Identification of Ambassis species (Pisces: Perciformes, Ambassidae) from South Africa

The taxonomy of the genus Ambassis from South Africa was revised and an identification key, using external features of their cranial osteology was constructed. Whereas previous authors list four species, this study shows that Ambassis commersoni is absent and only Ambassis productos, A. natalensis and A. gymnocephalusoccur in South African waters. The three species are redescribed. Diagnostic features of Ambassis otoliths and their use as an aid to species identification are described

First Record Of Polyprion Oxygeneios (perciformes: Polyprionidae) For The South-west Atlantic And A Northernmost Range Extension

The occurrence of Polyprion oxygeneios (Perciformes: Polyprionidae) is recorded for the first in the south-west Atlantic. Twenty specimens were caught off Rio Grande do Sul (33°41.8'-34°3'S, 370-854 m depth) during winter cruises of the commercial fishing fleet. © 2004 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.64514391441Andrew, T.G., Hecht, T., Heemstra, P.C., Lutjeharms, J.R.E., Fishes of the Tristan da Cunha Group and Gough Island, South Atlantic Ocean (1995) Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, 63, pp. 1-43Carvalho-Filho, A., (1999) Peixes: Costa Brasileira, 3rd Edn., , São Paulo: Edições MelroFigueiredo, J.L., Menezes, N.A., (2000) Manual de Peixes Marinhos Do Sudeste Do Brasil, 4. , São Paulo: Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São PauloHubbs, C.L., Lagler, K.F., Fishes of the Great Lakes region (1964) Bulletin of Cranbrook Institute of Science, 26, pp. 19-26May, J.L., Maxwell, J.G.H., (1986) Trawl Fish from Temperate Waters of Australia, , Tasmania: CSIRO, Division of Fisheries ResearchNakamura, I., Inada, T., Takeda, M., Hatanaka, H., (1986) Important Fishes Trawled off Patagonia, , Tokyo: Japan Marine Fishery Resource Research CentrePaulin, C., Stewart, A., Roberts, C., Mcmillan, P., New Zealand Fish: A complete guide (1989) National Museum of New Zealand Miscellaneous Series, 19, pp. 1-279Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R., Hanley, J.E., (1989) Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae Zoological Catalogue, 7. , Canberra: Australian Government Publishing ServiceRoberts, C.D., Reproductive mode in the percomorph fish genus Polyprion Oken (1989) Journal of Fish Biology, 34, pp. 1-9Saldanha, L., (1995) Fauna Submarina Atlântica, , Lisboa: Europa-AméricaSepúlveda, J.I.V., Pequeño, G.R., Fauna íctica del archipiélago de Juan Fernández (1986) Escuela de Ciencias del Mar, pp. 81-91. , Arana, P., ed., Valparaiso: Universidad Católica de ValparaisoStramma, I., The Brazil Current transport south of 23°S (1989) Deep Sea Research, 36, pp. 39-64

Are juvenile coral-trouts (Plectropomus) mimics of poisonous pufferfishes (Canthigaster) on coral reefs?

The juveniles of three species of coral-trout (Plectropomus) resemble two species of poisonous pufferfish (Canthigaster), one of the latter having two distinct colour morphs. Qualitative data are assembled on the diet, feeding mode, palatability, relative abundance, habitat and geographical range of each species. All observations are consistent with the hypothesis that juvenile coral-trouts are generalized mimics of pufferfishes. Speciation within Plectropomus is discussed with respect to its mimetic relationships with Canthigaster