DOCSLIB.ORG

Observations of Large Muraenid Leptocephali in Coastal Indonesia: Locations of Sightings and Behaviour of the Larvae Michael J

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Observations of Large Muraenid Leptocephali in Coastal Indonesia: Locations of Sightings and Behaviour of the Larvae Michael J Marine Biodiversity Records, page 1 of 8. # Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2013 doi:10.1017/S1755267213000079; Vol. 6; e82; 2013 Published online Observations of large muraenid leptocephali in coastal Indonesia: locations of sightings and behaviour of the larvae michael j. miller1, rob rutgers2, barry haythorne3, tunc‚ yavuzdog'an4, seishoku obata5, tony wu6, henny rutgers2, jerry powell7 and katsumi tsukamoto1 1Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan, 2Hoensbroek, The Netherlands, 3Rotherham, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom, 4Ayıs¸ıg˘ı Diving Center, Bag˘dat Cad, Istanbul, Turkey, 5Omiya-shi, Saitama-ken, Japan, 6Yokohama-shi, Kohoku-ku, Kanagawa-ken, Japan, 7Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, Winterthur, Delaware, USA A large often greenish-appearing type of leptocephalus larva has been observed and photographed or filmed by divers at 4 different locations within the Indonesian Archipelago from 2008 to 2011, and this paper documents these sightings and evalu- ates what can be learned about this type of unusual eel larvae. These leptocephali (300–400 mm long) appear to be excep- tionally large metamorphosing larvae of some type of moray eel of the family Muraenidae. Because of the morphological similarities between these larvae and ribbon eels, Rhinomuraena quaesita, they are hypothesized to be their larvae, which have never been distinguished among leptocephali of the Muraenidae. These leptocephali were observed at Sangeang Island, in Lembeh Strait adjacent to north-eastern Sulawesi Island, in two different years at Ambon Island, and on two con- secutive days at Bali, between December and June of 4 different years. All observations of the large leptocephali were at depths shallower than about 23 m in areas with mixed coral rubble or coarse sand and silt substrates during daylight hours. The larvae used various styles of anguilliform swimming and swam near the bottom or in the lower water column while being observed. One larva tried unsuccessfully several times to enter small crevices. They were all at the metamorphosing stage and may have been entering coastal habitats to find a hiding place where they could transform into juvenile eels. Further studies are needed to clearly identify these large leptocephali and to learn about their life history. Keywords: Anguilliformes, leptocephali, moray eels, ribbon eels, metamorphosis, recruitment, swimming behaviour, Indonesia Submitted 10 April 2012; accepted 18 January 2013 INTRODUCTION leptocephalus species in the Atlantic Ocean (Blache, 1977; Smith, 1979;Bo¨hlke, 1989; Leiby, 1989), but even in the Leptocephali are the larvae of the true eels of the order Atlantic the leptocephali of moray eels of the family Anguilliformes and their close relatives (Smith, 1989a; Muraenidae are especially hard to identify, because of a lack Miller & Tsukamoto, 2004; Miller, 2009). They are remarkably of morphological features that can be linked to the adults transparent because they have greatly reduced body muscula- (Smith, 1989b). ture and organs, and their highly laterally compressed bodies Leptocephali live in the upper few hundred metres of the open are filled with transparent jelly-like materials (Smith, 1989a; ocean or over the continental shelf, with some species showing Pfeiler, 1999; Miller, 2009). They grow larger than most fish diel vertical migrations (Castonguay & McCleave, 1987; Miller, larvae, with maximum sizes ranging from about 50 mm to 2009).Theycanbeabundantalongtheedgeofthecontinental more than 300 mm, but probably ,120 mm for most shelf (Miller et al., 2002; Miller & McCleave, 2007) or in offshore species (Bo¨hlke, 1989). The leptocephali of some species of areas where anguillid and mesopelagic eels spawn (Tsukamoto, congrids can occasionally reach about 400 mm (Mochioka 1992; Miller & McCleave, 1994; Miller et al., 2006). The behav- et al., 1982; Strehlow et al., 1998) and some notacanthiform ioural ecology of eel larvae is very poorly known though. larvae have been collected at sizes up to 1.8 m (Bertin, 1954; Leptocephali enter shallow tropical habitats for recruitment Castle 1959, 1967; Tabeta, 1970). using tidal currents (e.g. Thorrold et al., 1994a, b;Dufouret al., Because their morphology is so different from the juveniles 1996;Harndenet al., 1999;McIlwain,2003;Nolan& and adults, they are difficult to match with the adults of their Danilowicz, 2008), but there have been few reported observations species, so few types of leptocephali have been identified to the of live leptocephali. Divers have recently filmed a few leptocephali species level in the Indo-Pacific (Miller & Tsukamoto, 2004, at night over deep water, providing some new insights into their 2006). Much greater progress has been achieved in identifying behaviour and morphology (Miller et al., 2010, 2013). One of the few reported observations of leptocephali in shallow water was of a large greenish-appearing metamor- Corresponding author: