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| Ophiocara ophicephalus (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1837) Ophiocara gigas Ophiocara macrostoma Kobayashi & Sato, 2023 |
Abstract
A taxonomic review of the genus Ophiocara Gill 1863 in Japan resulted in a revised diagnosis for Ophiocara ophicephalus (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1837) and descriptions of two new species, Ophiocara gigas and Ophiocara macrostoma, from the Ryukyu Archipelago. The three species are genetically isolated based on the mitochondrial COI region, being distinguished from each other and other congeners by differing combinations of opercular scale morphology, upper jaw length, caudal fin length, and coloration: Ophiocara ophicephalus is characterized by having ctenoid scales on the operculum and distinct silver or white spots on the head, body, and dorsal and caudal fins, and in juveniles the absence of bright markings on the lower part of the caudal fin base; O. gigas by two broad beige bands on the body, black spots scattered on the trunk, and in juveniles the presence of three bright markings on the caudal fin base; and O. macrostoma by a uniformly dark caudal fin, elongated upper jaw in adults (16.0–17.5% of standard length), and in juveniles the presence of two narrow bright bands on the body and three bright markings on the caudal fin base. One of two distinct color patterns, previously thought to represent intraspecific dimorphism of O. ophicephalus, is now considered characteristic of the new species O. gigas. The three species also exhibited distinct habitats, salinity preference, and maximum body length.
Keywords: Ophiocara gigas, Ophiocara macrostoma, Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Mangrove
Ophiocara ophicephalus (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1837)
(English name: Spangled Gudgeon;
standard Japanese name: Hoshi-madara-haze)
Distribution. Ophiocara ophicephalus is distributed within the Indo-Pacific region, reliable records including Japan (Ryukyu Archipelago: Yakushima, Tanegashima, Okinawa, Kume, Miyako, Irabu, Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni islands), Taiwan, the Philippines (Guimaras, Nabunot, Cebu, and Basilan islands), Palau, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia (Borneo and Tioman islands), Indonesia (Java, Bali, Ceram, and Sulawesi islands), Australia (northern Australia and Lizard Island), the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia.
Ophiocara gigas sp. nov.
(New English name: Giant Mud-gudgeon;
new standard Japanese name: Kumo-madara-haze)
Etymology. The specific name “gigas” refers to the adult maximum size in this species, being greater than those of congeners.
Distribution. Ophiocara gigas is distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, reliable records being known from Japan (Ryukyu Archipelago: Amami-oshima, Okinawa, Zamami, Kume, Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni islands), the Philippines (Luzon Island), Palau, Micronesia, Indonesia (Peling Island off eastern Sulawesi, and Western Papua), the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. This species might be recorded from Papua New Guinea (New Ireland) (see discussion).
Ophiocara macrostoma sp. nov.
(New English name: Dark-fin Gudgeon;
new standard Japanese name: Yami-madara-haze)
Etymology. The specific name “macrostoma” refers to the large mouth and relatively long jaw in this species.
Distribution. Ophiocara macrostoma is currently known only from Yakushima, Tanegashima, Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan.
Hirozumi Kobayashi and Mao Sato. 2023. The Genus Ophiocara (Teleostei: Butidae) in Japan, with Descriptions of Two New Species. Ichthyological Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10228-023-00919-z
