[Ichthyology • 2026] Hippocampus amandavincentae • A New Species of Spiny Seahorse (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) from Indian Ocean, with Redescription of H. histrix and H. jayakari

 

Hippocampus amandavincentae  

Shalu, Short, Raghavan, Ramvilas & Ranjeet, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5862.2.4  

 facebook.com/RajeevRAGHAVAN98

 

Abstract

The thorny seahorse, Hippocampus histrix Kaup, 1856, has long been treated as a single, widely distributed species ranging from the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean to the western Pacific. Morphological and molecular evidence now demonstrate that this broad concept encompasses at least three diagnosable species. Examination of Indian Ocean specimens combined with mitochondrial COI sequence analysis reveals a new lineage herein described as Hippocampus amandavincentae sp. nov., based on material from southeastern India and corroborated by published sequences from Madagascar, Mozambique, the Seychelles, and the northern Red Sea. The new species is diagnosed by a shorter snout, five coronet spines, and spines present on all principal trunk and tail ridges. A published COI sequence from the northern Red Sea places H. amandavincentae in apparent sympatry with Hippocampus jayakari Boulenger, 1900, in that region, indicating that the distributional boundary between these two species requires targeted field investigation. Hippocampus histrix sensu stricto is redescribed and its distribution restricted to the Pacific Ocean, including Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, based on direct examination of type material. Hippocampus jayakari, described from the Gulf of Oman, is confirmed as a distinct species of the northwestern Indian Ocean, readily distinguished by four cleithral spines with the ventral-most bifurcate, a shorter and deeper snout, and spines confined to alternating tail rings. Together, these three species represent geographically coherent lineages whose delineation resolves over a century of misidentification in museum collections and online databases, stabilises the application of long-used names, and provides a practical framework for regional conservation assessment and future systematic research on spiny seahorses across the Indo-Pacific.

Pisces, barcoding, India, species complex, taxonomy, thorny seahorse

Hippocampus amandavincentae sp. nov.

Hippocampus amandavincentae sp. nov.

Kannan SHALU, Graham SHORT, Rajeev RAGHAVAN, Ghosh RAMVILAS and Kutty RANJEET. 2026. A New Species of Spiny Seahorse, Hippocampus amandavincentae, with Redescription of H. histrix and H. jayakari (Teleostei: Syngnathidae).  Zootaxa. 5862(2); 271-292. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5862.2.4 [2026-08-05] 

  facebook.com/RajeevRAGHAVAN98/posts/10162487911550938

[Ichthyology • 2026] Solenostomus snuffleupagus • A hairy Ghost Pipefish (Syngnathiformes: Solenostomidae) from the Southwest Pacific, with an integrative comparison to S. paegnius

Solenostomus snuffleupagus

Short & Harasti, 2026   

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70497

 

Abstract

A new species of ghost pipefish, Solenostomus snuffleupagus sp. nov., is described from the Coral Sea based on specimens (18–34 mm SL) collected from coral reef habitats in Queensland, Australia. The species is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: abundant elongate integumentary filaments imparting a conspicuously shaggy appearance; 36 total vertebrae (vs. 32–34 in all congeners); compact body form with a short, deep pretrunk (11%–14% SL); sexually dimorphic supraoccipital crests (moderately elevated in females, strongly developed in males); and two modified anchor-like ossicles spanning the pterygiophores in both soft dorsal and anal fins. Micro-CT imaging reveals distinctive pretrunk ossicle configuration characterized by deep angular interspaces and absence of a ventral ossicle series. Mitochondrial COI sequences indicate an uncorrected p-distance of 22.0% from the superficially similar S. paegnius, a species with which it has long been confused in museum collections and citizen science databases. Field observations document consistent association with dense filamentous red macroalgae, with body coloration closely matching host substrate. The species is currently known from the southwest Pacific, including northeastern Australia (Coral Sea), Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga, representing a southwestern Pacific distribution.

Solenostomus snuffleupagus, in situ, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, 2022: (a) adult individual; (b) female specimen used for genetic analysis; (c) male specimen used for genetic analysis (photographs by David Harasti).

Micro-CT reconstructions (lateral view) of Solenostomus snuffleupagus:
(a) holotype, female, AMS I.33751-047; (b) paratype, male, NTM S.13600–047. DF, dorsal-fin; PF, pectoral-fin; sAF, soft anal-fin; sDF, soft dorsal-fin. Numbers 1 and 2 indicate the respective pterygiophores supporting the soft dorsal- and anal-fins.

 Taxonomy

Family Solenostomidae 

Genus Solenostomus Lacépède 1803 

 Solenostomus snuffleupagus, Short and Harasti, new species

Diagnosis: A species of Solenostomus distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: body compact and vertically deep anteriorly; pretrunk deep (24.4%–29.2% SL); abundant, elongate integumentary filaments conferring a conspicuously shaggy appearance, particularly dense on snout, jaws, head and fin extremities; pretrunk ossicles are narrow and elongated, separated by deep angular interspaces, forming a distinctive compact lattice; There are total 36 vertebrae. The supraoccipital crest is elevated and rounded in females, but strongly pronounced in males. There are two modified anchor-like ossicles spanning the pterygiophores in both the soft dorsal fin (19–20 rays) and anal fin (18–19 rays). The soft dorsal fin has 19–20 rays, the anal fin has 18–19 rays, the pectoral fin has 27 rays, the caudal fin has 15 rays.

