Taxonomic revision of the Ophidion holbrookii Putnam, 1874 (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) species complex, with description of a new species from Brazil.

This study integrates morphological and molecular data to redefine the taxonomic limits of Ophidion holbrookii, as well as its geographic ranges, with the description of a new species from the eastern and southeastern coast of Brazil, South America. Ophidion zavalai n. sp. is described based on variations related to ontogeny and sexual development of swim bladder and sonic apparatus, which are likely important traits for species recognition. The description of O. zavalai n. sp. and the redefinition of distribution limits of O. holbrookii corroborate the existence of different complex species in the western Atlantic, revealing important gaps of knowledge regarding morphological variation and species habits. Ophidion zavalai n. sp. is the first species of Ophidion described from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and contributes to evidence of a distinct coastal fauna in Brazil and surrounding areas of Argentina province.

Phylogenetic relationships of sleeper gobies (Eleotridae: Gobiiformes: Gobioidei), with comments on the position of the miniature genus Microphilypnus.

Microphilypnus and Leptophilypnion are miniaturized genera within the family Eleotridae. The evolutionary relationships among these taxa are still poorly understood, and molecular analyses are restricted to mitochondrial genes, which have not been conclusive. We compiled both mitochondrial and nuclear genes to study the phylogenetic position of Microphilypnus and the evolutionary history and relationships of eleotrids. We propose that Microphilypnus and Leptophilypnus (a non-miniature genus) are not sister groups as suggested by previous studies, but rather separate lineages that arose in the early Eocene, with Leptophilypnus recovered as a sister group to the other analyzed eleotrids. In fact, Microphilypnus is currently associated with the Neotropical clade Guavina/Dormitator/Gobiomorus. We also identified a well-supported clade that indicated Gobiomorus and Hemieleotris as paraphyletic groups, besides a close relationship among Calumia godeffroyi, Bunaka gyrinoides, Eleotris and Erotelis species. This is the first comprehensive report about the evolutionary relationships in members of the family Eleotridae, including multiloci and multispecies approaches. Therefore, we provided new insights about the phylogenetic position of some taxa absent in previous studies, such as the miniature genus Microphilypnus and a recently described species of Eleotris from South America.

The first record of burrowing goby Trypauchen vagina (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae: Amblyopinae) from the Atlantic Ocean.

The burrowing goby Trypauchen vagina has been reported from Brazil for the first time. This goby occurs naturally in the Indo-Pacific region, where it is typically found burrowed in the bottom substrata of marine or brackish waters. Given its rapid development, extended longevity and multiple spawning cycles, the species is represented by large populations in Asian countries. The authors discuss the occurrence of this species in Brazilian waters and conclude that it was introduced via the ballast water of vessels arriving from Asia. They also compare this exotic taxon with the native Brazilian gobies, including Akko dionaea, Microdesmus and Gobioides, that have burrowing habits.

Taxonomic revision of the Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758) and M. littoralis (Holbrook, 1847) (Percomorphacea: Sciaenidae) species complexes from the western Atlantic.

The genus Menticirrhus is widely distributed in the Neotropical region, where its species are common and abundant in shallow coastal waters and estuaries. The diversity, biogeography, and evolutionary relationships of the Menticirrhus species are still poorly known, due primarily to the difficulty of differentiating the species, given the broad similarities in their external morphology. The present study is based on the analysis of morphological and molecular data, with the examination of type specimens and a comprehensive collection of non-type specimens from an ample geographic range. These analyses indicated that two widely distributed Western Atlantic species, Menticirrhus americanus and M. littoralis, represent species complexes. The M. littoralis species complex is characterized by the absence of dark bars on body side, and a smaller, light-colored pectoral fins, that barely reaching the tip of the depressed pelvic fins, with fewer pectoral-fin rays. This complex includes three species: M. littoralis, found in the Gulf of Mexico, M. gracilis, from the southeastern and southern coast of South America, and a new species, described here, from the northern to eastern Brazilian coast. The M. americanus species complex is characterized by the presence of dark bars on body side, and a large, dark pectoral fin, that surpass the tip of the depressed pelvic fin, with more pectoral-fin rays. This complex has two species, M. americanus, which occurs on the east coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico, and M. martinicensis, found from Caribbean to Argentina, that represents a cryptic allopatric species. An identification key to all species of the genus is presented.

