NEWSLETTER 9/2016 30.09.2016

NEW PARTNERS OF SHARK-REFERENCES:

NEWS!

 

New images at shark-references:

• Dr. Padmavathi Devarapalli, FishBase Collaborator 1675, Kakinada-533003, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
  for images of
  Acroteriobatus blochii  MÜLLER & HENLE, 1841 Godavari Estuary and Kakinada Bay on the East Coast of India, Bay of Bengal
  Rhinoptera javanica MÜLLER & HENLE, 1841, Gautami Godavari Estuary, Kakinada Bay, on East Coast of India
  Chiloscyllium griseum MÜLLER & HENLE, 1838, female,  from Gautami Godavari Estuary, Kakinada Bay , on East Coast of India, TL 35,4 cm
  
  
  Rhinobatos holcorhynchus NORMAN, 1922  Godavari Estuary and Kakinada Bay on the East Coast of India, Bay of Bengal
  Carcharhinus brevipinna (MÜLLER & HENLE, 1839), male, TL ca 150 cm
  
  
   
• SÉBASTIEN ENAULT,  http://www.kraniata.com/home for images of 
  Galeorhinus galeus (LINNAEUS, 1758)
  
  
  
  and Raja undulata LACEPÈDE, 1802
  
   
   
• Zanobatus maculatus SÉRET, 2016,  holotype, MNHN 1990-467, male 302 mm TL, dorsal view © Bernhard Serét, France
  
  
  
   
• Oxynotus bruniensis (OGILBY, 1893)  © Brit Finucci
  
  
   
• Pradip Patade, India for images of
  Gymnura poecilura (SHAW, 1804), male, 35-40 cm DW, Girgaon Chowpatty, Mumbai, India
  
  
  
  and Rhynchobatus cf. laevis (FORSSKÅL, 1775), female, fish market of Mumbai, India
  
  
   
• MARCELO R. DE CARVALHO, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil for images of
  
  Potamotrygon albimaculata DE CARVALHO, 2016 adult female, 790 mm TL, 531 mm DL, 500 mm DW
  
  
  
  and Potamotrygon jabuti DE CARVALHO, 2016, holotype, adult female, 789 mm TL, 487 mm DL, 453 mm DW, MZUSP 105023
  

• Sinobatis andamanensis LAST & BUSSARAWIT, 2016 sp. nov., holotype, PMBC 19556, 379 mm TL, adult male (preserved) © LAST, P.R. & BUSSARAWIT, S.
  
  
   
• Etmopterus alphus  EBERT, STRAUBE, LESLIE & WEIGMANN, 2016 (Etmopterus alphus: paratype ZMH 26111, adult male, 323 mm TL, RV Vityaz, cruise 17, station 2686, Walters Shoals, 33°04′ S, 43°52′ E–33°04′ S, 43°53′ E, 650–660 m depth, 19.4 m shrimp trawl, trawl no. 55, on the bottom for 31 minutes, 12 December 1988) before preservation © Simon WEIGMANN, Hamburg)
  
  

Missing papers:

Many thanks to all friends of shark-references, who sent us some missing papers last month!

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Please support www.shark-references.com and send missing papers (not listed papers or papers without the info-symbol) to juergen.pollerspoeck@shark-references.com or nicolas.straube@shark-references.com

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Newly described species/Taxonomic News:

EXTANT:

 
SÉRET, B. (2016): Zanobatus maculatus, a new species of panray from the Gulf of Guinea, eastern central Atlantic (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea: Zanobatidae). Zootaxa, 4161 (4): 509–522
New species: Zanobatus maculatus
Abstract: A new species of panray, Zanabatus maculatus sp. nov., is described from 12 type specimens collected in the Gulf of Guinea (Eastern Central Atlantic). The new species is distinguished from its sympatric congener, the striped panray Zanobatus schoenleinii, by its smaller size, heavier thorn pattern, spearhead-shaped dermal denticles and maculate colour pattern.
 