Etymology: The specific epithet snuffleupagus refers to the shaggy character Mr. Snuffleupagus, also known as ‘Snuffy’, from the children's television series Sesame Street™, in allusion to the species' distinctly shaggy, filamentous appearance and snout reminiscent of the character's covering and trunk. The name is treated as a noun in apposition (ICZN Article 31.1.2).

Solenostomus paegnius, in situ: (a) Indonesia (photograph by Richard Smith); (b) Philippines, male–female pair with the female positioned above the male in the water column (photograph by Lynn Funkhouser); (c) Philippines, male–female pair with the female positioned above the male in the water column (photograph by Alex Tyrrell @dive4photos).

 

Graham Short and David Harasti. 2026. Solenostomus snuffleupagus sp. nov., A hairy Ghost Pipefish (Teleostei: Solenostomidae) from the Southwest Pacific, with an integrative comparison to S. paegnius. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70497 [10 May 2026]

 

[Ichthyology • 2025] Upeneus alama & U. brevianalis • Two New Goatfish Species of the Upeneus sulphureus Species Group (Syngnathiformes: Mullidae), with a Redescription of U. sulphureus Cuvier, 1829 and a Review of Barbel Length in the Genus

(A, B) Upeneus alama: Philippines, Manila Bay, Cavite;

(C) U. brevianalis, Thailand, Andaman Sea, Phuket; 

(D) U. doriae: Persian/Arabian Gulf, Bahrain;

(F, G) U. nigromarginatus: (F) Philippines, Negros Oriental, Dumaguete Citz; (G) Philippines, Panay Island, Tigbauan market near Iloilo City. 

Upeneus sulphureus Cuvier, 1829. (A, B) Thailand, Gulf of Thailand, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province; (C) Philippines, Metro Manila; (D) Vietnam, Ha Long Bay.  

in Uiblein, Motomura, Møller, Sabaj, Boonphienphol, Hoang et Parkinson, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1643/i2024094 

 Abstract 

For the goatfish genus Upeneus, the new sulphureus-species group is established, which includes five species, U. doriae, U. nigromarginatus, U. sulphureus, and the two new species, U. alama and U. brevianalis. This taxonomic group differs from the other seven species groups and four ungrouped species of this genus in the following combination of characters: 8 dorsal-fin spines, 14–17 pectoral-fin rays, 25–33 total gill rakers, 32–37 lateral-line scales, and lack of bars on caudal fin. Upeneus sulphureus is redescribed based on examination of a large set of morphometric, meristic, and color characters in 211 specimens, which revealed a bimodal distribution in barbel length prompting separation into short- and long-barbel morphs. This bimodality was neither sex-, size-, nor population-dependent, but found in co-occurring individuals of U. sulphureus in many areas of its distributional range from East Africa to Japan. The two new species differ from all other congeners primarily in U. alama, new species, having longer barbels (28–30% SL) and U. brevianalis, new species, having a shorter and shallower anal fin (8.1 and 12% SL, respectively) as well as a broad, dark-brown vertical band along the anterior third of the first dorsal fin. For U. nigromarginatus, new records from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia (West Papua), and three areas of the Philippines north of Mindanao are reported. For U. doriae, U. sulphureus, and Mulloides pinnivittatus, the latter a junior synonym of U. sulphureus, lectotypes are designated. An updated account for the genus Upeneus is provided. The barbel-length data of all 53 species of Upeneus are reviewed, and the finding of a wide range combined with a distinct dimorphism of this character in U. sulphureus is discussed.

Upeneus sulphureus.
 (A, B) KAUM-I.33094, SBM, 119 mm SL, Thailand, Gulf of Thailand, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province (H. Motomura); (C) USNM 403094, SBM, 105 mm SL, Philippines, Metro Manila (copyright J. T. Williams); (D) KAUM-I.67460, SBM, 90 mm SL, Vietnam, Ha Long Bay (H. Motomura);
(E, F): SAIAB 82237, LBM, 106 mm SL, Mozambique (E: copyright O. Alvheim, F: copyright P. C. Heemstra);
(G, H) KAUM-I.57209, LBM, 91 mm SL, Philippines, Panay Island, Iloilo City (H. Motomura); (I, J) KAUM-I.123161, LBM, 99 mm SL, Japan, Kagoshima, NE of Matsushima (H. Motomura). 

