A. M. Prokofiev

Morphological classification of loaches (Nemacheilinae)

Comprehensive comparative morphological analysis of loaches from the subfamily Nemacheilinae is conducted. Forty significant phylogenetic characters are suggested, and phylogenetic relationships are reconstructed. The subfamily Nemacheilinae is subdivided into five tribes (Vaillantellini, Lefuini nov., Yunnanilini nov., Triplophysini nov., and Nemacheilini), and the relationships between these tribes can be expressed by the following formula: Vaillantellini (Lefuini (Yunnanilini (Triplophysini + Nemacheilini))). The classification of highland Asian loaches (Triplophysini) is specified, and the revised diagnoses of the genera from this tribe are given. Heterogeneity of the genus Triplophysa is demonstrated. This genus can be divided into several subgenera, and three new subgenera (Labiatophysa subgen. nov., Indotriplophysa subgen. nov., and Tarimichthys subgen. nov.) are described. A new species Hedinichthys grummorum sp. n is described from the Turpan Depression (northwest China).

Problems of the classification and phylogeny of nemacheiline loaches of the group lacking the preethmoid I (Cypriniformes: Balitoridae: Nemacheilinae)

Phylogenetic relationships and classification of nemacheiline loaches belonging to the line with lost preethmoideum I are investigated. With consideration of the analysis of 29 apomorphous states of 23 characters, the following hypothesis of relationships within this line is suggested: Oxynoemacheilus + Indoreonectes + Dzihunia + (Seminemacheilus (Afronemacheilus + Nun)) + Iskandaria (Paracobitis + Troglocobitis) + Metaschistura + Paraschistura + (Schistura gr. B (Acanthocobitis + Nemacheilus s. str. + Schistura gr. A)))). Revision of the generic classification of loaches of this line inhabiting water bodies from the Near East and Ethiopia to middle Asia and the Indus upper reaches is made. Key to genera of this region is suggested. Four new genera are described: Afronemacheilus Golubtsov and Prok., g. n. (type species A. abyssinicus), Iskandaria Prok., g. n. (type species I. kuschakewitschi), Metaschistura Prok., g. n. (type species M. cristata), and Paraschistura Prok., g. n. (type species P. sargadensis). Independence of the genera Oxynoemacheilus and Troglocobitis is confirmed. The Oriental Schistura are subdivided into two groups (A and B). Schistura gr. A form a monophyletic line with the genera Acanthocobitis and Nemacheilus s. str. It is noted that the south-China genus Homatula cannot be related to Paracobitis or Schistura as it has no ventral axillar lobe, but it may turn out to be identical to the genus Oreias from the same region.

Systematics and distribution of black swallowers of the genus Chiasmodon (Perciformes: Chiasmodontidae)

Black swallowers are revised (the genus Chiasmodon Johns.), and two species (C. niger Johns. and C. lavenbergi Prok.) are recognized as valid in this genus. The nominal taxa Ponerodon vastator Alcock, C. subniger Garman, C. braueri Weber, C. bolangeri Osório, C. microcephalus Norman, and C. n. pluriradiatus Parr are reduced to synonyms of C. niger. Individual, ontogenetic, and geographic variation of C. niger is studied. From the latter, the morphotype is separated and characterized by comparatively more developed dentition of gill arches, which is designated as C. cf. niger. Its relationships with the nominal taxa described earlier are not quite clear. It is known from few specimens from localities remote from each other with the area of C. niger. Taking into consideration the absence of transitional forms, the differences of armament of gill arches may have taxonomic significance. However, it cannot be excluded that C. cf. niger may be an extreme variant of variation of this species by the aforementioned character. C. lavenbergi differs from C. niger in the retention of dermal spinules in adults and in fixed marginal teeth in jaws. Detailed morphological descriptions of aforementioned species and forms are presented, as well as the key and information on their distribution and the map of areas. Morphological and ecological characteristics of black swallowers of the genus Chiasmodon are compared with those in other genera of this family.

Fossil myctophoid fishes (Myctophiformes: Myctophoidei) from Russia and adjacent regions

This study provides a revision of myctophiform fishes (families Neoscopelidae and Myctophidae) from Paleocene, Eocene, and Oligocene deposits of Russia and adjacent regions of the Thetys and Parathetys basins. Diagnoses of the order Myctophiformes and suborders, families, and subfamilies of the suborder Myctophoidei are given. Four genera and four species of myctophiform fishes found in this territory are described in detail: Neocassandra mica, Beckerophotus gracilis (Neoscopelidae), Eomyctophum koraense, and Oligophus moravicus (Myctophidae). Nominal species Eomyctophum menneri Dan., 1947 and E. limicola Dan., 1960 are referred to synonyms, respectively, to E. koraense and O. moravicus. O. moravicus may be represented in the lower Oligocene of the Caucasus by more than one species, so that specimens in better condition are necessary to describe them. The ranks of the families Sardinioididae and Neocassandridae were reduced to subfamilies within Neoscopelidae. The genus Eomyctophum was separated into the subfamily Eomyctophinae, differing from other myctophiform fishes by the absence of lenslike thickenings of the photophores. The classification and the origin of Myctophiformes are discussed, phylogenetic interrelationships within the order Myctophoidei are considered, a brief review of fossil myctophiforms is presented, and the history of their study is given.

