Additions to the Taiwan Eel Fauna with Five Newly Recorded Species of Moray Eels
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K.-H. Loh et al.: Additions to the Taiwan eel fauna and redescription of Gymnothorax sagmacephalus DOI: 10.6119/JMST-013-1227-1 ADDITIONS TO THE TAIWAN EEL FAUNA WITH FIVE NEWLY RECORDED SPECIES OF MORAY EELS (ANGUILLIFORMES: MURAENIDAE), AND REDESCRIPTION OF A RARE SPECIES GYMNOTHORAX SAGMACEPHALUS Kar-Hoe Loh1, Kwang-Tsao Shao2,Ving-Ching Chong1,3 and Hong-Ming Chen4,5 Key words: Muraenidae, Anarchias, Gymnothorax, Taiwan. to redescribe Gymnothorax sagmacephalus. Böhlke (1997) described G. sagmacephalus based on the single type specimen, ABSTRACT (collected from Tokyo Bay, Japan), with missing tail tip. This Five rare moray species: Anarchias cantonensis (Schultz), species was subsequently reported by Böhlke and Smith (2002) Gymnothorax dorsalis Seale, G. intesi (Fourmanoir & Rivaton), as a valid species, characterized by an elongate body, tannish G. phasmatodes (Smith) and G. sagmacephalus (Böhlke) be- brown coloration, and vertebral count MVF 7-77-172+. We longing to the subfamilies Uropterygiinae and Muraeninae are redescribed this species based on Böhlke’s description of the reported for the first time in the surrounding waters off Taiwan. holotype and 12 additional recently collected specimens. Color Diagnoses of these five species, including fresh coloration and photographs of a fresh specimen are also provided. dentition, are provided. A re-description of G. sagmacephalus is provided since its original description, based on the single II. MATERIALS AND METHODS holotype, was incomplete specifically due to its damaged tail. All moray specimens were collected either by longlines or With the added 12 specimens, we provided the statistics of the using the ichthyocide rotenone, from the surrounding waters of morphological measurements and vertebral formulae, and ex- Taiwan. The specimens were fixed with 10 % formalin, then panded its geographical distribution from Japan southward to transferred to 70 % ethanol solution for long-term preservation. Taiwan. The methods of measurements followed Böhlke and Randall (2000). Proportional measurements for the specimens were I. INTRODUCTION expressed as percentage of the total length (TL) or the head Moray eels live in tropical and subtropical coastal areas, belong length (HL). Body depths were measured at the gill openings to the diverse eel family Muraenidae, and comprise 16 genera (DGO) and at the anus (DA); snout length was measured from and 198 species globally (Eschmeyer and Fong, 2013). The the snout tip to the anterior margin of the eye; upper jaw (UJ) Taiwan moray eel fauna was comprehensively treated by Chen length was meansured from the snout tip to the rictus; lower jaw et al. (1994) who reported nine genera and 42 species. During (LJ) length was measured from the lower jaw tip to the rictus. our surveys from 2005 to 2009 under the research programme, Counts for the vertebral formulae were taken from radiographs, “Diversity, molecular phylogeny and reproductive ecology of as explained in Böhlke (1982) and Chen et al. (1994, 1997); the the Anguilliformes fishes of Taiwan and the western Pacific”, mean vertebral formula (MVF) gives the mean values for pre- numerous specimens of moray eels from the seas around Taiwan dorsal-preanal-total vertebrae counts: predorsal vertebrae were collected. New species and new records of moray eels (PDV); preanal vertebrae (PAV); total vertebrae (TV). Teeth were identified among them (Chen and Loh 2007, Chen et al counts following Hatooka (1986) were approximate and in- 2008, Loh et al 2008, Shao et al 2008, Loh et al 2011, Loh et al cluded sockets of missing teeth. Sexes of the specimens were 2012). In this study, we report five muraenid species new to determined by gross and histological examinations of the gon- Taiwan and amend the muraenid fauna of Taiwan to composing ads. All newly recorded specimens were deposited in the col- 68 species in13 genera and two subfamilies (Table 1). lection of the Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University (TOU-AE). The aim of this paper was to list the muraenid eels from Specimens were also borrowed from the following institutions: Taiwan, to describe the five newly recorded moray species, and the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Pi- sces collection (NMMSTP); the Fisheries Research Institute (FRIP); and the Museum of Research Center for Biodiversity Paper submitted 04/19/13; revised 12/12/13; accepted 12/27/13. Author for correspondence: Hong-Ming Chen (e-mail: [email protected]). (Institute of Zoology), Academia Sinica (ASIZP). 1Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 50603. 2Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Comparative materials examined. 