 

DE CARVALHO, M.R. (2016): Description of two extraordinary new species of freshwater stingrays of the genus Potamotrygon endemic to the rio Tapajós basin, Brazil (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae), with notes on other Tapajós stingrays. Zootaxa, 4167 (1): 1–63
New species: Potamotrygon albimaculata, Potamotrygon jabuti
Abstract: Stingrays from the rio Tapajós basin are reviewed based on material collected from its lower (i.e. from the mouth-lake to Itaituba), middle (from about the São Luiz rapids to the confluence of rios Juruena and Teles Pires), and upper (above the Juruena-Teles Pires confluence) segments. Two new species endemic to the mid and upper Tapajós, discovered long ago and common in the ornamental fish trade, are described. Potamotrygon albimaculata sp. nov. is part of the black stingray species group, and is diagnosed by its blackish brown dorsal disc color with numerous and generally evenly-spaced small whitish spots and faint ocelli, multiple rows of thorns broadly spread on dorsal and lateral tail, pelvic fins with broadly rounded apices, and two angular cartilages with the posterior far more slender but about as wide as the anterior angular. Potamotrygon jabuti sp. nov. is diagnosed by its marbled color pattern that undergoes remarkable change with growth as adults have elaborate designs of beige, golden to yellowish-orange spots or ocelli surrounded by a slender beige to golden mesh-like pattern, but neonates have simple, well-separated ocelli; this species also has a single to double row of tail thorns varying in their development, monognathic heterodonty with teeth of intermediate lateral rows of upper jaws larger and hexagonal, and two robust, more or less equally developed angular cartilages. Both species co-occur in the relatively fast-flowing mid and upper Tapajós basin, but mostly occupy different areas of the river, with P. albimaculata sp. nov. more abundant in its central troughs but foraging at its margins, whereas P. jabuti sp. nov. is also present in smaller streams over rocky, sandy and leafy substrates. The Tapajós basin includes at least seven stingray species, but additional species probably also occur. Potamotrygon motoro, P. orbignyi, P. humerosa, Potamotrygon sp., and Paratrygon aiereba are present in the lower Tapajós mouth-lake, which may also include Plesiotrygon and Heliotrygon species. In addition to the new species described herein, P. orbignyi and Paratrygon cf. aiereba occur in the mid and upper Tapajós, along with another form (Potamotrygon cf. scobina) known only from the region of the São Luiz rapids. Therefore, three additional new species may be present in the Tapajós basin, which has one of the most diverse stingray assemblages known together with the rios Negro and Tocantins-Araguaia.
 

LAST, P.R. & BUSSARAWIT, S. (2016): A new legskate, Sinobatis andamanensis(Rajiformes: Anacanthobatidae), from the Andaman Sea (northeastern Indian Ocean).Zootaxa, 4168 (1): 161–170
New species: Sinobatis andamanensis
Abstract: A new legskate, Sinobatis andamanensis sp. nov. is described from a small collection of specimens taken off Phuket (Thailand) during an exploratory survey of the Andaman Sea. It is the first species of Sinobatis and the only legskate known from the northern Indian Ocean. Sinobatis andamanensis sp. nov. has an especially long and narrowly pointed snout (preorbital length exceeding 23% TL) with an interorbital distance 7–9.5 in snout length (up to 6.7 in other Sinobatis species). Molecular data are unavailable for most members of the genus, but based on morphology it shares with S. caerulea bluish dorsal and ventral surfaces when fresh and a long ventral head (length 36–42% TL). As well as differing in several morphometric differences, Sinobatis andamanensis sp. nov. seems to be a much smaller legskate (males adult from 186 mm DW vs. still immature at 540 mm DW in S. caerulea). Sinobatis bulbicauda also has an expanded posterior tail, but S. andamanensis sp. nov. differs from that species in having a narrower disc (width at anterior orbit 3.7–4.9 vs. 5.2–7.8 times mouth width) and anterior pelvic-fin lobes (base width 2.7–5.0 vs. 1.7–3.2 in distance between pelvic-fin origins), and shorter and less-conical tooth cusps and fewer vertebrae (total centra 126–133 vs. 148–171).

image: Etmopterus alphus: paratype ZMH 26111, adult male, 323 mm TL, RV Vityaz, cruise 17, station 2686, Walters Shoals, 33°04′ S, 43°52′ E–33°04′ S, 43°53′ E, 650–660 m depth, 19.4 m shrimp trawl, trawl no. 55, on the bottom for 31 minutes, 12 December 1988, credit: Simon Weigmann, Hamburg

EBERT, D.A. & STRAUBE, N. & LESLIE, R.W. & WEIGMANN, S. (2016): Etmopterus alphus n. sp.: a new lanternshark (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the south-western Indian Ocean. African Journal of Marine Science, in press
New species: Etmopterus alphus
Abstract: A new species of lanternshark, Etmopterus alphus (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae), is described from the south-western Indian Ocean. The new species resembles other members of the ‘Etmopterus lucifer’ clade in having linear rows of dermal denticles and most closely resembles E. molleri from the south-western Pacific. The new species is fairly common along the upper continental slopes off central Mozambique, at depths between 472 and 558 m, and is also found on the southern Madagascar Ridge in 650–792 m depth. It can be distinguished from other members of the E. lucifer clade by a combination of characteristics, including arrangement of flank and caudal markings, dimension of flank markings and shape, size and arrangement of dermal denticles along the body. Molecular analysis further supports the distinction of E. alphus from other members of the E. luciferclade.
 
