Newly described species/Taxonomic News:

EXTANT:


DE CARVALHO, M.R. & WHITE, W.T. (2016): Narcine baliensis, a new species of electric ray from southeast
Asia (Chondrichthyes: Torpediniformes). Zootaxa, 4127 (1): 149–160
New species: Narcine baliensis
Abstract: A new species of numbfish, Narcine baliensis, sp. nov., is described from the tropical eastern
Indian Ocean from Indonesia. It is superficially similar to N. brevilabiata and N. atzi in aspects of its color
pattern, but is distinguished from both congeners in details of its color pattern, in tooth band morphology,
and in proportions of its dorsal fins, among other features. Narcine baliensis, sp. nov., is unique in having
a dorsal color pattern composed of large, circular, ovoid or elongate dark brown spots or blotches on
dorsal disc along with more numerous small (about eye-sized or slightly greater) brownish, subcircular
spots, with large blotches and small spots surrounded by a very slender creamy-white pattern, as well as
in having broadly circular upper and lower tooth bands of about the same width and shape. The genus
 Narcine is now composed of 20 valid species, but uncertainty remains concerning the identification and
morphological variation of some of its species in the tropical Indo-West Pacific region.

LAST, P.R. & STEWART, A.L. & SÉRET, B. (2016): A new temperate deepwater skate of the genus
Bathyraja (Rajoidei: Arhynchobatidae) from the South-West Pacific. Zootaxa, 4132 (1): 107–117
New species: Bathyraja pacifica
Abstract: A single specimen of a new Bathyraja skate was collected by the authors in 2003 during a
survey of the deepwater biota of the northern Tasman Sea by the New Zealand FRVTangaroa. This skate,
labelled the ‘blonde skate’ by voyage participants, is uniformly white on all surfaces of the body and the
skin is partly translucent. It belongs to a subgroup ofBathyraja with a large, almost smooth, quadrangular
disc and well-developed and equally spaced median tail thorns. Other similar and probably closely
related Bathyraja specimens have been caught in seas to the south of New Zealand since the discovery
of this species, but their identity is yet to be confirmed.


VIANA, S.T. & DE CARVALHO, M.R. & GOMES, U.L. (2016): Taxonomy and morphology of species of the
genus SqualusLinnaeus, 1758 from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes:
Squalidae). Zootaxa, 4133 (1): 1-89
New species: Squalus lobularis, Squalus albicaudus, Squalus quasimodo, Squalus bahiensis
Abstract: Squalus is a genus of reportedly cosmopolitan shark species that have a high taxonomic
complexity due to difficulties in their morphological differentiation; many of its species need revision.
Currently, there are 26 valid species of Squalus, which have been divided into three species-groups
according to overall morphological similarity, the S. acanthias, S. megalops, and S. mitsukurii groups.
Loss of type specimens, propagation of erroneous identifications in the literature, and difficulties in
obtaining representative series for comparison are secondary challenges that have impeded a global
taxonomic revision of the genus. This problem applies clearly to species from the Southwestern Atlantic
Ocean, including species that occur off Brazil. Following a current global tendency, a regional taxonomic
revision of Squalus was conducted in order to investigate which species are valid in the Southwestern
Atlantic Ocean and provide diagnostic morphological characters that can be efficiently used for identifying
species. Comparative detailed analysis of external (e.g. morphometrics, dentition, and color pattern) and
skeletal morphology (primarily meristic data, neurocrania and claspers) of specimens of Squalus from the
region revealed four new species that are herein described (S. albicaudus sp. nov., S. bahiensis sp. nov., 
S. lobularis sp. nov., and S. quasimodo sp. nov.), as well as S. acanthias, which is redescribed from the
region based on new material. Comparisons are offered based on examinations of congeneric species;
this work is part of a global systematic revision of Squalus.