M.J. Miller phosing leptocephalus that was recently photographed adja- Email: [email protected] cent to Sangeang Island in the Flores Sea (Figure 1)of 1 2 michael j. miller et al. 2011 in the Indonesian Archipelago that appear to be the same species of large metamorphosing moray eel larvae. The distribution of these sightings is documented and the video recordings and photographs are evaluated to help advance understanding of these unusual eel larvae that are present in Indonesia and probably elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific. MATERIALS AND METHODS Recording imagery of larvae Observations of the large leptocephali were made by SCUBA divers equipped with underwater cameras or video cameras at 4 general locations (Table 1; Figure 1). The larvae were encountered during dives in shallow water during daytime, and each larva was photographed or filmed for several minutes as it swam along the bottom or in the water Fig. 1. Map showing the locations where large leptocephali were observed column. The larva photographed at Sangeang Island in June along the north-eastern side of Sangeang Island in June 2008, in Lembeh 2008 was not seen at an established dive site, so the exact Strait adjacent to north-eastern Sulawesi Island in late December 2009, on location at the island could not be precisely determined the north shore of Ambon Bay in April 2010 and March 2011, and at Bali (Table 1). Larvae were observed on 2 different dates at dive on two consecutive days in April 2010 (Table 1). sites along the north shore of Ambon Bay of Ambon Island called Rhino City (April 2010) and Laha 3 (March 2011). southern Indonesia (Miller et al., 2009). The leptocephalus The photographs of the larva in the second sighting are not appeared to be about 400 mm in length and was moving included in this study. On the north-eastern shore of Bali at along the bottom (Figure 2). It differed in morphology from a dive site called Seraya between Amed and Tulamben, a lep- other leptocephali described previously (Blache, 1977; Smith, tocephalus was seen on two consecutive days. 1989a; Miller & Tsukamoto, 2004), because it appeared to be a remarkably large leptocephalus of the family Muraenidae. Muraenid leptocephali are rarely collected at Analyses of observations sizes greater than 90 mm (Smith, 1989b; Miller et al., 2006), Video footage was obtained from 4 of the observations so that leptocephalus appeared to be a completely new type (Sulawesi, Ambon and 2 sightings at Bali) and converted of moray eel larva. into video clips. Video from the sightings were converted The present study examines 6 observations of this type of from three different formats and resolutions into a single large leptocephalus that were made by divers from 2008 to master video file. This video clip is permanently available Fig. 2. Photographs showing the body (A–C) and head region (D–F) of the large leptocephalus that was observed along the coast of Sangeang Island, Indonesia on 26 June 2008. External nostrils are seen in (D). large muraenid leptocephali in coastal indonesia 3 online on the website of the Australian Museum (see link in complex structure of the bottom that included coarse sand Results section). and coral rubble. The leptocephalus filmed at Ambon Island Still photographs were taken of the Sangeang, Sulawesi and on 6 April 2010 was seen in the afternoon at a depth of Bali leptocephali. As shown by Miller et al. (2009) some 23 m along the north shore of Ambon Bay in a similar photographs were lightened through a filtering process to complex rubble substrate area. The habitat of the other remove haziness and increase clarity of the images. This larva, observed at an adjacent dive site in Ambon Bay makes it easier to see the morphology of the leptocephali as almost one year later on 27 March 2011, was likely similar seen in Figure 3. based on the location and the background of the photograph (not shown). Less than two weeks after the first sighting at Ambon, single leptocephali were seen at Bali (Figure 1) on the two con- RESULTS secutive days of 18–19 April 2010 (Table 1). It is not certain if these two sightings were of the same leptocephalus, because Locations and habitats of sightings the larvae were apparently about the same size and in the same general area, but in different types of habitats. Large leptocephali with the same basic appearance were However, the leptocephalus on the second day had distinct observed 6 times from 2008 to 2011 at 4 different general scratches on the side of its body, and a twisted region of its locations within the Indonesian Archipelago (Table 1). All notochord, so it was probably a different individual unless of the sightings were made from late morning to mid- the first larva was damaged between sightings. The first sight- afternoon, at a range of depths from about 5 m to 23 m. ing was made in areas with rubble and other types of structure The water temperatures in all of these coastal areas ranged on the bottom (Figure 5C), but the second sighting was made from 27–308C during the sightings from December to June.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Title First Japanese Record of the Mindoro Snake Eel Lamnostoma
