Mechanosensory system of the lateral line in the subantarctic Patagonian blenny Eleginops maclovinus.

This study describes the cephalic and trunk lateral line systems in Patagonian blenny Eleginops maclovinus juveniles, providing morphological details for pores, canals and neuromasts. Eleginops maclovinus juveniles possess a complete laterodorsal lateral line that extends from the upper apex of the gill opening along the trunk as far as the caudal fin. The lateral line was ramified through pores and canals. The following pores were recorded: four supraorbital pores, with two along the eye border and two on the snout; seven infraorbital pores, with three on the lacrimal bone and four being infraorbital; five postorbital pores, with three along the preopercular border (upper preoperculum branch) and two on the bone curvature (inferior preoperculum branch); and four mandibular pores aligned along the jaw. Furthermore, five narrow-simple and interconnected canals were found (i.e. preopercular, mandibular, supraorbital and infraorbital canals). Histologically, the dorsal lateral line presented thin neuromasts (350 µm) with short hair cells. By contrast, the cranial region presented long, thick neuromasts. Infraorbital and mandibular neuromasts had a major axis length of 260 µm and respective average diameters of 200 and 185 µm. Sensory system variations would be due to a greater concentration of neuromasts in the cranial region, allowing for a greater perception of changes in water pressure. Scarce morphological information is available for the lateral sensory system in Eleginopsidae, particularly compared to Channichthyidae, Bovichthydae, Artedidraconidae and Bathydraconidae. Therefore, the presented results form a fundamental foundation of knowledge for the lateral-line system in juvenile E. maclovinus and provide a basis for future related research in this taxon as well as within the Notothenioidei suborder.

[Illustrated key for the Chilean fishes of the family Serranidae (Teleostei: Perciformes)]. / Clave ilustrada de los peces chilenos de la familia Serranidae (Teleostei: Perciformes).

A taxonomic key for identification of fish species of the family Serranidae of Chile, grouped in the subfamilies Epinephelinae, Serraninae and Anthiinae is presented. Basic data about the taxonomic of the group to facilitate the identification is given. In each specific case, the geographical distribution is showed. Reduced illustrations for the currently 13 serranid species considered in the Chilean ichthyofauna are included.

Clave ilustrada de los peces chilenos de la familia Serranidae (Teleostei: Perciformes)

Illustrated key for the Chilean fishes of the family Serranidae (Teleostei: Perciformes). A taxonomic key for identification of fish species of the family Serranidae of Chile, grouped in the subfamilies Epinephelinae, Serraninae and Anthiinae is presented. Basic data about the taxonomic of the group to facilitate the identification is given. In each specific case, the geographical distribution is showed. Reduced illustrations for the currently 13 serranid species considered in the Chilean ichthyofauna are included. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (1): 247-253. Epub 2011 March 01.

Se presenta una clave para reconocer especies de la familia Serranidae de Chile, que se agrupan en las subfamilias Epinephelinae, Serraninae y Anthiinae. Se proporcionan antecedentes básicos referidos a la taxonomía del grupo, para mayor facilidad del reconocimiento. En cada caso específico, se indica la distribución geográfica e ilustraciones reducidas de las 13 especies de la familia Serranidae que en la actualidad son consideradas en la ictiofauna de Chile.

Mesobathic chondrichthyes of the Juan Fernández seamounts: are they different from those of the central Chilean continental slope?

We compared the geographic distribution of groups of chondrychthid fishes of two physically proximal, although geographically different, regions that include the Juan Fernández seamounts and the central Chilean continental slope, both sampled at mesopelagic and mesobenthonic depths. The ridge is in the Nazca Plate, while the slope region in on the South American Plate, and is closer to the South American continent. We found six species of Chondrichthyes for the seamounts (four orders, four families). The slope sampling produced ten species of Chondrichthyes, of which Torpedo tremens De Buen 1959, was the only species in common with the Juan Fernandez area. There are clear differences between the Chondrichthyes of the two regions. These fisheries require adequate administrative modes.

El estatus taxonómico de Doydixodon laevifrons (Tschudi, 1846) (Osteichthyes: Kyphosidae) / Taxonomic status of Doydixodon laevifrons (Tschudi, 1846) (Osteichthyes: Kyphosidae)

Doydixodon laevifrons es un pez comúnmente conocido como baúnco, y en los últimos tiempos también ha sido citado como Girella laevifrons en recientes publicaciones sin explicaciones que avalen tal cambio genérico. El objetivo del presente trabajo es revisar las características morfológicas diagnósticas de los géneros Doydixodon Valenciennes, 1846 y Girella Gray, 1835, y su presencia o ausencia en ejemplares de Doydixodon laevifrons procedentes de Chile central. Concluimos que Doydixodon laevifrons es un sinónimo menor (=junior) de Girella laevifrons y se distribuye por la franja litoral, desde la costa sur de Perú, hasta aproximadamente El Tabo (33º27’S, 71º41’W) en Chile. Es la especie de distribución más austral en su género. Se sugiere revisar la taxonomía del género Girella Gray, 1835, en el Pacífico sur oriental.