WEIGMANN, S. & STEHMANN, M.F.W. (2016): Sinobatis brevicauda n. sp., a new deep-water legskate
(Rajiformes, Anacanthobatidae) and first generic record from the western Indian Ocean. Zootaxa, 4137 (4):
478–500
New species: Sinobatis brevicauda
Abstract: A new deep-water legskate, Sinobatis brevicauda, is described based on two specimens caught
on the remote Saya de Malha Bank in the central western Indian Ocean. The new species is easily
distinguished from all other described anacanthobatids by the short tail. It is the only Sinobatis species
described from the western Indian Ocean and differs from the other anacanthobatid legskates in this area
by its large size and light coloration. All other species of Sinobatis are described from the eastern Indian
and, particularly, western Pacific oceans. In addition to the short tail, the new species clearly differs from
its morphologically closest congener, the Australian S. bulbicauda, in a bicolored white and grayish
ventral coloration with gray and white blotches (vs. uniformly pale or white and skin somewhat translucent)
and a filamentous tail without flattened, bulbous tip. Furthermore, it is distinguished by several morphometric
and meristic differences, e.g. a longer body (length 65% TL vs. 39–61% TL), longer head (dorsal length
34% TL vs. 21–31% TL, ventral length 41% TL vs. 23–36% TL), longer snout (preorbital length 28–29%
TL vs. 14–26% TL, preoral length 30% TL vs. 16–28% TL, prenasal length 28% TL vs. 14–25% TL), and
fewer diplospondylous (102–112 vs. 121–142) and total (131–141 vs. 148–168) vertebrae. S. brevicauda 
clearly differs from the other anacanthobatids in the western Indian Ocean, Anacanthobatis marmorata 
andIndobatis ori, by having a much shorter tail, strongly different coloration, much larger size, and in many
morphometric and meristic differences.


ACERO, A. & TAVERA, J.J. & ANGUILA, R. & HERNÁNDEZ, L. (2016): A New Southern Caribbean Species
of Angel Shark (Chondrichthyes, Squaliformes, Squatinidae), Including Phylogeny and Tempo of
Diversification of American Species. Copeia, 104 (2): 577-585
New species: Squatina david
Abstract: A new species of Squatina, S. david, is described from the Colombian Caribbean. The new
species differs from all the western North Atlantic angel sharks by lacking a mid-dorsal line of thorns or
enlarged dermal denticles, by having an eye-spiracle distance larger than 1.5 times eye diameter, and
each nasal flap with two rod-like barbels. Coloration is grayish to brownish yellow, males are dark-spotted,
females have abundant whitish spots. Squatina david is nested within the American clade of angel sharks,
being the sister species to the Brazilian species.


SÉRET, B. & NAYLOR, G.J.P. (2016): Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis, a new genus and species of wedgefish
from the eastern central Atlantic (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Rhinidae). Zootaxa, 4138 (2): 291–308
New species: Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis
Abstract: A new wedgefish, Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from three
specimens collected in the shallow waters of the shoal “Banc d’Arguin”, off Mauritania (Eastern Central
Atlantic). The new genus is mainly distinguished from its close relatives, members of the genus 
Rhynchobatus, by its snout shape, more broadly rounded like that of the shark-ray Rhina ancylostoma,
instead of being typically wedge-shaped as in Rhynchobatus species. The new species resembles the
common West African wedgefish, Rhynchobatus lubberti, in having a similar colour pattern, but differs
in snout shape. The new genus is supported as genetically distinct by comparative analysis of the
mitochondrial NADH2 gene.


WHITE, W.T. & NAYLOR, G.J.P. (2016): Resurrection of the family Aetobatidae (Myliobatiformes) for the
pelagic eagle rays, genusAetobatus. Zootaxa, 4139 (3): 435–438
Resurrection of the family Aetobatidae
Abstract: Molecular and morphological data show that the pelagic eagle rays of the genus Aetobatus 
form a distinct family-level grouping separate from the true eagle rays, Aetomylaeus and Myliobatis 
(family Myliobatidae). The family Aetobatidae is herein resurrected to include the pelagic eagle rays and
definitions are provided for this family and for the Myliobatidae. The key characters separating
Aetobatidae from Myliobatidae are: pectoral fins joining head at level of eyes (vs. below level of eyes),
internasal flap deeply notched (vs. nearly straight), free rear tip of pectoral fins broadly rounded
(vs. angular), spiracles dorsolateral on head and visible in dorsal view (spiracles lateral on head and not
visible in dorsal view), dorsal fin with obvious free rear tip (vs. no free rear tip evident, posterior margin
joining dorsal surface of tail).


