Japanese Journal of Ichthyology

Ammodytoides kimurai, a New Species of Sand Lance (Ammodytidae) from the Ogasawara Islands

Hitoshi Ida, John E. Randall

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 147-151
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.147

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An ammodytid fish, Amrnodytoides kimurai, is described from six specimens collected in 15m in the Ogasawara Islands. It is distinctive in having 48-49 dorsal fin rays, 23-24 anal fin rays, 14-15 pectoral fin rays, 104-110 lateral-line scales, no small scales dorsally on opercle, 6+21-23 gill rakers, 59-61 vertebrae, the suborbital sensory canal interrupted, and dark pigment centrally on the caudal fin.

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The Sympatric Occurrence of the Carapid Fishes Pyramodon ventralis and P. lindas in Japanese Waters

Yoshihiko Machida, Osamu Okamura

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 153-160
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.153

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Twenty-five specimens of Pyramodon ventralis from Japanese waters and seven specimens of P. lindas recorded for the first time from Japanese waters were examined and compared with the holotypes of both species. The two species are distinguished by differences in coloration of the dorsal and anal fins, number of dorsal-fin rays to the anal-fin origin as previously indicated. We present two additional characters differentiating the species: morphology of the dorsal surface of the cranium, and relative length from the pelvic-fin base to the middle of the vent. Counts of pectoral-fin rays and precaudal vertebrae in both species exhibit wider intraspecific variation than previously reported. Some morphometric characters are discussed in relation to head length.

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Development and Distribution of the Early Life History Stages of the Mesopelagic Fish Tactostoma macropus (Stomiidae) in the Transitional Waters of the North Pacific

Kouichi Kawaguchi, H.Geoffrey Moser

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 161-172
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.161

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The early life history stages of the mesopelagic fish, Tactostoma macropus (Stomiidae), were described from eggs to juveniles based on specimens collected in the subarctic and transitional waters of the North Pacific. The eggs are pelagic and may be distinguished from those of other species that inhabit subarctic and transitional waters of the North Pacific by the following characters: 1) egg large with a shell diameter of 1.38-1.55mm, 2) wide perivitelline space occupying 40-47% of shell diameter, 3) smooth transparent shell, 4) lack of secondary inner membrane, 5) segmented yolk, and 6) single oil globule. Larvae are slender, ca. 4mm notochord length (NL) in size at hatching and attain a large size; metamorphosis begins at ca. 40mm standard length (SL) and is complete at ca. 50mm SL. The larval pectoral fin degenerates during metamorphosis and is absent thereafter. The pigment pattern of larvae is unique, as is the sequence of formation and loss. Almost all body pigment disappears during metamorphosis.
Distribution and occurrence patterns of eggs and larvae were analyzed in relation to the temperature, salinity fields and zooplankton abundance, mainly based on specimens collected on California Cooperative Fisheries Investigations cruises (1949-1984) in the California Current region. Although samples were limited in the western North Pacific, the distributional pattern off Japan was similar to that in the eastern Pacific. Eggs and larvae occur in the warmer shallow layer (ca. 14-18°C) above the seasonal thermocline in the subarctic and transitional waters with peak abundance in the summer.

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Maintenance of Separate Territories for Mating and Feeding by Males of a Maternal Mouthbrooding Cichlid, Gnathochromis pfefferi, in Lake Tanganyika

Haruki Ochi

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 173-182
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.173

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Territorial behavior, feeding habits and breeding behavior of a mouthbrooding cichlid fish, Gnathochromis pfefferi, were investigated in the northwestern part of Lake Tanganyika. Males defended feeding territories against conspecifics and females had overlapping foraging areas. Both males and females fed exclusively on shrimps. Males also defended mating territories separately from feeding territories. Males' feeding territories were established over the substrate of sand, pebbles and rocks, while their mating territories were congregated in and near the vegetated patches. The feeding territory was near or adjacent to the mating territory in some cases, but was 80 to 130m away in others. In the morning males patrolled the whole mating territory to find and mate with females, but in the afternoon they foraged in their feeding territories. Males did not prepare nests for mating, unlike many other maternal mouthbrood-ers with mating territories. After spawning, mouthbrooding females lurked in or near the vegetated patches. Each male returned to the same mating territory every morning for several months, in spite of competition for mating sites. The long-term occupation of territories suggests that territorial ownership is recognized by competitors while the owner is absent.

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Species of the Genus Seriolella (Centrolophidae) in Southwest Atlantic Waters

María B. Cousseau, Luis Forciniti, Gabriela Ubaldi

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 183-187
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.183

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Two species of Seriolella were examined to confirm their distribution in the southwest Atlantic: S. porosa and S. caerulea, both described by Guichenot in 1848. The former is considered a synonym of S. punctata (Bloch et Schneider, 1801) by some authors, and the second has received several names. Both species live on the Pacific and Atlantic sides of South America. Distribution data suggests that S. caerulea occurs in deeper waters than S. porosa.

