Gordiichthys combibus, a new species of eastern Pacific sand-eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae).

A new species of bascanichthyin ophichthid, Gordiichthys combibus, is described from shallow water along the Pacific coast of Colombia. It is the first known eastern Pacific species of Gordiichthys and is very similar to G. randalli from Puerto Rico. It differs from its other western Atlantic congeners in vertebral number and other characters. A key to the genus is provided.

Aplatophis zorro, a new species of eastern Pacific snake-eel, with comments on New World ophichthid distributions (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae).

Aplatophis zorro n. sp., the first known eastern Pacific species of this New World genus, is described from a shallow water trawl-caught specimen from the Golfo de San Miguel, Pacific Panama. It is similar to its only known congener, A. chauliodus from the tropical western Atlantic, but differs in its vertebral number, dentition, coloration, and other characters. Comments concerning the distribution of New World ophichthids are provided.

Notes on Galápagos grenadiers (Pisces, Gadiformes, Macrouridae), with the description of a new species of Coryphaenoides.

Two unusual specimens of the grenadier genus Coryphaenoides were collected by the deep-submersible vehicle Johnson Sea-Link off the Galápagos. 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 Galápagos grenadiers are endemic.

Wrasses of the Galápagos Islands, with the description of a new deepwater species of Halichoeres (Perciformes: Labridae).

Halichoeres raisneri, new species, is described from three specimens captured by the Johnson Sea Link submersible at 114-125 m off Wolf Island, Galápagos. Distinctive features of the new species include a dorsally projecting fleshy flap along the posterior three-quarters of the upper lip and the absence of a canine tooth at the corner of the upper jaw. The body color of freshly caught females is pale pink with two yellow stripes and five prominent pink spots above the uppermost stripe. Similarities between the new species and other labrids are discussed, and a key to the 16 nominal species of Labridae known from the Galápagos Islands is provided. Decodon melasma is recorded from the Archipelago for the first time.

Redescription of Symphurus diabolicus, a poorly-known, deep-sea tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae) from the Galápagos Archipelago.

Symphurus diabolicus, previously known only from the holotype collected in 501 m west of Isla San Cristobal (Chatham Island), Galápagos Archipelago, is re-described based on the holotype (112.6 mm SL) and 19 additional specimens (61.1-123.5 mm SL) recently collected from deep waters around the Galápagos Archipelago. Symphurus diabolicus is characterized by: an elongate body; narrow head with pointed snout; 1-3-2 ID pattern; 106-110 dorsal-fin rays; 89-96 anal-fin rays; 12 caudal-fin rays; 57-59 total vertebrae; 5 hypurals; extremely small scales; no pupillary operculum; large, prominent eyes, with migrated eye near dorsal margin of head; relatively short postorbital head length; relatively long snout and predorsal lengths; black peritoneum visible through abdominal wall on both sides of body; uniform olive green to dark brown ocular-side coloration with series of prominent, darker brown, elliptical to rectangular, blotches (not usually forming crossbands) along body at bases of dorsal and anal fins; and uniformly whitish or light yellow blind side. Symphurus diabolicus appears to be endemic to the Galápagos Archipelago, and is relatively common (captured at 16 different localities) at depths of 308 to 757 m (observed as shallow as 245 m) in this region. Examination of this expanded series of specimens confirms the validity of S. diabolicus and provides characters to distinguish it from S. microlepis Garman, a similar species known only from the holotype taken at approximately 530 m off Pacific Panama.

The influence of goat genotype on the production of Capretto and Chevon carcasses. 2. Meat quality.

The effect of five goat genotypes, Boer×Angora (BA), Boer×Saanen (BS), Feral×Feral (FF), Saanen x Angora (SA) and Saanen x Feral (SF) on the meat quality of Capretto and Chevon carcasses obtained from 50 buck kids, was assessed. Genotype had an influence on cooking loss and longissimus thoracis muscle colour coordinates (CIE L(*), a(*), b(*) values). BS kids from the Capretto group had paler muscle colour compared to other genotypes; pale muscle colour being required for Capretto carcasses. Total pigment concentration, fat colour, shear force values and sensory scores for flavour, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability did not differ significantly between genotypes. Muscle colour became darker and fat colour became more yellow with increasing animal age. Tenderness decreased with animal age as indicated by higher shear force values. Age had no significant influence on cooking loss and sensory scores.

The influence of goat genotype on the production of Capretto and Chevon carcasses. 1. Growth and carcass characteristics.

Fifty buck kids from five goat genotypes, Boer × Angora (BA), Boer × Saanen (BS), Feral × Feral (FF), Saanen × Angora (SA) and Saanen × Feral (SF) were compared for production of Capretto and Chevon carcasses. BS and SF kids had significantly better average daily gain compared to other genotypes and took less time to reach the required liveweight for Capretto and Chevon production. The development of visceral organs was not influenced by genotype. Kids from dairy breeds (SA in case of Capretto and SF in case of the Chevon group) deposited more internal fat in comparison to other genotypes. Dressing percentage (based on empty body weight) of kids ranged from 50-55%. At the same liveweight, dressing percentage and eye muscle dimensions did not vary between genotypes. However, BS and SF kids produced longer carcasses. Subcutaneous fat thickness was significantly greater in Chevon carcasses from BA compared to other genotypes. A high correlation was found between fat thickness measured by ultrasound on the live animal and ruler measurement on the carcass at the 12/13th rib position. Based on growth and carcass characteristics BS and SF kids performed better than kids from other genotypes used in the present study.

