Hagfishes (Myxinidae), a family of jawless marine pre-vertebrates, hold a unique evolutionary position, sharing a joint ancestor with the entire vertebrate lineage. They are thought to fulfil primarily the ecological niche of scavengers in the deep ocean. However, we present new footage from baited video cameras that captured images of hagfishes actively preying on other fish. Video images also revealed that hagfishes are able to choke their would-be predators with gill-clogging slime. This is the first time that predatory behaviour has been witnessed in this family, and also demonstrates the instantaneous effectiveness of hagfish slime to deter fish predators. These observations suggest that the functional adaptations and ecological role of hagfishes, past and present, might be far more diverse than previously assumed. We propose that the enduring success of this oldest extant family of fishes over 300 million years could largely be due to their unique combination of functional traits.

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Two regions of mtDNA, cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, were sequenced in nine species of Bathyraja from the Southern Ocean and New Zealand. Based on sequence divergence, the species that has been referred to as Bathyraja eatonii from the Antarctic continental shelf and slope is a species distinct from B. eatonii from the Kerguelen Plateau (the type locality) and is a new and undescribed species Bathyraja sp. (cf. eatonii). There was no sequence divergence among samples of Bathyraja sp. (dwarf) from the Ross Sea and the South Atlantic. However, for both Bathyraja sp. (cf. eatonii) and Bathyraja maccaini in the Ross Sea and the South Atlantic Ocean, the DNA sequence divergences indicate differentiation among ocean basins and within Bathyraja sp. (cf. eatonii) divergences are similar to those among recognized species of Bathyraja in the North Pacific Ocean.

BackgroundContinental slopes are among the steepest environmental gradients on earth. However, they still lack finer quantification and characterisation of their faunal diversity patterns for many parts of the world.Methodology/Principal FindingsChanges in fish community structure and diversity along a depth gradient from 50 to 1200 m were studied from replicated stereo baited remote underwater video deployments within each of seven depth zones at three locations in north-eastern New Zealand. Strong, but gradual turnover in the identities of species and community structure was observed with increasing depth. Species richness peaked in shallow depths, followed by a decrease beyond 100 m to a stable average value from 700 to 1200 m. Evenness increased to 700 m depth, followed by a decrease to 1200 m. Average taxonomic distinctness △+ response was unimodal with a peak at 300 m. The variation in taxonomic distinctness Λ+ first decreased sharply from 50 to 300 m, then increased beyond 500 m depth, indicating that species from deep samples belonged to more distant taxonomic groups than those from shallow samples. Fishes with northern distributions progressively decreased in their proportional representation with depth whereas those with widespread distributions increased.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study provides the first characterization of diversity patterns for bait-attracted fish species on continental slopes in New Zealand and is an imperative primary step towards development of explanatory and predictive ecological models, as well as being fundamental for the implementation of efficient management and conservation strategies for fishery resources.

We quantified the biological response of 2 exploited species to marine reserve (MR) protection by comparing meta-analysis results based on response ratio (RR) and Hedges' g statistics. To determine the effect of MR area and age on biological responses, a RR analysis was performed on density and size data for both species from sites inside versus outside 13 MRs. Most MRs supported a greater density of larger individuals than unprotected areas. Linear and non-linear plots of MR age and area with respect to species-specific density and size were used to quantify the trajectories of the responses. In the RR meta-analysis but not in the Hedges' g meta-analysis, MR age explained significant variation in the density and size of both species, while no effect of MR area was detected in either analysis. Comparison of the performance of RR with that of Hedges' g revealed no overall evidence of a relationship between them, probably because the RR does not include an estimate of variance, whereas the Hedges' g analysis does. While RR analysis is an appropriate alternative to Hedges' g statistic meta-analysis assessments of MR effectiveness because of its ease of use and interpretation, we recommend that future RR analyses include both an estimate of variance and a test for 'effect size'. Finally, we recommend that research be aimed at determining why different MRs produce different biological responses-that is, address why significant 'effect size' exists. KEY WORDS: Response ratio · Meta-analysis · Marine conservation · Biological response · Marine managementResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

