Ocellus-bearing Neobythites species (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the West Atlantic with description of a new species

Open access articleThree species of the ophidiid genus Neobythites containing ocelli in the dorsal fin are known from the West Atlantic: Neobythites gilli Goode and Bean 1885, N. ocellatus Günther 1887 and N. monocellatus Nielsen 1999. In the year 2000, 18 specimens of Neobythites were caught on the upper continental slope off eastern Brazil. This is the first documented record of a Neobythites specimen off Brazil since the holotype of N. ocellatus was caught in 1873. Seventeen of the specimens are referable to N. ocellatus and one to N. monocellatus. Until now the distribution of N. ocellatus was considered to be from off Atlantic Florida, the Caribbean Sea and then a gap of 4500 km to the type locality off Brazil. However, the holotype and the 17 specimens differ from the more northerly recorded specimens in pattern and number of spots and ocelli on the dorsal fin. The 18 Brazilian specimens have two distinct ocelli, one near the origin of the dorsal fin and one above the midpoint of the fish, and further back occasionally a small, black spot, while the northern specimens occasionally have a small, black spot near the origin of the fin, a distinct ocellus above the midpoint and up to three ocelli further posteriorly. Consequently a new species, N. multiocellatus, is described based on 59 specimens from the Caribbean Sea to off Atlantic Florida. The record of the N. monocellatus specimen extends its distribution about 3000 km southwards. A comparison of the four ocellus-bearing species from the West Atlantic is made

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

A new species of the genus Verilus (Teleostei, Percomorpha, Acropomatidae) from Brazil

FIGURE 2. A. Verilus costai sp. nov., holotype, NPM 6028, 76.2 mm SL. B. Verilus pseudomicrolepis (Schultz, 1940), USNM 436691, 88.0 mm SL. Scale bar = 10 mm.Published as part of Schwarzhans, Werner W., Mincarone, Michael M. & Villarins, Bárbara T., 2020, A new species of the genus Verilus (Teleostei, Percomorpha, Acropomatidae) from Brazil, pp. 589-596 in Zootaxa 4751 (3) on page 593, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4751.3.11, http://zenodo.org/record/371464

FIGURE 2. Neobythites gilli, 104 in Ocellus-bearing Neobythites species (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the West Atlantic with description of a new species

FIGURE 2. Neobythites gilli, 104 mm SL, ZMUC P771224

Verilus Poey 1860

Genus Verilus Poey, 1860 Type species: Verilus sordidus Poey, 1860Published as part of Schwarzhans, Werner W., Mincarone, Michael M. & Villarins, Bárbara T., 2020, A new species of the genus Verilus (Teleostei, Percomorpha, Acropomatidae) from Brazil, pp. 589-596 in Zootaxa 4751 (3) on page 590, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4751.3.11, http://zenodo.org/record/371464

Verilus costai Schwarzhans & Mincarone & Villarins 2020, sp. nov.