Doydixodon laevifrons is commonly known as baúnco, but in latest papers it has also been cited as Girella laevifrons without any explanation for this change generic. The purpose of this paper is to review the morphological features of diagnostic for the genera Doydixodon Valenciennes, 1846 and Girella Gray, 1835, and their presence or absence in specimens of Doydixodon laevifrons from central Chile. We conclude that Doydixodon laevifrons is synonymous minor (=junior) of Girella laevifrons and it is distributed by the littoral, from the south coast of Peru, until approximately El Tabo (33°27’S, 71°41’W) in Chile. Thus, is the species with southernmost distribution in the genus. A taxonomic revision of the genus Girella Gray, 1835 in the southeastern Pacific, is suggested.

Mesobathic chondrichthyes of the Juan Fernández seamounts: are they different from those of the central Chilean continental slope?

We compared the geographic distribution of groups of chondrychthid fishes of two physically proximal, although geographically different, regions that include the Juan Fernández seamounts and the central Chilean continental slope, both sampled at mesopelagic and mesobenthonic depths. The ridge is in the Nazca Plate, while the slope region in on the South American Plate, and is closer to the South American continent. We found six species of Chondrichthyes for the seamounts (four orders, four families). The slope sampling produced ten species of Chondrichthyes, of which Torpedo tremens De Buen 1959, was the only species in common with the Juan Fernandez area. There are clear differences between the Chondrichthyes of the two regions. These fisheries require adequate administrative modes.

Se realizó un estudio de distribución geográfica comparativa entre conjuntos de peces condrictios de dos sectores geográficamente cercanos, pero geológicamente distintos, el sector este de la cordillera sumergida de Juan Fernández y el talud continental de Chile central, a profundidades mesopelágicas y mesobentónicas. La cordillera está sobre la placa de Nazca, el talud en la Sudamericana. Comparamos familias, géneros y especies, mediante el índice de Jaccard. Hay seis especies de condrictios en los montes submarinos (cuatro órdenes y cuatro familias). El talud tiene diez especies, y únicamente comparte con la cordillera a Torpedo tremens De Buen 1959. Estos condrictios requieren modos administrativo-pesqueros adecuados.

Limnectic feeding in eleginops maclovinus (Valenciennes 1830) in the Valdivia river Chile

Eleginops maclovinus (Valenciennes, 1830) es un pez común en el litoral, estuarios y también ríos, preferentemente donde afectan las mareas, del sur de América del Sur, incluyendo las islas Malvinas. Se conoce su alimentación en los dos primeros hábitats, donde consume principalmente animales de ambiente marino y estuarino, donde se alimenta de fauna autóctona (mejillones, crustáceos, poliquetos, etc). Sin embargo, se desconoce su alimentación en ambientes limnéticos, suponiéndose que debería consumir presas propias de aquellos lugares. Es este estudio se analizaron 114 ejemplares de E. maclovinus, de los cuales 98 poseyeron estómagos con contenido. Se ratificó la tendencia zoofágica de la especie, pero también se comprobó que en ambientes limnéticos consume animales propios de bajas salinidades o salinidades limnéticas. El pez se presenta como una especie extraordinariamente versátil en sus capacidades tróficas, con una fisiología que le permite cubrir un amplio abanico ormorregulatorio a nivel digestivo, probablemente uno de las más variados en el suborden Notothenioidei, de supuesto orígen antártico

Revisión taxonómica de especies de las subfamilias Epinephelinae y Serraninae (Pisces: Serranidae) de Chile / Taxonomic review of species of the Epinephelinae and Serraninae (Pisces: Serranidae) subfamilies of Chile

A revision of epinepheline (Epinephelinae) and serranine (Serraninae) fishes from the Eastern Chilean South Pacific is presented, based on collections housed in Chile, Peru and the USA. Four species are recognized: Pseudogramma australis pasquensis; Diplectrum conceptione; Paralabrax humeralis and Serranus huacarii. According to literature Paralabrax semifasciatus, Serranus semifasciatus and Prionodes huascarii are relegated to the synonymy of Paralabrax humeralis and Serranus huascarii respectively. Keys for the identification of genera and species are presented, and for each species we provide a diagnosis, remarks on colors, distribution, number of species in each genus and illustration. The keys use easily observed characters for differentiating the four species of the Eastern South Pacific epinepheline and serranine fishes of Chile.