[Ichthyology • 2017] Centrophorus longipinnis & C. lesliei • Revision of the Genus Centrophorus (Squaliformes: Centrophoridae): Part 2—Description of Two New Species of Centrophorus and Clarification of the Status of Centrophorus lusitanicus

Centrophorus longipinnis

 White, Ebert & Naylor, 2017

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4344.1.3 

Abstract

Centrophorus specimens with a distinctive long-based first dorsal fin (long-finned species) have previously been considered to be Centrophorus lusitanicus first described from Portugal. Critical examination of the original description and illustration reveal that C. lusitanicus should be considered a junior synonym of C. granulosus. However, the specimen considered to be the syntype of C. lusitanicus in the Natural History Museum in London is clearly a long-finned species and not conspecific with C. granulosus. A more detailed investigation revealed that this specimen should not be considered a syntype and was likely not originally collected off the coast of Portugal. Investigation of long-finned specimens of Centrophorus from the Indo-West Pacific and Eastern Atlantic revealed that two undescribed species exist and are herein formally described as Centrophorus lesliei and C. longipinnis. The two species are similar morphologically and belong to the long-snout Centrophorus group (e.g. C. isodon and C. harrissoni) but are clearly separable based on their very long first dorsal fins. The two species differ in relative length of the first dorsal fin and several other characters. They also differ genetically. Nonmetric multidimensional ordination based on morphometric data reveals both species level and ontogenetic differences. A short erratum is also provided for Part 1 of this revision of the Centrophorus due to two figure related errors which may cause some confusion.

Keywords:  Pisces, Centrophorus, new species, Eastern Atlantic, Indo-West Pacific, genetics, taxonomy

FIGURE 11. Lateral view of Centrophorus longipinnis n. sp.:
 (A) adult male holotype (NMMB-P 15756, 720 mm TL); (B) female paratype (CSIRO H 8104 - 01, 855 mm TL); (C) female paratype (CSIRO H 7990 - 02, 825 mm TL); (D) late-term embryo paratype (CSIRO H 8103 - 02, 346 mm TL).

Centrophorus longipinnis n. sp.

Longfin Gulper Shark

 Etymology. Specific name a combination of the Latin longus (long) and pinna (fin) in allusion to the very distinctive long-based first dorsal fin this species possesses.

Distribution. Type material from off Taiwan (Cheng-gong and Da-xi fish landing sites—local fishing grounds), Indonesia (off southwest Java and eastern Lombok), and Papua New Guinea (Huon Gulf) (Fig. 10). Compagno et al. (2005) reported this species off Puerto Princesa City in the Philippines (JPAG 226, tissue accession GN4348); differed slightly in ND2 sequence and specimen not examined in this study. Limited depth information available as most specimens collected from fish landing sites; caught from depths of 330–460 m in Papua New Guinea (P. Neira, pers. comm.).

Centrophorus lesliei n. sp.

African Gulper Shark

Etymology. Named after Dr Robin Leslie (Fisheries Branch, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa) who has contributed greatly to our knowledge of southern African chondrichthyans and provided numerous important specimens and tissue samples for various projects.

Distribution. Type specimens were from the Mozambique Channel (Madagascar and Mozambique), and off Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Togo at depths of 340– 500 m. The BMNH and ZMB specimens were most likely collected by Anchieta from Angola or Mozambique in the 1800’s. Additional specimens examined by Munoz-Chapuli & Ramos (1989) were recorded as being collected from Morocco, the Canary Islands, and Ghana at depths of 370– 610 m.