Application of genetic data to species delimitation often builds confidence in delimitations previously hypothesized using morphological, ecological, and geographic data and frequently yields recognition of previously-undescribed cryptic diversity. However, a recent critique of genomic data-based species delimitation approaches is that they have the potential to conflate population structure with species diversity, resulting in taxonomic oversplitting. The need for an integrative approach to species delimitation, in which molecular, morphological, ecological, and geographic lines of evidence are evaluated together, is becoming increasingly apparent. Here, we integrate phylogenetic, population genetic, and coalescent analyses of genome-wide sequence data with investigation of variation in multiple morphological traits to delimit species within the Antarctic barbeled plunderfishes (Artedidraconidae: Pogonophryne). Pogonophryne currently comprises 29 valid species, most of which are distinguished solely by variation in ornamentation of the mental barbel that projects from the lower jaw, a structure previously shown to vary widely within a single species. However, our genomic and phenotypic analyses result in a dramatic reduction in the number of distinct species recognized within the clade, providing evidence to support the recognition of no more than six species. We propose to synonymize 24 of the currently recognized species with five species of Pogonophryne. We find genomic and phenotypic evidence for a new species of Pogonophryne from specimens collected in the Ross Sea. Our findings represent a rare example in which application of molecular data provides evidence of taxonomic oversplitting on the basis of morphology, clearly demonstrating the utility of an integrative species delimitation framework.

Hagfishes from New Zealand are reviewed and a phylogeny proposed using morphological and genetic data (DNA sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, COI, and the small subunit RNA, 16S). Eptatretus cryptus sp. nov. was previously confused with Eptatretus cirrhatus (Forster in Bloch & Schneider, 1801) because of their similar morphology, and is found from the Three Kings Islands to Stewart Island and in the eastern part of the Chatham Rise (at depths of 96–922 m). Eptatretus poicilus sp. nov. is endemic to the Three Kings Islands, where it is common and associated with soft sediment and deep‐sea coral‐sponge habitats (114–842 m). Neomyxine caesiovitta sp. nov. is a slender hagfish found along the east coast of the North Island south to the Chatham Rise (430–1083 m). A neotype is erected for E. cirrhatus (type locality: Breaksea Sound, Fiordland), occurring widely in New Zealand coastal, shelf, and slope waters (1–922 m), but not at the Three Kings Islands. Eptatetrus goliath Mincarone & Stewart, 2006, Neomyxine biniplicata (Richardson & Jowett, 1951), and Nemamyxine elongata Richardson, 1958 are further described using additional material. Rubicundus eos (Fernholm, 1991) is still only known from the holotype (type locality: Challenger Plateau). Genetic results showed that the New Zealand Eptatretus species form a monophyletic group within the subfamily Eptatretinae, indicating likely speciation from a single common ancestor within the area. Eptatretus poicilus sp. nov. is the sister species of E. cirrhatus, and E. cryptus sp. nov. is closely associated with the clade formed by these two species. Eptatretus goliath is most closely associated with Eptatretus minor Fernholm & Hubbs, 1981 (Gulf of Mexico), these two species basally diverging within New Zealand hagfishes. The endemic genus Neomyxine forms a well‐supported monophyletic group of as yet uncertain position within the phylogenetic tree. A key to the New Zealand hagfishes, fresh colour photographs, distribution maps, and in situ video recordings are presented. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London

Abstract. The waters of Aotearoa New Zealand span over 4.2 million km2 of the South Pacific Ocean and harbour a rich diversity of seafloor associated taxa. Due to the immensity and remoteness of the area, there are significant gaps in the availability of data to quantify and map the distribution of seafloor and demersal biodiversity, limiting effective management. In this study, we describe the development and accessibility of an online atlas of seabed biodiversity that aims to fill these gaps. Species distribution models were developed for 579 taxa across four taxonomic groups: demersal fish, reef fish, subtidal invertebrates and macroalgae. Spatial layers for taxa distribution based on habitat suitability were statistically validated and then, as a further check, evaluated by taxonomic experts to provide measures of confidence to guide the future use of these layers. Spatially explicit uncertainty (SD) layers were also developed for each taxon distribution. We generated layer-specific metadata, including statistical and expert evaluation scores, which were uploaded alongside the accompanying spatial layers to the open access database Zonodo. This database provides the most comprehensive source of information on the distribution of seafloor taxa for Aotearoa New Zealand and is thus an invaluable resource for managers, researchers and the public that will guide the management and conservation of seafloor communities.