A new record of Sebastes koreanus from China based on morphological characters and DNA barcoding

A new record of Sebastes koreanus(Kim and Lee,1994) was documented based on morphological characters and DNA barcoding. Fifty-six S ebastes specimens were collected from the coastal waters of northern China. Samples were identified as S. koreanus based on morphological characters. The coloration and morphometric measurements were consistent with those described from specimens collected in South Korea. In this study,specimens had the following morphological characteristics:light brown body with dark stripes and tiny dark spots,4–5 wide indistinct vertical patterns on the side,2 radial stripes behind and below the eyes,1 large dark blotch on the opercle. Additionally,the following meristic characters were recorded:dorsal fin XIV-13,pectoral fin 16,anal fin III-6–7,pelvic fin I-5,lateral line scales 29–30,and vertebrae 26. The fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit I(C OI) gene of mitochondrial DNA was sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The mean genetic distance within the species was 0.3%. Net genetic distances between S. koreanus and other S ebastes species ranged from 3.1% to 7.6%,which was greater than the threshold for species delimitation. The phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the validity of S. koreanus in China at the genetic level. The origion,evolution,patterns of speciation and unique features in genome divergence among primate lineages of this species still need future directions of research.     

A review of genus Nuchequula (Teleostei: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new record from Chinese waters

We collected leiognathid fishes from the Hainan Island and Beibu Gulf between November 2007 and December 2008. Ten of these specimens were identified as Nuchequula blochii (Valenciennes 1835), which is the first record of this species in China’s waters. These specimens are distinguished by the combination of these characteristics: breast fully scaled, cheek naked, anteroventral profile of the lower jaw almost straight, a conspicuous dark blotch distally on the anterior part of spinous portion of dorsal fin, a yellow blotch distally on posterior part of spinous portion of dorsal fin, and a dark blotch on nape. This paper reviews the genus Nuchequula and describes three species that occur in China’s waters.     

A new record of blue-spotted seabream Pagrus caeruleostictus from Chinese coastal waters documented from morphology and DNA barcoding

A new record of Pagrus caeruleostictus(Valenciennes,1830),collected from the Beibu Gulf,South China Sea in April 2013,was documented based on morphology and cytochrome oxidase I subunit(COI) gene barcoding analyses. It can be distinguished by a combination of the following characteristics: head scaled to above eyes; cheeks with 5 or 6 rows of scales; lateral line scales 51–52; 5 rows of scales above the lateral line; 4 and 6 cuspidate teeth in front of upper and lower jaws,respectively,followed by 2 rows of blunter teeth posteriorly; gill rakers on first arch 12 to 15; D XI–XII +9–11; A III +8–9; the first two dorsal spines very short,the third to fifth extended,filamentous in the young; the first pelvic ray filamentous; silvery pink with dark blue spots on back and sides; caudal fin pinkish; other fins bluish or pinkish; the blue spots generally disappear in large specimens. The present report of P. caeruleostictus suggests that its distribution in Chinese coastal waters may be attributed to human effort,since this species is unlikely to have expanded naturally from the eastern Atlantic to the South China Sea,with no other records from the Indian or Pacific Oceans. We recommend that a precautionary approach should be adopted for the management of P. caeruleostictus.     

Two new species of the genus Cobitis Linnaeus(Teleostei:Cobitidae) from southern China

Two new species of the genus Cobitis from southern China,C.hereromacula from the Luohe River in Guangdong Province and C.baishagensis from the Nandujiang River in Hainan Province,are described and illustrated here.C.hereromacula can be distinguished from its congeners by possessing the following combination of characteristics;absence of the second and third pigmentary zones of Gambetta;13–16 oval blotches on the dorsum and 10–13 vertical,elongated triangular blotches below the midlateral line with more than 20 vertical dark brown bars between them;6–7 narrow rows of dark spots on the caudal fin;a vertical oval spot smaller than the eye diameter on the upper part of the caudal peduncle;pointed mental lobes of the lower lip pointed with a slightly filiform tip;one slender and long needle-shaped lamina circularis at the base of the first branched ray of the male pectoral fins.C.baishagensis can be distinguished from its congeners by the fourth Gambetta zone being covered by 10–12 transverse elongated blotches;4–5 narrow rows of dark spots on the caudal fin;a vertical blotch smaller than the eye diameter on the upper part of the caudal peduncle;males with a slender and long needle-shaped lamina circularis at the second branched pectoral fin ray in males;large scales with a slightly large focal zone;undeveloped mental lobes with a lower lip that does not end posteriorly in a filiform tip.     

