[Ichthyology • 2025] Branchenchelys megacephala • A New Genus and Species of ilyophine eel (Anguilliformes: Synaphobranchidae: Ilyophinae) from the Arabian Sea, western Indian Ocean

Branchenchelys megacephala

Tighe & Kodeeswaran, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5722.4.6  

 Researchgate.net/publication/397839726 

facebook.com: Paramasivam Kodeeswaran

 

Abstract

A new genus and species of ilyophine eel, Branchenchelys megacephala, is described based on five specimens collected in the Arabian Sea, western Indian Ocean. The new genus is distinguished from all other ilyophine genera by its relatively large head with large gill openings and a very large branchial chamber with an increased number of branchiostegal rays and hypertrophied gill filaments.

Pisces, Teleostei, taxonomy, Branchenchelys megacephala

 

Kenneth A. TIGHE and Paramasivam KODEESWARAN. 2025. A New Genus and Species of ilyophine eel (Anguilliformes: Synaphobranchidae: Ilyophinae) from the Arabian Sea, western Indian Ocean. Zootaxa. 5722(4); 555-569. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5722.4.6 [2025-11-21]

 Researchgate.net/publication/397839726_A_new_genus_and_species_of_Anguilliformes_Synaphobranchidae_from_the_Arabian_Sea_western_Indian_Ocean

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[Ichthyology • 2025] Apterichtus kanniyakumari • A New Species of finless Snake Eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Arabian Sea

Apterichtus kanniyakumari 

Rasheeq, Kodeeswaran, Kathirvelpandian & Kumar, 2025 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.2.5 

 

Abstract

Apterichtus kanniyakumari sp. nov., a new species of finless snake eel, is described based on two specimens collected from deep-sea trawl landings at the Colachel fish landing centre from the southwest coast of India. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characteristics: head length 9.6–9.7% TL, tail length 1.8–1.9% TL, and body depth at gill openings 42.1–54.8% TL; 3 preopercular and 9 supratemporal pores, conical uniserial teeth on jaws and vomer; distinct golden-yellow body coloration, ventral side of head pale white with yellow lines along lower jaw, and three black blotches, one behind eyes followed by one in rictus and other behind origin of rictus and mean vertebral formula: 52-131. Molecular analyses based on mitochondrial CO1 gene exhibits that this new species forms distinct clade with its sympatric species Apetrichtus nanjilnaduensis.

Pisces, Taxonomy, deep-sea, western India, molecular analyses, sympatric species

Apterichtus kanniyakumari sp. nov.

Ahamed RASHEEQ, Paramasivam KODEESWARAN, Ayyathurai KATHIRVELPANDIAN and T. T. Ajith KUMAR. 2025. Apterichtus kanniyakumari, A New Species of finless Snake Eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Arabian Sea. Zootaxa. 5696(2); 260-268. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.2.5  [2025-09-24]

[Ichthyology • 2025] Coloconger paucitubus • Species of the Eel Family Colocongridae (Order Anguilliformes), with Description of a New Species

Coloconger paucitubus, the holotype, MNHN 2006-0384. 

 

Ho, Smith & Pogonoski, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.1643/i2024034 

Drawn by Y.-K. Kiang.

 Abstract  

The short-tail eel family Colocongridae is a group of small to moderately large eels found in the mid- to upper-continental slope of all oceans except the eastern and central Pacific. The taxonomy of this group is still poorly known, and many diagnostic characteristics have never been tested and verified. Museum specimens were examined, and data were taken by following methods provided in previous studies, as well as some newly introduced. A total of seven species are recorded for the only genus, Coloconger, including a new species described herein from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The diagnostic characters distinguishing species of Coloconger are discussed, comments are made on previous records, and a key to all known species is provided. Morphology of the post-metamorphic stage and transforming leptocephalus is also provided.

Coloconger paucitubus, new species, from the holotype, MNHN 2006-0384.
(A) Lateral view. (B) Lateral view of head. (C) Dorsal view of head.

Drawn by Y.-K. Kiang.

Coloconger paucitubus, new species

English name: Solomon Short-tailed Conger

Diagnosis.—A species of Coloconger that differs from its congeners by having relatively few head sensory pores, total head pores usually 30–34, with 1 or 2 SO over posterior nostrils, IO usually 9 or 10, POM usually 11 or 12, and ST consistently 3; PDV 13–18, PAV 76–86, and TV 141–150; mouth cavity dark blue and gill chamber uniformly dark brown; rictus reaching vertical through posterior margin of pupil to posterior margin of eye; no anterior intermaxillary teeth; and body uniformly light brown to black, with lateral-line tubes darkened.

