Four new freshwater gobies of the genus Rhinogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Vietnam

Four new freshwater gobies of the genus Rhinogobius Gill, were collected from the river running into the Gulf of Tonkin in northern Vietnam. They are Rhinogobius boa new species, Rhinogobius variolatus new species, Rhinogobius virgigena new species and Rhinogobius sulcatus new species. These four new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by a combination of characters such as the meristic features, shape of body, shape of first dorsal fin and coloration pattern.     

A new species of Didogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Adriatic Sea

Didogobius schlieweni sp. nov. is described from a single specimen collected among pebbles in shallow water at Unije island, near Cres, in the northern Adriatic Sea. The holotype has vivid dark and pale patterning, and is assigned to Didogobius on the basis of head neuromast patterns and meristic features. Diagnostic values of the latter are D2 I/12, A I/11, P 17, and LL 55–56. A key to species of the Chromogobius and Didogobius complex is provided.     

New species of Corcyrogobius,Thorogobius and Wheelerigobius from West Africa (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

Three new West African species of gobiid fishes are described from the Gulf of Guinea in the tropical eastern Atlantic. These are Corcyrogobius lubbocki sp. nov., Thorogobius rofeni sp. nov. and Wheelerigobius wirtzi sp. nov. Generic features are discussed. T. rofeni, known from only the holotype, was trawled on the upper continental slope, an unusually deep occurrence for a gobiid species.     

The postcranial skeleton of Proterorhinus marmoratus with remarks on the relationships of the genus Proterorhinus (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

The postcranial osteology of the Ponto-Caspian tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus is described and its relevance to the systematic position of Proterorhinus is discussed. Proterorhinus marmoratus differs significantly from the gobioids of the Ponto-Caspian and Atlantic-Mediterranean in the anterior displacement of the origin of the first dorsal fin. The first dorsal-fin pterygiophore of the tubenose goby inserts in the second interneural space between the neural spines of the second and third vertebrae. The first pterygiophore of the other gobioids inserts in the third interneural space between the neural spines of the third and fourth vertebrae. The increased number of precaudal and caudal vertebrae and the dorsal pterygiophore formula starting with 2-12 in Proterorhinus marmoratus are derived character states. This 2-12 starting sequence and a single interneural space anterior to the first dorsal-fin pterygiophore are unique for gobioids and autapomorphies of Proterorhinus. It is proposed that Proterorhinus be placed in the subfamily Gobiinae.     

On the new goby,Ctenogobius veliensis (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the South-West coast of India

Summary

Ctenogobius veliensis, a new species of gobiid fish is described from the South-West coast of India. The characters of the fish conform to those of the genus Ctenogobius Gill but differ markedly from those of other recorded species of the genus. Apart from the usual, external morphological, morphometric and metistic characters, several other features such as the cephalic-lateralis system, skeletal features and morphology of the alimentary canal are also studied and have been found to be of significance for identifying the species. The fish shows distinct sexual dimorphism in many features.     

Generic status and redescription of the Mediterranean fish Gobius liechtensteini Kolombatovic, 1891 (Teleostei: Gobioidea), and its affinities with certain American and Indo-Pacific gobies

Summary

A new monotypic genus, Corcyrogobius, is proposed for the gobiid fish, Gobius liechtensteini Kolombatovic 1891, known only from its Adriatic typelocality of Kor?ula, Yugoslavia. The species is redescribed and a lectotype designated from probable syntype material, which also includes examples of Odondebuenia balearica (Pellegrin & Fage, 1907), supposed by Kolombatovic to be adults of G. liechtensteini. The affinities of C. liechtensteini and the related genus Odondebuenia are discussed with reference to American seven-spined gobies, the Indo-Pacific Gladiogobius, and the subfamily Lioterinae, currently placed in the Eleotridae. Overall similarities between these gobies are described, their possible phylogeny outlined, and the Lioterinae transferred to the family Gobiidae.     

A revision of Vanneaugobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae), with description of a new species

The small eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean gobiid genus Vanneaugobius Brownell, 1978 (type-species: V. dollfusi Brownell, 1978) is redefined to include new skeletal and head lateral-line criteria. Provisionally, V. dollfusi is retained as distinct from V. pruvoti (Fage, 1907), the latter being now recorded from the Canary Islands, and a new species, V. canariensis, is described from the Canaries and Guinea. Originally associated with the Indo-Pacific Valenciennea and Asterropteryx, Vanneaugobius is actually synapomorphic with two other small eastern Atlantic genera, Wheelerigobius Miller, 1981, and Odondebuenia De Buen, 1930, in virtual separation of the pelvic fins and a trend for modification of upper and lower scales at the caudal fin origin. Vanneaugobius occupies an intermediate position between the two former genera in head lateral-line specialization. The genus-group shares a modal vertebral number of 28 with the north-eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean Gobius-Thorogobius complex.     