(A, B) Upeneus alama: (A) USNM 466258, HT, 117 mm SL, Philippines, Manila Bay, Cavite (copyright D. Pitassy); (B) USNM 466258, PT, 125 mm SL, same locality (copyright D. Pitassy);
(C) U. brevianalis, ZMUC P49375, HT, 137 mm SL, Thailand, Andaman Sea, Phuket (F. Uiblein); 
(D, E) U. doriae: (D): USNM FIN 31104 (unvouchered photograph), 106 mm SL, Persian/Arabian Gulf, Bahrain (copyright J. E. Randall); (E) ZMB 7056, LT, 104 mm SL, Iran, Persian/Arabian Gulf, Bandar Abbas (copyright E. Aßel);
(F, G, H) U. nigromarginatus: (F) USNM 403319, 159 mm SL, Philippines, Negros Oriental, Dumaguete Citz (copyright J. T. Williams); (G) VNMN-I 1986 (unvouchered image), ca. 70 mm SL, Philippines, Panay Island, Tigbauan market near Iloilo City (F. Uiblein); (H) AMS I.18495-001, 88 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Broken Water Bay (K. Parkinson).  

Upeneus alama Uiblein and Motomura, new species

Cavite Goatfish

  

Diagnosis.—Dorsal fins VIII + 9; pectoral fins 16; gill rakers 8–9 upper + 20–22 lower = 28–31 total; lateral-line scales 33; body moderately deep; measurements as % SL: body depth at anal-fin origin 25–28; maximum head depth 26; head depth through eye 22; suborbital depth 14; head length 34; snout length 13; postorbital length 14; upper-jaw length 15; barbel length 28–30; barbel width 1.6–1.7; caudal-peduncle length 21–22; second dorsal-fin base length 14; caudal-fin length 28–32; length of anal-fin base 9.8–9.9; anal-fin height 15–17; pelvic-fin length 20; pectoral-fin length 28; pectoral-fin width 5.5–5.9; first dorsal-fin height 24–25; first two or three long dorsal-fin spines protruding; second dorsal-fin height 17; caudal fin without bars; first dorsal fin with black tip, retained in preservative; preserved fish with silvery-whitish head, pale brown body ventrally and dark brown dorsally; fins except for first dorsal-fin tip pale brown, partly hyaline; barbels very long, pale.

Etymology.—The new species name “alama” is used as a noun in apposition and honors the late Mr. Ulysses Banga Alama (1959–2023), who was employed at the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines, and manager of the UPVM fish collection, to commemorate his contributions to marine ichthyology.

Upeneus brevianalis Uiblein and Boonphienphol, new species

 Phuket Goatfish

 

Diagnosis.—Dorsal fins VIII + 9; pectoral fins 16; gill rakers 8 upper + 20 lower = 28 total; lateral-line scales 31–32; body moderately deep; measurements as % SL: body depth at anal-fin origin 23; maximum head depth 27; head depth through eye 21; suborbital depth 14; head length 33; snout length 13; postorbital length 14; upper-jaw length 14; barbel length 20; barbel width 1.5; caudal-peduncle length 19; second dorsal-fin base length 15; caudal-fin length 31; length of anal-fin base 8.1; anal-fin height 12; pelvic-fin length 20; pectoral-fin length 26; pectoral-fin width 6.0; first dorsal-fin height 23, first five long dorsal-fin spines slightly protruding; second dorsal-fin height 17; caudal fin without bars; anterior third of first dorsal fin forming a broad, dark-brown vertically oriented band, becoming slightly wider dorsally; head and body pale brown to brown, belly lighter; paired and anal fins pale hyaline; barbels pale to pale brown.

Etymology.—The new species name “brevianalis” refers to the short anal fin, an important diagnostic character of this species.

Franz Uiblein, Hiroyuki Motomura, Peter R. Møller, Mark Sabaj, Supasit Boonphienphol, Tuan A. Hoang and Kerryn Parkinson. 2025. Two New Goatfish Species of the Upeneus sulphureus Species Group (Mullidae), with a Redescription of U. sulphureus Cuvier, 1829 and a Review of Barbel Length in the Genus. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 113(3); 453-486. DOI: doi.org/10.1643/i2024094 (22 August 2025)  

 

[Ichthyology • 2024] Cylix nkosi • A New Record and Species of Pygmy Pipehorse of the Genus Cylix (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) from South Africa and the African Continent

Cylix nkosi 

Short, Smith, Harasti & Claassens, 2024 

 Sodwana Pygmy Pipehorse ||  DOI: doi.org/10.1643/i2023053

 

Abstract

Cylix nkosi, new species, of the formerly monotypic pygmy pipehorse genus Cylix, is described on the basis of the female holotype and the male paratype collected between 14–50 m over inshore warm-tropical coral reefs from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The new taxon possesses derived characters consistent with the diagnosis of the type species Cylix tupareomanaia from Aotearoa New Zealand, including a prominent supraoccipital bone bearing a highly derived bony protuberance and the presence of distinct midventral head spines. The new species is distinguished from its congener primarily by the distinct shapes of the supraoccipital protuberance, midventral head spines, and the dorsomedial crest-like ridge on the first trunk ridge. Cylix nkosi, new species, can be further differentiated by genetic divergence in the mitochondrial COI gene from C. tupareomanaia and the morphologically similar members of the Indo-Pacific pygmy pipehorse genera Acentronura and Idiotropiscis (estimated uncorrected p-distances of 10.0% C. tupareomanaia, 16.6% A. breviperula, 20.6% A. tentaculata, 18.1% I. australe, and 18.8% I. lumnitzeri, respectively). Cylix nkosi, new species, is the first confirmed record of the genus in South Africa and the African continent. In addition, the occurrence of C. nkosi, new species, in the western Indian Ocean represents a substantial expansion of the geographical distribution of the genus beyond its original type locality in New Zealand.