The deep sea teleost fish fauna of the Brazilian North Coast

Data on the deep sea fishes found off the northern Brazilian coast are restricted to the results of the surveys of the RV Oregon, a research vessel of the North American National Marine Fisheries Service, and the REVIZEE Program. The REVIZEE Score-Norte Program focused on commercial fish species and natural resources with potential for exploitation on the continental shelf and slope off the northern coast of Brazil. In this sense, the REVIZEE Score-Norte Program generated little information on species of no commercial value, did not catalog its inventory in zoological collections, and did not publish species lists. Given this considerable knowledge gap on the deep-sea fish found off the North coast of Brazil, we compiled all the available data on the deep-sea fish of this region and also retrieved photographic records from the REVIZEE Score-Norte Program, including the PRODEMERSAL and PROTUNA projects. Considering the published records, specimens deposited in zoological collections, and the interpretation of photographic records, we compiled a list of 63 species of deep-sea fish from the North coast of Brazil. An additional 30 species were found in the published records from the PRODEMERSAL and PROTUNA, but were considered to be doubtful or pending confirmation.(AU)

Os dados sobre peixes de profundidade encontrados na costa Norte do Brasil são restritos aos resultados de coletas realizadas pelo RV Oregon, um navio do Serviço Nacional de Pesca Marítima da América do Norte, e do Programa REVIZEE. O Programa REVIZEE Score-Norte teve como foco as espécies de peixes com valor comercial e recursos naturais com potencial para exploração na plataforma continental da costa Norte do Brasil. Contudo, o REVIZEE Score-Norte gerou pouca informação sobre as espécies sem valor comercial, não catalogou o material da biodiversidade inventariada, assim como não gerou listas de espécies. Dada a lacuna no conhecimento sobre os peixes de profundidade da costa norte do Brasil, nós compilamos todos os dados disponíveis e recuperamos registros fotográficos do Programa REVIZEE Score-Norte, incluindo os projetos PRODEMERSAL e PROTUNA. Considerando os registros publicados, espécimes depositados em coleções zoológicas e os registros fotográficos, apresentamos uma lista de 63 espécies de peixes de profundidade na costa Norte do Brasil. Outras 30 espécies encontradas nos registros publicados do PRODEMERSAL e PROTUNA, foram consideradas duvidosas, carecendo de confirmação.(AU)

Redescription of Orthopristis ruber and Orthopristis scapularis (Haemulidae: Perciformes), with a hybridization zone off the Atlantic coast of South America.

The genus Orthopristis includes seven valid species, three from the western Atlantic and five from eastern Pacific, while the available identification guides and taxonomic keys incorrectly recognize Orthopristis ruber as the only valid species found on the Atlantic coast of South America. Efforts to expand the inventory of fish species from the northern coast of Brazil led to the identification of two distinct species of Orthopristis from Atlantic South America, based on the analysis of coloration patterns and meristic data, as well as DNA. In the present study, the limits of Orthopristis ruber are reviewed, while Orthopristis scapularis is recognized as a valid species for the northern and northeastern coasts of South America. Based on intermediate morphological characteristics and nuclear DNA markers, a hybrid zone was identified off the state of Espírito Santo, on the eastern Brazilian coast. Additionally, considerations are made on the diversity and biogeography of the coastal marine and estuarine fishes found on the Brazilian coast.

The Tonkin weakfish, Cynoscion similis (Sciaenidae, Perciformes), an endemic species of the Amazonas-Orinoco Plume

Despite its importance in biogeographical, ecological, and commercial terms, the fish fauna of the northern Brazilian coast is still poorly known, representing the least sampled portion of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone. We collected Tonkin weakfish, Cynoscion similis specimens during extensive surveys of the northern Brazilian coast and concluded that C. similis is common in this region. While the species had not previously been reported for the northern Brazilian state of Pará, it may have been recorded in studies of industrial fisheries, being identified only as Cynoscion sp. or by the common name pescada negra. This reinforces the need for the reliable taxonomical identification of species, to guarantee the collection of accurate data on ecology and fisheries, and ultimately, support the development of effective conservation strategies. Here we provide additional morphological and molecular data to distinguish Cynoscion similis from the closely related Cynoscion jamaicensis, and other congeners. (AU)

Revision of Bairdiella (Sciaenidae: Perciformes) from the western South Atlantic, with insights into its diversity and biogeography