Affinities,origin and adaptive features of the Australian Desert Goby Chlamydogobius eremius (Zietz, 1896) (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

The Desert Goby Chlamydogobius eremius (Zietz, 1896) is a gobiid teleost fish endemic to the Central Australian Basin, occurring mostly in artesian springs. Generic features for Chlamydogobius Whitley are supplied with emphasis on the modified head lateral-line system and on osteology. Comparisons with other Indo-Pacific genera suggest closest affinity with Mugilogobius Smitt, within a monophyletic grouping which also includes Weberogobius Koumans, Redigobius Herre, Pseudogobius Aurich, Brachygobius Bleeker, Hemigobius Bleeker, and Pandaka Herre. The origin of Ch. eremius is considered in the light of the Tertiary and Quaternary climatic history of the Central Australian Basin. The adaptiveness of certain morphological and life-history features found in Ch. eremius, such as elongate gut, black peritoneum, short pelvic disc, and large egg-size, is also discussed in relation to present habitat.     

The catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes) of central Sumatra

The freshwater and estuarine catfishes of central Sumatra draining to the Indian Ocean and between the Rokan and Batang Hari drainages are reported on the basis of literature records, museum material, and recent collections. Eighty-two species in 10 families are recorded from central Sumatra. Hemibagrus velox and Nanobagrus stellatus are described here as new species. Akysis macronema and Clarias olivaceus are redescribed here.     

A key to Australasian and Oriental Woodiphora (Diptera: Phoridae), affinities of the genus and description of new species

The taxonomic value of the notopleural cleft in Phoridae is highlighted. A cladogram relating Gymnophora and Woodiphora to Megaselia is presented. Recognition of the genus Woodiphora is clarified, and the Old World species of Haplophleba transferred to Woodiphora. The evolution of the female abdominal sternite 9 is discussed. The tribe Megaseliini is proposed. A key to the Australasian and Oriental species of Woodiphora is provided. Twenty new species are described and two new synonyms proposed.     

Provenance and status of Galaxias smithii Regan (1905) (Teleostei: Galaxiidae)

Galaxias smithii (Regan, 1905) (a junior synonym of G. platei Steindachner) is known only from the holotype, ostensibly collected from the Falkland Islands by Sir A. Smith. No further specimens of this fish have been reported from the islands, despite a recent intensive collection trip (146 sites in November, 1999). Analysis of material and documentation associated with the holotype and its purported collector, and additional information associated with other galaxiid specimens in the Natural History Museum, London, cast doubts on the authenticity of the origin and collector of the specimen. It is therefore suggested that occurrence of G. platei in Falkland Islands freshwaters should be rejected unless and until evidence to the contrary is obtained.     

The pars jugularis and the intrarelationships of cichlid fishes (Labroidei,Teleostei)

The anatomy and morphology of the pars jugularis skull region in cichlid fishes has been used recently, and for the first time, as a crucial character to establish intrafamilial phylogenies for these African, Malagasian and Neotropical freshwater teleosts. The new phylogeny cuts across relationships postulated in previous schemes, and suggests novel and geographically disjunct intrafamilial groups. It does not, however, seem tenable.

A detailed investigation of the cichlid pars jugularis, involving many more taxa and wider outgroup comparisons than were used to formulate the new classification, is described here. Apart from clarifying certain misconceptions about the anatomy of the pars jugularis in the Cichlidae, this study shows, at least in that family, that the character is valueless as an indicator of higher level intrafamilial relationships, and is of very limited value for establishing phyletic affinities at lower levels.

Other osteological features used in the new classification were also tested on a larger scale. None of these, either, refutes the two other and recent hypotheses-one of intrarelationships amongst Neotropical cichlids and the second for the family as a whole.     

Heleobia maltzani (Westerlund, 1886) (Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloidea: Cochliopidae) from Crete and species-level diversity of Heleobia Stimpson, 1865 in Europe

Morphological characters and partial cytochrome oxidase (COI) DNA sequences were used to investigate intra- and interpopulation differences among three Cretan brackish-water populations of Heleobia maltzani snails. The morphology of male and female reproductive organs of H. maltzani did not differ within studied populations or in comparison with closely related species. In contrast, analysis of shell morphology revealed substantial variation not supported by the genetic data. Genetics results showed surprisingly low differentiation between all Cretan populations and also mainland populations of Heleobia. They also showed that H. maltzani is conspecific with four other European species of Heleobia, thus implying that there is only one species of brackish-water Heleobia in Europe. Such a low level of genotypic differentiation is unusual for typical island species and is most probably the consequence of recent colonization of Crete. Possible scenarios of such processes are discussed.     

Copepods of the genus Colobomatus (Poecilostomatoida: Philichthyidae) from fishes of the family Sillaginidae (Teleostei: Perciformes)

Six species of Colobomatus, five of which are new to science, were found in a survey of 26 species of sillaginid fishes in the Indo-west Pacific. Three of the species are closely related and occur in the head cavities of various species of their hosts. Colobomatus sillaginis West, 1983 is recorded in Sillaginodes punctata and 12 species of Sillago, from around the coast of Australia and in the Gulf of Thailand, representing many new host and locality records. Female C. asiaticus sp. nov. are described from southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf, in three species of Sillago. Female C. arabicus sp. nov. are described from two species of Sillago occurring only in the Persian Gulf. A second intrageneric grouping of three species of Colobomatus inhabits a different microhabitat: tubes of the lateral line scales. Each of these species infects several sillaginid fishes, and in contrast to members of the first species-group they are entirely allopatric with each other. In Australia, female C. fulloonae sp. nov. are described from three species of Sillago in northern waters, and female C. charleah sp. nov. are described from two species of Sillago and Sillaginodes punctata in southern waters. Female C. westi sp. nov. are described from three species of Sillago in the waters of eastern Asia (Japan, Korea and China). Only one male specimen of each of C. arabicus sp. nov., C. charleah sp. nov. and C. westi sp. nov. was found.     