Molecular phylogeny and evolution of Scomber (Teleostei: Scombridae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus Scomber was conducted based on mitochondrial (COI, Cyt b and control region) and nuclear (5S rDNA) DNA sequence data in multigene perspective. A variety of phylogenetic analytic methods were used to clarify the current taxonomic Classification and to assess phylogenetic relationships and the evolutionary history of this genus. The present study produced a well-resolved phylogeny that strongly supported the monophyly of Scomber. We confirmed that S. japonicus and S. colias were genetically distinct. Although morphologically and ecologically similar to S. colias, the molecular data showed that S. japonicus has a greater molecular affinity with S. australasicus, which conflicts with the traditional taxonomy. This phylogenetic pattern was corroborated by the mtDNA data, but incompletely by the nuclear DNA data. Phylogenetic concordance between the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA regions for the basal nodes Supports an Atlantic origin for Scomber. The present-day geographic ranges of the species were compared with the resultant molecular phylogeny derived from partition Bayesian analyses of the combined data sets to evaluate possible dispersal routes of the genus. The present-day geographic distribution of Scomber species might be best ascribed to multiple dispersal events. In addition, our results suggest that phylogenies derived from multiple genes and long sequences exhibited improved phylogenetic resolution, from which we conclude that the phylogenetic reconstruction is a reliable representation of the evolutionary history of Scomber.     

On a new species ofPavlova (Prymnesiophyceae) from China

Pavlova viridis sp. nov. is described on the basis of light and electron microscope observations. The material was collected from the coast of haiyang county of Shandong, China. It is characterized by 1) yellowish green to green chloroplast, 2) rudimentary short flagellum 0.3 μm long and hook-shaped, 3) long flagellum with small spherical knob-scales, 4) absence of pyrenoid and stigma, and 5) marine habitat. This new species andP. salina seem to be most closely related to each other but their colour, the insertion of their three appendages, the shape of their knob scales, and their cell periplasts are quite different from one another. Contribution No. 1879 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica     

A new record from China of epiphytic marine algae, Acrochaete leptochaete (Chaetophoraceae, Chlorophyta) with its primary experimental biology

Acrochaete leptochaete,a species in Chaetophoraceae(Chlorophyta),was observed during our recent laboratory culture of the macroalgae Chaetomorpha that was originally collected from an intertidal pool in Rongcheng,Shandong Province,China.This is the first record of this species in China.Its morphology,taxonomy,and distribution were introduced and discussed in detail.Isolated culture experiments at different temperatures(9-29℃)and light intensities(36-108μmmol/m 2·s)were also carried out.The culture-based observations have extended our knowledge of growth morphology and general biology of the species.     

A new species of the genus Amphicteis (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) from China

A new species of the ampharetid genus Amphicteis,A.chinensis sp.nov.,is described based on material from the East and South China Seas.The new species is distinguished from the other known species of this genus by the presence of a lobebehind the paleae.Akey to distinguish all Amphicteis species and the closely related genus Paramphicteis from the Chinese seas is provided.     

A new species ofPraebebalia (Crustacea: Brachyura: Leucosiidae) from East China Sea

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A new species and new recorded species of Lumbrineridae Schmarda, 1861 (Annelida: Polychaeta) from China

Based on material deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Qingdao),a new species,Lumbrineris sinensis sp.nov.,as well as Augeneria albidentata(Ehlers,1908),which is recorded for the first time from coastal water of China,are reported in the present paper.The specimens examined were collected during 1958 to 1960 from the Yellow Sea,East China Sea and South China Sea at depths of 4 to 182 m.     