Lateral view of the head of Cylix nkosi, SAMC F041935, female, holotype, highlighting positions of diagnostic characters, including the supraoccipital protuberance and medioventral conical spines on the cleithral symphysis and the first trunk ring between the pectoral-fin bases. Abbreviations: CS, cleithral spines; CSS, medioventral spine on the cleithral symphysis; DHS, double head spine; FS, frontal spine; FTRC, first trunk ring crest; LHS, lateral head spine; MVFTRS, medioventral spine on first trunk ring between the pectoral-fin bases; ORE, orbital rim extension; PLS, posterolateral spine on pectoral-fin base; SnS, snout spines; SP, supraoccipital protuberance. Scale bar = 5 mm.

Cylix nkosi in situ, SAMC F041935, female, holotype, 45.9 mm SL, 2 Mile Reef, Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 22 m depth. (A) Lateral view of the body. (B) Anterolateral view of the head highlighting the diamond-shaped supraoccipital protuberance pair on the head. Abbreviation: SP, supraoccipital protuberance. Photographs by Richard Smith.

Cylix nkosi, new species

 Common Name: Sodwana Pygmy Pipehorse  

  

Diagnosis.—Cylix nkosi differs from C. tupareomanaia in possessing a supraoccipital bone bearing a highly derived and distinct diamond-shaped bony protuberance (SP; vs. cup-like bony protuberance; Table 3) oriented anteriorly, rhombus-shaped in anterodorsal view, divided transversally into two sections by a ridge; knob-shaped midventral spine (CSS; vs. udder-shaped bony protuberance; Table 3) on the cleithral symphysis; blunt midventral spine (MVFTRS; vs. conical midventral spine; Table 3) on the first trunk ring between the pectoral-fin bases; thick dorsomedial crest-like ridge (FTRC; vs. thin and rugose crest-like ...

Cylix nkosi in situ, 2 Mile Reef, Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 22 m depth:
 (A) male, pregnant, red coloration; (B) male, pregnant, yellow coloration; (C) female, brown coloration; (D) female, brown coloration.

 Photographs © Christo van Jaarsveld (SeaXplore), used with permission.

Etymology.—The species epithet is derived from the Nguni or Zulu term for chief due to the crown-like nature of the highly derived bony protuberance on the supraoccipital bone. A noun in the genitive. New English Names: Sodwana Pygmy Pipehorse is proposed here for Cylix nkosi.

 

Graham Short, Richard Smith, David Harasti and Louw Claassens. 2024. A New Record and Species of Pygmy Pipehorse of the Genus Cylix (Teleostei, Syngnathidae) from South Africa and the African Continent. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 112(3):315-327. DOI: doi.org/10.1643/i2023053

[Ichthyology • 2022] Kyonemichthys rumengani (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) is Sister Taxon to the Pipefish Genus Urocampus: Genetic and Morphological Evidence

  

Kyonemichthys rumengani Gomon, 2007

in Hanahara, Tanimoto & Shirakawa, 2022. 

DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.27.293

 twitter.com/Species_Divers

 

Abstract

A single female specimen (25.6 mm in standard length) of the thread-like Indo-Pacific pygmy syngnathid Kyonemichthys rumengani Gomon, 2007 was collected from fringing reef at eight meters depth from Okinawa Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago of southern Japan. It represents the first specimen of this species to be housed in a museum fish collection in Japan, where for the first time it is available for molecular analysis. We assessed the morphological hypothesis that previously suggested Kyonemichthys Gomon, 2007 is allied with the Indo-Pacific pygmy pipehorse genera Acentronura Kaup, 1853 and Idiotropiscis Whitley, 1947 based on similar characteristics of the head angled slightly ventrally from the abdominal axis, dermal appendages, and flexible tail lacking a caudal fin. However, Kyonemichthys differs from these genera in having a dorsal-fin origin on the tail versus the trunk, a characteristic shared by two Indo-Pacific pipefish genera: the morphologically similar Urocampus Günther, 1870 and the distinct worm-like Siokunichthys Herald, 1953. We therefore investigated the evolutionary relationships of K. rumengani within Syngnathidae based on the genetic divergence of the mitochondrial CO1 gene (uncorrected p-distances) and a phylogenetic hypothesis generated from the analysis of three partial mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, and CO1). Genetic analyses demonstrated that Kyonemichthys and Urocampus are closely related and form a strongly supported clade that excludes the phylogenetically distant Acentronura, Idiotropiscis, and Siokunichthys. Furthermore, morphological comparisons of K. rumengani with members of Urocampus revealed numerous synapomorphies distinct from the pygmy pipehorses, including meristic characters, trunk and tail ridge configurations, placement of dorsal fin on the tail, and shape of the prehensile tail. Therefore, based on the genetic and morphological characteristics, we suggest that Kyonemichthys is sister to Urocampus and is allied with pipefishes rather than with pygmy pipehorses. In addition, the Japanese standard name “Hari-youji” was proposed for K. rumengani.

