[Ichthyology • 2016] Arothron multilineatus • A New Pufferfish, (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), from the Indo-West Pacific

Many-lined Pufferfish | Arothron multilineatus

Matsuura, 2016

 DOI: 10.1007/s10228-016-0517-8

Abstract

A new pufferfish, Arothron multilineatus, is described on the basis of four specimens collected from southern Japan. It is distinguished from the other 13 species of Arothron by having many longitudinal white lines on the dark greenish-brown head and body. Underwater photographs of this new pufferfish have revealed that it is widely distributed in the tropical regions of the Indo-West Pacific including the Red Sea. A key to the species of Arothron is provided.

Keywords: Tetraodontidae, New species, Arothron, Taxonomy, Distribution

Arothron multilineatus sp. nov.

 (English name: Many-lined Pufferfish; New Japanese name: Tasuji-fugu)

Distribution. Arothron multilineatus has been observed by SCUBA divers at depths from 10 m to 25 m on the sandy bottom along the south coast of Amami-oshima Island of the Ryukyu Islands. Judging from collection localities of the type specimens and underwater photographs taken in the Ryukyu Islands (Kimiaki Ito), Mozambique (Angela Lund) and the Red Sea (Richard Field), and a literature record from the Philippines (Schroeder 1980), Arothron multilineatus is widely distributed in the tropical Indo-West Pacific.

Etymology. The specific name, multilineatus, refers to many white lines on the head and body.

Keiichi Matsuura. 2016. A New Pufferfish, Arothron multilineatus (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), from the Indo-West Pacific. Ichthyological Research.  DOI: 10.1007/s10228-016-0517-8

[Ichthyology • 2014] Torquigener albomaculosus • A New Pufferfish of the Genus Torquigener (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) that builds “Mystery Circles” on Sandy Bottoms in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Torquigener albomaculosus Matsuura, 2014

Abstract

Torquigener albomaculosus sp. nov. is described based on two specimens collected from sandy bottoms at depths of 15 and 18 m along the south coast of Amami-oshima Island in the Ryukyu Islands. This new species is distinguished from all other species of Torquigener by the following unique combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 9 (10); anal-fin rays 6; pectoral-fin rays 16 (dorsalmost ray nubbin-like and rudimentary); vertebrae 8 + 11 = 19; no solid, dark, longitudinal stripe nor longitudinal rows of dark spots on the mid-side of body from behind pectoral fin to caudal-fin base; no vertical markings on cheek; dorsal half of head and body covered with fine brown reticulations and many white spots; ventral half of head and body silvery white covered by many white spots from chin to above anal-fin origin; dorsal rim of eye light yellow; and many two-rooted spinules on head and body. Males of T. albomaculosus build unique circles as spawning nests, these being 2 m in diameter on sandy bottoms at depths from 10 to 30 m at Amami-oshima Island.

Keywords: New pufferfish, Torquigener, Tetraodontiformes, mystery circles, Ryukyu Islands

Keiichi Matsuura. 2014. A New Pufferfish of the Genus Torquigener that builds “Mystery Circles” on Sandy Bottoms in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae). Ichthyological Research. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10228-014-0428-5

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[Ichthyology • 2013] Role of Huge Geometric Circular Structures in the Reproduction of a Marine Pufferfish Torquigener albomaculosus

Figure 1: Male pufferfish, Torquigener sp. >> T. albomaculosus
The male is digging a valley with its fins and body. Photograph by K. Ito at Seisui on 23 April 2012.

 DOI: 10.1038/srep02106

We report that male pufferfishes (Torquigener sp., Tetraodontidae) constructed large geometric circular structures on the seabed that played an important role in female mate choice. Males dug valleys at various angles in a radial direction, constructing nests surrounded by radially aligned peaks and valleys. Furthermore, they created irregular patterns in the nest comprising fine sand particles. The circular structure not only influences female mate choice but also functions to gather fine sand particles in nests, which are important in female mate choice. Strangely enough, the males never reuse the nest, always constructing a new circular structure at the huge cost of construction. This is because the valleys may not contain sufficient fine sand particles for multiple reproductive cycles.

Figure 3: Changes in the circular structure constructed by male pufferfish.
(a) Early stage; (b) middle stage; (c) final stage; and (d) after spawning of the same circular structure of K1 in Figure 2. Photograph by Y. Okata on 23, 27, 29 June, and 6 July 2012, respectively.

DOI: 10.1038/srep02106

Hiroshi Kawase, Yoji Okata and Kimiaki Ito. 2013. Role of Huge Geometric Circular Structures in the Reproduction of a Marine Pufferfish. Scientific Reports. 3[2106]

DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep02106

[Ichthyology • 2013] Tetraodon barbatus | ปลาปักเป้าปากดำ • Validation of Tetraodon barbatus Roberts, 1998, a Freshwater Pufferfish (Family Tetraodontidae) from the Mekong River

Abstract

 The freshwater pufferfish, Tetraodon barbatus Roberts, 1998, previously considered as a synonym of Tetraodon cambodgiensis Chabanaud, 1923, is validated. It differs distinctly from T. cambodgiensis by the combination of characters of that its caudal peduncle is smooth without small spinules and the head is broader (head width at preorbital, post orbital and nape: 54.1–59.8, 69.1–77.8 and 76.5–86.8 % head length (HL), respectively, in T. barbatus vs. 48.7–53.3, 60.2–64.3 and 68.5–74.3 %HL, respectively, in T. cambodgiensis). 

