Eptatretus lakeside sp. nov.

Mincarone, Michael M. and McCosker, John E. 2004. Eptatretus lakeside sp. nov., a new species of five-gilled hagfish (Myxinidae) from the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 55(1-12): 162-168.

Abstract

We describe Eptatretus lakeside sp. nov. from a deepwater (762 m) specimen trapped off Fernandina Island , Galapagos Islands. The new species differs from all known Eptatretus in having: five pairs of gill pouches; 3-cusp multicusps in anterior and posterior rows; 6 unicusps in each anterior and posterior row; 36 total cusps; 19 tail pores; 88 total pores; palatine tooth triangular; and body coloration pinkish-orange. A key to the species of Galapagos hagfishes is provided.

Cottoclinus spp.
Cottoclinus canops novum

McCosker, John E., Stephens, John S., Rosenblatt, and Richard H. 2003. Cottoclinus canops, a new genus and species of blenny (Perciformes: Labrisomidae) from the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 54(1-8): 155-160.

Abstract

We describe Cottoclinus new genus, type species C. canops novum, from two specimens from Espanola Island , Galapagos Islands. The new genus is assigned to the labrisomid tribe Mnierpini Hubbs. The tribe is redefined and considered sister to the Labrisomini. It is united by nine synapomorphies: 1) body elongate to moderately elongate (depth 13%-22% of standard length); 2) spinous dorsal fin with no incision in outline, anterior rays soft and flexible; 3) anal fin rays all thickened, and fleshy at tips; 4) head blunt with upper jaw projecting; 5) lower lip interrupted by a pair of grooves outlining a frenum on chin; 6) lips thick and inflated; 7) scales expanded posteriorly forming pockets; 8) membrane of anal fin rays incised almost to base of rays; 9) belly and pectoral base naked. The two currently recognized monotypic genera in the tribe, Dialommus Gilbert 1891 and Mnierpes Jordan and Evermann 1896, are considered synonyms. The name Mnierpini is retained for the tribe. Cottoclinus differs from Dialommus in that there is no fleshy pigmented vertical bar across the eye separating two flat windows, and the posterior mandibular teeth are not abruptly smaller and set lower than the anterior teeth. C. canops is considered the basal member of the clade leading to D. fuscus and D. macrocephalus.

Paraliparis darwini
Paraliparis galapagosensis

Stein, David L. and Chernova, Natalia V. 2002. First records of snailfishes (Pisces: Liparidae) from the Galapagos Islands, with descriptions of two new species, Paraliparis darwini and Paraliparis galapagosensis. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 53(11):151-160.

Abstract

Snailfishes (Family Liparidae, Order Scorpaeniformes) are very widely distributed both in depth and geographically; more than 130 species are known from the Southern Hemisphere, and five species from deep, eastern Pacific, equatorial waters. We report herein the first record of the family from the Galapagos Islands, and describe two new species, Paraliparis darwini and P. galapagosensis.

Coryphaenoides gypsochilus

Iwamoto, Tomio and McCosker, John E. 2001. Notes on Galapagos grenadiers (Pisces, Gadiformes, Macrouridae), with the description of a new species of Coryphaenoides. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 49(Suppl. 1): 21-27.

Abstract

Two unusual specimens of the grenadier genus Coryphaenoides were collected by the deep-submersible vehicle Johnson Sea-Link off the Galapagos. Unlike any other member of the genus, the snout in these specimens was rounded, non-protruding, naked anteriorly and ventrally, with no tubercular scales marking the terminal and lateral angles. They are herein described as Coryphaenoides gypsochilus. Additional specimens of grenadiers were procured by the Johnson Sea-Link, including the second and third specimens of Nezumia ventralis and the first record of Caelorinchus canus from these waters. Three species and one subspecies of Galapagos grenadiers are endemic.

Rajella eisenhardti

Long, Douglas J. and McCosker, John E. 1999. A new species of deep-water skate, Rajella eisenhardti, (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) from the Galapagos Islands. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 112(1): 45-51.

Abstract

A new species of skate, Rajella eisenhardti, is described from two specimens collected from deep-slope (757-907 m) areas off the Galapagos Islands. It is similar to another eastern Pacific species, Rajella nigerrima de Buen 1960, but differs in part by having more precaudal vertebrae and more pectoral radials, a wider and longer disc, a longer snout, larger gill openings with wider interspaces, longer anterior and shorter posterior pelvic lobes, and in coloration and spination.

Coryphaenoides myersi

Iwamoto T. and Sazonov Yu I. 1988. A review of the southeastern Pacific Coryphaenoides sensu lato pisces gadiformes macrouridae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 45(3): 35-81.