Etymology.—The specific name is a combination of Latin pauci (few) and tubus (tube), referring to the diagnostic low sensory tube (pore) count on the head in comparison to other species of the genus. A noun in apposition.

 Hsuan-Ching Ho, David G. Smith and John J. Pogonoski. 2025. Species of the Eel Family Colocongridae (Order Anguilliformes), with Description of a New Species. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 113(1); 154-178. DOI: doi.org/10.1643/i2024034 (10 April 2025)  

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[Ichthyology • 2025] Ariosoma tamilicum • A New eel Species (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from the Indian Waters

 

Ariosoma tamilicum

Kodeeswaran, Acharya, Mohapatra & Ajith Kumar, 2025  

  

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5604.1.7

Abstract

The identity of Ariosoma dolichopterum in Indian waters has revised. Ariosoma dolichopterum from India is an undescribed species and described herein as Ariosoma tamilicum sp. nov. based on morphology and molecular studies. Ariosoma tamilicum is morphologically closely related to Ariosoma emmae from the Taiwan waters but exhibits 13.4% genetic divergence in mitochondrial CO1 gene sequences. The formal description for the new species is provided and discussed.

Pisces, Congridae, molecular analysis, new species, taxonomy

 

Paramasivam KODEESWARAN, Smrutirekha ACHARYA, Anil MOHAPATRA and T. T. AJITH KUMAR. 2025. Ariosoma tamilicum (Anguilliformes: Congridae): A New eel Species from the Indian waters.  Zootaxa. 5604(1); 69-76. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5604.1.7 [2025-03-12]

[Ichthyology • 2024] Ariosoma thoothukudiense • A New Species of the congrid eel Genus Ariosoma (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from the Southeast coast of India, Bay of Bengal

 

  Ariosoma thoothukudiense

Kodeeswaran, Kathirvelpandian, Mohapatra & Ajith Kumar, 2024

DOI: doi.org/10.1017/S0025315424000420 

 facebook.com/kody.venkat 

Abstract

A new species of congrid eel genus, Ariosoma is described here based on two mature female specimens collected from trawl by-catch landings at Thoothukudi fishing harbour, off Thoothukudi, Bay of Bengal. The new species can be easily distinguished from its congeners in having pre-anal length 48.7–49.1% TL; dorsal-fin origin just before pectoral-fin insertion; body bicoloured, pale brown dorsally and silvery white ventrally; preopercular portion dark; pectoral fin reddish with dark spot at the base; SO canal with six pores; pre-dorsal vertebrae 10–11; pre-anal vertebrae 61–64; total vertebrae 162–163. Further, the new species differs from all the congeners of Indian waters in having more total vertebrae, except A. albimaculatum (162–163 vs 129–153 in others; 161–164 in A. albimaculatum). The new species identity was also supported by molecular analyses using the mitochondrial COI gene and the result revealed that the new species is closely related to Ariosoma maurostigma and Ariosoma albimaculatum with a pair-wise genetic distance of 11.4% and 11.6% followed by A. melanospilos with 16.8%.

Keywords: Ariosoma gnanadossi, Bathymyrinae, Bay of Bengal, molecular analyses, systematics

 Ariosoma thoothukudiense, NBFGR/CONATHO, holotype, 440 mm TL,
mature female, fresh colouration. Scale bar 40 mm.

Ariosoma thoothukudiense, new species

Proposed common name: Thoothukudi stout conger

Etymology. The species is named for its type specimens collection site Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India.

Paramasivam Kodeeswaran, A. Kathirvelpandian, Anil Mohapatra and T. T. Ajith Kumar. 2024. A New Species of the congrid eel Genus Ariosoma (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Congridae) from the Southeast coast of India, Bay of Bengal. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 104; e51. DOI: doi.org/10.1017/S0025315424000420 [17 May 2024]

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[Ichthyology • 2024] Uropterygius hades • A New uniformly brown estuarine Moray Eel (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from the Central Indo-Pacific Ocean

 

Uropterygius hades  

 Huang, Hibino, Balisco & Liao, 2024

   

ZooKeys. Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Fishes in Taiwan and adjacent waters 

 DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1220.129685 

Abstract

A new estuarine moray eel, Uropterygius hades sp. nov., is described based on 14 specimens from Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, southern Indonesia, and Fiji. It is a small-bodied, slender, uniformly dark-brown moray separated from congeners within the U. concolor species complex. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by the anteriorly positioned small eyes (5.0–7.2% of head length), absence of branchial pores, and extended inner rows of teeth which reach the posterior end of the jaws. Uropterygius hades sp. nov. represents a rare species of moray eel that inhabits turbid estuarine environments, preferring soft, muddy substrates, and burrowing and hiding among rocks or in fallen mangrove leaves. Additionally, Uropterygius mactanensis Huang, Balisco, Evacitas & Liao, another species recently separated from the U. concolor species complex, is reported for the first time from Iriomote Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago based on two specimens; this new record expands the geographic range of U. mactanensis from the central Philippines to southern Japan.

Key words: DNA barcoding, mangroves, unicolor snake moray, Uropterygiinae, Uropterygius mactanensis

Fresh colorations of Uropterygius hades sp. nov.
A NMMB-P039570, holotype, 349 mm TL, male
B PNM 15806, paratype, 313 mm TL, female.

Arrows indicate the position of the anus.

Live photos of Uropterygius hades sp. nov.
A NMMB-P039570, holotype, 349 mm TL, male B PNM 15806, paratype, 313 mm TL, female.

 Uropterygius hades sp. nov.

Diagnosis: A small, slender moray eel, possible maximum TL <350 mm, female mature at 171 mm TL. Anus at mid-length of body. Eyes small and anteriorly placed. Snout pointed. Upper jaw slightly longer than lower jaw. Teeth sharply pointed with smooth edges and recurved tips; intermaxillary teeth in 5 rows; maxillary and dentary teeth biserial, inner rows extending to about posterior end of jaws; vomerine teeth in single row. No branchial pore. Body uniformly dark brown; head pores, oral cavity, and inner skin of posterior nostril and gill opening whitish; iris reddish-brown. Total vertebrae 117–122.

Etymology: The new moray eel is named after Hades, the ancient Greek god of the underworld, in reference to its habitation in turbid estuarine waters, high sensitivity to light, and its uniformly dark coloration, reminiscent of the underworld god. A noun in apposition.

 Wen-Chien Huang, Yusuke Hibino, Rodulf Anthony Balisco and Te-Yu Liao. 2024. Description of A New uniformly brown estuarine Moray Eel (Anguilliformes, Muraenidae) from the Central Indo-Pacific Ocean. In: Ho H-C, Russell B, Hibino Y, Lee M-Y (Eds) Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Fishes in Taiwan and adjacent waters. ZooKeys. 1220: 15-34. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1220.129685 

[Ichthyology • 2023] Muraenichthys hibinoi • A New Muraenichthys Eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Bay of Bengal, India, with its molecular characterization

 

Muraenichthys hibinoi

Mohapatra, Behera, Ray, Acharya, Mohanty & Mishra, 2023

 

DOI: 10.5343/bms.2023.0010

 twitter.com/BullMarSci

Muraenichthys hibinoi sp. nov. is described herein based on two specimens collected from Shankarpur fishing harbor, West Bengal, India. The new species differs from Muraenichthys gymnopterus, Muraenichthys hattae, Muraenichthys longirostris, and Muraenichthys thompsoni by having less distance between the anus and the origin of the dorsal fin (61.8%–57.37% vs 73.8%–82% of HL). The new species has a close morphological affinity with M. gymnopterus and M. hattae with significant differences from both species. The new species differs from M. gymnopterus by having higher vertebral count, i.e., predorsal vertebrae (40– 41 vs 30), preanal vertebrae (50 vs 43), and total vertebrae (140–141 vs 130). The new species also differs from M. hattae, having fewer total vertebrae (141–142 vs 148–155) and fewer predorsal vertebrae (40–41 vs 48–53). The COI gene sequence of the new species has been generated and submitted to the NCBI database with accession number OP114397. The new species differs from all the available congeneric sequences of Myrophinae group available in NCBI or BOLD with K2P distances of 8.4% to 9.5%. Thus, both the genetic and morphometric data confirm the presence of a new species in Myrophinae from Indian waters.

Muraenichthys hibinoi sp. nov. 