Verilus costai sp. nov. (Figures 1–4, Table 1) Holotype. NPM 6028, 76.2 mm SL, Brazil, State of Bahia, off Belmonte, REVIZEE, sta. E-511, 15°42’41”S 38°37’18”W to 15°44’14”S 38°39’12”W, 233–294 m, RV Thalassa, bottom trawl, coll. Paulo A. S. Costa et al., 12 June 2000, 18:03h. Paratypes. MNRJ 51645, 10 (57.1–75.9 mm SL), NPM 6027, 20 (59.9–85.4 mm SL), ZMUC P2396755-69, 15 (50.3–79.6 mm SL), same data as for the holotype. Additional non-type material. (n = 84) MNRJ 51646, 42 (51.6–82.7 mm SL), NPM 3816, 42 (52.3–82.2 mm SL), same data as for the holotype. Diagnosis. Moderately slender fishes with flat dorsal head profile leading up to ’humpback’ structure at beginning of first dorsal fin. Maximal SL not exceeding 86 mm. Snout pointed, inferior, steeply inclined. Pectoral fin rays 15–16, pectoral length 23.6–29.7% SL. Anal fin II+9. First anal-fin pterygiophore moderately long, with broad hollow base and straight to slightly backward bent tip. Vomer V-shaped with 2–3 rows of granular teeth and 0–1 longer tooth near sides of base. Palatine narrow, with 1–2 rows of granular teeth. Eye diameter 13.1–16.9% SL; snout length 8.2–11.3% SL. Gill rakers 27–31. Pseudobranchial filaments 15–23. Many longitudinal ridges on preopercular lobe. Inner edge of preopercle with 3–6 denticles. Otolith compressed (OL:OH = 1.3–1.35). Description. Measurements and counts provided in Table 1. Counts: vertebrae 10 + 15 = 25; D1: IX; D2: I + 10; V: I + 5; P: 16; A: II + 9; developed gill rakers 27–31; pseudobranchial filaments 15–23. Measurements (in % of SL): body depth 27.3–33.3; head length 37.4–43.8; snout length 8.2–11.3; eye diameter 13.1–16.9; interorbital space 7.5–11.5; first predorsal length 31.0–46.7; second predorsal length 56.9–65.1; prepelvic length 36.4–43.7; pectoral fin length 20.9–29.7; preanal length 60.8–70.6; caudal peduncle length 15.5–21.9; caudal peduncle depth 8.6–13.9. Snout moderately long, sharply pointed, inferior, with steeply inclined mouth cleft; dorsal head profile almost flat, inclined up to beginning of first dorsal fin. Dorsal profile forming a distinct, obtuse angle resembling a ‘humpback’ feature at anterior edge of first dorsal fin (Figure 1A). Posterior edge of maxillary straight with posterodorsal and postero-ventral angles broadly rounded and postero-ventral angle slightly extended downward. Preopercular lobe with many radial longitudinal ridges; inner edge of preopercle with 3–6 denticles. Proximal-middle radial of first anal fin pterygiophore with broad hollow base and straight to slightly rearward bent tip, reaching to about half way of ribs of last abdominal vertebra (Figure 2A). First haemal spine with posterior expansion. All fin spine margins smooth. Less than 40 scales along lateral line system (visible only as scale pockets). Dentition. Premaxillary with a pair of widely-placed, strong, fang-like canines near symphysis, followed posteriorly by a wide band of minute granular teeth. Dentary with a pair of narrowly-placed, strong fang-like canines, and a band of small conical teeth near symphysis, followed posteriorly by a row of small conical teeth and 2–3 enlarged fang-like canine teeth on each side. Vomer V-shaped, with 2–3 rows of granular teeth, and sometimes a single longer tooth near side of base. Palatine narrow with 1 row of granular teeth, sometimes 2 rows anteriorly; ectopterygoid without teeth. Otolith morphology (n = 4; Figures 3 H–J). Otolith rather compressed, moderately thin, up to about 6 mm length. OL:OH = 1.3–1.35; OL:OT about 3.5–4.5. Dorsal rim high, nearly horizontal, with broadly rounded predorsal region and nearly orthogonal postdorsal angle at joint with posterior rim. Ventral rim deep, deepest distinctly in front of its middle, below rear end of ostium of sulcus. Rostrum well developed, sharply pointed, with convex lower margin and flat, nearly horizontal upper margin; excisura and antirostrum small. Rostrum c. 18% of OL. Posterior rim blunt, vertically cut, with angle at junction with ventral rim significantly below tip of cauda. Dorsal and posterior rims slightly undulating; ventral rim