The shore fishes of Ascension Island

Abstract

Seventy-one species of shore fishes are recorded from Ascension in a checklist which includes notes on ecology and behaviour. The extraordinary abundance of blackfish, Melichfhys nigrr, and the aggressive nature of moray eels, Lycodontis moringa, towards man are briefly mentioned. The number of species recorded is low for a tropical island and seems to reflect Ascension's geographical isolation and lack of habitat diversity; 15.7% of Ascension shore fishes (excluding one fish not identified to species level) appear to be endemic to the island, with a further 17.1°/o known only from Ascension and St Helena; 30.0% are recorded only from the western and central Atlantic, while 7.1% are recorded from the eastern and central Atlantic; 30.0% are widespread Atlantic species. Two new species are described: Taenioconger camelopardalis and Helcogramma ascmsionis.

The fishes of Ascension Island, central Atlantic Ocean – new records and an annotated checklist

“…Parin & Gibbs in Quéro et al, 1990, p. 586 Cadenat & Marchal, 1963;Lubbock, 1980;Edwards & Glass, 1987a;Edwards, 1990, p. 85;Bingeman & Bingeman, 2005, p. 46. Remarks: A genetic study by Bowen et al (2006) Cadenat & Marchal, 1963;Lubbock, 1980;Edwards & Glass, 1987a;Edwards, 1990, p. 85;Bingeman & Bingeman, 2005, p. 45.…”

“…Trachinocephalus myops (Forster in Bloch & Schneider, 1801 Snakefish References: Cadenat & Marchal, 1963;Lubbock, 1980;Edwards & Glass, 1987a;Edwards, 1990, p. 73;Sulak in Quéro et al, 1990, pp. 369 -370;Bingeman & Bingeman, 2005, p. Cadenat & Marchal, 1963;Lubbock, 1980;Pietsch & Grobecker, 1987.…”

“…Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758) Diamond lizardfish References: Lubbock, 1980;Edwards & Glass, 1987a;Edwards, 1990, p. 73;Bingeman & Bingeman, 2005, p. 32. Trachinocephalus myops (Forster in Bloch & Schneider, 1801 Snakefish References: Cadenat & Marchal, 1963;Lubbock, 1980;Edwards & Glass, 1987a;Edwards, 1990, p. 73;Sulak in Quéro et al, 1990, pp. 369 -370;Bingeman & Bingeman, 2005, p. Cadenat & Marchal, 1963;Lubbock, 1980;Pietsch & Grobecker, 1987.…”

“…Dwarf mullet References: Cadenat & Marchal, 1963 as Myxus curvidens; Lubbock, 1980;Bingeman & Bingeman, 2005, p. 33.…”

“…Previous fish records for Ascension Island were extracted from the literature, in particular Cadenat & Marchal (1963), Lubbock (1980), Quéro et al (1990), and Bingeman & Bingeman (2005). We have also included the records from Grattan seamount, 260 km south-east of Ascension Island, given by Trunov (2006).…”