The sciaenid genus Bairdiella comprises a group of relatively small fishes found in inshore waters and estuaries of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific. Despite recent analyses of the phylogenetic relationships of Bairdiella, there has been no comprehensive revision of the alpha taxonomy of the species of the genus. Bairdiella ronchus from the western Atlantic, has a complex taxonomic history, with four junior synonyms recognized. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, this study indicates that B. ronchus represents a species complex. The species is therefore redescribed and its geographic range is redefined. Bairdiella veraecrucis, which is currently recognized as a junior synonym of B. ronchus, is revalidated, and a new species of the genus is described from the Atlantic coast of Brazil. Finally, inferences are made on the diversity and biogeography of the B. ronchus species complex.(AU)

O gênero Bairdiella compreende um grupo de peixes relativamente pequenos encontrados em águas costeiras e estuários do Atlântico ocidental e leste do Pacífico. Apesar das análises recentes das relações filogenéticas de Bairdiella, não houve revisão abrangente da taxonomia alfa das espécies do gênero. Bairdiella ronchus, do Atlântico ocidental, tem uma história taxonômica complexa, com quatro sinônimos juniores reconhecidos. Baseado em evidências morfológicas e moleculares, este estudo indica que B. ronchus representa um complexo de espécies. A espécie é, portanto, redescrita e seu alcance geográfico é redefinido. Bairdiella veraecrucis, atualmente reconhecida como sinônimo júnior de B. ronchus, é revalidada, e uma nova espécie do gênero é descrita na costa atlântica do Brasil. Finalmente, inferências são feitas sobre a diversidade e biogeografia do complexo de espécies de B. ronchus.(AU)

The bony fishes (Teleostei) caught by industrial trawlers off the Brazilian North coast, with insights into its conservation

The Brazilian North coast is one of the world's most important shrimp fishery grounds, with a total area of approximately 223,000 km2. However, the available data on the diversity of fish caught by the region's industrial trawler fleet are limited to the commercially-valuable species. This lacuna in the data on the region's marine fish fauna is worrying, both for the management of stocks and the conservation of the local biodiversity. The present study was based on a comprehensive inventory of the teleost fishes captured by the industrial outrigger trawling operations off the North coast of Brazil. This inventory recorded 201 species belonging to 64 families and 20 orders, and revealed a unique fauna, characterized by 17 endemic species, and a mixture of estuarine-dependent and marine species, mainly associated with coral reefs. The Kernel density analysis indicated that the industrial trawling fleet operates within an important ecotone, which encompasses the transition zones of different fish communities found off the Brazilian North coast.(AU)

A costa Norte do Brasil é um dos pesqueiros de camarão mais importantes do mundo, com uma área total de aproximadamente 223.000 km2. No entanto, dados disponíveis sobre a diversidade de peixes capturados pela frota industrial de arrasto de portas na região são limitados às espécies com valor comercial. Essa lacuna no conhecimento sobre a fauna de peixes marinhos da região é preocupante, tanto para o manejo dos estoques quanto para a conservação da biodiversidade local. O presente estudo é baseado num inventário abrangente dos peixes teleósteos capturados por operações de arrasto de portas da frota industrial que opera na costa Norte do Brasil. Este inventário registrou 201 espécies pertencentes a 64 famílias e 20 ordens, e revelou uma fauna única, caracterizada por 17 espécies endêmicas, e uma mistura de espécies estuarino-dependentes e espécies marinhas, principalmente associadas a recifes de corais. A análise da densidade Kernel indicou que a frota industrial de arrasto de portas opera dentro de um importante ecótono, que abrange uma zona de transição de diferentes comunidades de peixes encontrados na costa Norte do Brasil.(AU)

Conhecimento e conservacao dos peixes marinhos e estuarinos (Chondrichthyes e Teleostei) da costa norte do Brasil

The tropical western South Atlantic, which includes a substantial portion of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone, is a region of endemism broadly recognized as being of prime importance for the conservation of the marine biodiversity. The north coast of Brazil, which comprises the states of Amapá, Pará and Maranhão from the mouth of the rio Oiapoque to the mouth of the rio Parnaíba, harbors the largest continuous mangrove in the world, with approximately 8,900 km2. The high discharge of freshwater and continental sediments in the delta of the Amazonas affects the regime of tides, ocean currents, and several oceanographic processes of the north coast, with direct impact on the composition of the biota found in the region. Despite its economic value and intrinsic biological relevance, several aspects of the diversity of the marine and estuarine fishes of the region are poorly known. This situation results mainly from a historical imbalance in terms of the number of studies devoted to increasing the knowledge of the marine biota along the Brazilian coast, such as those dealing with species inventory and taxonomic revisions, which are typically concentrated in the south and southwestern portions of the country. The scientific production focused on marine organisms of the north coast is also imbalanced, and reflects the relatively small number of taxonomists and research groups working on that subject. The insufficient knowledge of the biodiversity of the marine and estuarine fishes of the north coast is an impediment to the implementation of adequate public policies aimed at the management of natural resources in the region. In the long term, that situation is potentially harmful in terms of conservation of a still poorly known biota. A better understanding of the marine fish fauna of the north coast of Brazil will be achieved only through the investment in scientific research and personnel training in systematics and biogeography, coupled with the modernization of the current infrastructure and expansion of scientific collections of the region.