LAST, P.R. & KYNE, P.M. & COMPAGNO, L.J.V. (2016): A new species of wedgefish Rhynchobatus cooki
(Rhinopristiformes, Rhinidae) from the Indo–West Pacific. Zootaxa, Zootaxa, 4139 (2): 233–247
New species: Rhynchobatus cooki
Abstract: A new dwarf wedgefish, Rhynchobatus cooki sp. nov. is described from a single female from a
Jakarta fish market (Indonesia) and 11 specimens collected at Jurong fish market (Singapore). First
collected in 1934, the broader ichthyological community have been aware of this distinctive but little
known ray since the late 1990’s. Rhynchobatus cooki is the smallest of the wedgefishes (to 81 cm TL) and
has the lowest vertebral count (fewer than 107 centra). It is also distinguishable from its congeners based
on its long, hastate snout, very strongly undulate anterior pectoral-fin margin, coloration and aspects of its
squamation. The dorsal coloration is mainly dark and distinctively marked with white blotches, spots and
streaks, and has a dark cruciate marking on the interorbit and a prominent white border around the body
margin. Unlike most other wedgefish species, the snout tip lacks dark blotches and there is no black
pectoral-fin marking. It shares well-developed rostral spines with a much larger Atlantic species
(Rhynchobatus luebberti), but these spines are confined to the snout tip (rather than being more numerous
and extending in paired rows along the rostral ridges nearly to the eyes). No additional specimens have
been observed since 1996, despite an increased recent effort to survey the chondrichthyan fauna of
South-East Asia and collect biological data for species, raising concerns over its conservation status.

LAST, P.R. & NAYLOR, G.J.P. & MANJAJI-MATSUMOTO, B.M. (2016): A revised classification of the family
Dasyatidae (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes) based on new morphological and molecular insights.
Zootaxa, 4139 (3): 345–368
New genera: Brevitrygon, Fluvitrygon, Fontitrygon, Maculabatis, Megatrygon, Pateobatis, Telatrygon
Abstract: The higher-level taxonomy of the stingrays (Dasyatidae) has never been comprehensively
reviewed. Recent phylogenetic studies, supported by morphological data, have provided evidence that
the group is monophyletic and consists of four major subgroups, the subfamilies Dasyatinae,
Neotrygoninae, Urogymninae and Hypolophinae. A morphologically based review of 89 currently
recognised species, undertaken for a guide to the world’s rays, indicated that most of the currently
recognised dasyatid genera are not monophyletic groups. These findings were supported by molecular
analyses using the NADH2 gene for about 77 of these species, and this topology is supported by
preliminary analyses base on whole mitochondrial genome comparisons. These molecular analyses,
based on data generated from the Chondrichthyan Tree of Life project, are the most taxon-rich data
available for this family. Material from all of the presently recognised genera (Dasyatis, Pteroplatytrygon and Taeniurops [Dasyatinae]; Neotrygon and Taeniura[Neotrygoninae]; Himantura and
 Urogymnus [Urogymninae]; and Makararaja and Pastinachus [Hypolophinae]), are included and their validity largely supported. Urogymnus and the two most species rich genera, Dasyatis and Himantura, are not considered to be monophyletic and were redefined based on external morphology. Seven new genus-level taxa are erected (Megatrygon andTelatrygon [Dasyatinae]; Brevitrygon, Fluvitrygon, Fontitrygon, Maculabatis and Pateobatis [Urogymninae], and an additional three (Bathytoshia, Hemitrygon and Hypanus [Dasyatinae]) are resurrected from the synonymy of Dasyatis. The monotypic genusMegatrygon clustered with ‘amphi-American Himantura’ outside the Dasyatidae, and instead as the sister group of the Potamotrygonidae and Urotrygonidae. Megatrygon is provisionally retained in the Dasyatinae pending further investigation of its internal anatomy. The morphologically divergent groups, Bathytoshia and Pteroplatytrygon, possibly form a single monophyletic group so further investigation is needed to confirm the validity of Pteroplatytrygon. A reclassification of the family Dasyatidae is provided and the above taxa are defined based on new morphological data.


FOSSIL:


