NEWSLETTER 10/2020 09.10.2020

NEW PARTNERS OF SHARK-REFERENCES

Would you like to become a shark-reference partner? Please contanct us per E-mail!

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Missing papers:

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

Shark-References would kindly like to ask you for your contribution to this project.

At the moment we are looking for some of the following papers:


Extinct Chondrichthyes:
NEWTON, E.T.  (1878) The chimeroid fishes of the British Cretaceous rocks. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom, Monograph, 4: 1–64

MATSUMOTO, H. (1936) Upper Miocene vertebrates from Kumanodô, Natori district, province of Rikuzen. Dobutsugaku Zasshi, 48: 475–480, 5 fig.

ALVINERIE, J. & ANDREIEFF, P. & ANGLADA, R. & AUBERT, J. & CAPPETTA, H. & CARALP, M. & CARATINI, C. & CARBONNEL, G. & CATZIGRAS, F. & COURME-RAULT, M.-D. & CHATEAUNEUF, J.-J. & DEMARCQ, G. & DUCASSE, O. & FATTON, E. & GLAÇON, G. & LABRACHERIE, M. & LAURIAT, A. & LE CALVEZ, Y. & LORENZ, C. & MAGNE, J. & MARGEREL, J.-P. & POIGNANT, A. & PUJOL, C. & ROGER, J. & ROMAN, J. & BLONDEAU, A. & MULLER, C. (1973) A propos de la limite oligo-miocène: résultats préliminaires d'une recherche collective sur les gisements d'Escornébéou (Saint-Géours-de-Maremne, Landes, Aquitaine méridionale). Présence de Globigerinoides dans les faunes de l'Oligocène supérieur. Comptes rendus sommaires des séances de la Société géologique de France: 75–76

BOYD, B.M. (2016) Fossil sharks and rays of Gainesville creeks; Alachua County, Florida: Hogtown group; (middle Miocene to lower Pliocene). Florida Paleontological Society, Special Publication


Extant Chondrichthyes:

KAMOHARA, T. (1943) Some unrecorded and two new fishes from Prov. Tosa, Japan. Bulletin of the Biogeographical Society of Japan, 13 (17): 125–137

DE BUEN, F. (1950) Contribuciones a la Ictiología. II. El tiburón vitamínico de la costa uruguaya Galeorhinus vitaminicus nov. sp., y algunas consideraciones generales sobre su biología. Publicaciones Cientificas, Servicio Oceanografico y de Pesca, Ministerio de Industrias y Trabajo, Montevideo No. 4: 153–162.

CADENAT, J. (1951) Initiations Africaines. III. Poissons de Mer du Sénégal. Institute Francais d'Afrique Noire. Initiations Africaines. III. Poissons de Mer du Sénégal.: 1–345

WEIBEZAHN, F.H. (1953) Una nueva especie de Scyliorhinus de Venezuela (Chondrichthyes - Elasmobranchii). Novedades cientificas. Serie zoológica. Museo de Historia Natural La Salle, 9: 1–7.

SMITH, J.L.B. (1958) The mystery killer, the new shark Carcharhinus vanrooyeni. Veld & Vlei, 3 (9): 12–14, 28.

SICCARDI, E. (1961) Cetorhinus en el Atlantico sur (Elasmobranchii: Cetorhinidae). Actas y trabajos del Primer Congreso Sudamericano de Zoologia, 4 (5): 251–263

GUBANOV, E.P. & SCHLEIB, N.A. (1980) Sharks of the Arabian Gulf. Kuwait Ministry of Public Works, Agracultural Department, Fisheries Division. Sharks of the Arabian Gulf.: 1–69

DOLGANOV, V.N. (1983) Rukovodstvo po opredeleniyu khryashchevykh ryb dal'nevostochnykh morei SSSR i sopredel'nykh vod. [Manual for identification of cartilaginous fishes of Far East seas of USSR and adjacent waters.] TINRO, Vladivostok. Rukovodstvo po opredeleniyu khryashchevykh ryb dal'nevostochnykh morei SSSR i sopredel'nykh vod.: 92 pp.