  

Anil Mohapatra, Rajesh Kumar Behera, Dipanjan Ray, Smrutirekha Acharya, Swarup Ranjan Mohanty and Subhrendu Sekhar Mishra. 2023. Discovery of A New Muraenichthys Eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Bay of Bengal, India, with its molecular characterization. Bulletin of Marine Science. 99(4); 527-537. DOI: 10.5343/bms.2023.0010

 twitter.com/BullMarSci/status/1737872236948726035 

[Ichthyology • 2023] Ophichthus naevius • A New Snake Eel Species of the Genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the southeast Coast of India, Bay of Bengal with Taxonomic Account of Ophichthus chilkensis

Ophichthus naevius 

Kodeeswaran, Kathirvelpandian, Mohapatra, Thangappan Kumar & Sarkar, 2023

 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15617 

 twitter.com/ParamasivamKod1

 

Abstract

A new species of the ophichthid eel of the family Ophichthidae is described based on five specimens collected from the Mudasalodai fish landing centre, Off Cuddalore coast, southeast coast of India, Bay of Bengal. Ophichthus naevius sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having a unique colour pattern: dorsal body with dense of numerous dark spots or patches, ventral body pale yellowish green, dorsal fin origin just before pectoral fin tip, vertebral formula: 12–14/52–53/134–138, teeth on jaw uniserial and pointed. The study also reports the range extension and molecular evidence of Ophichthus chilkensis from south India. Molecular analyses were done for both species and their phylogenetic relationship suggests that the new species exhibit 10.2% genetic divergence with its' congener, O. sangjuensis followed by O. brevicaudatus (10.4%), and Ophichthus sp.1 (11.8%) also forms closest clade in both BI and ML Tree. Similarly, according to the topology of ML tree, the species O. chilkensis forms clade with Ophichthus sp. 5, O. remiger, O. frontalis, Ophichthus sp. 6 and O. rex. and suggests that would be the genetically closest congener.

Keywords: Molecular analyses, new species, Taxonomy

Ophichthus naevius sp. nov.

Paramasivam Kodeeswaran, Ayyathurai Kathirvelpandian, Anil Mohapatra, Thipramalai Thangappan Pillai Ajith Kumar and Uttam Kumar Sarkar. 2023. A New Snake Eel Species of the Genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the southeast Coast of India, Bay of Bengal with Taxonomic Account of Ophichthus chilkensis. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15617

  twitter.com/ParamasivamKod1/status/1725420202308112754

[Ichthyology • 2023] Uropterygius cyamommatus • A New Moray Eel (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from Anchialine Caves in Christmas Island, Australia, and Panglao Island, the Philippines

Uropterygius cyamommatus

 Huang, Liao & Tan, 2023 

Bean-eyed Snake Moray | 豆眼鰭尾鯙  ||  Raffles. Bull. Zool. 71 

 facebook.com: Wen-Chien Huang

Abstract 

Uropterygius cyamommatus, new species, is described based on nine specimens from limestone anchialine caves in Christmas Island and Panglao Island. This species is a small-sized, elongated moray eel belonging to the uniform brown-coloured species group of the genus. It differs from all congeners of Uropterygius in having very small eyes (3.0–4.6% of head length), a relatively long tail (56.3–61.1% of total length), and a comparatively large number of vertebrae (total vertebrae 141–149). The new species represents the first-recorded moray eel that inhabits anchialine caves. 

Key words. eastern Indian Ocean, Elopomorpha, Uropterygiinae, western Pacific Ocean

Uropterygius cyamommatus, new species, holotype, WAM P.35403.001, 361 mm TL.
 fresh colouration. Arrows indicate the position of anus.

photographed by Heok Hui Tan

Uropterygius cyamommatus, new species 

Common name: Bean-eyed Snake Moray

豆眼鰭尾鯙

Diagnosis. A small-sized slender moray eel of genus Uropterygius. Tail long, 56.3–61.1% of TL. Eyes very small, 3.0–4.6% of HL, sometimes reduced and subcutaneous. One branchial pore. Maxillary teeth biserial. Dentary teeth 2–3 rows anteriorly, biserial posteriorly. Body uniform brown. Anterior nostril, gill opening, oral cavity, and head pores whitish. Pre-anus vertebrae 56–62, pre-dorsal fin vertebrae 130–138, pre-anal fin vertebrae 131–139, total vertebrae 141–149. 

Etymology. From Greek words kúamos (a bean) and ómma (the eye), in reference to its tiny bean-shaped eyes.

