Carlos Armando Sánchez-Ortíz

Feeding behavior, habitat use, and abundance of the angelfish Holacanthus passer (Pomacanthidae) in the southern Sea of Cortés

Feeding behavior and habitat use of the king angelfish, Holacanthus passer, was studied in the southern Sea of Cortés, México. H. passer fed on benthic communities (algae and sessile invertebrates) and in the water column (mainly feces from the damselfish Chromis atrilobata). Although there were not significant differences in feeding rate between sexes, coprophagy was more common in males, while grazing was more common in females. Spatial distribution of size classes followed a pattern of decreasing size with increasing depth. Feeding rate was significantly different among habitats: small females had a higher feeding rate on the bottom, big females and small males had similar feeding rates from the bottom to 3 m above the bottom, and big males had higher feeding rates from 5 m above the bottom to the surface. Habitat was clearly partitioned, and there was significant habitat overlap only between big females and small males. The abundance of H. passer was partly explained (34% of the total variance) by the abundance of the damselfish C. atrilobata. There was a clear trophic association between C. atrilobata schools and H. passer feeding damselfish feces in the water column. The sex ratio male:female of H. passer populations was >1 at several sites, an unusual pattern for a protogynous fish. The sex ratio on the H. passer water column stock was also biased towards males at most sites. Although there is a positive relationship between C. atrilobata abundance and H. passer, there are factors other than damselfish abundance which cause this dominance of males.

Revamping Amphinomidae (Annelida: Amphinomida), with the inclusion of Notopygos

This study revises the taxonomic status of the formerly monotypic Archinomidae, which is nested within paraphyletic Amphinomidae according to recent phylogenetic work. We focused our taxonomic sampling to evaluate the affinities of Notopygos and genera classified as ‘fusiform’ in body shape, including Archinome and Chloeia. Prior to this study, the phylogenetic placement of Notopygos had not been evaluated. We inferred the phylogenetic relationships of Notopygos within Amphinomidae based on nuclear and mitochondrial markers, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genetic divergences of five Notopygos species, including the newly described Notopygos kekooa sp. n. from the Gulf of California. The phylogenetic and morphological evidence, now including Notopygos species, justified the establishment of two subfamilies within Amphinomidae. In accordance with ICZN Article 36 (Principle of Coordination), both subfamilies are presented as status novus in the nomenclature ranks.

Threatened Fishes of the World: Holacanthus passer Valenciennes, 1846 (Pomacanthidae)

angelfish (English), Demoiselle royale (French). Conservation status: The foremost conservation regulation in México (Norma Official Mexicana) granted the status of Special Protection to this species in 1996 due to excessive fishing pressure. Its situation was reevaluated 5 years later, and the status was confirmed (NOM-059-SEMARNAT2001). Under Mexican law, a species in this situation can be extracted in limited amounts, and a fishery was open during 2001 and 2002 in the southern Gulf of California, but closed afterwards. The species is not listed in the IUCN Red List, CITES, nor in any other list from international conservation agencies. Identification: Dorsal rays XIV, 18–20; anal rays III, 17–19; pectoral rays 18– 20; lateral line weakly developed; a stout spine on lower edge of cheek. Adults velvety blue-grey with blue scale centre; a narrow white bar on side at level of rear edge of pectoral fin; yellow tail fin; white pelvic fins in males and yellow in females. Juveniles orange-brown with 5–6 narrow blue bars on body side; similar blue bars on head surrounding the eyes (Thomson et al. 2000). Male can reach 390 mm. Distribution: Northern Gulf of California (Cabo Tepoca, Sonora and Los Angeles Bay, Baja California; 29 N) to Perú, including the Revillagigedos, Galápagos, Malpelo and Cocos islands (Robertson and Allen 2002). This fish occurs in diverse habitats from shallow boulders ( <5 m) to deep black coral gardens (>30 m) (Aburto-Oropeza and Balart 2001), but mostly between 0 m and 30 m (Robertson and Allen 2002). Abundance: The species is common in reefs I. Sánchez-Alcántara Æ O. Aburto-Oropeza Æ H. Reyes-Bonilla (&) Æ C. Sánchez-Ortiz Departamento de Biologı́a Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Carretera al Sur km 5.5, Apartado Postal 19–B, La Paz, BCS C.P. 23080, Mexico e-mail: hreyes@uabcs.mx