David G. Smith

Molecular phylogenetics of moray eels (Muraenidae) demonstrates multiple origins of a shell-crushing jaw (Gymnomuraena, Echidna) and multiple colonizations of the Atlantic Ocean

Moray eels (Muraenidae) are apex predators on coral reefs around the world, but they are not well studied because their cryptic habitats and occasionally aggressive behaviors make them difficult to collect. We provide a molecular phylogeny of moray eels including 44 species representing two subfamilies, eight genera, and all tropical ocean basins. Phylogenetic relationships among these taxa are estimated from portions of mitochondrial loci cytochrome b (632 bp) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (596 bp), and portions of the nuclear loci RAG-1 (421 bp) and RAG-2 (754 bp). We test four sets of contrasting phylogenetic hypotheses using Bayes Factors, Shimodaira-Hasegawa tests, and Templeton tests. First, our results support the subfamily-level taxonomic distinction between true morays (Muraeninae) and snakemorays (Uropterygiinae), statistically rejecting hypotheses of non-monophyly for each subfamily. Second, we reject a monophyletic grouping of the genera Gymnomuraena and Echidna, which share a durophagous (shell-crushing) cranial morphology and dentition, indicating that the durophagous characters are not homologous. Third, we demonstrate that durophagous feeding habits and associated morphological characters have evolved in parallel in an ancestor of Gymnomuraena and at least three additional times within the genus Echidna. Finally, the tree topology indicates multiple invasions of the Atlantic from the Indo-Pacific, one of these occurring immediately prior to formation of the Isthmus of Panama approximately 2.8 MYA (million years ago) and one or two others occurring in the early to mid Miocene. Cladogenesis occurring within the Atlantic during the mid Miocene and Pliocene also contributed to moray species diversity. These data include a pair of sister species separated by the Isthmus of Panama, allowing a time-calibrated tree with an estimated crown age for Muraenidae at between 41 and 60 MYA, consistent with fossil evidence. Most lineage accumulation within morays occurred from the late Oligocene (24-27 MYA) through the Miocene (5-23 MYA) to the late Pliocene (∼ 2.5 MYA).

A New Species of Pteropsaron (Teleostei: Trichonotidae: Hemerocoetinae) from the Western Pacific, with Notes on Related Species

Abstract Pteropsaron springeri, new species, is described from 18 specimens collected from the Philippines and Indonesia. It differs from all other species of the Pteropsaron/Osopsaron complex in that the first dorsal fin has only three spines and is displaced anteriorly to lie over the posterior end of the occiput. The proximal ends of the pterygiophores lie against the second and third neural arches, which are bent forward to form horizontal processes that accommodate the pterygiophores. Based on a synapomorphy in the suspensorium, we suggest that the relationships of Pteropsaron and related genera (subfamily Hemerocoetinae) lie with the Creediidae and Trichonotidae, and not with the Percophidae, where they have traditionally been placed. An abbreviated key is provided to the family Trichonotidae as we construe it, which contains three subfamilies: the Creediinae, Hemerocoetinae, and Trichonotinae. We tentatively recognize eight genera in the Hemerocoetinae: Hemerocoetes, and the “Pteropsaron-like” genera Acanthaphritis, Osopsaron, Pteropsaron, Dactylopsaron, Enigmapercis, Matsubaraea, and Squamicreedia, although the relationship of the former to the latter seven needs further investigation. The species of Osopsaron and Pteropsaron are treated briefly, and some new information is presented. We provisionally place two species in Osopsaron (O. verecundum and O. karlik) and seven species in Pteropsaron (P. evolans, P. formosensis, P. heemstrai, P. incisum, P. natalensis, P. neocaledonicus, and P. springeri).

A redescription of the rare eel Myroconger compressus (Pisces: Myrocongridae), with notes on its osteology, relationships and distribution

Myroconger compressus Giinther is redescribed on the basis of the holotype and a second specimen from Dakar, west Africa. The latter specimen was cleared and stained, and the osteology is described and figured. Myroconger belongs to a monotypic family, the Myrocongridae, whose closest relatives are the Xenocongridae and Muraenidae. A phylogenetic analysis of the three families indicates that the Myrocongridae is the primitive sister group of the other two. The type locality is supposed to be St. Helena, but there is no subsequent evidence that the species occurs there. The specimen reported by Osorio from SAo Thome cannot be located today, and the record is considered unconfirmed. The meager evidence suggests that west Africa is the most likely place to find the species.

A New Genus and Species of Congrid Eel from the Indo-West Pacific

Blachea xenobranchialis, a new genus and species of congrid eel, is described from three specimens, two from the Mozambique Channel and one from the Mariana Islands. It is characterized chiefly by the free ends of three branchiostegal rays that protrude from the membrane in front of the gill opening and by the large, cavernous lateral line with pores reduced in number and arranged in dorsoventral pairs. The lateral-line canal is supported by ossicles with long finger-like projections. Other characters are: lateral ethmoid process absent, anus near midbody, precaudal vertebrae more than half of total number, tail slender and flexible, dorsaland anal-fin rays segmented, gas bladder free of vertebrae, temporal canal free of pterotic bone. Blachea represents a distinct evolutionary line within the Congridae; it does not seem closely related to any other genus.