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

Upcoming Meetings:

The 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Elasmobranch Association will be held by the Dutch member group Nederlandse Elasmobranchen Vereniging (NEV) in Leiden, the Netherlands between 28^th and 30^th October, 2020. The venue is the fascinating Naturalis Biodiversity Center.

Looking forward to seeing you in Leiden!

Important notice

Due to Dutch government measures in response to the Covid19 pandemic, all restaurants, hotels, sights, and attractions in the Netherlands are currently closed. All social gatherings are banned until June 1st, 2020. At this time, we assume that gatherings will be possible by October, and therefore we are going ahead with organizing the conference. Tickets to the conference can be purchased without risk. In case of cancellation due to Covid19 measures, all tickets will be reimbursed in full. In case of personal cancellation, a service fee of approx. 5 Euros will apply.

KOEDA, K. & ITOU, M. & YAMADA, M. & MOTOMURA, H.  (2020): Rhynchobatus mononoke, a new species of wedgefish (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinidae) from Japan, with comments on Rhynchobatus laevis (Bloch and Schneider 1801). Ichthyological Research, in press
New species: Rhynchobatus mononoke
Abstract: Rhynchobatus mononoke sp. nov. (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinidae) is described from mature male and female specimens from southern Japan. A juvenile specimen, newly born from a captive individual collected from Kagoshima, is also referenced (non-type). The new species can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of its obtusely wedge-shaped snout, bluntly rounded dorsal fins, first dorsal fin originating about level with the pelvic-fin origin, and the outer fold on the spiracle posterior margin more pronounced than the inner fold. Distinctive coloration of the new species included a black blotch, followed by a single white spot (rarely absent) posterodorsally on the middle of the pectoral disc, and a large black blotch covering the anterior half of the undersurface of snout. Distinct white spots distally on the pectoral disc to the middorsal area were absent. Most previous records of species of Rhynchobatus in Japanese waters were reidentified as Rhynchobatus australiae, except for the records from the northern East China Sea. Rhynchobatus mononoke appears to be endemic to southern Japan.



Extinct Chondrichthyes:


SZABÓ, M. & FŐZY, I. (2020): Asteracanthus (Hybodontiformes: Acrodontidae) remains from the Jurassic of Hungary, with the description of a new species and with remarks on the taxonomy and paleobiology of the genus. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 297 (3): 295 - 309
New species: Asteracanthus dunaii
Abstract: The present paper reports dental remains from Jurassic marine sediments of Hungary, referred to as Asteracanthus dunaii sp. nov. and Asteracanthus ornatissimus. Teeth of the new species Asteracanthus dunaii sp. nov. differ from all other Jurassic species of Asteracanthus by the unique occlusal ornamentation, by the presence of a mesiodistally running, low and wide transversal ridge (causing a hat-like, asymmetrical outline in cross-section view), and by the arched shape of the mesially domed second lateral teeth. The tooth material of the new species is assumed to belong to the same individual. The present study also highlights the importance of the revision of previously collected and/or not inventoried fossil materials housed in private and museum collections, and also that of untended sections of palaeontological collections worldwide. A revision of the Jurassic species of Asteracanthus, and a short summary of what we know about the feeding strategy and body size of Asteracanthus is also reported.
 
POPOV, E.V. & JOHNS, M.J. & SUNTOK, S. (2020): A New Genus of Chimaerid Fish (Holocephali, Chimaeridae) from the Upper Oligocene Sooke Formation of British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 40 (1): 1772275
New species: Canadodus suntoki
Abstract: A chimaeroid mandibular dental plate from the nearshore upper Oligocene Sooke Formation west of Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is described here as a new genus of chimaerid fish (Holocephali, Chimaeridae), Canadodus suntoki, gen. et sp. nov. The new genus differs from mandibular plates of both Recent and Cenozoic Chimaeridae (Chimaera, Hydrolagus) in having a more robust plate with a massive symphyseal tritor filled by laminated whitlockin, the presence of a large compound median tritor and a small inner tritor, as well as the absence of solid whitlockin in the dental structure. The chimaerid individual is estimated to have measured nearly 1 m in total body length. This is a first record of a Paleogene chimaeroid fish in both British Columbia and Canada and only the second record from the Oligocene of the northern Pacific. In addition, the species Chimaera gosseletiWinkler, 1880, is transferred to the genus Harriotta, resulting in the new combination Harriotta gosseleti (Winkler, 1880).