PARASITES:

KOONTZ, A. & CAIRA, J.N. (2016): Emendation of Carpobothrium ("Tetraphyllidea") from Bamboosharks (Orectolobiformes: Hemiscyliidae) with Redescription of Carpobothrium chiloscyllii and Description of a New Species from Borneo. Comparative Parasitology, 83 (2): 149-161
New species: Carpobothrium eleanorae
Abstract: Collection of new material from the bamboosharks Chiloscyllium indicum (Gmelin, 1789) and Chiloscyllium hasseltii Bleeker, 1852, from Indonesian and Malaysian Borneo prompted reevalutation of the identity and host associations of the cestode genusCarpobothrium Shipley and Hornell, 1906. Light microscopical examination of whole mounts, histological sections, and egg preparations, in combination with scanning electron microscopy of scoleces, led to redescription of the type species Carpobothrium chiloscyllii Shipley and Hornell, 1906, from Ch. indicum, as well as description of a new species from Ch. hasseltii. The proglottid anatomy of C. chiloscyllii is described for the first time. The genus was confirmed to exhibit pouch-like bothridia with relatively small anterior and posterior flaps that have a tendency to retract into the bothridial pouches, testes that are entirely pre‐poral, a uterus that extends only to the cirrus sac, and a vas deferens that coils posterior to the cirrus sac. Although not previously reported for the genus, both species were determined to possess an apical sucker on the anterior margin of the anterior bothridial flap. The posterior coiling of the vas deferens allowed free gravid proglottids of the new Carpobothrium species to be distinguished from those ofYorkeria Southwell, 1927, and to determine that, while eggs of the former are spherical with bipolar filaments, those of the latter are spindle-shaped with unipolar filaments. Examination of some of Southwell’s material identified as C. chiloscyllii from the batoid hosts Urogymnus asperrimus Bloch and Schneider, 1801 andRhynchobatus djeddensis Forsskål, 1775, in Sri Lanka, confirmed evidence from molecular work suggesting that these cestodes, which also bear pouch-like bothridia, represent a distinct group of cestodes from those parasitizing bamboosharks. This work both confirms the association of Carpobothrium species with sharks of the genus Chiloscyllium Müller and Henle, 1837, and paves the way for establishment of a novel genus for the taxa parasitizing batoids.

FOSSIL:
 
 
credit New Mexico Museum of Natural History/Bruce Welton
WELTON, B.J. (2016): First report of Orthechinorhinus (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) from the Pacific Basin; a new species from Early Oligocene Rocks of Oregon, USA. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 74: 303-308
New species: Orthechinorhinus davidae
Abstract: A decade ago, Adnet provisionally placed the genus Orthechinorhinus in the Echinorhinidae incertae sedis based on its heterodonty and a number of shared general crown and root morphologies, while also noting significant differences in root vascularization.Orthechinorhinus possesses a very specialized dentition, unlike that of any known echinorhinid, and is interpreted here to be a squaliform shark with similarities to the unusual etmopterid Trigonognathus. A new species, Orthechinorhinus davidae, has been discovered in early Oligocene bathyal marine sediments of the type Alsea Formation at Waldport on the central Oregon coast. Previous to this study, the genus was monotypic and only known byO. pfeili, from Eocene (Ypresian-Lutetian) strata in France. Teeth of O. davidae also occur in early Oligocene deep water (upper bathyal) tuffaceous mudstones of the Keasey Formation, deep water (upper bathyal) tuffaceous mudstones, associated with a crinoid Lagerstätte at Mist, Oregon. Here, the species is found associated with a diverse hexanchoid-echinorhinid-squaloid dominated community of bathydemersal, benthopelagic, and benthic sharks including: Notorynchus, Heptranchias howelli, Echinorhinus, Squalus, Centrophorus,Oligodalatias jordani, Pristiophorus, Squatina, and Mitsukurina. Geochronologically, O. davidae is approximately 18 Ma younger than O. pfeili, and its discovery in Oregon extends the geographic range of the genus from Western Europe to the eastern North Pacific Basin.
 