William T. White, David A. Ebert and  Gavin J. P. Naylor. 2017. Revision of the Genus Centrophorus (Squaliformes: Centrophoridae): Part 2—Description of Two New Species of Centrophorus and Clarification of the Status of Centrophorus lusitanicus Barbosa du Bocage & de Brito Capello, 1864. Zootaxa. 4344(1); 86–114. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4344.1.3

 twitter.com/WillWhitesharks/status/927363194321903617

White, W.T., Ebert, D.A., Naylor, G.J.P., Ho, H.-C., Clerkin, P., Verissimo, A. and Cotton, C. 2013. Revision of the genus Centrophorus (Squaliformes, Centrophoridae), Part 1—Redescription of Centrophorus granulosus (Bloch & Schneider), a senior synonym of C. acus Garman and C. niaukang Teng. Zootaxa. 3752(1); 35–72.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.3752.1.5

ResearchGate.net/publication/259444515_Revision_of_the_genus_Centrophorus_Part_1

[Ichthyology • 2017] Etmopterus lailae • A New Lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Etmopterus lailae

Ebert, Papastamatiou, Kajiura & Wetherbee, 2017

Laila’s Lanternshark || DOI:   10.11646/zootaxa.4237.2.10 

Abstract

A new species of lanternshark, Etmopterus lailae (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae), is described from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, in the central North Pacific Ocean. The new species resembles other members of the “Etmopterus lucifer” clade in having linear rows of dermal denticles, and most closely resembles E. lucifer from Japan. The new species occurs along insular slopes around seamounts at depths between 314–384 m. It can be distinguished from other members of the E. lucifer clade by a combination of characteristics, including a longer anterior flank marking branch, arrangement of dermal denticles on the ventral snout surface and body, flank and caudal markings, and meristic counts including number of spiral valve turns, and precaudal vertebrate. A key to species of the Etmopterus lucifer-clade is included.

Keywords: Pisces, Chondrichthyes, elasmobranch, Etmopterus lucifer clade, new species, central North Pacific Ocean

FIGURE 1. Etmopterus lailae new species, immature male holotype (BPBM 40183).

Etmopterus lailae, new species 

Laila’s Lanternshark

Distribution. The new species presently is known only from the Koko and South Kanmu seamounts, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and at a depth range of 314–384 m. 

Etymology. The new species is named after Laila Mostello-Wetherbee, shark enthusiast and daughter of coauthor Brad Wetherbee. The proposed common name is Laila’s Lanternshark. 

David A. Ebert, Yannis P. Papastamatiou, Stephen M. Kajiura and Bradley M. Wetherbee. 2017. Etmopterus lailae sp. nov., A New Lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Zootaxa. 4237(2); 371-382. DOI:   10.11646/zootaxa.4237.2.10

ResearchGate.net/publication/314103176_Etmopterus_lailae_sp_nov_a_new_lanternshark_Squaliformes_Etmopteridae_from_the_Northwestern_Hawaiian_Islands

http://www.science.fau.edu/sharklab/pdfs/epkw17.pdf

New shark species glows in the dark, weighs two pounds and has a huge nose
phy.so/420267222 via @physorg_com

[Ichthyology • 2016] Etmopterus alphus • A New Lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the south-western Indian Ocean

Etmopterus alphus  

  Ebert, Straube, Leslie & Weigmann, 2016   

   DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2016.1198275 

Abstract

A new species of lanternshark, Etmopterus alphus (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae), is described from the south-western Indian Ocean. The new species resembles other members of the ‘Etmopterus lucifer’ clade in having linear rows of dermal denticles and most closely resembles E. molleri from the south-western Pacific. The new species is fairly common along the upper continental slopes off central Mozambique, at depths between 472 and 558 m, and is also found on the southern Madagascar Ridge in 650–792 m depth. It can be distinguished from other members of the E. lucifer clade by a combination of characteristics, including arrangement of flank and caudal markings, dimension of flank markings and shape, size and arrangement of dermal denticles along the body. Molecular analysis further supports the distinction of E. alphus from other members of the E. lucifer clade.