Parasites:

ROUDSARI, H.M. & HASELI, M. (2020): Polypocephalus barsami sp. nov., a New Species of Polypocephalidae Meggitt, 1924 (Lecanicephalidea) from the Persian Gulf. Acta Parasitologica, in press
New species: Polypocephalus barsami
Abstract: Introduction: Although many batoid species, known as final hosts of lecanicephalidean cestodes, exist in the Persian Gulf, no knowledge regarding this cestode order is available for this region. This study is the first one focusing on this order in the Persian Gulf.
Methods: A total of 11 cowtail stingrays, Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål), were collected from the north eastern Persian Gulf. Isolated cestodes were fixed in 10% seawater-buffered formalin and stored in 70% ethanol. For morphological examinations, worms were stained using acetic carmine; a subset was prepared for SEM.
Results: A new species of Polypocephalus Braun, 1878 was described. Polypocephalus barsami sp. nov. is the only species within its genus reported outside the waters of Japan, India, Sri Lanka, and Egypt in the Indian Ocean. Since the microtriches were not described in the generic diagnosis of Polypocephalus, the description of the microtriches is added based on the standardised terminology. Furthermore, the characteristics of this new species were discussed and compared within Polypocephalus, many species of which have poor descriptions.
Conclusions: Polypocephalus barsami sp. nov. is the first report of the genus Polypocephalus in the Persian Gulf and the 15th valid species of its genus.
 
CHAPMAN, I. (2020): A Neoheterocotyle Species First Found in Japan. Ccamlr Science, 27 (1): 72-76
New species: Neoheterocotyle quadrispinata
Abstract: During a study of the monogeneans of Rhinobatos hynnicephalus Richardson, 1846 (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinobatidae) collected from the central Seto Inland Sea, Hiroshima Prefecture and the southern Sea of Japan, Fukuoka Prefecture, one undescribed species of Neoheterocotyle was found. In the present paper, the new species is described with a molecular information. This is the first report of a Neoheterocotyle species from Japan. The new species are most similar in morphology to Nepenthes fragilis and N. rhinoceros. They have two pairs of dorsal parascleral sclera, but they differ in that the penis is curved proximally and the accessory teeth have a blade-like process.

MALEKI, L. &  VALINASAB, T. & PALM, H.W. (2020): A new species of Alexandercestus Ruhnke and Workman, 2013 (Cestoda: Phyllobothriidea) from the sicklefin lemon shark, Negaprion acutidens (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhinidae), in the Gulf of Oman. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 44 (1): 110-115
New species: Alexandercestus masoumehae
Abstract: A new species, Alexandercestus masoumehae n. sp., is described from the sicklefin lemon shark, Negaprion acutidens (Rüppell), from the Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman. The new species is the third in this genus, all parasitizing species of Negaprion Whitley. Based on morphological characters and scanning electron microscopy the new species is different from its congeners of in a combination of characters including total length, terminal proglottid length, cirrus sac length, and genital pore position. Compared to Alexandercestus gibsoni Ruhnke & Workman, 2013 and A. manteri Ruhnke & Workman, 2013 the specimens of the new species are smaller (7.08–8.5 mm), with a smaller terminal proglottid length to width ratio (1:0.7–1.3 vs. 1.4–3.2:1 and 1.2–3.1:1, respectively), and have a more anterior genital pore (70–73% of proglottid length vs. 42–66% and 41–65%, respectively). In addition, A. masoumehae possesses less foliose bothridia compared with A. gibsoni, and more densely packed vitelline follicles in comparison with A. manteri. The SEM examination of the scolex in the new species reveals a specific pattern of microtriches adding new details in our understanding of the surface morphology of members of Alexandercestus. Finally, the new species increases the total number of described tapeworm species from N. acutidens to five and the described tapeworms in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman region to 65.

