Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 魚 類 学 雑 誌 Vol. 33, No. 3 1986 33巻3号1986年

Notes on the Fish Synagrops trispinosus this note is to register and discuss the collection (Perciformes: Acropomatidae) from the of the species in midwater rather than from the Colombian Caribbean bottom as previously recorded, to complement the color description and provide biological in formation on the species. Jaime Garzon F. and Arturo Acero P. The meristic and morphometric characters of (Received August 23, 1985) the seven specimens are given in Table 1. We used the methods of Randall (1968) and Allen Johnson (1983, 1984), based on synapomorphies and Fischer (1978). In general these data agree and on the distribution of fish major habitats, with those of Mochizuki and Sano (1984), al redistributed the numerous genera of the family though prepelvic length and eye diameter tend to Percichthyidae into four families and left some as be smaller in our specimens. The main diagnostic incertae sedis. The seven oceanic genera were characters of the species are the numbers of anal placed in the family Acropomatidae (Johnson, fin spines (3), first dorsal fin spines (8), and pored 1984), the most speciose of them being Synagrops scales on lateral line (46-51) (Mochizuki and Sano, with more than 10 species. Mochizuki and Sano 1984). (1984) described S. trispinosus as a new species Uyeno et al. (1983) did not describe the colora from the Caribbean Sea and adjacent waters, from tion of S. trispinosus, and Mochizuki and Sano museum specimens fished on 10 collections at (1984) only indicated that the fish is "uniformly different times and sites in bottom trawls between dark purplish brown (sometimes yellowish brown). 180 and 540 m depth. The species had been Throat blackish". Our specimens show several described and illustrated previously as Synagrops previously undescribed characteristics in their sp. (Uyeno et al., 1983), from individuals collected color pattern that may be of diagnostic value for off Suriname at 224 m. Unfortunately, the de species identification (Figs. 1, 2). After one week scriptions of this species are incomplete, there are no detailed illustrations, and the authors pre Table 1. Summary of the examined meristic and sented almost no biological information. morphometric characters of seven specimens In May 1985 during a fisheries evaluation cruise (74.5-100.0 mm standard length) of Syna on board ARC B/O Malpelo, organized by grops trispinosus from the Colombian Carib INVEMAR-COLCIENCIAS-CIID, seven speci bean. The number between parentheses mens of S. trispinosus were collected on the 23rd after each count indicates the number of from a nocturnal pelagic trawl off the Caribbean specimens with such value. The measure ments are expressed as percentages of coast of Colombia at 11°07-05'N and 74°22- standard length, indicating each average 32/W. The trawling time was 2.2 hours, the between parentheses. surface temperature varied between 26.2-26.5℃ and the surface salinity varied between 36.0- 36.5% (J. Blanco Racedo, INVEMAR, personal communication). The maximum trawling depth was 36 m and the bottom depth was 80-140 m. The fish fauna collected with S. trispinosus in cluded pelagic forms, both coastal dwelling (Caranx latus, Decapterus macarellus, Selar crumenophthalmus, Carangidae ; Opisthonema oglinum, Clupeidae; Trichiurus lepturus, Tri chiuridae) and oceanic (Lestrolepis intermedia, Paralepididae ; Diaphus garmani, Myctophidae). The specimens of S. trispinosus are deposited in the fish collection of the Instituto de Investi- gaciones Marinas de Punta de Betin with the number INVEMAR-P 0875. The purpose of

―316― Garzon and Acero: Synagrops trispinosus from Colombia

Fig. 1. General sketch of Synagrops trispinosus, showing the principal color characteristics observed in Colombian Caribbean specimens of both sexes.

Fig. 2. Head region of female Synagrops trispinosus from the Colombian Caribbean. in ethanol and with the skin devoid of scales, the of Nikolsky (1978). Since the majority of speci body is pale yellow and has a lateromedial dark mens were in poor state of preservation, gonads band that begins behind the head and extends of only one female (98 mm standard length, until the base of the caudal fin, becoming narrower 10.5 g wet weight in ethanol, state III of ripeness) posteriorly. The band is limited dorsally by the could be examined in detail. Preserved gonads laretal line, and is composed of densely packed were 21 mm in length, 0.18 g in wet weight, and melanophores. There is a silvery brown blotch contained eggs in several stages of development. on the opercle, and below it a silvery white blotch, There were only nine ripe eggs of spherical shape, which extends back to the pectoral fin base. The with a mean diameter of 0.76 mm, a periviteline lateral line is delimited by two parallel rows of space and one oil droplet (only one had several black dots; the lips are blackish, and there are small droplets). The rest of the ovaries was com many melanophores scattered over the dorsal posed of numerous unripe eggs, with diameter region of head and in the dorsal, anal, caudal and varying between 0.03-0.42 mm;these eggs lacked pectoral fins. The pelvic fins are unpigmented. periviteline space and oil droplets. All our specimens were sexually mature; the The condition of sexual maturity and the fact largest five were females in stages II to IV and that the specimens were captured at midwater, in probably V, and the smallest two were males in a shallow depth far from their normal habitat, stages III and IV, following the scale of ripeness may suggest that S. trispinosus makes temporary

