Far from home....the first documented capture of the genus Elops (Actinopterygii, Elopidae) from the Mediterranean

The tenpounder fish genus Elops Linnaeus, 1766 was recorded for the first time from the Mediterranean in October 2019, as a single individual was caught in Maltese waters. The genus has a disparate global distribution consisting of west Atlantic and west Pacific tropical and sub-tropical areas. A single individual was caught, but not retained, during artificial lighting-assisted purse seining, and the identification of the genus was determined based upon photographs submitted by the fisherman. The mechanisms of range expansion of the genus from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean are discussed.peer-reviewe

Consumption to biomass (Q/B) ratio and estimates of Q/B-predictor parameters for Caribbean fishes

Estimates of the Q/B ratio and parameters of equations to 'predict' Q/B values for 116 fish stocks in the Gulf of Salamanca, Colombia are presented. A compilation of these estimates available for Caribbean Sea fishes (264 stocks) is also provided for comparison purposes. General trends in the value of Q/B resulting from differences in the equation and parameter values used are briefly discussed

The ecological basis of fishery yield of the Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands Insular Shelf: 1987 Assessment

A literature review was conducted to locate information on the flow of energy from primary producers to the fishery stocks of the Puerto Rican-Virgin Islands insular shelf. This report uses site-specific information to describe the major ecological subsystems, or habitats, of the region, to identify the more common species and the subsystems in which they occur, to quantify productivity and biomass, and to outline trophic relationships. Discussions on each topic and subsystem vary in substance and detail, being limited by the availability and accessibility of information. (PDF contains 189 pages) Seven distinct subsystems are described: mangrove estuary, seagrass bed, coral reef, algal plain, sand/mud bottom, shelf break, and overlying pelagic. Over 50 tables provide lists of species found in each habitat on various surveys dating back to 1956. Estimates of density, relative abundance, and productivity are provided when possible. We evaluated whether sufficient information exists to support an analysis of the energy basis of fishery production in the area, beginning with the design and development of an ecosystem model. Data needs in three categories - species lists, biomass, and trophic relations - were examined for each subsystem and for each of three species groups - primary producers, invertebrates, and fish. We concluded that adequate data, sufficient for modeling purposes, are available in 16 (25%) of 64 categories; limited data, those requiring greater extrapolation, are available in 35 (55%) categories; and no data are available in 13 (20%) categories. The best-studied subsystems are seagrass beds and coral reefs, with at least limited data in all categories. Invertebrates, the intermediate link in the food web between primary producers and fishes, are the least quantified group in the region. Primary production and fishes, however, are relatively well-studied, providing sufficient data to support an ecosystem-level analysis and to initiate a modeling effort

Phylogenetic Origins and Age-Based Proportions of Malacho (Elops smithi) Relative to Ladyfish (Elops saurus): Species on the Move in the Western Gulf of Mexico

Two species of ladyfish occur in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Elops saurus and Elops smithi, that are morphologically indistinguishable except for vertebral counts but can also be identified by mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. Here we expand on previous work, most of which has occurred in Florida, and examine the demography, phylogenetics, geographic distribution, and age—structure of ladyfishes in Texas estuaries. Fishery—independent gill net data demonstrated that ladyfishes increase in abundance from north to south along the Texas coast. The abundance of ladyfishes also increased in Texas waters from 1982–2021, which coincides with recent trends of warmer winters. Genetic data confirmed that both E. saurus and E. smithi occur in Texas waters; however, E. smithi was far less common. Contrary to previous research, we observed higher levels of genetic diversity in E. saurus due to larger sample size and thorough sampling of the western portion of its geographic range. Phylogenetic analysis supported the existence of E. saurus as a distinct species but indicated that E. smithi may be paraphyletic with other species of Elops. Otolith analysis showed that the ages of E. saurus and E. smithi ranged from 0–3 years. The lack of individuals \u3e age—3 suggests that ladyfishes migrate to the offshore GOM at age 3 and do not return to coastal areas. This study enhances knowledge of the biology of ladyfishes in inshore waters of the northwestern GOM. Future management would benefit from expanding this research to the entire geographic range of the genus Elops

Relation Taille-Poids et Facteur de Condition de l’espèce Elops lacerta (Elopiformes : Elopidae) Valenciennes, 1847 dans le Golfe de Guinée, Côte d’Ivoire, Afrique de l’Ouest

