Identification and distribution of cartilaginous fishes of the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province waters)

Class Condrichthyes consist of two sub-classes: Holocehali and. Elasmobranchii, the second one are more divers and has more importance. Selachimorpha (sharkes) and Batidoidimorpha (rays and skates) are two super-order of Elasmobranchii, which they have crucial role in ecological balance in marine ecosystmes. Except few cases, most of sharks and rays (rays and skates) are not well identified, so a lot of works need to be done in this regards. The area of study is located between 49°, 35' and 52°, 33' E and between 27°, 21' and 30°, 02' N in depth of 7 to 78 in. Study were conducted diuring August 1998, September 1999. Samples were taken during 3 sea cruises from 70 bottom trawl net. All sharks and batoid fishes were identified based on biometric specifications (weight, total, length and sexuality for both group and extra biometric specifications, disc width, disc length, and tail length only for, batoid fishes). The 1140 specimens of batoid fishes identified belonged to 6 families, and 18 species. 3 new species were identified, they are Himantura sp.1 and Himantura sp.2 belonged to Dasyatidae family and Rhinobatos sp. belonged to Rhinobatidae Familiy. It needs more works and more adaquate ducuments for cl.earfing scientific names of these species. The 275 specimens of sharks identified belonged to 6 families and 10 species. Chiloscyllium sp. belonged to Hemiscylliidae, family as a new species was identified.

Whales, dolphins, and porpoises of the eastern North Pacific and adjacent Arctic waters: a guide to their identification

This is an identification guide for cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), that was designed to assist laymen in identifying cetaceans encountered in eastern North Pacific and Arctic waters. It was intended for use by ongoing cetacean observer programs. This is a revision of an earlier guide with the same title published in 1972 by the Naval Undersa Center and the National Marine Fisheries Service. It includes sections on identifying cetaceans at sea as well as stranded animals on shore. Species accounts are divided by body size and presence or lack of a dorsal fin. Appendices include illustrations of tags on whales, dolphins, and porpoises, by Larry Hobbs; how to record data from observed cetaceans at sea and for stranded cetaceans; and a list of cetacean names in Japanese and Russian. (Document contains 245 pages - file takes considerable time to open)

Whales, dolphins, and porpoises of the western North Atlantic: a guide to their identification

This is an identification guide for cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises). It was designed to assist laypersons in identifying cetaceans encountered in the western North Atlantic Ocean and was intended for use by ongoing cetacean observer programs. This publication includes sections on identifying cetaceans at sea as well as stranded animals on shore. Species accounts are divided by body size and presence or lack of a dorsal fin. Appendices cover tags used on cetacean species; how to record and report cetacean observations at see and for stranded cetaceans; and a list of contacts for reporting cetacean strandings. (Document pdf contains 183 pages - file takes considerable time to open)

Identification of larval sea basses (Centropristis spp.) using ribosomal DNA-specific molecular assays

The identification of sea bass (Centropristis) larvae to species is difficult because of similar morphological characters, spawning times, and overlapping species ranges. Black sea bass (Centropristis striata) is an important fishery species and is currently considered to be overfished south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. We describe methods for identifying three species of sea bass larvae using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays based on species-specific amplification of rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions. The assays were tested against DNA of ten other co-occurring reef fish species to ensure the assay's specificity. Centropristis larvae were collected on three cruises during cross-shelf transects and were used to validate the assays. Seventy-six Centropristis larva were assayed and 69 (91%) were identified successfully. DNA was not amplified from 5% of the larvae and identification was inconclusive for 3% of the larvae. Those assays can be used to identify sea bass eggs and larvae and will help to assess spawning locations, spawning times, and larval dispersal.