Keywords: marine fish, pygmy pipehorse, CO1, phylogeny, taxonomy, Indo-Pacific

Photograph of preserved specimen of Kyonemichthys rumengani (OCF-P 10439, 25.6mm SL) collected from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands.

Aquarium photograph of Kyonemichthys rumengani (OCF-P 10439, 25.6mm SL).

Kyonemichthys rumengani Gomon, 2007 

[New standard Japanese name: Hari-youji]

Nozomi Hanahara, Miyako Tanimoto and Naoki Shirakawa. 2022. Kyonemichthys rumengani (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) is Sister Taxon to the Pipefish Genus Urocampus: Genetic and Morphological Evidence.  Species Diversity. 27(2); 293-299. DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.27.293

 twitter.com/Species_Divers/status/1580838206064693249

[Ichthyology • 2022] Pegasus sinensis • A New Seamoth Species of Pegasus (Syngnathiformes: Pegasidae) from the East China Sea

Pegasus sinensis

Zhang, Zhang, Ma, Liu, Lin & Wang, 2022

Chinese Seamoth  |  中华海蛾鱼  ||  DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.109

Photos by Xin Wang.

The Pegasidae family, which includes seven species of seamoths, is widely distributed in the temperate and tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, ranging from South Africa to Hawaii. In this study, we describe a new species of seamoth, Pegasus sinensis sp. nov., based on morphological and molecular characterization of 14 specimens collected from the surrounding waters of Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China. The new species differs from closely related P. volitans in both the density and color of spots present on the dorsal and lateral body surfaces. Based on the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of three newly sequenced pegasids used in this study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of Pegasidae, revealing that Pegasus sinensis sp. nov. and P. volitans diverged from their common ancestor approximately 9.0 million years ago (Ma). Two members of the pegasid genus Spinipegasus (S. laternarius and S. nanhaiensis) clustered outside the monophyletic branch of Pegasus and Eurypegasus, supporting the classification of Spinipegasus as a valid genus, as proposed in previous studies.

   Sampling sites, holotype, and phylogeny of Pegasus sinensis sp. nov.
A: Sampling sites of Pegasus sinensis sp. nov. (red circles).
B–D: Dorsal, lateral, and ventral views of Pegasus sinensis sp. nov. (TMBC030944). Photos by Xin Wang.

 E: Bayesian phylogram of Pegasidae inferred from mitogenome sequences. 

F: Bayesian phylogram of Pegasidae inferred from mitochondrial 16S rDNA.

B–D: Dorsal, lateral, and ventral views of Pegasus sinensis sp. nov. (TMBC030944).

Photos by Xin Wang.

Pegasus sinensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Pegasus sinensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from all known congeners based on a combination of the following characters (see Supplementary Table S2 for details, with P. volitans, P. tetrabelos, S. laternarius, and S. nanhaiensis data taken from Osterhage et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2020): (1) tail rings 12 (I–XII) (vs. 11 in S. laternarius and S. nanhaiensis); (2) body slender, similar to P. volitans, carapace width 14.44%–18.15% of SL (vs. 28.8%–37.0% of SL in S. nanhaiensis and 24.7%–32.2% of SL in S. laternarius); (3) rostrum length 21.01%–25.53% of SL (vs. 4.8%–17.4% of SL in S. nanhaiensis and 7.5%–19.9% of SL in S. laternarius; (4) pectoral fin rays 11 (vs. 10 in P. tetrabelos); (5) tail length 60.44%–65.76% of SL (vs. 59.3%–65.2% of SL in P. tetrabelos and 45.1%–52.8% of SL in S. nanhaiensis); (6) overlaid large, dark spots (vs. smaller brown to dark brown spots in P. volitans and P. tetrabelos); and (7) dorsal plate pairs 3 (d1–3), dorsolateral plate pairs 4 (dl1–4), ventrolateral plate pairs 5 (vl1–5), caudodorsal plate pairs at tail 11, and caudoventral plate pairs 11 (Figure 1B–D).

 

Etymology: The species name sinensis is derived from its currently known distribution in the coastal waters of China.

Suggested English name: Chinese Seamoth

Suggested Chinese common name: 中华海蛾鱼 

(Chinese phonetic alphabet: zhōng huá hǎi é yú).

 Ying-Yi Zhang, Rong-Rong Zhang, Shao-Bo Ma, Shuai-Shuai Liu, Qiang Lin and Xin Wang. 2022. A New Seamoth Species of Pegasus (Syngnathiformes: Pegasidae) from the East China Sea. Zoological Research. 43(4); 675-678. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2022.109

[Ichthyology • 2021] Cylix tupareomanaia • A New Genus and Species of Pygmy Pipehorse (Teleostei, Syngnathidae) from Taitokerau Northland, Aotearoa New Zealand, with a Redescription of Acentronura Kaup, 1853 and Idiotropiscis Whitley, 1947

Cylix tupareomanaia Short, Trnski, & Ngātiwai,

in Short & Trnski, 2021.