Renaming of three recently described eels of the genus Neenchelys (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the western Pacific.

In our earlier paper (Ho et al., 2013), we described three new species of the eel genus Neenchelys Bamber, 1915. Unfortunately, the critical step of registering the work in ZooBank was omitted, thus rendering the names unavailable. In this paper, we present abbreviated descriptions of the new species in order to make these names available in accordance with the amended Article 8.5 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Annotated checklist of eels (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) from Taiwan

An annotated checklist of eels, orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes, occurring in Taiwanese waters is presented. The checklist is the result of a series of systematic studies conducted by the authors in the past few years. The eel fauna of Taiwan is one of the richest in the world with a total of 206 species in 74 genera and 13 families in Anguilliformes and a single species in Saccopharyngiformes. The most species-rich families are the Muraenidae with 71 species, followed by the Ophichthidae with 60 species, the Congridae with 29 species, and the Synaphobranchidae with 17 species. Moreover, three genera and 42 species have been described based on at least one type specimen collected from Taiwan. Of these, 36 species are recognized as valid and 23 species are known only from Taiwanese waters at present. Historical records of all Taiwanese eel species are reviewed by examining the original descriptions and figures, vouchers, as well as the recently collected specimens, where available. This represents the first detailed checklist of eels from Taiwanese waters.

A Redescription of the Eel Panturichthys fowleri (Anguilliformes: Heterenchelyidae), with a Synopsis of the Heterenchelyidae

Panturichthys fowleri (Ben-Tuvia, 1953) is redescribed on the basis of 27 specimens from the coasts of Israel, Lebanon, and Turkey. The species is recorded from Turkey for the first time. Morphological variation, especially in dentition and relative head–trunk length was found to be greater than previously recognized. The osteology is described from two cleared-and-stained specimens. A synopsis of the family Heterenchelyidae is presented, and a key to the known species is provided.

The Moray Eels of the Anarchias cantonensis Group (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae), with Description of Two New Species

Abstract The broadly distributed Indo-Pacific moray eel Anarchias cantonensis (Schultz, 1943), heretofore treated as a single species, consists of three species: A. cantonensis, A. exulatus, a new species, and A. schultzi, a new species, based on geographic distribution, coloration, external morphometrics, and vertebral counts. We examined 112 specimens and determined that the true A. cantonensis is distributed throughout the eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific, and tropical central Pacific, and has a mean vertebral formula of 91/93/104. Anarchias exulatus is distributed anti-tropically in the central and southeastern Pacific and is characterized by a unique mottling pattern and a mean vertebral formula of 100/103/114. A third species, named here as A. schultzi, is characterized by a mean vertebral formula of 96/99/109, a plain brown coloration in adult form, and is restricted geographically to Tonga, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, and the Caroline Islands. At the Tonga Islands, which reside on the edge of Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, all three species are present, but maintain their morphological distinctiveness and segregate ecologically.

Dysommid Eel Larvae in the Western North Atlantic

The larvae of the eel family Dysommidae are described and characterized. Eight species are recorded from the western North Atlantic, differing in pigmentation, number of myomeres, elongation of the head and the presence or absence of a rostral filament. Only one species, Nettodarus brevirostris, has been conclusively identified with its adult, but evidence is given to suggest that Leptocephalus proboscideus Lea is the larva of Dysommina rugosa Ginsburg. Two eastern Atlantic species are included for comparison. A key is provided to the dysommid larvae known from the Atlantic.

Copeia 1913, Number 1: Origin and Authors

C OMMUNICATION among colleagues in the early 20 century was largely limited to letters exchanged via the U.S. Postal Service and publications in the few journals available at the time. Herpetologists and ichthyologists in that era had few outlets available for disseminating their natural history observations. The American Naturalist (est. 1866) was one of the few exceptions. Museum publications (e.g., Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, est. 1881; Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, est. 1841; Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum, est. 1878) focused on taxonomic papers. Ornithologists at the close of the 19 century already had three journals in which to publish (The Auk, 1884; Wilson Bulletin, 1889; Condor, 1899) but none of the other vertebrate groups had journals dedicated to their discipline (Journal of Mammalogy would not start until 1919). Public interest in fishes, amphibians, and reptiles was growing due to popular books by, for example, Mary Dickerson, Raymond Ditmars, and David Starr Jordan. Thus, there became an obvious need for a journal available to people interested in these vertebrates that was inexpensive and had a relatively fast turnaround. In response, John T. Nichols, an ichthyologist at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), initiated Copeia a century ago for colleagues in herpetology and ichthyology, in memory of Edward Drinker Cope, who contributed prolifically to both disciplines. Starting a journal requires the editor and founder to obtain enough articles to fill a modest first issue and confidence that others would follow. Close colleagues and coworkers are usually the first to be asked, so Nichols recruited his long-time friend, ichthyologist Henry W. Fowler, and two of the staff at the AMNH to contribute something pertinent. A total of five authors, including Nichols, wrote short articles for the four-page inaugural issue of Copeia. We provide herein brief biographies of those founding authors. Henry Weed Fowler (1878–1965, Fig. 1) contributed two of the five articles that made up the first issue, published on 27 December 1913. Fittingly, one was on reptiles (‘‘An