    First Japanese record of the Mindoro snake eel Lamnostoma Title mindorum (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Ryukyu Islands Author(s) Oka, Shin-ichiro; Hanahara, Nozomi; Shintani, Tetsuya Citation Fauna Ryukyuana, 42: 5-8 Issue Date 2018-03-23 URL http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12000/39147 Rights Fauna Ryukyuana ISSN 2187-6657 http://w3.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/naruse/lab/Fauna_Ryukyuana.html First Japanese record of the Mindoro snake eel Lamnostoma mindorum (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Ryukyu Islands Shin-ichiro Oka1*, Nozomi Hanahara1, Tetsuya Shintani2 1Okinawa Churashima Foundation, 888 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Okinawa 905-0206, Japan 2Kawamura Gishi Co. Ltd., 1-12-1 Goryo, Daito-shi, Osaka 574-0064, Japan *Corresponding author (E-mail: [email protected]) Abstract. A single specimen (626 mm in total Japan, on June 24, 2017. This fish was kept in a 100 length) of Lamnostoma mindorum (Jordan & L freshwater tank and fed small living freshwater Richardson, 1908) was collected from the freshwater shrimps (1–2 cm length). The fish died due to an area in Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The unknown cause on October 31, 2017. There was no specimen represents the first record of L. mindorum apparent change in morphology during captivity. from Japan and the northernmost record of this After taking photographs and removing tissue for species. genetic analysis, the specimen was fixed in 10% formalin. Introduction Counts and measurements follow Hatooka & Yoshino (1998). Vertebral counts were based on CT The Mindoro snake eel Lamnostoma mindorum scanned images using a Somatom Definition AS CT (Jordan & Richardson, 1908) is a rare species of the scanner (Siemens Medical, Iselin, NJ, USA).
    [Show full text]
  • American Eel Anguilla Rostrata Contributor: John W
    American Eel Anguilla rostrata Contributor: John W. McCord DESCRIPTION: Taxonomy and Basic Description The American eel, Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur 1817), belongs to the freshwater eel family, Anguillidae. Related species occur throughout the world, but the American eel is the only North American anguillid eel. Eels are snake-shaped and covered with a mucous layer that renders them slimy to the touch despite the presence of minute scales. A continuous, low fin runs from the middle of the back, around the tail, and ends behind the vent. Relatively small pectoral fins originate near the animals midline and immediately posterior to the head and gill-covers. Coloration varies with stage of maturity and habitat, but eels are generally dark olive, yellowish or slate-gray above and light below. Eels from dark, tannic acid streams are darker while those from clear streams and estuaries are lighter (pers. obs.). The American eel is catadromous; it spawns in oceanic waters but uses freshwater, brackish and estuarine systems for most of its developmental life. Sexually mature adults, called silver eels, migrate from freshwater to the sea in fall. Their destination for spawning is the Sargasso Sea, an expansive portion of the central North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Bahamas and south of Bermuda. Adults are thought to die after spawning. The largest females produce nearly 20 million eggs (Barbin and McCleave 1997). Mature females in the southern portion of the eel’s range are generally smaller and carry as few as 400,000 eggs (Wenner and Musick 1974). Eggs hatch into a brief pre-larval stage before transformation into the active leptocephalus stage.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reproduction and Metamorphosis of the Common Eel (Anguilla Vulgaris).1 by O
    KEPBODUOTION AND METAMOEPHOSIS 01? COMMON BEL. 373 The Reproduction and Metamorphosis of the Common Eel (Anguilla vulgaris).1 By O. B. Grassi, Professor in Home. FOUR years of continual researches made 1))' me in collabo- ration with my pupil. Dr. Calandruccio, have heen crowned at last by a success beyond my expectations,—that is to say, have enabled me to dispel in the most important points the great mystery which has hitherto surrounded the reproduction and the development of the Common Eel (Anguilla vulgaris). When I reflect that this mystery has occupied the attention of naturalists since the days of Aristotle, it seems to me that a short extract of my work is perhaps not unworthy to be pre- sented to the Royal Society of London, leaving aside, however, for the present, the morphological part of my results. The most salient fact discovered by me is that a fish, which hitherto was known as Leptocephalus brevirostris, is the larva of the Anguilla vulgaris. Before giving the proofs of this conclusion I must premise that the other Mursenoids undergo a similar metamorphosis. Thus I have been able to prove that the Leptocephalus s ten ops (Bellotti), for the greatest part, and also the Lepto- cephalus morrisii and punctatus belong to the cycle of evolution of Conger vulgaris; that the Leptocephalus haeckeli, yarrelli, bibroni, gegenbauri, kollikeri, and many other imperfectly described by Facciola, and a part of the above-named Leptocephalus stenops of Bellotti, belong to the cycle of evolution of Con gromursena mystax; that the Leptocephalus tsenia, inornatus, and dia- 1 From the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society,' November, 1896.