The influence of goat genotype on the production of Capretto and Chevon carcasses. 3. Dissected carcass composition.

The dissected composition from left sides of the carcasses obtained from 50 buck kids from five goat genotypes (10 kids/genotype), Boer x Angora (BA), Boer x Saanen (BS), Feral x Feral (FF), Saanen x Angora (SA) and Saanen x Feral (SF), was compared at two age groups. The muscle content of various primal cuts varied between 53 and 73% for Capretto and Chevon groups, with minor differences between genotypes. SA kids had significantly higher separable carcass fat compared to BS and SF for the Capretto group, while Chevon carcasses from BA and SF deposited more carcass fat than FF. The bone content (19-21%) of the carcass side did not differ significantly between genotypes for the Chevon group. The dissected carcass components (muscle, fat and bone) were significantly correlated with those components of most of the individual cuts. The percentage carcass muscle and fat increased and bone content decreased significantly with age.

The influence of goat genotype on the production of Capretto and Chevon carcasses. 4. Chemical composition of muscle and fatty acid profiles of adipose tissue.

The chemical composition of muscle and the fatty acid composition of adipose tissue from the carcasses obtained from 50 buck kids from five genotypes (10 kids/genotype), Boer x Angora (BA), Boer x Saanen (BS), Feral x Feral (FF), Saanen x Angora (SA) and Saanen x Feral (SF) reared for Capretto and Chevon production, were compared. Genotype did not influence the chemical composition of muscle except for muscle from BA carcasses, which had significantly higher extractable fat content. The proportions of individual fatty acids differed significantly between genotypes for the Capretto kids. Adipose tissue from the Capretto group had a higher concentration of palmitic acid (31-34%), while the proportion of oleic acid (37-40%) was greater in the Chevon group. With an increase in age and resultant change in diet, the saturated fatty acid concentration decreased and the unsaturated fatty acid concentration increased.

Detection of eyeshine by flashlight fishes of the family Anomalopidae.

Flashlight fishes of the family Anomalopidae live in clear tropical waters and are nocturnally active. They have luminescent organs located just below the pupils of their eyes. The relation of the luminescent organ to the pupil of the anomalopid eye is similar to that of the illumination and pupil system of the ophthalmoscope and identical to that of some photoretinoscopes. Indeed, one species of flashlight fish, Anomalops katoptron, actually moves its luminous organ away from its pupils in the process of occluding its light organ, making a retinoscopic-like movement. By photographing the eyeshine of a number of fishes with a photoretinoscope and by analyzing the optics of light organs of fish of the family Anomalopidae as well as the optics of reflecting eyes, we show under what light conditions and ranges flashlight fishes may reasonably be able to detect eyeshine from other fishes in the environment. Further, we suggest that flashlight fishes may be able to communicate with each other by altering the accommodation of their eyes. In such a communication system, the sender radiates no energy and communicates only with the interrogating receiver of the information. To our knowledge, this utilization of eyeshine, both for detection and for communication, is unique in the animal kingdom.

Bacteriology of the marine environment: implications for clinical therapy.

Ocean water and tissue samples were obtained from a variety of sources with phylogenetic and geographic diversity. Purified bacterial colonies were isolated and identification procedures were performed. A total of 67 isolates were recovered. Thirty-eight isolates belonged to the genus Vibrio and included six species. Twenty-four non-fermentative bacteria and four Gram-positive isolates were recovered. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that while the non-fermentative marine bacteria generally were susceptible to the antibiotics tested, marine Vibrio species were relatively resistant to a wide variety of antimicrobials. Antibiotics effective against all species included imipenem, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and chloramphenicol. Further recommendations for treatment are based on sensitivity in culture. Some isolates failed to grow in the medium used for susceptibility testing. Because commercial test kits may not yield accurate identifications of bacteria, the acquisition of antimicrobial susceptibility data gains added importance.

Contribution by symbiotically luminous fishes to the occurrence and bioluminescence of luminous bacteria in seawater.

Seawater samples from a variety of locations contained viable luminous bacteria, but luminescence was not detectable although the system used to measure light was sensitive enough to measure light from a single, fully induced luminous bacterial cell. When the symbiotically luminous fishCleidopus gloriamaris was placed in a sterile aquarium, plate counts of water samples showed an increase in luminous colony-forming units. Luminescence also increased, decreasing when the fish was removed. Light measurements of water samples from a sterile aquarium containingPhotoblepharon palpebratus, another symbiotically luminous fish, whose bacterial symbionts have not been cultured, showed a similar pattern of increasing light which rapidly decreased upon removal of the fish. These experiments suggest that symbiotically luminous fishes release brightly luminous bacteria from light organs into their environment and may be a source of planktonic luminous bacteria. Although planktonic luminous bacteria are generally not bright when found in seawater, water samples from environments with populations of symbiotically luminous fish may show detectable levels of light.

Fright Posture of the Plesiopid Fish Calloplesiops altivelis: An Example of Batesian Mimicry.

When frightened by a predator, the plesiopid fish, Calloplesiops altivelis, adopts a posture and appearance that mimics the head of a noxious moray eel, Gymnothorax meleagris. Tests indicate that the mimicry is Batesian and not Müllerian. Unlike the strategy of other reef-fish prey species, which hide when threatened, the Calloplesiops's strategy is one of intimidation.