A região tropical do Atlântico Sul ocidental, que inclui uma porção substancial da Zona Econômica Exclusiva brasileira, é uma região de endemismo amplamente reconhecida como sendo de importância primária para a conservação da biodiversidade marinha. A costa norte do Brasil, que inclui os Estados do Amapá, Pará, e Maranhão, desde a foz do rio Oiapoque até a foz do rio Parnaíba, abriga o maior manguezal contínuo do mundo, com aproximadamente 8.900 km2. A alta descarga de água doce e sedimentos continentais no delta do Amazonas afeta o regime das marés, correntes oceânicas, e uma série de processos oceanográficos da costa norte, com impactos diretos na composição da biota encontrada na região. Apesar de seu valor econômico e relevância biológica intrínseca, diversos aspectos da diversidade de peixes marinhos e estuarinos da região são pouco conhecidos. Esta situação resulta principalmente de um desequilíbrio histórico em termos do número de estudos voltados ao conhecimento da biota marinha ao longo da costa brasileira, como aqueles que tratam do inventariamento de espécies e revisões taxonômicas, que são tipicamente concentrados nas porções sul e sudeste do país. A produção científica focalizada nos organismos marinhos da costa norte também é desequilibrada e reflete o número relativamente baixo de taxonomistas e grupos de pesquisa trabalhando com o tema. O conhecimento insuficiente da biodiversidade dos peixes marinhos e estuarinos da costa norte é um impedimento à implantação de políticas públicas adequadas voltadas para o manejo dos recursos naturais na região. À longo prazo, essa situação é potencialmente prejudicial em termos da conservação de uma biota ainda pouco conhecida. Um melhor conhecimento da fauna de peixes marinhos da costa norte do Brasil será atingido apenas através do investimento em pesquisas científicas e formação de pessoal em sistemática e biogeografia, acoplado à modernização da infra-estrutura e expansão das coleções científicas da região.

DNA barcodes identify marine fishes of São Paulo State, Brazil.

Anthropogenic impacts are an increasing threat to the diversity of fishes, especially in areas around large urban centres, and many effective conservation actions depend on accurate species identification. Considering the utility of DNA barcoding as a global system for species identification and discovery, this study aims to assemble a DNA barcode reference sequence library for marine fishes from the coastal region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The standard 652 bp 'barcode' fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was PCR amplified and bidirectionally sequenced from 678 individuals belonging to 135 species. A neighbour-joining analysis revealed that this approach can unambiguously discriminate 97% of the species surveyed. Most species exhibited low intraspecific genetic distances (0.31%), about 43-fold less than the distance among species within a genus. Four species showed higher intraspecific divergences ranging from 2.2% to 7.6%, suggesting overlooked diversity. Notably, just one species-pair exhibited barcode divergences of <1%. This library is a first step to better know the molecular diversity of marine fish species from São Paulo, providing a basis for further studies of this fauna - extending the ability to identify these species from all life stages and even fragmentary remains, setting the stage for a better understanding of interactions among species, calibrating the estimations about species composition and richness in an ecosystem, and providing tools for authenticating bioproducts and monitoring illegal species exploitation.