Keywords: Chondrichthyes, elasmobranch, Etmopterus lucifer clade, Madagascar Ridge, molecular analysis, Mozambique, new species, 

Ebert, D.A., Straube, N., Leslie, R.W. and Weigmann, S. 2016. Etmopterus alphus n. sp.: A New Lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the south-western Indian Ocean.
 African Journal of Marine Science.   DOI: 10.2989/1814232X.2016.1198275

[Ichthyology • 2016] Eye Lens Radiocarbon reveals Centuries of Longevity in the Greenland Shark Somniosus microcephalus

Greenland Shark Somniosus microcephalus 

photo: Nick Caloyianis DOI:  10.1126/science.aaf1703

Deep living for centuries

We tend to think of vertebrates as living about as long as we do, give or take 50 to 100 years. Marine species are likely to be very long-lived, but determining their age is particularly difficult. Nielsen et al. used the pulse of carbon-14 produced by nuclear tests in the 1950s—specifically, its incorporation into the eye during development—to determine the age of Greenland sharks. This species is large yet slow-growing. The oldest of the animals that they sampled had lived for nearly 400 years, and they conclude that the species reaches maturity at about 150 years of age.

A Greenland Shark Somniosus microcephalus off Baffin Island, Canada. 

photo: Nick Caloyianis 

 Abstract

The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus), an iconic species of the Arctic Seas, grows slowly and reaches >500 centimeters (cm) in total length, suggesting a life span well beyond those of other vertebrates. Radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 female Greenland sharks (81 to 502 cm in total length) revealed a life span of at least 272 years. Only the smallest sharks (220 cm or less) showed signs of the radiocarbon bomb pulse, a time marker of the early 1960s. The age ranges of prebomb sharks (reported as midpoint and extent of the 95.4% probability range) revealed the age at sexual maturity to be at least 156 ± 22 years, and the largest animal (502 cm) to be 392 ± 120 years old. Our results show that the Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known, and they raise concerns about species conservation.

Julius Nielsen, Rasmus B. Hedeholm, Jan Heinemeier, Peter G. Bushnell, Jørgen S. Christiansen, Jesper Olsen, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Richard W. Brill, Malene Simon, Kirstine F. Steffensen and John F. Steffensen. 2016. Eye Lens Radiocarbon reveals Centuries of Longevity in the Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus). Science. 353(6300); 702-704. DOI:  10.1126/science.aaf1703

http://worldisvulnerable.com/longest-lived-vertebrates-are-greenland-sharks-and-they-can-live-up-to-500-years/

Slow Sharks Sneak Up on Sleeping Seals (and Eat Them)? http://on.natgeo.com/LOdEP3 via @NatGeo

[Ichthyology • 2016] Squatina david • A New Southern Caribbean Species of Angel Shark (Chondrichthyes, Squaliformes, Squatinidae), Including Phylogeny and Tempo of Diversification of American Species

Squatina david 

Acero, Tavera, Anguila & Hernández, 2016 
DOI:  10.1643/CI-15-292

A new species of Squatina, S. david, is described from the Colombian Caribbean. The new species differs from all the western North Atlantic angel sharks by lacking a mid-dorsal line of thorns or enlarged dermal denticles, by having an eye-spiracle distance larger than 1.5 times eye diameter, and each nasal flap with two rod-like barbels. Coloration is grayish to brownish yellow, males are dark-spotted, females have abundant whitish spots. Squatina david is nested within the American clade of angel sharks, being the sister species to the Brazilian species.

Arturo Acero P., José J. Tavera, Rafael Anguila and Luis Hernández. 2016. A New Southern Caribbean Species of Angel Shark (Chondrichthyes, Squaliformes, Squatinidae), Including Phylogeny and Tempo of Diversification of American Species.
Copeia. 104(2):577-585.  DOI:  10.1643/CI-15-292

facebook.com/294682373885900/photos/1230129260341202

Se describe a Squatina david n. sp. del Caribe colombiano. La nueva especie se distingue de las otras especies de peces ángel del Atlántico noroccidental por carecer de una línea media dorsal de espinas o dentículos dérmicos agrandados y por tener una distancia del ojo al espiráculo mayor que 1.5 el diámetro del ojo en especímenes de más de 60 cm de longitud total, cada pliegue nasal con dos barbillones romos y una coloración amarillo grisoso a marrón, macho con puntos oscuros, hembras con abundantes puntos blancos. La nueva especie se agrupa con el clado americano de peces ángel, siendo hermana del clado de especies brasileras.