La présente étude décrit la relation taille-poids et le facteur de condition de Elops lacerta dans la Zone Economique Exclusive (ZEE) Ivoirienne. Pour l’étude de ces paramètres, de janvier 2019 à décembre 2020 un échantillonnage mensuel a été réalisé lors des débarquements au port de pêche d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). La longueur de fourche (LF) a été utilisée dans cette étude. La relation taille-poids a été calculée en utilisant l’équation P = aLFb et le facteur de condition en utilisant l’équation K = (100P ⁄ LFb). Au total 865 poissons ont été collectés dont 494 mâles et 371 femelles avec une gamme de taille comprise entre 20 et 57 cm pour une masse totale oscillant entre 62,5g et 1500g. La valeur du coefficient d’allométrie est 3,06 pour les mâles, 3,11 pour les femelles et 3,09 pour les deux sexes confondus. Ces coefficients d’allométrie sont significativement différents de la valeur standard 3 (p < 0,05), traduisant une allométrie majorante chez l’espèce Elops lacerta.. Egalement, la variation saisonnière du coefficient d’allometrie révèle une allométrie majorante au cours de la saison froide chez les mâles (3,06), les femelles (3,16) et les deux sexes confondus (3,12). Par contre, au cours de la saison chaude une allometrie minorante a été obtenue uniquement chez les femelles (2,99). Le coeffieient de corrélation compris entre 0,90 et 0,98, indique une forte corrélation entre le poids et la taille des poissons. Le facteur de condition varie entre 0,76 ± 0,04 et 0,85 ± 0,08 chez les mâles et entre 0,63 ± 0,08 et 0,72 ± 0,05 chez les femelles. Les valeurs maximales de cet indice ont été observées pendant la grande saison froide précisément au mois d’août pour les mâles (0,85 ± 0,08) et en octobre chez les femelles (0,72 ± 0,05). Ces résultats fournissent une base de données sur la relation taille-poids et le coefficient de condition de l’espèce E. lacerta dans la ZEE ivoirienne.   The present study describes the length-weight relationship and the condition factorof Elops lacerta in the Ivorian Exclusive Economic Zone. For the study of these parameters, from January 2019 to December 2020 a monthly sampling was carried out during landings at the fishing port of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). The fork length (LF) was used in this study. The length-weight relationship was calculated using the equation P = aLFb and the condition factor using the equation K = (100P ⁄ LFb). A total of 865 fish were collected of which 494 were males and 371 females with a size range between 20 and 57 cm with a weight varying from 62.5g and 1500g. The value of the allometry coefficient was 3.06 for males, 3.11 for females and 3.09 for both sexes combined. These allometry coefficients was significantly different from the standard value of 3 (p < 0.05), reflecting a major allometry in the Elops lacerta species. Also, the seasonal variation of the allometry coefficient revealed a major allometry during the cold season in males (3.06), females (3.16) and both sexes combined (3.12). In contrast, a minor allometry was obtained only in females (2.99) during the warm season. The correlation coefficient of 0.90 to 0.98 indicates a strong correlation between the weight and the size of the fish. The condition factor varies between 0.76 ± 0.04 and 0.85 ± 0.08 in males and between 0.63 ± 0.08 and 0.72 ± 0.05 in females. The maximum values of this index were observed during the long cold season, precisely in August for males (0.85 ± 0.08) and in October for females (0.72 ± 0.05). These results provide a database on the length-weight relationship and condition coefficient of the E. lacerta species in the Ivorian EEZ

Sur la position systématique et les affinites de Greenwood- della Tockensis Taverne, L. et Ross, P.H. 1973 (Pisces Elopiformes) de l’Aptien inférieur de l’Ile d’Helgoland (Allemagne)

The relationships of Greenwoodella tockensis TAVERNE, L. and Ross, P. H., 1973 are discussed. This fish is referred to a new family, Greenwoodellidae,and placed in the sub-order Albuloidei (Pisces Elopiformes) as an ancestor of the Albulidae and Pterothrissidae

The retinae of two north American teleosts, with special reference to their tapeta lucida

No Abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/49939/1/900800306_ftp.pd

Nouvelle description d’<i>Halecopsis insignis</i> de l’Éocène marin de l’Europe et les relations de ce taxon avec les Gonorynchiformes (Teleostei, Ostariophysi)

New description of dagger Halecopsis insignis from marine Eocene of Europe and relationships of this taxa with the Gonorynchiformes (Teleostei, Ostariophysi).The osteology of dagger Halecopsis insignis from the marine Eocene of Europe is briefly revised. The frontals are elongated and narrow at the preorbital level. The skull is latero-parietal. The mesethmoid is small and longer than broad. The lateral ethmoids are reduced. The pleurosphenoids are small and there is no orbitosphenoid. The lower jaw is short and the quadrate and the ventral branch of the preopercle very long. There are only four infraorbitals, all possessing a well developed membranodermic component. The supratemporal is strongly reduced. The extrascapular sensory commissure is enclosed in the parietals and passes also in a thin groove on the supraoccipital. The osteological characters allow to confirm that H. insignis belongs to the suborder Gonorynchoidei and to propose that it is phylogenetically lying between the family dagger Apulichthyidae, where the lateral ethmoid remains large, and the other families of this suborder, in which the membranodermic component of the infraorbitals is already lost

The Evolution of Fangs Across Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii)

To date, no study has investigated how many independent evolutions of fangs have occurred across ray-finned fishes. This research addresses this question by focusing on the evolution of fangs across a diversity of marine habitats in the Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes), and then investigating the evolution of fangs across ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii). Lizardfishes are a diverse order of fishes (~236 species) that are observed to have fang-like teeth and occupy a variety of marine habitats. A taxonomic review of lizardfish specimens representing 35 of 44 genera were examined for the presence of fangs. In addition to assessing the presence of fangs, lizardfish habitat was also evaluated to examine if there is a correlation between fang presence and habitat. I estimated the character evolution of fang presence and habitat across a previously published phylogeny of lizardfish relationships to examine evolutionary patterns. I identified that fangs have independently evolved three times across the lizardfishes. There is also a correlation between the evolution of fangs in lizardfishes and habitat with fangs evolving more frequently in deep-sea pelagic habitats. To further investigate the evolution of fangs, I expanded my research to include a robust hypothesis of relationships among families of ray-finned fishes. Using previously published genetic data, I inferred a phylogeny of 315 species representing 211 families of ray-finned fishes. I again utilized ancestral character-state reconstructions to examine patterns of fang evolution across ray-finned fishes. The results of my analyses indicates that there have been at least 38 independent evolutions of fangs across ray-finned fishes. Generally in families that evolved fangs, when the majority of the species diversity possess fangs they are found in pelagic environments