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Finless Snake-eels of the Genus Cirricaecula (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the Description of C. macdowelli from Taiwan

John E. McCosker, John E. Randall

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 189-192
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.189

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A new finless snake-eel, Cirricaecula macdowelli, is described on the basis of a specimen trawled at 30-50m from the Formosa Straits. It is distinguished from its only congener, C. johnsoni from the Marshall Islands, by having more vertebrae and fewer labial cirri.

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Predation of Fishes on Open-ocean Species of Sea-skaters (Halobates spp.)

Tetsushi Senta, Motofumi Kimura, Toshikazu Kanbara

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 193-198
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.193

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Halobates specimens were found in the stomachs of six fish species, representing five families, collected by purse-seining flotsam in the tropical West Pacific. The insects occurred in the diets of 52 out of 85 trevally, Caranx sexfasciatus, but in only one of 130 individuals of seven other carangid species. The rudderfish, Kyphosus cinerascens, was also a significant predator of Halobates. Halobates eaten by trevally comprised almost exclusively H. micans and H. germanus, which agrees with the known distribution ranges of both species. A single male and female of H. sericeus were recorded from different trevally, caught at ca. lat. 4°N. These are the first records of H. sericeus from waters within lat. 10° of the Equator. Fishes, like sea birds, may be significant predators of open-ocean Halobates species.

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Secretion Abilities of Epithelia of Ovarian Wall and Ovigerous Lamella Lining the Ovarian Cavity of Masked Greenling, Hexagrammos octogrammus

Yasunori Koya, Hiroyuki Munehara, Kazunori Takano

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 199-208
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.199

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Examination was made of the ultrastructure of the epithelial lining of the ovarian wall and the ovigerous lamellae in the ovary of female masked greenling, Hexagrammos octogrammus, to determine the origin of the jelly-like ovarian fluid present in the ovarian lumen during the spawning period.
The surface of the ovarian wall and ovigerous lamellae were each covered with monolayered epithelium resting on the basement membrane. During the spawning period, microvilli were present on the apical surface, and remarkable increases in mitochondria, rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticula and Golgi apparati were noted. Many secretory vesicles were separate from the Golgi apparatus. Microapocrine secretion and exocytosis occurred at the tips and basal parts of the microvilli, respectively, throughout the spawning period. In one case macroapocrine secretion from the ovarian wall epithelium was observed and is suggested as representing the time of most active secretion. The endocytotic uptake of secretory substances at the basal and lateral parts of the epithelium was evident from an experiment using horseradish peroxidase as a tracer.
The results indicated that the components of the jelly-like ovarian fluid are synthesized and secreted not only from ovarian wall epithelium, but also from ovigerous lamella epithelium, the modes of secretion from these epithelia comprising microapocrine, macroapocrine and exocytotic mechanisms.

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Mate Monopolization by a Dominant Male in a Multi-male Social Group of a Mouthbrooding Cichlid, Ctenochromis horei

Haruki Ochi

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 209-218
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.209

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Spacing behavior, feeding habits, social interactions and breeding behavior of a mouthbrooding cichlid, Ctenochromis horei, were investigated in Lake Tanganyika. About 60-70 individuals found in a 15m×9m vegetated patch had a nearly equal sex ratio. Most fish remained for more than 3 months, limiting movements, foraging, mating and brooding, to the patch. They formed a stable group with well-overlapping home ranges and foraged in schools. Attack and avoidance behavior among large males indicated a dominance order positively correlated with body size. Replacement of the most dominant male in group occurred twice during the 6-month observation period. All observed matings were monopolized by the dominant male, although apparent sneaking behavior by other males occurred during mating. Mating monopolization was accomplished by the dominant male defending a female from rivals for several hours before and during spawning. These observations suggested that the mating system of C. horei is polygynous. Only females mouthbrooded the eggs and larvae, and later guarded the juveniles. The spacing behavior of C. horei appears to be responsible for its mating system, which contrasts with those so far reported for other mouthbrooding cichlids.

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Occurrence of the Macrourid Alevins Genera Albatrossia and Coryphaenoides in the Northern North Pacific Ocean

Hiromitsu Endo, Mamoru Yabe, Kunio Amaoka

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 219-226
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.219

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Eighteen macrourid fishes at the early life stage were collected by midwater trawls from northern North Pacific waters, between Hokkaido and the coast of Alaska. The specimens, having a discoid pectoral fin supported with a peduncle base, are identified as alevins of Albatrossia pectoralis, Coryphaenoides cinereus, and Coryphaenoides sp.on the basis of the following counts: retia mirabilia and gas glands, first dorsal and pelvic fin rays, and pyloric caeca. Caudal pigmentation patterns in the present alevins facilitate their identification. Ateleobrachium pterotum Gilbert et Burke, 1912, known as a macrourid early life stage, is a junior synonym of Albatrossia pectoralis.