Preliminary guide to the identification of the early life history stages of Priacanthid fishes of the Western Central Atlantic

The family Priacanthidae contains four genera and four species that occur in the western central North Atlantic (Starnes, 1988). Pristigenys alta is distributed in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and along the east coast of North America. Although juveniles have been reported from as far north as southern New England waters, adults are not reported north of Cape Hatteras, NC. Priacanthus arenatus is distributed in tropical and tropically influenced areas of the western central North Atlantic in insular and continental shelf waters. Adult P. arenatus are distributed north to North Carolina and Bermuda, juveniles have been collected as far north as Nova Scotia. Cookeolus japonicus and Heteropriacanthus cruentatus are circumglobally distributed species and are both common in insular habitats. In the western central North Atlantic, C. japonicus ranges from New Jersey to Argentina; H. cruentatus from New Jersey and northern Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil (Starnes, 1988). (PDF contains 6 pages)

Preliminary guide to the identification of the early life history stages of Gerreid fishes of the Western Central Atlantic

The family Gerreidae contains four genera and 13 species that occur in the western central North Atlantic. Adult gerreids are small to medium size fishes that are abundant in coastal waters, bays, and estuaries in tropical and warm temperate regions and sometimes occur in freshwaters. They are generally associate~ with grassy or open bottoms, but not with reefs. Gerreids are silvery fishes, with deeply forked tails, and extremely protrusible mouth that points downward when protracted. They apparently feed on bottom-dwelling organisms and at least one species (Eucinostomus gula) shows a distinct transition, during the juvenile period, from a planktivore (exclusively copepods) to a carnivore that includes a diet of almost solely polychaetes (Carr & Adams, 1973; Robins and Ray, 1987; Murdy et al., 1997). (PDF contains 10 pages)

Identification of the egg, early life history and spawning areas if the anchoveta, Cetengraulis mysticetus (Günther), in the Gulf of Panama

ENGLISH: The egg of the anchoveta, Cetengraulis mysticetus (Günther), was identified in the Gulf of Panama by its size, difference in diurnal period of spawning, seasonal occurrence (October to January) and relative abundance. It is pelagic, translucent and oval with mean dimensions of 1.166 mm. and 0.558 mm. for the long and short axes respectively. The egg membrane is unsculptured, the yolk mass is markedly segmented, and no oil globule or pigmentation is present. It was not found in the plankton from mid-January 1957 until the latter part of the following September; during this period the gonads of the anchoveta were immature. Only one other anchovy egg, spawned during the same diurnal period, is sufficiently similar in dimensions to be confused with that of the anchoveta; however, it is slightly smaller. SPANISH: El huevo de la anchoveta, Cetengraulis mysticetus (Günther), fué identificado en el Golfo de Panamá por su tamaño, diferencias en el período diario de desove, su abundancia en la temporada (de octubre a enero) y por su abundancia relativa. El huevo es pelágico, translúcido, oval y con dimensiones promedio de 1.166 mm. y 0.558 mm. para los ejes largo y corto, respectivamente. La membrana es lisa, el vitelo está francamente segmentado y no posee ningún glóbulo graso o pigmentación. El huevo de la anchoveta no se encontró en el plancton en el período comprendido entre mediados de enero y fines de septiembre de 1957; durante este lapso las gónadas estuvieron inactivas.

Genetic and morphological identification of pelagic juvenile rockfish collected from the Gulf of Alaska

Pelagic juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) collected in surveys designed to assess juvenile salmonids and other species in the Gulf of Alaska in 1998 and 2000–2003 provide an opportunity to document the occurrence of the pelagic juveniles of several species of rockfish. Often, species identification of rockfish is difficult or impossible at this stage of development (~20 to 60 mm), and few species indigenous to Alaska waters have been described. Use of mitochondrial DNA markers for rockfish species allowed unequivocal identification of ten species (S. aleutianus, S. alutus, S. borealis, S. entomelas, S. flavidus, S. melanops, S. pinniger, S. proriger, S. reedi, and S. ruberrimus) in subsamples from the collections. Other specimens were genetically assignable to groups of two or three species. Sebastes borealis, S. crameri, and S. reedi were identified using morphological data. Combining genetic and morphological data allowed successful resolution of the other species as S. emphaeus, probably S. ciliatus (although S. polyspinis cannot be totally ruled out), and S. polyspinis. Many specimens were initially morphologically indistinguishable from S. alutus, and several morphological groups included fish genetically identified as S. alutus. This paper details the characteristics of these pelagic juveniles to facilitate morphological identification of these species in future collections. (PDF file contains 32 pages.)