PLEASE send your new papers to
juergen.pollerspoeck@shark-references.com or 
nicolas.straube@shark-references.com   

Latest Research Articles

BEEVOR, T. & QUIGLEY, A. & SMITH, R.E. & SMYTH, R.S.H. & IBRAHIM, N. & ZOUHRI, S. & MARTILL, D.M. (2021) Taphonomic evidence supports an aquatic lifestyle for Spinosaurus. Cretaceous Research, 117: 104627 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2020.104627
COOPER, J.A. & PIMIENTO, C. & FERRÓN, H.G. & BENTON, M.J. (2020) Body dimensions of the extinct giant shark Otodus megalodon: a 2D reconstruction. Scientific Reports, 10: 14596 https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71387-y
DANKINA, D. & SPIRIDONOV, A. & STINKULIS, G. & MANZANARES, E. & RADZEVIČIUS, S.  (2020) A late Permian ichthyofauna from the Zechstein Basin, Lithuanian–Latvian Region. Journal of Iberian Geology, in press https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41513-020-00135-y
MARRAMÀ, G. & CARNEVALE, G. & NAYLOR, G.J.P. & KRIWET, J. (2020) Skeletal anatomy, phylogenetic relationships, and paleoecology of the Eocene urolophid stingray Arechia crassicaudata (Blainville, 1818) from Monte Postale (Bolca Lagerstätte, Italy). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, in press e1803339 https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2020.1803339
POPOV, E.V. & JOHNS, M.J. & SUNTOK, S. (2020) A New Genus of Chimaerid Fish (Holocephali, Chimaeridae) from the Upper Oligocene Sooke Formation of British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 40 (1): 1772275 https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2020.1772275
REUMER, J. (2020) Gids voor de Winterswijkse steengroeve. Fossielen en mineralen. Stichting Matrijs, Utrecht. 136 pp.
SHIMADA, K. & BECKER, M.A. & GRIFFITHS, M.L. (2020) Body, jaw, and dentition lengths of macrophagous lamniform sharks, and body size evolution in Lamniformes with special reference to ‘off-the-scale’ gigantism of the megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon. Historical Biology, in press https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1812598
SZABÓ, M. & FŐZY, I. (2020) Asteracanthus (Hybodontiformes: Acrodontidae) remains from the Jurassic of Hungary, with the description of a new species and with remarks on the taxonomy and paleobiology of the genus. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 297 (3): 295 - 309  https://dx.doi.org/10.1127/njgpa/2020/0926
VILLALOBOS-SEGURA, E. & UNDERWOOD, C.J. (2020) Radiation and divergence times of Batoidea. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, in press https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2020.1777147
     

MISCELLANEOUS:

Mermaids’ purses

Have you ever found a mermaid’s purse on the beach? These little capsules can be cast upon the beach where they blend in well with strands of seaweed, so you need to be looking carefully to find one! Perhaps, in the past, some people believed that they were indeed purses or bags for the treasures belonging to a mermaid, but we now know that they hold very different kinds of treasure. Mermaids’ purses, also called eggcases, are in fact the protective cases inside which eggs develop into baby sharks and skates! ....

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New shark research targets a nearly endangered species

Date: September 15, 2020

Source: Nova Southeastern University

Summary: They are some of the most iconic and unique-looking creatures in our oceans. While some may think they look a bit 'odd,' one thing researchers agree on is that little is known about hammerhead sharks. Thanks to a team of researchers, that's all changing.

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Whale shark caught by fishing trawler at Sassoon Dock, state authorities to book offenders

Whale sharks are a protected species under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, and also listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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Ancient bony fish forces rethink of how sharks evolved

Date: September 7, 2020

Source: Imperial College London

Summary: Sharks' non-bony skeletons were thought to be the template before bony internal skeletons evolved, but a new fossil discovery suggests otherwise.

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True size of prehistoric mega-shark finally revealed

Date: September 3, 2020

Source: University of Bristol

Summary: A new study has revealed the size of the legendary giant shark Megalodon, including fins that are as large as an adult human.

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Body size of the extinct Megalodon indeed off the charts in the shark world

Date: October 5, 2020

Source: Taylor & Francis Group

Summary: A new study shows that the body size of the iconic gigantic or megatooth shark, about 15 meters (50 feet) in length, is indeed anomalously large compared to body sizes of its relatives.

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