    [Show full text]
  • MAF Underwatermission Synopsis Final
    Conceived by Max Serio Developed by Max Serio, John Hopkins, Martin Kase, Tina Dalton Directed by Max Serio, Tina Dalton Narrated by Rachel King, Juliet Jordan, Marcello Fabrizi Underwater Mission: Cleaner Friends First episode of the series. Our heroes: Sara,Maxi and Emma the sea turtle will explore who are their Cleaner Friends. Their adventure will be supported with the valuable information of "Sea Pad" their "friend-board computer". Cleaner Friends : Cleaner shrimp,moray eel,Blue Streak Cleaner Wrasse,Moorish Idols,Humphead Wrasse,Spadefish, sea star,Mushroom Coral,Bristletooths. Underwater Mission: Predators In this episode Sara and Max will experience an interesting trip with Emma the sea tur- tle. “Sea Pad” is going to show them the most interesting underwater predators and their habbits. Predators : Mooray eel (Ribbon eel, White eyed moray eel), Sand conger eel, Barracudas, Stonefish, Anglerfish, Lionfish, Mantis Shrimp, White tip reef shark, Tiger Shark Underwater Mission: Crazy Colours Maxi and Sara are going to visit the most colourful environment they have ever seen. Emma the sea turtle will take them to an underwater trip where they find the beautiful wolrd of crazy-coloured fish. Crazy-coloured fish : Gold Belly Damsel Fish, Emperor Angelfish, Yellow Ribbon Sweetlip, Peach Fairies, Anemones, Corals, Clown Trigger fish, Butterfly fish, Leopard coral trout, Scribbled Filefish, Lionfish, Cuttlefish, Nudibranch, Parrotfish Underwater Mission: Startling Shapes There are many shapes that the sea creatures and objects have. Emma, Sara and Maxi are going to discover as much of them as they can. Those they can’t spot on the first glance will be uncovered by the trusted clever “Sea pad”.