3 Taiwan 115, R.O.C. Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Anarchias allardicei – Four specimens (116-154 mm TL), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 50603. 4Department of Aquaculture, National Tai- wan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan 202, R.O.C. 5Center of Excellence for NMMSMP 00885, Tungchi, Penghu County; NMMSMP the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan 202, R. O. C. K.-H. Loh et al.: Additions to the Taiwan eel fauna and redescription of Gymnothorax sagmacephalus DOI: 10.6119/JMST-013-1227-1 Table 1. The taxonomic works of all muraenid species in Taiwan. Chen et al ., Chen and Loh, Chen et al ., Loh et al ., Shao et al ., Loh et al ., Loh et al ., No. Genus Scientific name This study 1997 2007 2008 2008 2008 2011 2012 1 Echidna Echidna nebulosa ○ ○ 2 Echidna polyzona ○ ○ 3 Echidna xanthospilos ◎ 4 Enchelycore Enchelycore bayeri ◎ 5 Enchelycore bikiniensis ◎ 6 Enchelycore lichenosa ○ 7 Enchelycore pardalis ○ ○ 8 Enchelycore schismatorhynchus ○ 9 Enchelynassa Enchelynassa canina ◎ 10 Gymnomuraena Gymnomuraena zebra ○ ○ 11 Gymnothorax Gymnothorax albimarginatus ◎ 12 Gymnothorax berndti ○ 13 Gymnothorax buroensis ○ ○ 14 Gymnothorax chilospilus ○ ○ 15 Gymnothorax chlamydatus ○ 16 Gymnothorax dorsalis ◎ 17 Gymnothorax elegans ◎ 18 Gymnothorax eurostus ○ ○ 19 Gymnothorax favagineus ○ 20 Gymnothorax fimbriatus ○ ○ 21 Gymnothorax flavimarginatus ○ ○ 22 Gymnothorax formosus ◎ 23 Gymnothorax fuscomaculatus ◎ 24 Gymnothorax gracilicauda ◎ 25 Gymnothorax hepaticus ○ 26 Gymnothorax herrei ◎ ○ 27 Gymnothorax intesi ◎ 28 Gymnothorax javanicus ◎ ○ 29 Gymnothorax kidako ○ ○ 30 Gymnothorax prionodon ○ 31 Gymnothorax margaritophorus ◎ ○ 32 Gymnothorax melanosomatus ● 33 Gymnothorax melatremus ◎ ○ 34 Gymnothorax meleagris ○ ○ 35 Gymnothorax minor ○ 36 Gymnothorax monostigma ○ 37 Gymnothorax neglectus ○ ○ 38 Gymnothorax niphostigmus ● 39 Gymnothorax nudivomer ◎ 40 Gymnothorax phasmatodes ◎ 41 Gymnothorax pictus ○ ○ 42 Gymnothorax pindae ○ ○ 43 Gymnothorax polyuranodon ◎ 44 Gymnothorax pseudothysoideus ○ ○ 45 Gymnothorax reevesii ◎ ○ 46 Gymnothorax reticularis ○ ○ 47 Gymnothorax richardsoni ○ ○ 48 Gymnothorax rueppelliae ○ ○ 49 Gymnothorax sagmacephalus ◎ 50 Gymnothorax shaoi ● 51 Gymnothorax taiwanensis ● 52 Gymnothorax thyrsoideus ○ ○ 53 Gymnothorax undulatus ○ ○ 54 Gymnothorax ypsilon ○ 55 Gymnothorax zonipectis ◎ ○ 56 Pseudechidna Pseudechidna brummeri ○ 57 Rhinomuraena Rhinomuraena quaesita ○ ○ 58 Strophidon Strophidon prolatus ○ ○ 59 Strophidon sathete ◎ ○ 60 Anarchias Anarchias allardicei ○ ○ 61 Anarchias cantonensis ◎ 62 Channomuraena Channomuraena vittata ◎ ○ 63 Cirrimaxilla Cirrimaxilla formosa ● 64 Scuticaria Scuticaria tigrina ◎ ○ 65 Scuticaria marmorata ○ ○ 66 Uropterygius Uropterygius macrocephalus ◎ ○ 67 Uropterygius micropterus ◎ ○ 68 Uropterygius oligospondylus ● ○ presence, ◎ new record, ● new species. K.-H. Loh et al.: Additions to the Taiwan eel fauna and redescription of Gymnothorax sagmacephalus DOI: 10.6119/JMST-013-1227-1 01013, Wanlitung, Pingtung County; TOU-AE 1780 Hsiao- teeth 9, maxillary teeth biserial about 2-12 inner row and 24-34 gang, Tai-tung County; TOU-AE 4913, Jihuei, Chenkung, outer row; vomerine teeth uniserial 6-10, dentary teeth biserial Taitung County. about 5-15 inner row and 32-42 outer row. Predorsal vertebrae Gymnothorax albimarginatus– Five specimens (675-1060 mm 86-93, preanal vertebrae 90-95, total vertebrae 100-105; mean TL), all male, TOU-AE 0104, 1638, 1813, from Bisha fishes vertebral formula 90-92-102. market, Keelung City; TOU-AE 1034, 4220, Changbin, Taitung County. 3. Distribution Gymnothorax neglectus– Three specimens (610-699 mm TL), Known from the western Pacific, including the South China ASIZP 056655, Hopingtao, Keelung City; NMMSTP 00956, Sea and seas around Taiwan. Hopingtao, Keelung City; FRIP 20370 Chengkung, Taitung County. 4. Remarks Strophidon sathete– 12 specimens (526-1470 mm TL), male: Species of Anarchias are readily identified by a posterior TOU-AE 1868, 3458, Changbin, Taitung County; TOU-AE nostril contiguous with an enlarged supraorbital pore on each 3026, 4832, 5305, Daxi, Yilan County; female: TOU-AE side, appearing as double-pore posterior nostrils. A. cantonensis 0628, Changbin, Taitung County; TOU-AE 3027, 3028, is distinguished from its congener A. allardicei, by the head 3990, 4478, 4563, 5306, Daxi, Yilan County. length 12.9 (vs. 10.0) % of TL; snout length 16.5 (vs. 13.2) %, eye diameter 9.2 (vs. 7.6) %, interobital width 13.4 (vs. 9.2) %, III. TAXONOMY all of HL. Böhlke and Smith (2002) reported its MVF Uropterygiinae 91-93-103, similar to MVF 91-93-104 in Böhlke and McCosker Diagnosis (2011); both MVFs were similar to that of the present study Dorsal and anal fins restricted to tail tip; teeth needle-like and (MVF 90-92-102). The