A new genus of cardinalfishes (perciformes: Apogonidae) from the south China sea, with a discussion of the relationships between the families Apogonidae and Kurtidae

A new genus and species Kurtamia bykhovskyi gen. sp. nov., similar to the genus Archamia, but differing by presence of a foliiform-widened pleural ribs at the 5–9 vertebrae and combinations of certain other characters are described. Kurtamia and Archamia are considered as sister groups. The structures of pleural ribs and pterygophores of the anal-fin spiny rays in the new species have several similarities with those in the family Kurtidae, which should be considered close to Apogonidae. The relationships between Kurtamia, Apogonidae, and Kurtidae are considered.

Swallowerfishes (Chiasmodontidae) from the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean and adjacent waters

Data on distribution of swallowerfishes in the northwest Pacific and adjacent waters are summarized. Ten species from four genera of this family are found and morphologically characterized. Morphological heterogeneity of Dysalotus alcocki based on dentale features is found. Distinctions between Kali indica and K. falx are revised. New synonymy is established: Pseudoscopelus pierbartus Spitz et al., 2007 = P. obtusifrons (Fowl., 1934); P. paxtoni Melo, 2010 = P. altipinnis Parr, 1933; and P. cordilluminatus Melo, 2010 = P. scriptus Ltk., 1892. New subspecies P. sagamianus oceanicus ssp. n. is described. Groundlessness of synonymy of P. stellatus Beebe, 1932, and P. vityazi Prok., 2007, to P. scriptus and P. parini Prok. et Kukuev, 2006, is indicated. The problems of classification of Pseudoscopelus without discrete serial photophores are briefly discussed.

Redescription of a fossil loach Triplophysa opinata (Yakowlew, 1959) from the Miocene of Kirgizia (Balitoridae: Nemacheilinae)

The only known fossil representative of the genus Triplophysa, T. opinata from the middle-upper Miocene of Kirgizia is redescribed. It is suggested that this species is closest to the species groups “dorsalis” and “labiata” (sensu Prokofiev, 2002, 2004a). The fossil finding clearly suggests that Triplophysa developed no later than in the middle of the Neogene.

Preliminary Review of Linebellies of the Genus Pseudoscopelus from the Atlantic Ocean, with Remarks on the Species Composition of the Genus in the World's Fauna (Perciformes: Chiasmodontidae): II

The second report contains a detailed description of Pseudoscopelus microps, P. scriptus, P. sagamianus, P. scutatus, and P. cephalus. Evidence on P. stellatus and P. cephalus not found in the studied material is provided; data on the morphology of P. cephalus are supplemented by new data based on the study of the holotype roentgenogram and photograph. All previously described nominal species of Pseudoscopelus are recognized as valid. A key table to species of the genus Pseudoscopelus is given.

Deepsea herrings (Bathyclupeidae) of the northwestern Pacific ocean

Deepsea herrings of the northwestern Pacific (waters of Japan and Taiwan) are revised. Three species are recognized in this area, and two of them described as new: B. gracilis Fowler, 1938, B. japanotaiwana sp. n., and B. nikparini sp. n. B. japanotaiwana was previously mistakenly identified as the western Atlantic species B. argentea; actually it is especially similar to B. malayana, from which it differs in the bicolor oral cavity and in some meristic characters. B. nikparini is especially close to the Caribbean species B. schroederi, from which it differs in a greater number of developed gill rakers and smaller number of rays in the anal fin.

Pseudoscopelus sagamianus Tanaka, 1908 (Chiasmodontidae): Designation of the neotype, morphological characteristics of the North Pacific population, and species variation within its whole area

North Pacific Pseudoscopelus sagamianus (from the Kuroshio zone) are characterized morphologically in detail. The neotype is established. The North Pacific population and the group of populations from the Atlantic and Indian oceans are compared in detail, significant differences are found between them in coloration of the orobranchial cavity and in the pattern of photophores of series trf and prcf. In the author’s opinion, these differences are of the subspecies level. Potential areas of subspecies are discussed, and the area of the whole species is verified. A possibility of validity of the name P. pierbartus Spitz et al., 2007, for the group of populations from the Atlantic and Indian oceans is considered. Additions and changes to methods of investigations of Pseudoscopelus suggested by Melo et al. (2007) are critically discussed.