    [Show full text]
  • Fishes of Terengganu East Coast of Malay Peninsula, Malaysia Ii Iii
    i Fishes of Terengganu East coast of Malay Peninsula, Malaysia ii iii Edited by Mizuki Matsunuma, Hiroyuki Motomura, Keiichi Matsuura, Noor Azhar M. Shazili and Mohd Azmi Ambak Photographed by Masatoshi Meguro and Mizuki Matsunuma iv Copy Right © 2011 by the National Museum of Nature and Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Kagoshima University Museum All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Copyrights of the specimen photographs are held by the Kagoshima Uni- versity Museum. For bibliographic purposes this book should be cited as follows: Matsunuma, M., H. Motomura, K. Matsuura, N. A. M. Shazili and M. A. Ambak (eds.). 2011 (Nov.). Fishes of Terengganu – east coast of Malay Peninsula, Malaysia. National Museum of Nature and Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Kagoshima University Museum, ix + 251 pages. ISBN 978-4-87803-036-9 Corresponding editor: Hiroyuki Motomura (e-mail: [email protected]) v Preface Tropical seas in Southeast Asian countries are well known for their rich fish diversity found in various environments such as beautiful coral reefs, mud flats, sandy beaches, mangroves, and estuaries around river mouths. The South China Sea is a major water body containing a large and diverse fish fauna. However, many areas of the South China Sea, particularly in Malaysia and Vietnam, have been poorly studied in terms of fish taxonomy and diversity. Local fish scientists and students have frequently faced difficulty when try- ing to identify fishes in their home countries. During the International Training Program of the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (ITP of JSPS), two graduate students of Kagoshima University, Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Conger Oceanicus
    Conger Eel − Conger oceanicus Overall Vulnerability Rank = High Biological Sensitivity = Moderate Climate Exposure = Very High Data Quality = 62% of scores ≥ 2 Expert Data Expert Scores Plots Conger oceanicus Scores Quality (Portion by Category) Low Moderate Stock Status 2.4 0.5 High Other Stressors 2.5 1.2 Very High Population Growth Rate 2.1 0.8 Spawning Cycle 2.9 2.4 Complexity in Reproduction 2.4 1.9 Early Life History Requirements 2.5 1.8 Sensitivity to Ocean Acidification 1.2 1.3 Prey Specialization 1.6 2.1 Habitat Specialization 2.4 3.0 Sensitivity attributes Sensitivity to Temperature 1.6 2.8 Adult Mobility 1.5 1.8 Dispersal & Early Life History 1.3 2.8 Sensitivity Score Moderate Sea Surface Temperature 4.0 3.0 Variability in Sea Surface Temperature 1.0 3.0 Salinity 2.4 3.0 Variability Salinity 1.2 3.0 Air Temperature 4.0 3.0 Variability Air Temperature 1.0 3.0 Precipitation 1.3 3.0 Variability in Precipitation 1.4 3.0 Ocean Acidification 4.0 2.0 Exposure variables Variability in Ocean Acidification 1.0 2.2 Currents 2.2 1.0 Sea Level Rise 2.4 1.5 Exposure Score Very High Overall Vulnerability Rank High Conger Eel (Anguilla oceanica) Overall Climate Vulnerability Rank: High (93% certainty from bootstrap analysis). Climate Exposure: Very High. Three exposure factors contributed to this score: Ocean Surface Temperature (4.0), Ocean Acidification (4.0) and Air Temperature (4.0). Conger Eel are semelparous: spawning in the ocean, developing in marine and estuarine habitats, then feeding growing, and maturing in marine and estuarine habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Updated Checklist of Marine Fishes (Chordata: Craniata) from Portugal and the Proposed Extension of the Portuguese Continental Shelf
    European Journal of Taxonomy 73: 1-73 ISSN 2118-9773 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2014.73 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2014 · Carneiro M. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Monograph urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9A5F217D-8E7B-448A-9CAB-2CCC9CC6F857 Updated checklist of marine fishes (Chordata: Craniata) from Portugal and the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf Miguel CARNEIRO1,5, Rogélia MARTINS2,6, Monica LANDI*,3,7 & Filipe O. COSTA4,8 1,2 DIV-RP (Modelling and Management Fishery Resources Division), Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Av. Brasilia 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] 3,4 CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] * corresponding author: [email protected] 5 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:90A98A50-327E-4648-9DCE-75709C7A2472 6 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:1EB6DE00-9E91-407C-B7C4-34F31F29FD88 7 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:6D3AC760-77F2-4CFA-B5C7-665CB07F4CEB 8 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:48E53CF3-71C8-403C-BECD-10B20B3C15B4 Abstract. The study of the Portuguese marine ichthyofauna has a long historical tradition, rooted back in the 18th Century. Here we present an annotated checklist of the marine fishes from Portuguese waters, including the area encompassed by the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf and the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history collections, together with new revisions and occurrences.