The catfish genus Akysis Bleeker (Teleostei: Akysidae) in Indochina,with descriptions of six new species

Catfishes of the genus Akysis Bleeker occurring in the Mekong basin south of the Chinese border, in the Mae Nam Chao Phraya basin, in the Malay Peninsula and the basins in between are reviewed. Nine species are recognised, six of which are new: A. alfredi, A. ephippifer, A. recavus, A. similis, A. subtilis and A. varius. Two groups of species were identified: one group (the pseudobagarius group) is characterised by its members possessing a relatively elongate body, conspicuously subterminal mouths with the upper jaw strongly overhanging the lower, relatively large posterior and anterior nostrils closely located to each other and separated only by the base of the nasal barbel, and strongly-forked caudal fins. The second group (the variegatus group) is characterised by its members possessing a relatively deep body, the margins of the upper and lower jaws uniform, relatively small posterior and anterior nostrils located further apart with a distance between the base of the nasal barbel and anterior nostril, and emarginate or truncate caudal fins. The pseudobagarius group contains the following species: A. alfredi, A. Baramensis, A. fuscus, A. leucorhynchus, A. macronema, A. pseudobagarius, A. sinensis, A. similis, and A. subtilis. All other species of Akysis belong to the variegatus group. A key to the Indochinese Akysis is provided.     

Distribution and phylogeny of the genus Byblis Boeck (Ampeliscidae): preliminary statement

Because of advances in knowledge about amphipods, it is possible to pursue new approaches to explain the causes and the history of species radiation and diversity of this group. The family Ampeliscidae (> 230 spp.) would appear to offer an excellent candidate for study of the relationships between phenetics, phylogeny, and biogeographical distribution. In this study, using available data on the genus Byblis (56 spp.), we present phenetic and phylogenetic analyses to identify ecological types, biogeographical distributions and identify the different radiations of this genus. The genus Byblis has a world-wide distribution, colonizes a variety of soft sediments (though it is found preferentially in muddy biotopes), lives between 0 and 6000 m depth, but especially colonizes the continental slope between 200 and 2000 m depth. The genus Byblis shows some well discriminated biogeographical groups, e.g. of Australian, Antarctic and Indian species, suggesting that local radiation occurred from a common ancestor with a moderate degree of linkage. In contrast, several separate radiations seem to have occurred in other oceans.     

The systematics of the dusky striped squirrel,Funambulus sublineatus (Waterhouse, 1838) (Rodentia: Sciuridae) and its relationships to Layard's squirrel,Funambulus layardi Blyth, 1849

The systematics of the dusky striped squirrel, Funambulus sublineatus (Waterhouse, 1838 Waterhouse, GR. 1838. On a new species of squirrel … Sciurus sublineatus. Proc Zool Soc Lond. (part VI), : 19–20.  [Google Scholar]) are reassessed against new evidence following a revision of its genus, Funambulus Lesson, 1835 Lesson, RP. 1835. Illustrations De Zoologie, ou Recueil De Figures D'animaux peintes d'aprés nature, Paris: Arthur Bertrand.  [Google Scholar]. Mitochondrial DNA suggests that the Sri Lankan subspecies of F. sublineatus is the sister taxon of Funambulus layardi Blyth, 1849 Blyth, E. 1849. Note on the Sciuri inhabiting Ceylon and those of the Tenasserim provinces. J Asiatic Soc (Bengal), 18(1): 600–603.  [Google Scholar], despite its phenotypic similarity to the nominate species. Morphological and mtDNA evidence is presented for these species plus additional mtDNA data from Funambulus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1766 Linnaeus, C. 1766. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, 12th, Holmiae: Laurentii Salvii.  [Google Scholar]) and Funambulus pennantii Wroughton, 1905 Wroughton, RC. 1905. The common striped palm squirrel. J Bombay Nat Hist Soc, 16: 406–413.  [Google Scholar]. Morphometric data indicate that the two taxa conventionally considered subspecies of F. sublineatus are sufficiently distinct for them to be ranked separately, resulting in two further endemic mammal species in India and Sri Lanka and an increase in Funambulus diversity. The name of the Sri Lankan species changes to Funambulus obscurus (Pelzeln and Kohl 1886 Pelzeln, Av and Kohl, FF. 1886. Ueber eine Sendung von Saugethieren und Vogeln aus Ceylon. Verhandel zool bot Ges Wien, 35: 525–528.  [Google Scholar]). Whether the mtDNA phylogeny is a true reflection of F. obscurus and F. layardi remains unresolved pending further data.