(Teleostei: Gadiformes
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JapaneseJapaneseSociety Society ofSystematicZoologyof Systematic Zoology Species Diversity, 2007, 12, 17-27 Pelagic Juveniles of Two Morids (Teleostei: Gadiformes: Moridae), Antimora microlepis and Ph{ysiculusjaponicus, from the Western North Pacific Makoto Okamotoi, Naoshi Sato2, TakashiAsahida2 and Yoshiro Watanabe3 ' 7bhoku IVlritional Fisheries Research institute, 3-275 Shinhama-cho, Shiogama, Mlyagi, g85-OOOI .Jtipan E-nzaig: okamaho@,cij[rrc.go.jp 2Schoot ofFisheries Sciences, Kitasato U}iiversity, 1604 Okirai, Sanriku-cho, Qfttnato, Iteate, a22-OIOI .1lrzpan 3Ocean Research Iitstitute, Lbeiversily of 7bdyo, Minamida4 IVtikano-ku, 7bdyo, 164-8639 Jopan (Received 1 July 2006: Accepted 20 November 2006) Pelagic juveniles of two morids, Antimora microlepis Bean, 1890 and Pbysiculus j(rponicus Hilgendort 1879, were colleeted by midwater t.rawl (O-20m depth) frem transition waters between the Oyashio and Kuroshio fironts ef the western North Pacific in May, 1989. Juveniles of A. microtqpis (13 specimens. 30.2-54,3mm standard length, SL> characteristieally have an elengated body, posteriorly, positioned anus, 24-25 precaudal vertebrae, chin with a barbel, no ventral luminous organ, elongated pelvic fin rays, and a non-protruding snout. Juveniles of P. jmponicus (six specimens, 20.4-39.0mm SL) characteristically have an elongated body, chin with a barbel, ventral lu- minous organ anterior to the anus, elongated pelvic fin rays, a pointed cau- dal fin, glO dorsal fin rays, 6070 second dorsal fin rays, 6&72 anal fin rays, six pelvic fin rays, 16=41A2 vertebrae, and ca. 130 lengitudinal scales. Key Words: Teleostei, Gadiformes, Moridae, Antimora microlepis, Pdysicu- lus j'mponicus, pelagic juvenile, Introduction The family Moridae currently comprises 18 genera and about 110 specjes, which occur widely from coastal to pelagic waters over the entire world except in the Arctic Ocean (Paulin 1989a; Okamura 1995; Eschmeyer 1998). The adult mor- phology and taxonomy of the family have been comprehensively studied by Paulin (1983, 1989a) and Cohen (1984), The family is defined by the fo11owing four charac- ters: a swim bladder-auditory capsule connection, a caudal skeleton with fbur or five hypurals and X-Y bones, a joined first neural spine, and distinctive otoliths, Occurrence and merphological infoumation on the early life stages of the family are limited to about 20 species in nine genera (Eretmqphorus, Gadelta, Guttigadus, Halangyreus, Laemonema, Mora, Pdysiculus, Rhynchogadus, and Svetovidovia) (Fahay and Markle 1984; Cohen 1986; Okiyama 1988; Markle 1989; Olivar and Fortufio 1991; Ambrose 1996; Melendez and Markle 1997; Fukui et al. 2003; Comyns NII-Electronic Library Service JapaneseJapaneseSociety Society ofSystematicof Systematic Zoology 18 rVTakoto Okamoto et al. 140eE 14se 15oe asse 45[N 4oe 35e Fig. 1. Map showing sampling sites of pelagic juveniles of Antimora microlepis (circle) and Pdysiculttsjaponicus(triangle), and Bond 2005). Researchers at the Tohoku National Fisheries Research Institute have been studying the larvae and juveniles of fish species that serve as fisheries resources in the transition waters between the Oyashio and Kuroshio fronts of the western North Pacific, During a cruise to the transition waters, pelagie juvenile specimens of morids were collected by midwater trawl at twe sampling stations on 16 and 18 May 1989 (Fig. 1). We identMed two species from these juvenile samples, Antimora microlepis Bean, 1890 and Pdysiculus joponicus Hilgendorf, 1879. In this paper, the pelagic juveniles ofA, microlqpis and P. japonicus are described fbr the first time. Materials and Methods Thirteen juvenile specimens (30.2-54.3mm SL) of Antimora microlepis were collected at 39eOO'N, 149000'E in the transition waters off Iwate Prefecture on 16 May 1989 (Fig. 1). Six juvenile speeimens (20.4-39.0mm SL) of PIrysiculus jcrponic"s were collected from 38000'N, 151UOO'E in the transition waters off Miyagi Prefeeture on 18 May 1989 (Fig. 1). At both sampling stations midwater trawls were towed at approximate]y 2 knots in the O-20m ]ayer. A conductivity, temperature, and depth prefiler (CTD) cast was made at all sampling stations down to 1000m depth. The Oyashio and Kuroshio fronts were defined by the 50 and 150C isotherms at 100m depth, respectively, and the transition waters were those located between the fronts (Kawai 1972; Odate 1994). Temperatures in the O-20m layer at the two sam- NII-Electronic Library Service JapaneseJapaneseSociety Society ofSystematicof Systematic Zoology Pelagic juveniles of two Pacific morids 19 pling stations off Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures were 11.4-13,4"C and 11,9-14,50C, re- spectively. The pelagic juvenile specimens were fixed in 10% buffered fbrmalin and Iater transferred to 70e,6 ethanol. Measurement methods, abbreviations, and definitiens fbllew