Taxonomy and Distribution of Deep-Sea Bigscales and Whalefishes (Teleostei: Stephanoberycoidei) Collected off Northeastern Brazil, Including Seamounts and Oceanic Islands
Despite the increasing number of studies on the systematics of the Stephanoberycoidei (bigscales, pricklefishes, gibberfishes, hispidoberycids, and whalefishes) globally, knowledge about the diversity and distribution of the group in the western South Atlantic still remains fragmentary. In this study, we present new anatomical (meristic and morphometric) and distributional data for 18 species of the Stephanoberycoidei based on the examination of 150 specimens recently collected during the ABRACOS (Acoustics along the BRAzilian COaSt) expeditions off northeastern Brazil, including the Rocas Atoll, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, and the seamounts off Rio Grande do Norte State, and additional museum specimens. In the Melamphaidae, remarks on the taxonomy of Melamphaes polylepis and of the Poromitra crassiceps and P. megalops species groups are made based on specimens examined. In addition, Scopeloberyx opercularis, currently considered as a junior synonym of Scopeloberyx robustus, is recognized as a valid species. Among the species identified, nine have their distributions extended in the western South Atlantic based on confirmed records: Melamphaes polylepis, M. typhlops, Poromitra megalops, Poromitra sp., Scopeloberyx opercularis, Scopeloberyx opisthopterus, Scopelogadus mizolepis, Cetostoma regani, and Rondeletia loricata. Eight further species are reported for the first time in Brazilian waters: Cetomimus sp. 1, Cetomimus sp. 2, Ditropichthys storeri, Gyrinomimus bruuni, Melamphaes eulepis, M. leprus, M. longivelis, and Melamphaes sp. Additional remarks on the taxonomy and distribution of the Stephanoberycoidei in the western South Atlantic are also provided.
Species of Melamphaidae reported in this study: (A) Melamphaes eulepis, NPM 5009, 45.1 mm SL; (B) Melamphaes leprus, NPM 5227, 90 mm SL; (C) Melamphaes longivelis, NPM 5229, 75.2 mm SL; (D) Melamphaes polylepis, NPM 5228, 49.0 mm SL; (E) Melamphaes typhlops, NPM 5225, 60.3 mm SL; (F) Melamphaes sp., NPM 5826, 61.9 mm SL; (G) Poromitra megalops, NPM 5632, 57.0 mm SL; (H) Poromitra sp., NPM 5331, 120.0 mm SL; (I) Scopeloberyx opercularis, NPM 5987, 32.0 mm SL; (J) Scopeloberyx opisthopterus, NPM 5985, 25.0 mm SL; (K) Scopelogadus mizolepis, NPM 5990, 49.0 mm SL. Scale bar = 1 cm.
Records of Melamphaes eulepis (triangle), M. leprus (circle), M. longivelis (pentagon), M. polylepis (star), M. typhlops (square), and Melamphaes sp. (diamond) off northeastern Brazil collected during the ABRACOS surveys. Tip of arrow indicates same collection locality for different species. FN–Fernando de Noronha Archipelago; PB–Paraíba; PE–Pernambuco; RA–Rocas Atoll; RN–Rio Grande do Norte.
Records of Poromitra megalops (circle) and Poromitra sp. (square) off northeastern Brazil collected during the ABRACOS surveys. Tip of arrow indicates same collection locality for both species. FN–Fernando de Noronha Archipelago; PB–Paraíba; PE–Pernambuco; RA–Rocas Atoll; RN–Rio Grande do Norte.
Records of Scopeloberyx opercularis (circle), Scopeloberyx opisthopterus (square), and Scopelogadus mizolepis (triangle) off northeastern Brazil collected during the ABRACOS surveys. Tip of arrow indicates same collection locality for different species. FN–Fernando de Noronha Archipelago; PB–Paraíba; PE–Pernambuco; RA–Rocas Atoll; RN–Rio Grande do Norte.
Species of Cetomimidae and Rondeletiidae reported in this study: (A) Cetomimus sp. 1, NPM 5005, 62.5 mm SL; (B) Cetomimus sp. 2, MNRJ 26794, 92.0 mm SL; (C) Cetostoma regani, NPM 3185, 81.0 mm SL; (D) Ditropichthys storeri, NPM 5003, 49.0 mm SL; (E) Gyrinomimus bruuni, NPM 5000, 66.2 mm SL; (F) Gyrinomimus cf. bruuni, MNRJ 26793, 305.0 mm SL; (G) Rondeletia loricata, NPM 3197, 32.3 mm SL. Scale bar = 1 cm.
Records of Cetomimus sp. 1 (circle), Cetostoma regani (square), Ditropichthys storeri (triangle), Gyrinomimus bruuni (pentagon), and Rondeletia loricata (diamond) off northeastern Brazil collected during the ABRACOS surveys. Tip of arrow indicates same collection locality for different species. FN–Fernando de Noronha Archipelago; PB–Paraíba; PE–Pernambuco; RA–Rocas Atoll; RN–Rio Grande do Norte.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: M. P. Davis.