Key words: Tetraodon barbatus, valid species, Mekong River 

Geographic distribution.– T. barbatus is only known from the middle and lower Mekong basin (Roberts, 1998). The data from the field trips in Mekong basin of Thailand revealed that T. barbatus is not only found in Mekong mainstream but also in its larger tributaries, especially in places with rocky, sandy or muddy substrate. Moreover, T. barbatus inhabits rapids and is often found in the same habitat as T. suvattii and T. baileyi.

Pasakorn Saenjundaeng, Chaiwut Grudpun and Chavalit Vidthayanon. 2013. Validation of Tetraodon barbatus Roberts, 1998, a Freshwater Pufferfish (Family Tetraodontidae) from the Mekong River. Tropical Natural History. 13(2): 77-85

http://www.biology.sc.chula.ac.th/TNH/TNH_13_2/77-85%20Saenjundaeng.pdf

[Ichthyology • 2013] Tetraodon palustris | ปลาปักเป้าบึง • a new freshwater pufferfish (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from the Mekong Basin of Thailand

 Tetraodon palustris Saenjundaeng, Vidthayanon & Grudpun. 2013

Abstract

Tetraodon palustris, new species, is described from the Mekong basin of Thailand. Tetraodon palustris differs from T. cochinchinensis and T. fangi in having no ocellus on the flank and spinules dorsally from the interorbital region to the end of the dorsal-fin base. Tetraodon cochinchinensis is distinguished from T. fangi by having a longer snout (43.5–49.2% HL in T. cochinchinensis vs. 37.9–41.1% HL in T. fangi) and is covered with spinules dorsally from the front of the nasal organs to the end of the dorsal-fin base (vs. from the front of the eyes to the end of the dorsal-fin base in T. fangi).

Key words: Tetraodon, new species, Mekong basin

Saenjundaeng, Pasakorn, Chavalit Vidthayanon & Chaiwut Grudpun. 2013. Tetraodon palustris, a new freshwater pufferfish (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from the Mekong Basin of Thailand. Zootaxa. 3686(1): 77–84. 

http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2013/f/z03686p084f.pdf

http://facebook.com/groups/122260101128398/permalink/596793467008390/

http://www.kku.ac.th/news/2013/July/นักวิจัย-คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ฯ-มข.วิทยาเขตหนองคาย-ค้นพบป.php

[Ichthyology • 1999] Carinotetraodon imitator • a new freshwater pufferfish (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes) from India

  Carinotetraodon imitator Britz & Kottelat, 1999
(a) live male in normal coloration; (b) in courting coloration with skin keels erected; (c) live female in normal coloration.

Abstract

Carinotetraodon imitator, new species, a sexually dimorphic freshwater pufferfish, is described from Kerala, India. It has a colour pattern resembling that of Tetraodon travancoricus. The two species differ, however, in details of the colour pattern, in body spination, and the presence of an erectible dorsal and ventral keel of skin in courting males; the latter character assigns the new species to the genus Carinotetraodon. It is distinguished from C. lorteti and C. salivator, by colour pattern of both sexes, body spination, and a maximum size of less than 26 mm standard length which makes C. imitator one of the smallest known pufferfishes. The keels have not been observed in T. travancoricus but this species is hypothesized to belong to Carinotetraodon on the basis of osteological characters.

Key words: Tetraodontidae, Carinotetraodon, sexual dimorphism, skin keels

Britz, R. & Kottelat, M., 1999. Carinotetraodon imitator, a new freshwater pufferfish from India (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes). Journal of South Asian Natural History. 4 (1): 39-47.

[Ichthyology • 1995] Carinotetraodon salivator • a New Species of Pufferfish (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) from Sarawak, Malaysia

Carinotetraodon salivator K. K. P. Lim & Kottelat, 1995

http://www.estalens.fr/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=1183

Abstract

 Carinotetraodon salivator, a new species of freshwater pufferfish, is described from Sarawak. It differs from its only known congener, C. lorteti, in having a shallower body (depth 36-41% SL, vs. 45- 5 3), 10 anal fin rays (vs. 11), 16-17 pectoral fin rays (vs. 14-15), 17-18 (mode 18) vertebrae (vs. 15-17, mode 16), eyes situated nearer the dorsal profile of the head, a distinct pale blotch present under the lower lip, a white distal margin absent from the caudal fin, and a ventrum which is striped in females and cross-banded in mature males. A lectotype is designated for Tetraodon borneensis Regan, 1902 .

Kelvin K.P. Lim; Maurice Kottelat . 1995. Carinotetraodon salivator, a New Species of Pufferfish from Sarawak, Malaysia (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae). Japanese Journal of Ichthyology. 41(4): 359-365.  http://www.wdc-jp.biz/pdf_store/isj/publication/pdf/41/414/41401.pdf