smooth. Inner face slightly convex with slightly supramedian positioned sulcus. Sulcus shallow, with very mildly flexed, long cauda reaching very close to posterior rim of otolith and wide, shallow, slightly upward inclined ostium. Ostium about twice as wide as cauda, with distinct colliculum. CaL:OsL = 1.15–1.25. Dorsal depression very wide. Ventral furrow distinct, running moderately distant and parallel to ventral rim of otolith. Outer face flat to slightly concave, smooth, with few short radial furrows near dorsal rim. Coloration (in alcohol). Preserved fishes uniformly pale. Head bones semi-translucent and thus giving impression of darker color at interorbital. Rims of uppermost 1–2 rows of scale pockets along dorsal region of trunk with dark rims. Mouth pale; branchial cavity and peritoneum dark. Size. Relatively small species reaching about 85 mm SL. Geographic and bathymetric distribution. Known only from the type locality, off Belmonte, State of Bahia, Brazil, from 233 to 294 m depth (Figure 4). Etymology. Named after Dr. Paulo Alberto Silva da Costa (UNIRIO/ Brazil), in recognition of his contribution to the knowledge of deep-sea fishes from Brazil. Comparison. Verilus costai appears allopatric to V. pseudomicrolepis (Figures 1B, 2B, 3 A–G). It differs from V. pseudomicrolepis in the higher number of gill rakers (27–31 vs. 21–25), the lower number of pseudobranchial filaments (15–23 vs. 21–28), the shorter snout length (8.2–11.3 vs. 11.3–13.4% of SL), the generally shorter pectoral fin (20.9–29.7 vs. 27.3–31.6% of SL) although this characteristic has to be used carefully due to the often poorly and incompletely preserved pectoral fin and due to some overlap, the slightly bent tip of the first anal pterygiophore (vs. straight), and the more compressed otoliths (OL:OH = 1.3–1.35 vs. 1.35–1.5), indicated in x-rays by the shorter otic capsule in V. costai in comparison to V. pseudomicrolepis (Figure 2). Verilus costai is a relatively small species and does not reach the size of V. pseudomicrolepis (maximum recorded 85 mm vs. 145 mm [Mejía et al. 2001]). Specimens of similar sizes (V. pseudomicrolepis of 66.6–99.0 mm SL [Table 1] and large specimens of V. costai) were compared to eliminate potential ontogenetic effects that are known to occur in the number of gill rakers and the pseudobranchial filaments (Schwarzhans & Prokofiev 2017). In the otoliths, it was found that small specimens of V. pseudomicrolepis of 4–6 mm of OL (Figures 3 B–D) showed a distinct marginal crenulation, a typical feature found in otoliths of subadult fishes below the threshold of morphological maturity, while this was not the case in otoliths of V. costai of comparable sizes. Comparative material examined. Verilus pseudomicrolepis. CAS 61038, 1 (87 mm SL), trawled by RV Oregon II, sta. 46095, off Puerto Rico, 18°13’18”N, 67°19’30”W, 366 m, T. Iwamoto, 21 August 1987. CAS 61164, 1 (91 mm SL), trawled by RV Oregon II, sta. 46036, off U.S. Virgin Islands, 17°38’42”N, 64°56’48”W, 475–512 m, T. Iwamoto, 10 August 1987. CAS 61183, 1 (138 mm SL), trawled by RV Oregon II, sta. 45998, off Puerto Rico, 18°10’N, 67°25’W, 91 m, T. Iwamoto, 5 August 1987. USNM 229541, 13 (71–99 mm SL), trawled by RV Oregon II, cruise 22, sta. 11219, off Honduras, 16°39’N, 82°45’W, 320 m, 25 October 1970. USNM 407012, 1 (66.6 mm SL), trawled by RV Miguel Oliver, sta. MOC11-01, off Panama, 08°58’12’’N, 77°27’26’’W, 252–289 m, D. Robertson and C. Castillo, 6 January 2011. USNM 407758, 1 (115 mm SL), trawled by RV Miguel Oliver, sta. MOC11- 89, off Belize, 16°46’15.6”N 87°55’47.6”W, 393–400 m, D. Robertson and C. Castillo, 29 January 2011. USNM 436691, 1 (88 mm SL), trawled by RV Oregon II, cruise 4, sta. 10195, off Nicaragua, 14°16’48”N 81°55’12”W, 329 m, 19 November 1968.Published as part of Schwarzhans, Werner W., Mincarone, Michael M. & Villarins, Bárbara T., 2020, A new species of the genus Verilus (Teleostei, Percomorpha, Acropomatidae) from Brazil, pp. 589-596 in Zootaxa 4751 (3) on pages 590-595, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4751.3.11, http://zenodo.org/record/371464