Peixes da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, bacias dos Rios Tocantins e São Francisco, com observações sobre as implicações biogeográficas das "águas emendadas" dos Rios Sapão e Galheiros / Fishes from the Serra Geral do Tocantins Ecological Station, Rio Tocantins and Rio São Francisco basins, with remarks on the biogeographical implications of the common headwater between the Rio Sapão and Rio Galheiros

Um levantamento preliminar da ictiofauna que ocorre na Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins, situada no Sudeste do Estado do Tocantins e Noroeste do Estado da Bahia, é apresentado. A Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins situa-se no divisor de águas entre as bacias do Rio São Francisco (Rio Sapão) e Rio Tocantins (bacias dos Rios Novo, Balsas e Manuel Alves). A cabeceira comum ou "água emendada" do Rio Sapão e Rio Galheiros, este um afluente do Rio Novo, situa-se no interior da estação e é considerada na literatura como uma possível área de intercâmbio ictiofaunístico entre a bacia do Rio São Francisco e a bacia do Rio Tocantins. Trinta e cinco espécies de peixes foram registradas dentro da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral de Tocantins e em seu entorno imediato, algumas delas desconhecidas da ciência e possivelmente endêmicas da região. Um total de 111 espécies de peixes foi registrado regionalmente (incluindo espécies de peixes registrados nos trechos do Rio Sapão e do Rio Novo/do Sono abaixo da estação). O acará Cichlasoma sanctifranciscense é aqui registrado pela primeira vez na bacia do Rio Tocantins. A ocorrência desta espécie, bem como do lambari Astyanax novae, no Rio Sapão e no Rio Novo/do Sono, são considerados os únicos exemplos inequívocos de transposição natural de espécies de peixes entre as bacias do Rio São Francisco e Tocantins efetuado pelas águas emendadas dos rios Sapão e Galheiros.

A preliminary ichthyofaunistic survey conducted at the Serra Geral de Tocantins Ecological Station (Southeastern Tocantins and Northwest Bahia States, central Brazil) is presented. This Ecological Station is situated at the water divide between the Rio São Francisco basin (Rio Sapão) and Rio Tocantins (Rio Novo, Rio Balsas, and Rio Manuel Alves da Natividade basins). A common headwater ("água emendada") between the Rio Sapão and the Rio Galheiros (the latter a tributary of the Rio Novo) lies within the station boundaries and is considered in the literature as a potential area of faunistic interchange between the Rio São Francisco and the Rio Tocantins basins. Thirty-five fish species were recorded within the Serra Geral de Tocantins Ecological Station and at its immediate surroundings, some of which unknown to science and potentially endemic to the area. A total of 111 fish species were regionally recorded (i.e., including fish species recorded at downstream stretches of the Rio Sapão and Rio Novo/do Sono, below the ecological station). The cichlid Cichlasoma sanctifranciscense is here recorded for the first time for the Rio Tocantins basin. The occurrence of this species, as well as of the characin Astyanax novae in both the Rio Sapão and Rio Novo/do Sono basins, are here considered to be the only unequivocal examples of fish species that naturally transposed the water divide between the Rio São Francisco and the Rio Tocantins basins effected by the common headwater between Rio Sapão and Rio Galheiros.

Opsanus brasiliensis Rotundo, Spinelli & Zavalla-Camin, 2005 (Teleostei: Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae), sinônimo- júnior de Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean, 1880), com notas sobre a ocorrência da espécie na costa brasileira / Opsanus brasiliensis Rotundo, Spinelli & Zavalla-Camin, 2005 (Teleostei: Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae), a junior synonym of Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean, 1880), with notes on its occurrence in the Brazilian coast

Neste trabalho, dois exemplares de Opsanus coletados na costa do Paraná, e que representam os primeiros registros do gênero no sul do Brasil, foram identifcados como Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean, 1880). Uma comparação mais detalhada entre estes exemplares e a série-tipo de Opsanus brasiliensis Rotundo, Spinelli & Zavalla-Camin, 2005 (descrita originalmente do litoral de Santos, São Paulo), além de informações da literatura, indicou que Opsanus brasiliensis é sinônimo-júnior de Opsanus beta e que os representantes de Opsanus aqui encontrados são exóticos. É aqui levantada a possibilidade de que O. beta invadiu a costa brasileira através de água de lastro de navios que teriam zarpado das áreas naturais de ocorrência desta espécie.

In this paper, two individuals of Opsanus caught in the coast of Paraná (the first records of this genus in the southern Brazil) were identified as Opsanus beta (Goode & Bean, 1880). Such speciemens were compared with the type series of Opsanus brasiliensis Rotundo, Spinelli & Zavalla-Camin, 2005 (originally described from the coast of Santos, São Paulo), and with the literature data. As a result, Opsanus brasiliensis is herein regarded as a junior synonym of O. beta, and so the exemplars of Opsanus found at the Brazilian coast are exotic. It is herein postulated that O. beta would have invaded the Brazilian coast through ballast water released by vessels that sailed from the natural areas of occurrence of such species.