 
credit New Mexico Museum of Natural History/Bruce Welton
 
WELTON, B.J. & GOEDERT, J.L. (2016): New fossil species of Somniosus andRhinoscymnus (Squaliformes: Somniosidae), deep water sharks from Oligocene rocks of Western Washington State, USA. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 74: 309-326
New species: Rhinoscymnus viridiadamas, Somniosus gonzalezi
Abstract: The most recent systematic reviews of the genus Somniosus recognized two subgenera: the subgenus Somniosus, including the largest sleeper sharks (4.0 + m length), S. (S.) antarcticus, S. (S.) microcephalus, and S. (S.) pacificus, and the subgenusRhinoscymnus, including possibly three small species (<1.5 m length), S. (R.) longus, S.(R.) rostratus, and an unnamed eastern Atlantic species. These subgenera are differentiated by a combination of characters, including adult size, dental formulae, cusp angles of teeth from the lower jaw, dermal scale morphology, and presence or absence of calcified vertebrae. Based on a combination of morphologic data, molecular and dental-based cladistic analyses, and the fossil record, we resurrect Rhinoscymnus as a genus distinct from Somniosus. Two new fossil sleeper shark species are described from Washington State: R. viridiadamas, from the Oligocene Lincoln Creek Formation in Mason County, and S. gonzalezi from the ?late early Oligocene lower part of the Pysht Formation in Clallam County. Hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships of Somniosus and Rhinoscymnus, based on molecular and dental-based cladistic analyses, suggest Rhinoscymnus is a monophyletic group, most closely related to the clade [S. microcephalus + S. pacificus], and [Somniosus +Rhinoscymnus] is sister to the upper Cretaceous Cretascymnus. The two new Oligocene species of sleeper sharks from Washington State show that two separate clades,Somniosus and Rhinoscymnus, were well established in the eastern North Pacific Ocean by early Oligocene time.
 

credit New Mexico Museum of Natural History/Bruce Welton
 
WELTON, B.J. (2016): A new dalatiid shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Early Oligocene of Oregon and California, USA. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 74: 289-302
New species: Oligodalatias jordani
New genus: Oligodalatias
Abstract: Isolated teeth of Oligodalatias jordani, a new genus and species of extinct dalatiid shark, are described from early Oligocene marine deposits of the Pittsburg Bluff Formation, Nehalem River Basin, northwestern Oregon. O. jordani is also known from other eastern North Pacific early Oligocene marine rocks, including the Keasey Formation crinoid Lagerstätte at Mist, Oregon, and the Kirker Sandstone at Mt. Diablo, California. The oldest unequivocal record of Oligodalatias is an undescribed Danish, late Ypresian, species from the Lillebælt Clay Formation, and small, incomplete dalatiid teeth from the Langhian of Caunelle, France, may represent its geologically youngest occurrence. Other putative fossil records of Oligodalatias from the Paleocene (Selandian and Thanetian) of New Zealand, Thanetian of Ouled Abdoun, Morocco, the Lutetian Selsey Sand Formation (Bracklesham Group), Hampshire Basin, England, and the Helvetian of Bonpas, France, either posses dental attributes excluding them from Oligodalatias, or require redescription to establish their taxonomic position. Oligodalatias was probably bathydemersal to benthopelagic-neritic, where it evolved in deep water, and later shifted its bathymetric range to neritic habitats of the continental shelf. Alternatively, it may have always occupied the above bathymetric range, similar to that of many Recent squaloids, and nothing in the fossil record precludes the possibility of this genus being epipelagic. Oligodalatias bears a striking resemblance to the much older Centrophorus (?) balticus from the Labguva Formation, upper Cenomanian, of Lithuania, suggesting the two are more closely related to one another than, as previously proposed, C (?) balticus is to Squaliodalatias. One can hypothesize that Oligodalatias and C.(?) balticus evolved from a common ancestor, and it is possible that [Dalatias + Isistius] is sister to the clade [Squaliodalatias + [Oligodalatias + C(?) balticus]].

PLEASE send your new papers tojuergen.pollerspoeck@shark-references.comor nicolas.straube@shark-references.com   

Latest Research Articles

MISCELLANEOUS:

Freshwater stingrays chew their food just like a goat

Date: September 16, 2016

Source: University of Toronto

Summary: A new study has found that some freshwater stingrays from the Amazon chew their food in a similar fashion as mammals.