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Fine Structure of the Egg Membranes in Four Species of Pleuronectinae

Akio Hirai

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 227-235
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.227

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The eggs of four species of closely related pleuronectine fishes were examined by scanning electron microscope to elucidate the significance of their different membrane structures. Hippoglossoides dubius lays pelagic egg with a wide perivitelline space. The egg membrane of this species was thinnest among the four species examined, consisting of a simple lamellar structure. In contrast, Pleuronectes yokohamae lays demersal eggs with a narrow perivitelline space. The egg membrane of this species was thicker and composed of a much more complex lamellar structure than those of the other species. Eopseta grigorjewi and Pleuronichthys cornutus eggs, with the membranes of medium thicknesses and lamellar structures between the former two species, are pelagic with a narrow perivitelline spaces, P. cornutus showed ornamentation consisted regular hexagonally-arranged walls on the egg membrane surface. With respect to pores on the egg membrane, all the pleuronectine eggs examined in this study had larger pore diameters and lower pore densities than in other teleost species reported thus far. It is likely that the membrane thickness, lamellar structure and surface sculpturing of the eggs are closely related to environmental factors, whereas the pore diameter and pore density reflect systematic relationships.

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A Young Basking Shark, Cetorhinus maximus, from Japan

Kunihiko Izawa, Terukazu Shibata

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 237-245
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.237

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A young, female basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus (total length 2.6m) captured off the Pacific coast of Honshu, Japan, in early May 1977 was examined and estimated to be less than 6 months old, judging by the number of calcified rings in the vertebral centra. The elongate, hook-like snout with a ventral groove continuous with the palate is considered a characteristic juvenile feature of Cetorhinus, found only in very young specimens. It is thought that the snout structure is related to juvenile feeding, probably both in the mother's womb, if oophagy in fact occurs, and during the early, free-living stage, when the snout shape may increase the efficiency of water flow into the mouth. The likely rapid change from the juvenile snout condition to the adult type is probably produced by allometric growth of the rostral cartilages. The size and estimated age of the specimen conform well to a growth curve derived from Atlantic and Mediterranean basking sharks, indicating that no significant differences exist in age/length relationships of
Cetorhinus populations world-wid

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Recruitment and Survival of Milkfish Chanos chanos Larvae in the Surf Zone

Shinsuke Morioka, Atsushi Ohno, Hiroshi Kohno, Yasuhiko Taki

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 247-260
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.247

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The majority of Chanos chanos larvae collected from the surf zone at Villa and Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines, fell within a narrow range for total length (TL; 12.0-15, 0mm in 96% of 2, 386 larvae) and had otolith increment counts of 15-20 (78%). The increment counts showed serial increases representing 5-10 days in some samples, at increase rates of 0.5-0.6/day, but such increases were not accompanied by increases in total length. Based on the low frequency (7.3%) of surf-zone larvae possessing food items in the gut, milkfish larvae occurring in the surf zone were considered to be under deficient feeding conditions. Otolith increments were formed at a rate of 1/day in well-fed larvae and 0.4/day in starved, captive larvae, in which stagnation of TL growth was also observed. The retardation of otolith increment formation and overall body growth in the surf zone larvae were considered to have resulted from deficient feeding conditions of a larval group entering and remaining in the surf zone for a certain period and/or from the concurrent recruitment and disappearance of larvae in the surf zone. The maximum duration of stay of the larvae in the surf zone was estimated to be about 10 days, from about day 15 to day 25 after hatching. Consequently, it is necessary for the larvae to move to juvenile nursery grounds within this period.

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Development of Laboratory-reared Eggs, Larvae and Juveniles of the Atherinid Fish, Hypoatherina tsurugae, and Comparison with Related Species

Youichi Tsukamoto, Seishi Kimura

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 261-267
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.261

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Embryonic, larval and juvenile development of an atherinid fish, Hypoatherina tsurugae, are described using a laboratory-reared series. The eggs, measuring 1.60-1.78mm in diameter, were almost spherical, with numerous chorionic filaments. Hatching occurred between 13 and 17 days after spawning at water temperatures of 18.2-21.8°C. Newly-hatched larvae (5.50-6.70mm Notochord length) had 5+ 39 myomeres and the notochord under going flexion. Aggregate numbers of all fin rays were completed at 12.5-14.0mm Standard length (SL), and squamation at 19.0mm SL. The early life stages of H. tsurugae and related species were compared morphologically, and keys to each provided.

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Duration of Male Mating Activity and Male Mate Choice in the River Sculpin, Cottus hangiongensis

Akira Goto

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 269-272
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.269

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Motility and Morphology of Sperm of the Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, at Different Salinities

Kenzo Utsugi

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 273-278
Published: August 15, 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.273

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Erratum

1993 Volume 40 Issue 2 Pages 299
Published: 1993
Released on J-STAGE: June 28, 2010

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11369/jji1950.40.299

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