DOI: 10.1643/i2020136

 

Abstract

Cylix tupareomanaia, new genus and species, is described from three specimens (35.5–55.5 mm SL), collected from rocky reefs at 12–17 m depth from Taitokerau Northland, New Zealand. The new taxon shares morphological synapomorphies with the superficially similar Australian endemic Idiotropiscis and Indo-Pacific Acentronura, including head angled ventrally approximately 25° from the principal body axis, enclosed brood pouch, brood pouch plates, prehensile tail, and absence of caudal fin. Cylix tupareomanaia, new genus and species, however, is distinguishable from all other members of the Syngnathidae by the following combination of bony autapomorphic characters: a cup-like crest present anterodorsally on the supraoccipital; and large conspicuous midventral conical spines on the cleithral symphysis and first trunk ring between the pectoral-fin bases. The new species can be further differentiated by genetic divergence in the mitochondrial COX1 gene from Acentronura breviperula, A. tentaculata, Idiotropiscis australe, and I. lumnitzeri (estimated uncorrected p-distances of 19.5%, 20.4%, 17.9%, and 18.4%, respectively). A phylogenetic hypothesis from the analysis of two nuclear loci, 18S and TMO-4C4, supports the placement of C. tupareomanaia, new genus and species, as the sister taxon to a clade comprising the genera Acentronura and Idiotropiscis. Cylix tupareomanaia, new genus and species, represents the eighth member within the pygmy pipehorse clade to be described from the Indo-Pacific and the first new genus and species of syngnathid to be reported from New Zealand since 1921.

Cylix tupareomanaia.
(A) AIM MA122274, female, holotype shortly after death, 31.4 mm SL; Waiatapaua Bay, Whangaruru, Northland, New Zealand (photograph © Auckland Museum).
(B) NMNZ P.056154, female, paratype, shortly after death, 35.5 mm SL; Cavalli Islands, Northland, New Zealand (photograph © Irene Middleton).

Cylix tupareomanaia.
 (A) AIM MA122274, female, preserved holotype, 31.4 mm SL; Waiatapaua Bay, Whangaruru, Northland, New Zealand (photograph © Auckland Museum).
(B) NMNZ P.056154, female, preserved paratype, 35.5 mm SL; Cavalli Islands, Northland, New Zealand (photograph © Auckland Museum).
 (C) NMNZ P.046322, male, preserved paratype, 55.5 mm SL; east of Oturori Rock, Bay of Islands, Northland, New Zealand (photograph Graham Short).

µCT scan of Cylix tupareomanaia, NMNZ P.046322, male, paratype, 55.5 mm SL.
 (A, B) Anterolateral view of the head highlighting the bifurcated and cup-like crest present on the supraoccipital, continuous cleithral ring, and the strongly elevated ventrolateral bulge of the pectoral-fin base.
(C) Anterodorsal aspect of the neurocranium highlighting the bifurcated and cup-like pentamerous bony crest present on the supraoccipital.

 Abbreviations: FS, frontal spine; PFB, pectoral-fin base; SC, supraoccipital crest; SCL, supracleithrum.

Cylix tupareomanaia in situ.
 (A) AIM MA122274, female, holotype, Waiatapaua Bay, Whangaruru, Northland, New Zealand, 12 m depth (photograph © Shane Housham). (B) Waiatapaua Bay, Whangaruru, Northland, New Zealand, 12 m depth (photograph © Shane Housham).
(C) Waiatapaua Bay, Whangaruru, Northland, New Zealand, 12 m depth (photograph © Richard Smith). (D) Waiatapaua Bay, Whangaruru, Northland, New Zealand, 12 m depth (photograph © Irene Middleton).
(E) Waiatapaua Bay, Whangaruru, Northland, New Zealand, 12 m depth (photograph © Irene Middleton). (F) Poor Knights Islands, Northland, New Zealand, at 10 m depth (photograph © Kent Erickson).

Cylix, new genus

 Type species.—Cylix tupareomanaia, new species.

Diagnosis.—A genus of the Syngnathidae that shares numerous morphological synapomorphies with Acentronura and Idiotropiscis, including head angled ventrally approximately 25° from the principal body axis, enclosed brood pouch, brood pouch plates, prehensile tail, and absence of caudal fin. However, Cylix tupareomanaia, new species, differs from all other genera by unique anatomical features of the head, including: a distinct, cup-like crest present anterodorsally on the supraoccipital; and large and conspicuous medioventral conical spines on the cleithral symphysis and the first trunk ring between the pectoral-fin bases. It differs further in having the following combination of morphological characters: prominent supraoccipital; continuous cleithrum; prominent supracleithrum; anterior nuchal plate absent; posterior nuchal plate present with bony dorsomedial crest; large gap present between the supraoccipital and posterior nuchal plate; one to three dorsal spines at midline of snout, posteriormost of these spines large; one large double and rugose lateral head spine present below the cup-like supraoccipital crest; three small blunt lateral head spines on operculum; rim of orbit elevated dorsolaterally and strongly ventrally; two spines on cleithral ring; large rugose spine anterior to ventral third of pectoral-fin base; moderate-sized spine at ventral extent of head; small spine present posterolateral to the pelvic-fin base; four subdorsal spines, forming a square, the dorsal two enlarged.

Etymology.—The generic name Cylix is derived from the Greek kylix, meaning cup or chalice, in reference to the cup-like crest present on the head. Gender masculine.

Cylix tupareomanaia Short, Trnski, and Ngātiwai, new species

 

Common Names: Māori—Tu pare o manaia, 

English—Manaia Pygmy Pipehorse

 

Hippocampus jugumus: Kuiter, 2009: 93, figs. A, B (Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand).

Acentronura australe: Stewart, 2015: 1053, fig. 148.1 (Bay of Islands, New Zealand).

Idiotropiscis aotearoa: Perkins, 2017 (Whangaruru, New Zealand;  http://www.inspiredtodive.com/photo-blog/introducing-idiotropiscis-aotearoa).

Etymology.—The species epithet tupareomanaia is a neologism gifted by kaumātua (tribal elders) of Ngātiwai and references Home Point adjacent to the type locality, referred to by Ngātiwai as Tu Pare o Huia, meaning “the plume of the huia”; the huia was a bird that became extinct in the early 20th century. Tu Pare o Manaia translates as “the garland of the Manaia.” The pare, or garland, references the pentamerous head crest of the new species, and Manaia is the Māori name for a seahorse, and is also an ancestor that appears as a stylized figure used in Māori carvings representing a guardian.

Graham A. Short and Thomas Trnski. 2021. A New Genus and Species of Pygmy Pipehorse from Taitokerau Northland, Aotearoa New Zealand, with a Redescription of Acentronura Kaup, 1853 and Idiotropiscis Whitley, 1947 (Teleostei, Syngnathidae). Ichthyology & Herpetology. 109(3); 806-835 . DOI: 10.1643/i2020136

    

[Ichthyology • 2021] Genome Sequences reveal Global Dispersal Routes and Suggest Convergent Genetic Adaptations in Seahorse Evolution

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Hippocampus.

in Li, Olave, Hou, ... et Lin, 2021. 

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21379-x

Abstract

Seahorses have a circum-global distribution in tropical to temperate coastal waters. Yet, seahorses show many adaptations for a sedentary, cryptic lifestyle: they require specific habitats, such as seagrass, kelp or coral reefs, lack pelvic and caudal fins, and give birth to directly developed offspring without pronounced pelagic larval stage, rendering long-range dispersal by conventional means inefficient. Here we investigate seahorses’ worldwide dispersal and biogeographic patterns based on a de novo genome assembly of Hippocampus erectus as well as 358 re-sequenced genomes from 21 species. Seahorses evolved in the late Oligocene and subsequent circum-global colonization routes are identified and linked to changing dynamics in ocean currents and paleo-temporal seaway openings. Furthermore, the genetic basis of the recurring “bony spines” adaptive phenotype is linked to independent substitutions in a key developmental gene. Analyses thus suggest that rafting via ocean currents compensates for poor dispersal and rapid adaptation facilitates colonizing new habitats.

Fig. 1: Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of 358 seahorse specimens.

Independent evolution in the phylogenetic tree reconstructed for the protein encoded by bmp3. Seahorses illustrations by Geng Qin.

 

Chunyan Li, Melisa Olave, Yali Hou, Geng Qin, Ralf F. Schneider, Zexia Gao, Xiaolong Tu, Xin Wang, Furong Qi, Alexander Nater, Andreas F. Kautt, Shiming Wan, Yanhong Zhang, Yali Liu, Huixian Zhang, Bo Zhang, Hao Zhang, Meng Qu, Shuaishuai Liu, Zeyu Chen, Jia Zhong, He Zhang, Lingfeng Meng, Kai Wang, Jianping Yin, Liangmin Huang, Byrappa Venkatesh, Axel Meyer, Xuemei Lu and Qiang Lin. 2021. Genome Sequences reveal Global Dispersal Routes and Suggest Convergent Genetic Adaptations in Seahorse Evolution. Nature Communications. 12, 1094. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21379-x 

[Ichthyology • 2020] Stigmatopora harastii • A New Species of Pipefish (Syngnathiformes, Syngnathidae) in Facultative Associations with Finger Sponges and Red Algae from New South Wales, Australia

Stigmatopora harastii 

Short & Trevor-Jones, 2020

Harasti’s Pipefish or Red Wide-bodied Pipefish || DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.994.57160 

Abstract

A new species of pipefish, Stigmatopora harastii sp. nov., is described based on the male holotype and two female paratypes, 136.3–145.5 mm SL, collected from red algae (sp.?) at 12 meters depth in Botany Bay, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The new taxon shares morphological synapomorphies with the previously described members of Stigmatopora, including principle body ridges, fin placement, slender tail, and absence of a caudal fin. It is morphologically and meristically similar to Stigmatopora nigra, including snout length and shape, dorsal-fin origin on 6th–7th trunk ring, and lateral trunk ridge terminating on the first tail ring. Stigmatopora harastii sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners, however, by characters of the head and first trunk ring, distinct sexual dimorphic markings on sides and venter of anterior trunk rings, and red background coloration in life. The new taxon can be further differentiated by genetic divergence in the mitochondrial COI gene (uncorrected p-distances of 9.8%, 10.1%, 10.7%, and 14.6%, from S. argus, S. macropterygia, S. narinosa, and S. nigra, respectively). The type locality is characterised by semi-exposed deep-water sandy areas interspersed with boulders, flat reefs, and an absence of seagrass beds, in which S. harastii has been observed living in facultative associations with a finger sponge and red algae at depths of 10–25 meters, compared to the shallow coastal and estuarine habitats preferred by the fucoid algae and seagrass-associating members of Stigmatopora. Stigmatopora harastii sp. nov. represents the fourth species of Stigmatopora recorded in temperate southern Australia.

Keywords: Botany Bay, COI, cryptobenthic, ichthyology, Jervis Bay, marine fish, morphology, South Pacific, Sydney, systematics, taxonomy

Figure 3. Stigmatopora harastii in situ, AMS I. 49510-001, holotype, male A (right individual) B (left individual); The Steps, Kurnell, Botany Bay, NSW, Australia, 13.5 meters depth, 18 June 2020. The male holotype was photographed with a paired female individual, which was not collected. Note the large cluster of distinct red spots extending posteriad on venter of anterior trunk rings in the male (photographs: Andrew Trevor-Jones).

 Figure 4. Stigmatopora harastii in situ, AMS I.47267 paratypes, female, The Steps, Kurnell, Botany Bay, NSW, Australia at 11–12 meters depth, 06 June 2017 (photographs: David Harasti).

Figure 1. Stigmatopora harastii, preserved directly after collection, AMS I. 49510-001, holotype male, 145.5 mm SL A dorsal view B lateral view C ventral view; Australia: NSW, Botany Bay, Kurnell (photograph: Kerryn Parkinson).
Figure 2. Stigmatopora harastii, preserved directly after collection, paratypes, female A AMS I.47267-001, 136.3 mm SL B AMS I.47267-002, 138.2 mm SL; Australia: NSW, Botany Bay, Kurnell (photograph: Kerryn Parkinson).

Stigmatopora harastii sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Stigmatopora harastii differs from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: median ridge, distinct, low, present on dorsum of head and first trunk ring starting from the posterior third of the frontal, over the supraoccipital, to the anterior and posterior nuchal plates; opercular ridge prominent, complete, not angled dorsad; lateromedial ridge, distinct, low, present between opercle and pectoral fin base; dorsal-fin origin on 6th–7th trunk rings, subdorsal rings 19–20 (12 trunk rings + 7 or 8 tail rings); lateral trunk ridge ends on first tail ring. Colouration: red background colour; dorsum of snout with large, irregular pale white spots; sides of head and anterior trunk rings with large, irregular pale white spots or with diffuse pale white stripe; venter of first trunk ring with distinct red elongated spots in longitudinal row, almost forming a stripe, on midline present in male (AMS I. 49510-001); venter of anterior trunk rings pale red with a large cluster of distinct red spots extending posteriad from second trunk ring in male (AMS I. 49510-001), few scattered small red spots in females (AMS I.1.47267).

Etymology: This species is named after David Harasti, one of the first to recognize S. harastii as being a new species, for recognition of his efforts towards conservation of Syngnathidae in Australia, and for being an aficionado extraordinaire of his beloved genus Stigmatopora. David has stated he counts green pipefish to fall asleep. Harasti’s Pipefish and the Red Wide-bodied Pipefish are proposed here as the common names for S. harastii.

Figure 6. Aerial view of the scuba dive site The Steps, Kurnell, Botany Bay, NSW, Australia A shore and entrance B inshore boulders (photographs: Michael McFadyen).

Figure 8. Stigmatopora harastii in situ, male-female pair A lateral view B anterior view, Minmi Trench, Botany Bay, NSW, Australia, 18 meters depth, 17 February 2019 (photographs: Duncan Heuer). 

Figure 9. Stigmatopora harastii in situ A–C male D female, The Gutter, Bass Point, Shellharbour, NSW, Australia, 18 meters depth, 17 Feb 2017 (photographs: Craig Taylor).

 Graham Short and Andrew Trevor-Jones. 2020. Stigmatopora harastii, A New Species of Pipefish in Facultative Associations with Finger Sponges and Red Algae from New South Wales, Australia (Teleostei, Syngnathidae). ZooKeys. 994: 105-123. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.994.57160

 

Meet the spectacular Red Wide-bodied Pipefish: Australia's newest endemic fish species

 australian.museum/blog/amri-news/meet-the-spectacular-red-wide-bodied-pipefish-australias-newest-endemic-fish-species