Chaunax

Abstract: Studies of actual ichtyological biodiversity in the European Atlantic Ocean and estimation of changes in the relative abundance of fish species in catches off Arcachon, on the shelf and in the Bassin d'Arcachon, from 1727 to the present day are made. These show that some previously dominant species are now rare. Several disappeared to the south of the Bay of Biscay, such as the bottom‐living elasmobranchs with low reproduction rates (Echinorhinus brucus, Squatina squatina, Raja batis, R. brachyura, R. clavata, Dasyatis pastinaca, Myliobatis aquila, Galeorhinus galeus, Mustelus asterias), and teleostean fishes Trigla lyra and Eutrigla gurnardus. Overfishing with most fishing gears, but especially bottom trawls is responsible for their reduction. An additional study was made on tropical species which were not recorded before 1950 to the north of Portugal. The species include Zenopsis conchifer, Cyttopsis roseus, Chaunax spp., Sphoeroides pacbygaster. Tarpon atlanticus, Seriola rivoliana, S. dumeril...

Abstract: Recent research cruises to deep (80–910 m) reef habitats off the south-eastern US and in the northern Gulf of Mexico have provided new information on the diagnostic characteristics, behaviours, colour patterns in life, bottom associations, distributions and maximum sizes of species of the anglerfish genera Chaunax, Lophiodes and Sladenia Chaunax stigmaeus occurred much further south than previously known (Blake Plateau off South Carolina), and all C stigmaeus observed were found associated with dense beds of dead coral (Lophelia pertusa) rubble or on broken hard bottom In contrast,Chaunaxsuttkusi was found on soft bottomsChaunaxstigmaeus andCsuttkusi appear to be sympatric over a major portion of their ranges Because knowledge of pigmentation in live or freshly caughtChaunax is critical to distinguish some members of the genus, changes in the colouration ofC suttkusi were noted and documented photographically immediately after death and after fixation The yellow spots found on some, but not all specimens, temporarily disappeared completely after death, but they reappeared after fixation, slowly disappearing thereafter along with other carotenoid pigmentsLophiodesberoe andLophiodesmonodi were collected for the first time off the Atlantic coast of the US, being previously known only from the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and the northern coast of South America For both species (L beroe and L monodi), the collections included the two largest known representatives of the species (400 and 325 mm standard length, respectively) Lophiodes beroe commonly occurred on L pertusa rubble, and seemed to prefer this habitat Occupying such a habitat that is deep and difficult to sample probably explains how this common species escaped detection Only a single L monodi was collected or observed, so this species appears to be uncommon in this geographic area or at least so on coral rubble habitat Detailed aspects of the colour patterns of both species were noted In particular,Lberoe displayed a characteristic pattern of white patches in life that were not apparent after death The first photographic documentation of the colour pattern in life and of the pharyngeal pigmentation of Lophiodes reticulatus is provided The third known specimen of Sladenia shaefersi, and the first to be taken in US waters was collected from coral rubble near the base of a steep 200 m scarp on the Blake Plateau # 2007 The Authors

Abstract: Species of the anglerfish genus Chaunax Lowe, 1846 from the New Zealand region are taxonomically reviewed with six species recognized and described: Chaunax penicillatus McCulloch; C. nudiventer Ho & Shao, a new record for New Zealand; and four species new to science. Chaunax flavomaculatus sp. nov. distinguished by having its skin covered with a mix of numerous bifurcated and simple spinules, large yellow spots on dorsal surface of fresh specimens, and brownish coloured escal cirri; Chaunax mulleus sp. nov. by having a uniformly pink body with a deep red colour on ventral surfaces of the outer pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin, and lower part of caudal fin; Chaunax reticulatus sp. nov. by having cirri on the dorsal surface of head, and a pale reticulate colour pattern on a greyish background dorsally; and Chaunax russatus sp. nov. by its very wide illicial trough that is usually as wide or wider than the diameter of the pupil, and uniformly deep red body colour with creamy white to fuzzy greyish spots or patches on its dorsal surface. A key to species recognized from the study area is given.

Abstract: A new species of anglerfish, Chaunax nudiventer, is described on the basis of 35 specimens from the western South Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by large spots on the dorsal surface; a largely naked area on abdomen; a relatively short head and long tail, both reflected in the elongated body; slender and simple spines on body surface; numerous broad flaps on lateral side of body; and higher number of lateral line neuromasts: mainly 41–43 in lateral line proper, 4 in the upper peropercular series, and 16–17 in the pectoral series. Comments on a similar species, C. latipunctatus from the eastern South Pacific Ocean, is provided.