Abstract

The grenadier genus Coryphaenoides is represented by 14 species in the southeastern Pacific, including two new ones: C. oreinos (5 specimens from off Mexico) is closest related to M. bucephalus, differing primarily in having a more rounded and naked snout, different squamation, and broader head; C. myersi (known only from the holotype taken in the Galapagos) is closely related to C. capito and C. boops, but differs in having a shorter, stubbier snout and more pelvic rays. Small individuals of these two last species were difficult to distinguish; Garman in fact included two specimens of C. capito in the type series of C. boops. Macrurus latinasutus Garman, 1899, and M. liraticeps Garman, 1899, are considered synonyms of M. anguliceps Garman, 1899. Macrurus leucophaeus Garman, 1899, is questionably placed in the synonymy of C. capito. Other species treated are: C. anguliceps, C. ariommus, C. armatus, C. bucephalus, C. bulbiceps, C. carminifer, C. delsolari, C. fernandezianus (no new material), C. filicauda, and C. paradoxus. Provisional diagnoses are provided for subgenera Chalinura, Coryphaenoides, Lionurus, and Nematonurus, and a preliminary hypothetical phlogeny of macrourids with six branchiostegal rays is presented.

O. arneutes n. sp.
O. rugifer

McCosker, John E. and Rosenblatt, Richard H. 1998. A revision of the eastern Pacific snake-eel genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) with the description of six new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 50(19): 397-432.

Abstract

The eastern Pacific species of the tropical snake-eel genus Ophichthus, family Ophichthidae, subfamily Ophichthinae, are reviewed. An identification key, synonymies, diagnoses, and illustrations are provided for each of the 11 species recognized: O. apachus n. sp. (from Mexico to Colombia), O. arneutes n. sp. (Galapagos Islands), O. frontalis (Gulf of California to Panama), O. longipenis n. sp. (Mexico to Panama), O. mecopterus n. sp. (Mexico to Costa Rica), O. melope n. sp. (Costa Rica to Colombia), O. remiger (Nicaragua to Chile), O. rugifer (Galapagos and Cocos islands), O. tetratrema n. sp. (Costa Rica to Ecuador), O. triserialis (California to Peru), and O. zophochir (California to Peru). The Galapagos and Cocos islands endemic O. rugiferis recognized as distinct from O. triserialis. The status of all nominal eastern Pacific species of Ophichthus is discussed. Characters useful for the study of ophichthid phylogeny are compared and discussed. The following new synonymies are proposed: Ophichthys (Herpetoichthys) ater, Ophichthys callaensis, Ophisurus dicellurus, Ophichthys exilis, and Ophichthys uniserialis = O. remiger; Ophichthys biserialis = O. rugifer; Ophisurus californiensis and Ophichthys grandimaculatus = O. triserialis; Ophichthus chamensis = O. zophochir. Lectotypes for the following species are designated: O. frontalis, O. pacifici, O. remiger and O. zophochir.

Corals

Pacifigorgia dampieri
Pacifigorgia rubripuncata
Pacifigorgia symbiotica

Williams, Gary C. and Breedy, Odalisca. 2004. The panamic gorgonian genus Pacifigorgia (Octocorallia: Gorgoniidae) in the Galapagos Archipelago, with descriptions of three new species. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 55(1-12): 55-88.

Abstract

The eastern Pacific gorgonian genus Pacifigorgia Bayer, 1951, is here described from the northwestern fringe of the Galapagos Archipelago. The two small islands of Darwin and Wolf are relatively isolated from the rest of the archipelago. Two of the new taxa are apparently endemic to these outer islands, as previous subtidal surveys of the other Galapagos Islands , as well as other regions of the Panamic Biogeographic Province , have not encountered conspecific material. The third new species is apparently restricted to central islands of the archipelago. The previously described P. darwini (Hickson, 1928) is the most common and widespread species and is found throughout the archipelago, except for the outlying islands of Darwin and Wolf. A taxonomic assessment of Hickson's Gorgonia darwinii var. douglasii is also included. The genus is restricted to the eastern Pacific ( Gulf of California to Peru ), with the exception of Pacifigorgia elegans, endemic to the tropical western Atlantic ( Trinidad to Brazil ). The addition of the new taxa described here makes twenty-one species belonging to the genus that are considered valid.

Marine Invertebrates

Acasta newmani n. sp.

van Syoc, Robert J. and Winther, Rasmus. 1999. Sponge-inhabiting barnacles of the Americas: A new species of Acasta (Cirripedia, Archaeobalanidae), first record from the eastern Pacific, including discussion of the evolution of cirral morphology. Crustaceana ( Leiden ). 72(5): 467-486.

Abstract

Acasta newmani n. sp. from the Gulf of California, Mexico is described. This is the first report of Acasta from the eastern Pacific. Hypotheses are discussed concerning the correlation of cirral morphology with feeding methods and host specificity. The similarities between A. newmani and Acasta cyathus Darwin, 1854 indicate that they are examples of the common pattern of trans-isthmian sibling taxa in the Caribbean and eastern tropical Pacific. A key to the seven sponge-inhabiting barnacle species of the Americas is presented with citations noting their host sponge species and known ranges in the Americas. The range of Membranobalanus nebrias (Zullo and Beach, 1973) is extended from the Galapagos Islands to the Gulf of California.