―317― 魚類学雑誌 Japan. J. Ichthyol. 33(3), 1986 spawning migrations to shallower shelf waters for fishery purposes, Western Central Atlantic and also that it may be a pelagic spawner . This (Fishing Area 31). Vol. I, FAO, Rome. kind of strategy which may be oriented to give Chao, L. N. 1978. Sciaenidae. In W. Fischer, ed., suitable conditions for egg and larval develop FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes, Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). Vol. IV, ment and to enhance their dispersion , is known FAO, Rome. in several deep water fishes (Nikolsky , 1978; Moyle and Cech, 1982). On the other hand Johnson, G. D. 1983. Niphon spinosus: a primitive , it epinepheline serranid, with comments on the also may be that these specimens were transported monophyly and intrarelationships of the Serranidae to such an unusual place by strong currents . . In Copeia, 1983(3): 777-787. addition all of our specimens had the stomach Johnson, G. D. 1984. Percoidei : development and and intestine empty, a fact that may be related to relationships. Pages 464-498 in H. G. Moser, W. J. the unusual place of collection. Richards, D. M. Cohen, M. P. Fahay, A. W. Ken- Synagrops trispinosus seems to be a carnivorous dall, Jr. and S. L. Richardson, eds. Ontogeny and fish, as it is suggested by the habitat occupied , systematics of fishes. Am. Soc. Ichth. Herp., Spec . large eye and mouth and teeth structure (Fig . 2). Publ. 1. The majority of the specimens of the species have Mochizuki, K. and M. Sano. 1984. A new per been collected over soft bottoms, in many cases cichthyid fish Synagrops trispinosus from the Carib bean Sea and its adjacent waters. Japan. J. Ich with shrimp nets. The structure of its mouth is thyol., 31(1): 1-4. very similar to that of other fishes that feed on Moyle, P. B. and J. J. Cech. 1982. Fishes, an in soft bottoms, on shrimps and fish basically, such troduction to ichthyology. Prentice-Hall, Inc., as the Caribbean sciaenids Isopisthus parvipinnis, Englewood Cliffs, 593 pp. Macrodon ancylodon, and the species of Cynoscion Nikolsky, G. V. 1978. The ecology of fishes. T.F.H. (Chao, 1978), which have large and oblique Publ., Inc., Hong Kong, 352 pp. mouths, armed with two large canine teeth at the Randall, J. E. 1968. Caribbean reef fishes. T.F.H. front of the upper jaw and at least one row of Publ., Inc., Hong Kong, 318 pp. enlarged canines on each side of the lower jaw. Uyeno, T., K. Matsuura and E. Fujii, eds. 1983. Fishes trawled off Suriname and French Guiana. Japan Mar. Fish. Resource Res. Center, Tokyo, Acknowledgments 519 pp. We thank the crew of the ARC B/O Malpelo, (JGF : Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas de Punta of the Armada Nacional de Colombia, for their de Betin, INVEMAR, Apartado 1016, Santa Marta, efficiency and constant collaboration during the Colombia; AAP: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, fishery cruise (INVEMAR 01585) which was INVEMAR, Santa Marta, Colombia) founded by the Fondo Colombiano de Investiga ciones Cientiificas y Proyectos Especiales "Francisco Jose de Caldas" (COLCIENCIAS) カ リブ 海 の コ ロ ン ビ ア海 岸 よ り 得 ら れ た Synagrops , trispinsous and the International Development Research Jaime Garzon F.・Arturo Acero P. Centre (IDRC), Canada. The English text was カ リ ブ 海 の コ ロ ン ビ ア 海 岸 沖 の 36m以 浅(底 深80- corrected by Dr. D. R. Robertson. 140m)か らSynagrops trispinosus 7個 体(体 長74.5- 100.0mm)が 得 ら れ た.い ず れ も 成 熟 し て お り,体 長 Literature cited 98mm体 重10.5gの 雌 は 長 さ21mm重 さ0.18gの 卵 巣 を 持 っ て い た.そ の 中 に9個 の 球 形 の 熟 卵 が 見 ら Allen, G. R. and W. Fischer. 1978. Bony fishes. れ,直 径 の 平 均 は0.76mmで,ほ と ん ど は1個 の 油 球 In W. Fischer, ed., FAO species identification sheets を 持 っ て い た.本 種 の 習 性 に つ い て 考 察 し た.

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