolebias bellidoi a new annual fish…

Austrolebias accorsii a new annual fish…

Volume 21, Issue 4 – 15 October 2015

Volume 21, Issue 3 – 15 July 2015

Book review – The Freshwater fishes of Suriname

21(4)-160

21(4)-160

Aphyosemion jeanhuberi, a new killifish species of the Aphyosemion ogoense species group (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae), with remarks on the identity of Aphyosemion louessense (Pellegrin, 931)

Mimicry of a Bean Seed by the Amazonian Aspredinid Catfish Amaralia hypsiura (Kner 855)

Volume 21, Issue 2 – 15 April 2015

Book review – Indian Ocean Reef Guide

Spectrolebias bellidoi a new annual fish…

Austrolebias accorsii a new annual fish…

21(4)-160

21(4)-160

Volume 22, Issue 1 – 15 January 2016

Volume 22, Issue 2 – 18 April 2016