 Wen-Chien Huang, Te-Yu Liao and Heok Hui Tan. 2023. Uropterygius cyamommatus, A New Moray Eel (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from Anchialine Caves in Christmas Island, Australia, and Panglao Island, the Philippines. Raffles. Bull. Zool. 71; 268–278.

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[Ichthyology • 2023] Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis • A New Short Brown Unpatterned Moray Eel (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from the southeast coast of India, Bay of Bengal

Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis 

 Kodeeswaran, Kantharajan, Mohapatra, Ajith Kumar & Sarkar, 2023

DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.100461

Abstract

Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis sp. nov., a new species of short brown unpatterned moray, is described, based on four specimens ranging from 272–487 mm total length collected from the trawl bycatch landings at Mudasalodai fish landing centre, off Cuddalore coast, Tamil Nadu, southeast coast of India. The new species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: origin of dorsal fin at middle of rictus and gill opening, anus just before mid-body, series of lines of small dark spots present on head and a single line of black spot-on mid-line of body, jaw pores with white rim, anal-fin margin whitish, 3 pre-dorsal vertebrae, 56–59 pre-anal vertebrae and 139–150 total vertebrae. The new species differs from its known Indian water congeners by having series of lines of small dark spots present on the head and a single line of black spots on the mid-line of the body (vs. absent in all the three congeners in India), serrated teeth (vs. smooth), jaw pores with white rim (vs. black to brown in others) and higher vertebral count (139–150 vs. 134–138 in others). Our morphological and molecular analyses show that the new species forms a distinct clade from its congeners and these data support the status as a new species.

Key Words: Elopomorpha, molecular analyses, Tamil Nadu, unpatterned moray

 

 

Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis sp. nov. 

holotype, NBFGR/MURGTAM, 487.8 mm TL, fresh colouration, collected from Mudasalodai fish landing centre, off Cuddalore, Bay of Bengal.

Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis sp. nov.

  Proposed common name: Tamil Nadu brown moray

Diagnosis: A new species of a short brown unpatterned moray eel with the following combination of characters: series of lines of small dark spots present on head and a single line of black spots on mid-line of body, origin of dorsal fin at middle of rictus and gill opening, anus just before mid-body, pre-anal length 45.7–47.4% TL, snout blunt and very short, 6.5–7.7 mm in HL, eye small, teeth serrated, uniserial, ethomovomerine teeth five on each side with one tooth on mid-point, vomerine with eight teeth in a series, jaw pores with white rim, anal-fin margin whitish, 3 pre-dorsal vertebrae, 56–59 pre-anal vertebrae, 139–150 total vertebrae.

Distribution: Indian Ocean: off Cuddalore Coast, Bay of Bengal, southeast coast of India. The species were collected at a depth of about 25–30 metres.

Etymology: The species is named “tamilnaduensis” with reference to the state Tamil Nadu from where it was collected.

 Paramasivam Kodeeswaran, Ganesan Kantharajan, Anil Mohapatra, T. T. Ajith Kumar and Uttam Kumar Sarkar. 2023. A New Short Brown Unpatterned Moray Eel (Anguilliformes, Muraenidae) from the southeast coast of India, Bay of Bengal. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 99(1): 253-260. DOI: 10.3897/zse.99.100461

[Ichthyology • 2022] Ariosoma albimaculata • A New Congrid Eel (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from the southwest Coast of India, Arabian Sea

Ariosoma albimaculata 

Kodeeswaran, Dhas, Kumar & Lal, 2022

DOI: 10.1007/s10228-022-00882-1

Abstract

Ariosoma albimaculata sp. nov. is described herein based on ten specimens [240–487 mm total length (TL)] collected from the deep-sea trawl landings at Colachel fishing harbour, off Kanyakumari, Arabian Sea, west coast of India. The new species is easily distinguished from all other congeners reported earlier, except its sympatric species, Ariosoma maurostigma Kodeeswaran, Mohapatra, Dhinakaran, Kumar and Lal 2022, having dark mark or streak present in the posterior-dorsal margin of eye orbit, but it readily differs from A. maurostigma with the presence of more total vertebrae (161–164 vs. 136–142 in A. maurostigma); more preanal vertebrae (66–68 vs. 47–51); occurrence of white spot or dot on just before the dorsal-fin origin (vs. absent in A. maurostigma); larger preanal length (49.7–55.7% TL vs. 44.0–48.8% TL); larger trunk length (30.4–33.3% TL vs. 23.5–30.2% TL); shorter tail length (44.6–48.2% TL vs. 47.8–54.6% TL). Further, A. albimaculata differs from its sister taxon A. maurostigma with a divergence of 8.1% and other congeners with the genetic distance of 15.0–28.8% in partial mitochondrial COI gene.

