Taxonomic revision ofthe Ophidion holbrookiiPutnam, 1874 (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) species complex, with description of a new species from Brazil

Author(s)

Rotundo, Matheus Marcos ; Caires, Rodrigo Antunes ; Oliveira, Claudio ; Kuranaka, Mariana ; de Figueiredo-Filho, Jesse Miranda ; Marceniuk, Alexandre Pires

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Zootaxa; v. 5318, n. 2, p. 16-pg., 2023-07-19.

Abstract

This study integrates morphological and molecular data to redefine the taxonomic limits of Ophidion holbrookii, as well as its geographic ranges, with the description of a new species from the eastern and southeastern coast of Brazil, South America. Ophidion zavalai n. sp. is described based on variations related to ontogeny and sexual development of swim bladder and sonic apparatus, which are likely important traits for species recognition. The description of O. zavalai n. sp. and the redefinition of distribution limits of O. holbrookii corroborate the existence of different complex species in the western Atlantic, revealing important gaps of knowledge regarding morphological variation and species habits. Ophidion zavalai n. sp. is the first species of Ophidion described from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and contributes to evidence of a distinct coastal fauna in Brazil and surrounding areas of Argentina province. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/09204-6 - Biodiversity and Biogeography in marine-estuarine fishes (Teleostei) from Brazil
• Grantee: Claudio de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/14954-5 - Management, identification and cataloging of ichthyological material collected during the DEEP-OCEAN Project.
• Grantee: Rodrigo Antunes Caires
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 14/26508-3 - Phylogeny of the hyperdiverse order Characiformes (Teleostei: Ostariophysi) using ultraconserved elements
• Grantee: Claudio de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/20610-1 - Study of the biogeography of the Brazilian coast using data population genetic data of marine catfish of the genera Cathorops and Genidens
• Grantee: Claudio de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants