Discovery of a Distinctive Spotted Color Pattern in the Cuskeel Neobythites unicolor (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) Based on Underwater-Vehicle Dives, with New Records from the Southern and Eastern Caribbean

Uiblein, Franz; Nielsen, Jørgen G.; Baldwin, Carole C.; Quattrini, Andrea M.; Robertson, D. Ross

doi:10.1643/ci-18-148

Cited by 2 publications

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References 22 publications

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“…from NE Australia that had been collected during the same research cruise as the specimens examined in this study, the pigmentation patterns were almost completely lost. Similar effects of long-term freezing on pigmentation loss have been observed in the ophidiid Neobythites unicolor Nielsen & Retzer, 1994(Uiblein et al 2019. The single type of U. gubal n. sp.-as well as the U. moluccensis specimen which had been collected with it-do not show any remains of dark pigmentation which may be due to unknown post-collection and/or fixation treatements or possibly (also) the result of the long preservation period since their collection in 1928.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…The single type of U. gubal n. sp.-as well as the U. moluccensis specimen which had been collected with it-do not show any remains of dark pigmentation which may be due to unknown post-collection and/or fixation treatements or possibly (also) the result of the long preservation period since their collection in 1928. To better understand the various effects of catching, handling, storage, fixation and preservation on pigmentation loss in fishes, the conditions of collection and post-collection treatment would need to be known in detail for each preserved scientific specimen (Uiblein et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with a redescription of colour patterns in U. margarethae

Uiblein

Gledhill

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et al. 2019

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For the goatfish genus Upeneus Cuvier 1829 (Mullidae), a new taxonomic species group called the “margarethae group” is established which can be distinguished from the six species of the most similar “tragula group” by a combination of the following characteristics: absence of dark pigmentation in the area of the first dorsal-fin tip, 21–25 total gill rakers and 28–30 lateral-line scales. Initially, three recently-described species have been included in the margarethae group: Upeneus margarethae Uiblein & Heemstra, 2010, known from the Indian Ocean including the Red Sea and from the Arafura Sea (W Pacific), U. mouthami Randall & Kulbicki, 2006, from New Caledonia and Vanuatu (W Pacific), and U. randalli Uiblein & Heemstra, 2011, from the Arabian/Persian Gulf and the inner Gulf of Oman (NW Indian Ocean). The present taxonomic review of the margarethae group analyses a large data set of 41 morphometric, 10 meristic and many colour characters obtained from 279 preserved goatfish specimens and 166 fresh-colour photos (plus a fresh-colour drawing). For the nominal species of the group, U. margarethae, a redescription of the colour patterns is provided and new records for Myanmar, Andaman Sea (NE Indian Ocean) and the Gulf of Carpentaria, N Australia (W Pacific), are reported. Three new species are described: U. caudofasciatus n. sp. from the area of the Great Barrier Reef to Torres Strait off NE Australia (Coral Sea, W Pacific), U. gubal n. sp. from the S Gulf of Suez (Northern Red Sea), and U. heterospinus n. sp. from S Indonesia to Singapore, the Gulf of Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, China, Taiwan and Japan (W Pacific). A comprehensive alpha-taxonomic approach is adopted, considering population differences as well as intraspecific size-related variation in morphology and colour patterns by splitting the data set into two size classes, adults (≥ 65 mm SL) and smaller subadults. Inter- and intraspecific comparisons include statistical analyses for species and population with sufficiently large samples sizes (n ≥ 20). Colour-pattern characterization and analysis are based on photos of recently collected and deceased fish (partly associated with voucher specimens), photos obtained from active or resting fishes in situ or in a tank, and inspection of pigmentation patterns retained in preserved specimens. Species differences are elaborated under consideration of distribution patterns and the characteristics found in the closest-most population of widely distributed species such as U. margarethae, resulting in clear and consistent distinction among the six species in single or in a combination of several characteristics. Comparisons among size classes revealed species-specific patterns in morphometric, meristic and colour changes with increasing size. One species, U. heterospinus n. sp., has seven or eight spines in the dorsal fin which occur in balanced ratio across populations. This is a unique characteristic for Upeneus species which usually have either seven or eight dorsal-fin spines, respectively. The best distinction of Upeneus heterospinus n. sp. from all other congeners is reached by combined examination of dorsal-fin spines with several other characters such as barbel colour, presence of a mid-lateral body stripe, pigmentation patterns (partly retained also in preserved fish), gill-raker and pectoral-fin ray numbers, and body-shape variables. The high degree of overall morphological differentation among the three most common species U. caudofasciatus n. sp., U. heterospinus n. sp. and U. margarethae, as revealed by the statistical comparisons, strongly contrasts with a still signficant, but much lower degree of differentiation among populations. The diagnostic characteristics of the margarethae group are updated and the importance to use the results of this taxonomic review in ongoing fisheries-related and ecological research is emphasized. Requirements for future taxonomic research featuring the stunning diversity of the goatfish genus Upeneus are also discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with a redescription of colour patterns in U. margarethae

Uiblein

Gledhill

Павлов

et al. 2019

Zootaxa

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1,319

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Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups

UIBLEIN,

NIELSEN

2023

Zootaxa

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Five new West Pacific species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae) from the lower shelf and upper slope of the Solomon Sea, off Okinawa, Japan, and off Fiji are described. The descriptions are based on nine specimens from three fish collections and unvouchered fresh colour photographs showing three specimens taken shortly after being caught. The new species all bear at least one ocellus on the dorsal fin, a conspicuous colour pattern consisting of a dark spot surrounded by a contrasting white or pale ring. Fifteen ocellus-bearing congeners are rather similar with at least one of the new species, requiring detailed comparisons based on a large set of morphometric, meristic, colour and otolith-shape data from over 300 specimens. To facilitate the comparisons among the 20 Neobythites species in total and the preparation of identification keys, three new taxonomic species groups, the australiensis, kenyaensis and longiventralis groups, are established. Also, the steatiticus species group which had been previously established, is slightly updated. A key for identification of each of these four groups is prepared. The most important characters for distinction among groups are the presence and number of preopercular spines, the number and position of ocelli, and pelvic-fin length. For each of the three new groups, species accounts including new species descriptions, within-group comparisons, and identification keys are prepared. For the steatiticus group, only the description of the new species, N. pako n. sp., and an updated account of the Atlantic N. monocellatus are provided, considering previously published accounts of the other seven species in comparisons with those two species and the identification key. The results are shortly discussed, emphasizing the finding of a unique ocellus structure in N. superocellatus n. sp. (australiensis species group) and the need for taxonomic studies of the remaining 10 ocellus-bearing species of Neobythites together with additional, non-ocellus-bearing congeners.

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Discovery of a Distinctive Spotted Color Pattern in the Cuskeel Neobythites unicolor (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) Based on Underwater-Vehicle Dives, with New Records from the Southern and Eastern Caribbean

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 2 publications

References 22 publications

Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with a redescription of colour patterns in U. margarethae

Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with a redescription of colour patterns in U. margarethae

Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups

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