Pauljn (1983). For observations of skeletal features, three speci- mens of A, microlqpis (42.6-50.9mm SL) and two specimens of P. jqponicus (25.1-30,2mm SL) were cleared and stained fo11owing Potthoff (1984). All the speci- mens examined in this study are deposited in the School of Fisheries Sciences, Ki- tasato University (FSKU). Taxonomic Account Antimora microlepis Bean, 1890 (Fig. 2) Material examined. Pelagic juvenjles: 13 specimens, FSKU-P 19841-19853, 30,2-54.3mm SL, off Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, 39000'N, 149000'E, O-20 m, 16 May 1,989. Identification. Thirteen juvenile specimens were assigned to the genus An- timora of the Moridae because they had all of the following characters: posteriorly positioned anus, 24-25 precaudal vertebrae, chin with a barbel, and no ventral lu- minous organ (Paulin 1983; Cohen 1984). Aduit specimens of Anttmora species are easily distinguished from those of other genera of morids by their protruding snout, but the snout of pelagic juveniles is rounded (see Remarks). The genus An- timora is represented in the North Pacific region by only A. microlepis (cf, Small 1981). Description. Meristic counts and measurements given in Table 1. Body elon- gate, compressed, gradually tapering to caudal peduncle, greatest depth at pectoral fin base. Head rounded, dorsum slightly elevated. Mouth moderate in size, not pro- truded; maxilla reaching anterior margin of eye. One or two rows of small conical teeth on premaxil!a and dentary; no teeth on prevomer and palatines, Snout rounded with two nostrils, each nearly equal to eye diameter. Eye of moderate size, dorsally situated on head with dorsal margin close to dorsal profile. Interorbital space elevated, width longer than eye diameter. Short barbel present on chin. Gil1 opening wide, opercular region thin, No ventral luminous organ, Anus located pos- teriorly, even with 16th-18th rays of second dorsal fin. First dorsal fin origin ' Fig. 2. Pelagic juvenile ofAntimora microlepis, 49,5mm SL, FSKU-P 19842. Scale bar: 5mm. NII-Electronic Library Service JapaneseJapaneseSociety Society ofSystematicof Systematic Zoology 20 Makoto Okamoto et al. Table 1. Meristic counts and proportional measurements of juveniles of Antimora nzicrolepts and Plavsiculus jmponicus. Species (number of specimens) Antimora microlepis (13) Physiculusjcrponictts (6) Standard length (mm) 30,2-54.3 20.4-39.0 Counts First dorsal fin rays 4-5 9-1066-7068-7224-25 Second dorsal fin rays 5C52 Anal fin rays 38-40 Pectora] fin rays 18-19 Pelvic fin ravs 6 6 Branchiostegal rays 74-5-1 73+7-8 Gill rakers 10-12 Precaudal vertebrae 2425 164142 Caudal vertebrae 3436 ftt"ttkt"tt ± t ±t ±± ±t ± ±tde" ± "kttkt""++dede"tde""t"de""dedede"dededet"+-+ Measurements (V) of standard length) Head Iength 23,1- 25.5 23.0-24.6 Body depth at pectoral fin 20,6-23.6 21.4-23.3 Bocty depth at anus 12.1-15.9 22.1-25,9 Predorsal length 26.7-28.8 30.9-31,8 Preanus length 52.]-55.6 23.5-25.9 Pectoral fin length 24.0-26.3 18.5-21,1 Pelvic fin length 19.3-25.1 24.2-27.5 First dorsal fin base 3,3-4.8 8.0-9.660.7-62.8 Seeond dorsal fin base 61,5-66.9 Ana] fin base 35.7-36.8 52.0-58.9 Caudal peduncle depth 3,or3.6 2.6-3.2 Measurements (V: ofhead ]ength) Eye diameter 28.1-33,2 32.2-39,O Snout length 24.1- 26.3 16.4-21.1 Upper jaw length 37.3-44.2 40.0-44.4 Barbel length 4.2-6,3 8.2-11,2 above posterior margin of opercle; no elongated rays. Second dorsal fin origin just behind first dorsal fin; ]ast ray not connected to caudal fin by membrane. Anal fin origin a short distance behind anus, approximately below midlength peint of sec- ond dorsal fin base, Pectoral fin large, inserted below first dorsal fin origin. Pelvic fin with flat base, 2nd to 6th rays filamentously elongated, Caudal fin pointed, free from dorsal and anal fins, Three shallow Iongitudinal lines on lateral side of body. Scales undeveloped. Pignzentation in alcohol. Body color mainly light brown, with many large and small melanophores scattered on surface of body except caudal peduncle region. Large melanopheres in opercular region and on base of pectoral fin, Surface of brain case and snout, internal peritoneum, and dorsal and anal fin membranes covered with smal1 melanophores. Pectoral and caudal fins unpigmented. Remarks. The fin ray counts and the posterior position of the anus in the present juvenile specimens agree with two species of morids inhabiting the North Pacific, Antimora microlepis and Lapidion schmidti Svetovidov, 1936, but the pres- ent juveniles have 24-25 preeaudal vertebrae (based on cleared-and-stained speci- NII-Electronic Library Service JapaneseJapaneseSociety Society ofSystematicof Systematic Zoology Pelagic juveniles of two Pacific merids 21 mens), a unique character of Antinzora among the morid genera (Fahay and Markle 1984; Paulin 1989a, 1989b; Paulin et aL 1989). The number of precaudal ver- tebrae in L. schrnidti i's 17-18 (Nakaya et al, 1980) many fewer than in Antimora.