Keywords: Bathymyrinae, Arabian Sea, Systematics, New eel

Ariosoma albimaculata sp. nov., NBFGR/CONAALB, holotype, 487 mm TL,
mature female, fresh colouration

Ariosoma albimaculata sp. nov.

(New English name: White spotted stout conger)

Distribution. Indian Ocean: Off Kanyakumari, Arabian Sea.

Etymology. The species epithet “albimaculata” is derived from two Latin words albus = white and maculatus = spotted, denotes a white spot present on the dorsal-fin origin.

Paramasivam Kodeeswaran, Deepa Dhas, Thipramalai Thangappan Pillai Ajith Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar Lal. 2022. Description of A New Congrid Eel, Ariosoma albimaculata sp. nov. (Anguilliformes: Congridae), from the southwest coast of India, Arabian Sea. Ichthyological Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10228-022-00882-1 [06 July 2022]

[Ichthyology • 2021] Myroconger pietschi • A New Species of the Rare Genus Myroconger Günther, 1870 (Anguilliformes: Myrocongridae) from Brazilian Waters, Tropical western Atlantic

Myroconger pietschi 

Espíndola, Caires, Tighe, De Pinna & De Melo, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4965.3.7

 instagram.com/fishontherocks

Abstract

The family Myrocongridae comprises some of the rarest and least known benthopelagic eel species. It is composed of a single genus, Myroconger Günther, 1870, and five valid species: M. compressus Günther, 1870, from the Atlantic Ocean; M. gracilis Castle, 1991, M. prolixus Castle & Béarez, 1995, and M. nigrodentatus Castle & Béarez, 1995, from the Pacific Ocean; and M. seychellensis Karmovskaya, 2006, from the Indian Ocean. Herein, we report on an additional species from the Atlantic Ocean, Myroconger pietschi n. sp., based on a specimen obtained on the Aracati Bank, North Brazilian ridge, off Ceará State, western South Atlantic. Myroconger pietschi can be diagnosed by having 190 anal-fin rays, a short pectoral fin (16.6% HL), the posterior portion of the ethmovomerine teeth arranged in a single row, teeth on lower and upper pharyngeal tooth plate 24 and 27, and 10 branchiostegal rays.

Keywords: Pisces, CT-Scan, Deep Sea, Elopomorpha, North Brazilian ridge, Northeastern Brazil

Myroconger pietschi n. sp.

Vinicius C. Espíndola, Rodrigo A. Caires, Kenneth A. Tighe, Mario C. C. De Pinna and Marcelo R. S. De Melo. 2021. A New Species of the Rare Genus Myroconger Günther, 1870 (Anguilliformes: Myrocongridae) from Brazilian Waters, Tropical western Atlantic. Zootaxa. 4965(3); 529–540. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4965.3.7

 instagram.com/p/CORQJvJB_h- @fishontherocks

[Ichthyology • 2020] Strophidon tetraporus • A Review of the Genus Strophidon (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae), with Description of A New Species

 Strophidon tetraporus  Huang & Liao

in Huang, Mohapatra, ... et Liao, 2020. 

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14514 

  facebook.com: 黃文謙

  Abstract

Strophidon McClelland is a muraenid genus with characteristic appearance of a very elongated body, a large mouth cleft and anteriorly placed eyes. The nomenclature and taxonomic history of species within Strophidon are contentious and its members are easily misidentified. In the present study, species of the genus Strophidon are revised based on morphological and molecular data, and five species are considered valid, including S. dawydoffi Prokofiev, S. dorsalis (Seale), S. sathete (Hamilton), S. ui Tanaka and a new species, S. tetraporus. Strophidon tetraporus sp. nov. is described based on 15 specimens from Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam with the unique characteristic of the constant presence of the fourth infraorbital pore among species of Strophidon. The intraspecific variation of vertebral formula within S. dorsalis is discussed based on molecular data. Muraena macrurus Bleeker and Thyrsoidea longissima Kaup are synonyms of S. sathete that can be distinguished from the most similar congener S. ui by a longer tail, smaller eyes and more inner maxillary and inner dentary teeth. A key to identify species of Strophidon is provided. The distribution and maximum size of each species are also re‐evaluated.