ANDREEV, P. & COATES, M.I. & KARATAJŪTĖ-TALIMAA, V.N. & SHELTON, R.M. & COOPER, P.R. & WANG, N.-Z. & SANSOM, I.J. (2016): The systematics of the Mongolepidida (Chondrichthyes) and the Ordovician origins of the clade. PeerJ, 4: e1850
New genus: Solinalepis
New species: Solinalepis levis
Abstract: The Mongolepidida is an Order of putative early chondrichthyan fish, originally erected to unite taxa from the Lower Silurian of Mongolia. The present study reassesses mongolepid systematics through the examination of the developmental, histological and morphological characteristics of scale-based specimens from the Upper Ordovician Harding Sandstone (Colorado, USA) and the Upper Llandovery_Lower Wenlock Yimugantawu (Tarim Basin, China), Xiushan (Guizhou Province, China) and Chargat (north-western Mongolia) Formations. The inclusion of the Mongolepidida within the Class Chondrichthyes is supported on the basis of a suite of scale attributes (areal odontode deposition, linear odontocomplex structure and lack of enamel, cancellous bone and hard-tissue resorption) shared with traditionally recognized chondrichthyans (euchondrichthyans, e.g., ctenacanthiforms). The mongolepid dermal skeleton exhibits a rare type of atubular dentine (lamellin) that is regarded as one of the diagnostic features of the Order within crown gnathostomes. The previously erected Mongolepididae and Shiqianolepidae families are revised, differentiated by scale-base histology and expanded to include the genera Rongolepis and Xinjiangichthys, respectively. A newly described mongolepid species (Solinalepis levis gen. et sp. nov.) from the Ordovician of North America is treated as family incertae sedis, as it possesses a type of basal bone tissue (acellular and vascular) that has yet to be documented in other mongolepids. This study extends the stratigraphic and palaeogeographic range of Mongolepidida and adds further evidence for an early diversification of the Chondrichthyes in the Ordovician Period, 50 million years prior to the first recorded appearance of euchondrichthyan teeth in the Lower Devonian.


SHIMADA, K. & WARD, D.J. (2016): The oldest fossil record of the megamouth shark from the late Eocene of Denmark, and comments on the enigmatic megachasmid origin. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, in press
New species: Megachasma alisonae
Abstract: The megamouth shark (Lamniformes: Megachasmidae) has sporadic occurrences both in the present-day oceans and in the fossil record. In this paper, we describe a new megachasmid, Megachasma alisonae sp. nov., on the basis of a morphologically distinct tooth collected from the Pyt Member of the late Eocene Søvind Marl Formation at Moesgård Strand in Denmark, that represents the geologically oldest known Megachasma. The tooth likely came from an individual that measured somewhere between 1.3 and 3.5 m long, and its morphology and chipped cusp tips suggest that it possibly fed on macro-zooplankton and small fishes that had hard skeletal components. Its occurrence in the mid-Priabonian Pyt Member at least suggests that the shark inhabited a relatively deep, open marine environment about 36 Ma ago. This Eocene specimen is significant because it illustrates the dental condition of early megachasmids, which is distinctively odontaspidid-like morphologically.




PARASITES:


SCHAEFFNER, B.C. (2016): Review of the genus Shirleyrhynchus Beveridge & Campbell, 1988 (Trypanorhyncha: Shirleyrhynchidae), with the resurrection of S. butlerae Beveridge & Campbell, 1988 and the description of S. panamensis n. sp.Systematic Parasitology, 93 (5): 413-430
New species: Shirleyrhynchus panamensis
Abstract: A new species of trypanorhynch cestode is described from two species of stingrays, the Panamic stingray Urotrygon aspidura (Jordan & Gilbert) and the Pacific chupare Himantura pacifica (Beebe & Tee-Van) collected in the Golfo de Montijo in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Panama. Shirleyrhynchus panamensis n. sp. represents an important addition to the family, which until now consisted of two monotypic genera. The new species is characterised by an elongate scolex with four, ovate bothria, presence of prebulbar organs, absence of gland cells within the muscular bulbs and an oncotaxy with a typical heteroacanthous, heteromorphous tentacular armature, a characteristic basal armature and the presence of a slight basal swelling. It is readily distinguished from its congeners by a smaller scolex and features of the oncotaxy, such as dissimilar hooks on opposing principle rows, a commencement of hook rows from the bothrial to the antibothrial surface and a much shorter basal armature. Although described only on the basis of immature worms lacking a strobila, the new species adds information on features of the oncotaxy within Shirleyrhynchus Beveridge & Campbell, 1988. Observation of the holotype of Shirleyrhynchus aetobatidis(Shipley & Hornell, 1906) revealed apparent differences from Australian specimens that have been described as Shirleyrhynchus butlerae Beveridge & Campbell, 1988 but which were later synonymised. Observations of type-specimens of S. butlerae also revealed differences from the original description and some morphological characteristics are amended. Shirleyrhynchus butlerae is herein resurrected and an amended generic diagnosis and a key to the identification of species are provided. The molecular voucher specimen of 'S. aetobatidis' utilised in previous molecular phylogenetic studies was re-observed which revealed a misidentification of the specimen with Parachristianella indonesiensis Palm, 2004