    [Show full text]
  • Dipanjan RAY 1, Anil MOHAPATRA 1*, Sudeepta BISWAS 2, Kamala K. SATPATHY 2, and Subhrendu S. MISHRA3
    ACTA ICHTHYOLOGICA ET PISCATORIA (2015) 45 (1): 89–93 DOI: 10.3750/AIP2015.45.1.10 FIRST RECORD OF THE EVERMANN’S SNAKE EEL, OPHICHTHUS LITHINUS (ACTINOPTERYGII: ANGUILLIFORMES: OPHICHTHIDAE), FROM NORTHERN INDIAN OCEAN Dipanjan RAY 1, Anil MOHAPATRA 1* , Sudeepta BISWAS 2, Kamala K. SATPATHY 2, and Subhrendu S. MISHRA 3 1 Marine Aquarium and Regional Center, Zoological Survey of India, Digha, West Bengal, India 2 EnSD, RSEG, EIRSG, IGCAR, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India 3 Marine Fish Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India Ray D., Mohapatra A., Biswas S., Satpathy K.K., Mishra S.S. 2015. First record of the Evermann’s snake eel, Ophichthus lithinus (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), from northern Indian Ocean. Acta Ichthyol. Piscat. 45 (1): 89–93 . Abstract. A little known species of snake eel, Ophichthus lithinus (Jordan et Richardson, 1908), is reported for the first time from the east coast of India, Bay of Bengal based on two specimens 632 and 720 mm in total length, collected respectively at Digha, West Bengal and Kalpakam, Tamil Nadu, India. This is the first attempt to pro - vide a detailed description of the species from the Indian Ocean. The presently reported findings constitute an extension of the known distributional range of this species from the Western Pacific to the eastern coast of India . Keywords: new record, fish, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, India, Bay of Bengal The fishes of the family Ophichthidae, commonly pling), nocturnal activity, and a specific habitat preference known as snake eels and worm eels, comprise 59 genera, of (Castle and McCosker 1999). which 45 are belonging to the subfamily Ophichthinae (tail The aim of this study was to describe the morpholog - tip hard, pointed and finless) (McCosker 1998, 1999, 2007) ical characteristics of a rare snake eel species—the and 14 to the subfamily Myrophinae (tail tip flexible and Evermann’s snake eel, Ophichthus lithinus (Jordan et confluent with dorsal and anal fins) (McCosker et al.
    [Show full text]
  • New Zealand Fishes a Field Guide to Common Species Caught by Bottom, Midwater, and Surface Fishing Cover Photos: Top – Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi), Malcolm Francis
    New Zealand fishes A field guide to common species caught by bottom, midwater, and surface fishing Cover photos: Top – Kingfish (Seriola lalandi), Malcolm Francis. Top left – Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), Malcolm Francis. Centre – Catch of hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae), Neil Bagley (NIWA). Bottom left – Jack mackerel (Trachurus sp.), Malcolm Francis. Bottom – Orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), NIWA. New Zealand fishes A field guide to common species caught by bottom, midwater, and surface fishing New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No: 208 Prepared for Fisheries New Zealand by P. J. McMillan M. P. Francis G. D. James L. J. Paul P. Marriott E. J. Mackay B. A. Wood D. W. Stevens L. H. Griggs S. J. Baird C. D. Roberts‡ A. L. Stewart‡ C. D. Struthers‡ J. E. Robbins NIWA, Private Bag 14901, Wellington 6241 ‡ Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, 6011Wellington ISSN 1176-9440 (print) ISSN 1179-6480 (online) ISBN 978-1-98-859425-5 (print) ISBN 978-1-98-859426-2 (online) 2019 Disclaimer While every effort was made to ensure the information in this publication is accurate, Fisheries New Zealand does not accept any responsibility or liability for error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, nor for the consequences of any decisions based on this information. Requests for further copies should be directed to: Publications Logistics Officer Ministry for Primary Industries PO Box 2526 WELLINGTON 6140 Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 Facsimile: 04-894 0300 This publication is also available on the Ministry for Primary Industries website at http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/publications/ A higher resolution (larger) PDF of this guide is also available by application to: [email protected] Citation: McMillan, P.J.; Francis, M.P.; James, G.D.; Paul, L.J.; Marriott, P.; Mackay, E.; Wood, B.A.; Stevens, D.W.; Griggs, L.H.; Baird, S.J.; Roberts, C.D.; Stewart, A.L.; Struthers, C.D.; Robbins, J.E.