Artificial fertilization of the eggs, and rearing and identification of the larvae of the anchoveta, Cetengraulis mysticetus

ENGLISH: The anchoveta, Cetengraulis mysticetus (Günther), is an important bait fish used to capture tunas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. Contributions to the early life history of this species in the Gulf of Panama were made by Simpson (1959), who was able to identify deductively the planktonic egg of the anchoveta from 10 other anchovy eggs concurrently present. He also reared these planktonic eggs in the laboratory and described the resultant larvae to the age of 48 hours after hatching. Because of the lack of differences among the anchovy larvae, this description does not permit the identification of anchoveta larvae from those of other engraulid species. Furthermore, while adult specimens are easily recognized, up to the present it has not been possible to extend the identification of the juvenile anchoveta to specimens smaller than about 25 mm. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to identify anchoveta from the time of hatching to about 25 mm. SPANISH: La anchoveta, Cetengraulis mysticetus (Günther), es un importante pez de carnada que se emplea en la captura de los atunes en el Océano Pacífico Oriental Tropical. Simpson (1959) logró identificar deductivamente el huevo planctónico de la anchoveta al separarlo de otros diez huevos de anchoas que se encuentran al mismo tiempo, contribuyendo de esta manera a conocer los primeros estados de la historia natural de esta especie en el Golfo de Panamá. El también estableció un criadero en el laboratorio con estos huevos planctónicos y describió las larvas resultantes hasta la edad de 48 horas después de la eclosión. Debido a que no hay diferencias entre las larvas de las anchoas, esta descripción no permite identificar las larvas de la anchoveta de las otras especies de engráulidos. Más aun, a pesar de que los especímenes adultos son fácilmente reconocibles, hasta ahora no ha sido posible identificar la anchoveta juvenil de menos de unos 25 mm. Consecuentemente, el propósito del presente estudio ha sido el de identificar al anchoveta desde el momento de la eclosión hasta que tiene unos 25 mm.

Guide to the Identification of Larval and Early Juvenile Poachers (Scorpaeniformes: Agonidae) from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea

Developmental stages of 22 species representing 16 genera of agonid fishes occurring in the northeastern Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay to the Arctic Ocean are presented. Three of these species also occur in the North Atlantic Ocean. Larval stages of nine species are described for the first time. Additional information or illustrations intended to augment original descriptions are provided for eight species. Information on five other species is provided from the literature for comparative purposes. The primary objective of this guide is to present taxonomic characters to help identify the early life history stages of agonid fishes in field collections. Meristic, morphometric, osteological, and pigmentation characters are used to identify agonid larvae. Meristic features include numbers of median-fin elements, pectoral-fin rays, dermal plates, and vertebrae. Eye diameter, body depth at the pectoral-fin origin, snout to first dorsal-fin length, and pectoral-fin length are the most useful morphological characters. Presence, absence, numbers, and/or patterns of dermal plates in lateral rows or on the ventral surface of the gut are also useful. Other important characters are the presence, absence, numbers, and ornamentation of larval head spines. Lastly, distinct pigmentation patterns are often diagnostic. The potential utility of larval characters in phylogenetic analysis of the family Agonidae is discussed. (PDF file contains 92 pages.)

Identification and estimation of size from the beaks of 18 species of cephalopods from the Pacific Ocean

A method of identifying the beaks and estimating body weight and mantle length of 18 species of cephalopods from the Pacific Ocean is presented. Twenty specimens were selected from each of the following cephalopod species: Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis, Dosidicus gigas, Ommastrephes bartramii, S. luminosa, Todarodes pacificus, Nototodarus hawaiiensis, Ornithoteuthis volalilis, Hyaloteuthis pelagica, Onychoteuthis banksii, Pterygioteuthis giardi, Abraliopsis affinis, A. felis, Liocranchia reinhardti, Leachia danae, Histioteuthis heteropsis, H. dofleini, Gonalus onyx, and Loligo opalescens. Dimensions measured on the upper and lower beak are converted to ratios and compared individually among the species using an analysis of variance procedure with Tukey's omega and Duncan's multiple range tests. Significant differences (P =0.05) observed among the species' beak ratio means and structural characteristics are used to construct artificial keys for the upper and lower beaks of the 18 species. Upper and lower beak dimensions are used as independent variables in a linear regression model with mantle length and body weight (log transformed). (PDF file contains 56 pages.)

Rapid identification of European (Anguilla anguilla) and North American eel (Anguilla rostrata) by polymerase chain reaction.

A rapid and cost effective DNA test is described to identify European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and North American eel (Anguilla rostrata). By means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique parts of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene are amplified with species specific primers which are designed to produce PCR fragments of different characteristic sizes for European and American eel. The size differences can easily be made visible by agarose gel electrophoresis

Identification of West African estuarine shrimp and crab larvae

The paper deals with the decapod crustacean larvae likely to be found in fresh and brackish waters in tropical west Africa. It summarizes results from an ongoing program of describing larvae hatched directly from adults of known species, to provide the identification keys necessary for applied research on nursery grounds, plankton ecology and pollution effects. A preliminary key to stage - 1 larvae is given for approximately 40 species. In includes all the genera, and nearly all the species, known to produce larvae in fresh and low-salinity waters. The common species of higher salinity waters are also included

Biometric comparison of the anchoveta, Cetengraulis mysticetus (Gunther), from ten localities of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

ENGLISH: It is important to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission to know whether the anchoveta (Cetengraulis mysticetus), the principal tuna bait species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, is composed of one or several populations. Earlier research indicated that, on the basis of significant differences in certain meristic counts, populations of this species in six of the major baiting localities between Mexico and Peru, should provisionally be considered as separate stocks. Since that time, additional collections of anchovetas have been obtained from these and other intervening localities. Purpose of the present study was to confirm the results of the earlier work, and to determine whether the differences in the meristic counts persisted from year to year, as well as to examine certain morphometric characters of the fish from these areas, and to learn whether the populations from the other localities are also separate entities. SPANISH: La Comisión Interamericana del Atún Tropical está interesada en saber si la anchoveta (Ceteugrautís mvsticetus}, la principal especie usada como cebo para la pesca del atún en el Océano Pacífico Oriental Tropical, está compuesta de una o de varias poblaciones. Investigaciones previas indicaron que, a base de diferencias significativas encontradas en ciertos caracteres numéricos, las poblaciones de esta especie en seis de las principales localidades entre México y Perú, podían ser consideradas provisionalmente como pertenecientes a "stocks'' separados. Desde entonces se han venido haciendo recolecciones adicionales de anchovetas en éstas y otras localidades intermedias. El propósito del presente trabajo ha sido confirmar los resultados obtenidos previamente, y determinar si las diferencias en los caracteres numéricos han persistido de un año a otro, así como examinar ciertos caracteres morfométricos en los peces de estas áreas, y resolver si las poblaciones de las nuevas localidades muestreadas son también entidades diferentes. (PDF contains 76 pages.)

Identification of non fishing income opportunities around Kainji Lake

The findings are presented of a study carried out in the Kainji Lake region of Nigeria in order to identify alternative income opportunities for the fisherfolk, so as to increase their acceptance of fishery management measures and also to reduce the harmful short-term economic effects that such management options can have. A description is given of the main non-fishing income earning activities in the Kainji Lake area and an assessment is made of the economic viability and expected acceptance of the identified income earning opportunities. (PDF contains 84 pages)