A new species of Cerithium （Gastropoda： Cerithiidae） from the South China Sea

Specimens of a new species of Cerithiidae, Cerithium mangrovum n. sp., were collected during two surveys along the coasts of Hainan and Guangdong Province, China. Usually associated with potamidid snails, this species often occurs in large populations between the mid-high tidal zones in a range of habitats, including mangroves, grass beds, silt, mud, and coral reefs. C. mangrovum n. sp. has a slender and tapering shell and the straight-sided whorl bears three aligned beaded spiral cords. The thick outer lip has a wide posterior sinus. It morphologically resembles C. coralium Kiener, 1841. The shell of C. coralium is usually larger and wider and the spiral cords are not as beaded as in C, mangrovum n. sp. Its radula has a rachidian tooth with a shallow, wide, median basal projection while the rachidian tooth of C. mangrovum n. sp. has a moderately long, median basal projection.     

One new species and one new record species of Sphaerolaimus(Nematode,Sphaerolaimidae) in offshore wetlands,China

One new species and one new record species of Sphaerolaimus are described.Sphaerolaimus longispiculatus sp.nov.is characterized by body length 2 213-2 470 μm,amphideal fovea 12%-16%corre sponding body diameters in males and 9%-10% corre sponding body diameters in females,long slender spicules 2.8-3.8 cloacal body diameters,eight small papilliform precloacal supplements,gubernaculum without apophysis,and tail conico-cylindrical,2.5-3.7 cloacal/anal body diameters long.Sphaerolaimus gracilis is recorded from the first time in the mangroves wetlands,it can be distinguished from the original desceiption by longer spicules(66-71 μm vs 56 μm) and wider body(a=20.1-21.4 vs 25).     

First record of Biecheleria cincta (Dinophyceae) from Chinese coasts, with morphological and molecular characterization of the strains

The presence of Biecheleria cincta (=Woloszynskia cincta) in the Chinese coasts is reported for the first time. In scanning electron microscope, three to five series of vesicles and an elongated apical vesicle (EAV) were visible in the epicone, and both the hypocone and the cingulum had three series of vesicles each. Thin sections revealed that B. cincta possesses stalked pyrenoids and an unusual eyespot consisting of a stack of cisternae with brick-like materials (type E), thus supporting its transfer from Woloszynskia to Biecheleria. Spiny cysts formed spontaneously in culture, with an encystment rate of around 20%. Both large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) sequences in 12 strains from the Chinese coasts were determined. Phylogenetic analyses based on LSU rDNA and ITS sequences using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood revealed two distinct ribotypes (referred to as ribotype A and B) in B. cincta. ITS region pairwise distances within B. cincta ranged from 0.024 to 0.072, suggesting the existence of a complex of cryptic species.     

New record of Japanese snake blenny Xiphasia matsubarai(Perciformes:Blenniidae) from South China Sea

Specimens belonging to the family Blenniidae were collected in a fishery resource investigation from the coastal waters of Xisha Islands and Hainan Island, South China Sea in 2016. Combining morphological results with sequence analysis, we identified one specimen as Xiphasia matsubarai Okada Suzuki, 1952. This represents a new record in the South China Sea. In morphology, the specimen has the following traits: body elongated, eel-like or ribbon-like in shape; flanks medium flat; the head small bluntly rounded anteriorly and without a moustache; eyes is slightly smaller, on upper lateral position of head, which is about equal to 1/5 of the length of the head; body without scales, lateral line has been degraded; both sides of the upper and lower jaws with a canine; gill is opening at the top of the pectoral fin base, approximately equal to the length of eye diameter. Dorsal fin Ⅺ, 96; pectoral fin 10; anal fin Ⅱ, 95. Head and body grey-brown, including 26 dark grey-brown bands; abdomen and lower operculum yellowish grey and colour lighter; and dorsal base long with dark grey. Origin of dorsal is located over the anterior margin of pupil; black blotch on dorsal fin between 8 th and 10 th dorsal spine; anal and caudal fins dark grey, pectoral and ventral fins pale yellow. Sequence analysis of cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene( COI) strongly supports the identity of the specimen as Ⅹ. matsubarai.