    [Show full text]
  • True Eels Or Freshwater Eels - Anguillidae
    ISSN 0859-290X, Vol. 5, No. 1 – September 1999 [Supplement No. 6] Even if the eels, in the perception of most people, constitute a readily recognizable group of elongated and snakelike fish, the eels do not constitute a taxonomic group. There is considerable confusion related to eels. See the following system used in "Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong" by Walther Rainboth (1996). In the Mekong, two orders (Anguilliformes and Synbranchiformes) including five eel-Iike fish families are represented: The true eels (Anguillidae), the worm eels (Ophichthidae), the dwarf swamp eels (Chaudhuriidae), the swamp eels (Synbranchidae), and the spiny eels (Mastacembelidae). Of these, the swamp eels and spiny eels are by far the most important in the fisheries. True eels or Freshwater eels - Anguillidae The name "freshwater eels", is not a good name to describe the habits of the species in this family. All the anguillid species are catadromous (a catadromous fish is bom in the sea, but lives most of its life in fresh water). The sexually mature fish migrate down to the sea to spawn, and the juveniles ("the elvers") move, sometimes for a considerable distance, up the river to find their nursery areas. The true eels, contrary to most of the other Mekong eels, have two gill openings, which are high on each side of the fish. The body is covered with small scales that are deeply embedded in the skin. Pelvic fins are absent, while pectoral fins are well developed. The long dorsal and anal fins are continuous with the caudal fin, and the fins are not preceded by any spines.
    [Show full text]
  • Reef Fishes of the Bird's Head Peninsula, West
    Check List 5(3): 587–628, 2009. ISSN: 1809-127X LISTS OF SPECIES Reef fishes of the Bird’s Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia Gerald R. Allen 1 Mark V. Erdmann 2 1 Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum. Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Perth, Western Australia 6986. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Conservation International Indonesia Marine Program. Jl. Dr. Muwardi No. 17, Renon, Denpasar 80235 Indonesia. Abstract A checklist of shallow (to 60 m depth) reef fishes is provided for the Bird’s Head Peninsula region of West Papua, Indonesia. The area, which occupies the extreme western end of New Guinea, contains the world’s most diverse assemblage of coral reef fishes. The current checklist, which includes both historical records and recent survey results, includes 1,511 species in 451 genera and 111 families. Respective species totals for the three main coral reef areas – Raja Ampat Islands, Fakfak-Kaimana coast, and Cenderawasih Bay – are 1320, 995, and 877. In addition to its extraordinary species diversity, the region exhibits a remarkable level of endemism considering its relatively small area. A total of 26 species in 14 families are currently considered to be confined to the region. Introduction and finally a complex geologic past highlighted The region consisting of eastern Indonesia, East by shifting island arcs, oceanic plate collisions, Timor, Sabah, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and widely fluctuating sea levels (Polhemus and the Solomon Islands is the global centre of 2007). reef fish diversity (Allen 2008). Approximately 2,460 species or 60 percent of the entire reef fish The Bird’s Head Peninsula and surrounding fauna of the Indo-West Pacific inhabits this waters has attracted the attention of naturalists and region, which is commonly referred to as the scientists ever since it was first visited by Coral Triangle (CT).
    [Show full text]
  • Branchial Muscles 10 Representatives of Five Eel Families!' 2 GARETH J
    Branchial Muscles 10 Representatives of Five Eel Families!' 2 GARETH J. N ELSON3 D URING THE EVOLUTION of eels the gill arch lated genera ( those listed in N elson, 1966 ) skeleton of some forms was profoundly modi­ suggested that the six genera selected for study fied in gross structure. The modifications are are representative of the families or subfamilies adaptive and are associated with body form and to which they belong. All material was ob­ feeding habits of eels (Nelson, 1966 ). The tained from the collections of the Dep artment present paper deals with the musculature at­ of Zoology, University of Hawaii . W ith the tached to the gill arch skeleton of eels repre­ exception of specimens of Anguilla, study senting five families, primarily of the suborder material originally was collected by means of Anguilloidei. Six genera were chosen for study: shallow water rotenone poisoning around Oahu Congel' (Congridae), Anguilla (Anguillidae), and Christmas Island. M oringtta (Moringuidae) , Kattpichthys (Xeno­ The illustrations show the muscles in ap­ congridae), Uropterygius, and Gymn othorax proximately their relative size and positions. (Muraenidae) . The gill arch skeleton of these Muscles attaching to structures other than gill forms shows a progressive reduction of ele­ arches are shown transected . Occasionally ments, showing probable stages in the evolu­ other muscles are shown with parts removed tionary development of the specialized "pha­ to reveal underlying structures . Roots of the ryngeal jaws" of the morays-eels of the branchial arteries are included in the illustra­ family Muraenidae. tions, for they serve as convenient landmarks, Gill arch musculature in eels has been studied separating adjacent muscles.
    [Show full text]