Keywords: Muraenidae, new species, phylogeny, redescription, Strophidon, taxonomy

Genus Strophidon McClelland 1844

Strophidon dorsalis (Seale, 1917)

Strophidon sathete (Hamilton, 1822)

Strophidon ui Tanaka, 1918

Strophidon tetraporus sp. nov. Huang & Liao

 

Common name: Four Pores Slender Giant Moray

Etymology: Name from Greek words tetra (four) and póros (pore), in reference to the uniquely constant presence of the fourth infraorbital pore in this species of Strophidon. A noun in apposition.

Wen‐Chien Huang, Anil Mohapatra, Pham The Thu, Hong‐Ming Chen and Te‐Yu Liao. 2020. A Review of the Genus Strophidon (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae), with Description of A New Species. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14514 

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[Ichthyology • 2020] Gymnothorax aurocephalus • A New White-spotted Moray Eel (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae: Muraeninae) from Andaman Sea, India

Gymnothorax aurocephalus Nashad, Mohapatra, Varghese & Bineesh 

in Nashad, Mohapatra, Varghese, Ramalingam, Bineesh & Mohanty, 2020. 

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4877.2.8 

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Abstract

Gymnothorax aurocephalus sp. nov. is described herein based on 4 specimens. Three were collected from off Swaraj Dweep Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&N Islands) from a depth of 125–130 m and one specimen off Interview Island, A&N Islands at a depth of 90 m. This new species is distinguishable from its congeners by the following combination of characters: chocolate brown color overlain with small irregular white spots, golden skin shadings close to rictus; anus slightly before midbody; pointed and serrated jaw teeth; uniserial teeth in jaws and vomer; vertebral formula 7/61/148–149. The species is compared to all its congeners with white spots.

Keywords: Taxonomy, Anguilliformes, new species, Andaman Islands, Pisces

FIGURE 3. Gymnothorax aurocephalus sp. nov., holotype (EBRC/ZSI/11800; 723 mm TL).
A. Photograph of fresh specimen; B. Formalin-preserved specimen.

Gymnothorax aurocephalus Nashad, Mohapatra, Varghese & Bineesh sp. nov.

Common name: Goldenhead moray

Distribution. The specimen is presently known only from the holotype and three paratypes from Swaraj Dweep Island and Interview Island, Andaman Sea, India from a depth of 90–130 m depth.

Etymology. Gymnothorax aurocephalus is named for the golden-colored head of the species.

M. Nashad, Anil Mohapatra, Sijo P. Varghese, L. Ramalingam, Bineesh K. K. and Swarup Ranjan Mohanty. 2020. A New White-spotted Moray Eel, Gymnothorax aurocephalus sp. nov. (Muraenidae: Muraeninae) from Andaman Sea, India. Zootaxa. 4877(2); 361–372. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4877.2.8

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[Ichthyology • 2020] Resurrection of Ophichthus zophistius (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with A Revised Diagnosis of O. altipennis

Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup 1856)

in Hibino & McCosker, 2020. 

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4801.2.7

Abstract

Pisoodonophis zophistius Jordan and Snyder 1901 is redescribed as a valid species of Ophichthus Ahl 1789 based on 46 specimens including the holotype. Although this name has been synonymized under Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup 1856), the former can be distinguished from the latter by a relatively acute snout (vs. strongly acute), presence of irregular obscure bars on the body (vs. bars absent), 11–13 predorsal and 61–63 preanal vertebrae (vs. 8–9 and 52–58, respectively) and 10–14 predorsal and 59–64 preanal lateral-line pores (vs. 7–9 and 55–61, respectively), dorsal-fin origin usually above or behind the pectoral-fin insertion (vs. anterior to the insertion), and tail broad and tapered slowly (vs. becoming slender and tapered rapidly). Furthermore, Ophichthys intermedius Regan 1905 and Microdonophis fasciatus Chu, Wu and Jin 1981 are junior synonyms of O. zophistius, and Ophichthus melanochir Bleeker 1864 is that of O. altipennis.

Keywords: Pisces, Pisoodonophis zophistius, Validity, Microdonophis fasciatus, Synonymy, Elopomorpha

Yusuke Hibino and John E. McCosker. 2020. Resurrection of Ophichthus zophistius (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with A Revised Diagnosis of O. altipennis. Zootaxa. 4801(2); 328–342. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4801.2.7