Mental health law assessments: interagency cooperation and practice complexities.

BACKGROUND: Assessments under mental health law, to determine whether compulsory admission is necessary, tend to be complex, multidisciplinary and inter-agency processes. This article presents the results of a regional audit of assessments under the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. AIMS: The aims of the audit were to examine routine practice, identify any issues and so inform how policy and practice may be developed. METHOD: The audit was designed by an inter-agency advisory group and audit team. Data were collected for a sample of 189 assessments. The sample was weighted to ensure all Health and Social Care Trusts and settings were appropriately represented. RESULTS: These assessments involve high levels of need, risk and complexity. There were no major issues or concerns identified in the majority of assessments. The issues that were identified were mainly due to the difficulties in coordinating professionals and in securing a bed. In 3/189 (2%) of assessments, these issues were identified as contributing to increased distress and risk. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the complexities of these processes and confirm the need for opportunities, such as joint training and inter-agency interface groups, to further promote cooperation and identify when pressures on resources are increasing risk and distress.

Resurrection of Ophichthus zophistius (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with a revised diagnosis of O. altipennis.

Pisoodonophis zophistius Jordan and Snyder 1901 is redescribed as a valid species of Ophichthus Ahl 1789 based on 46 specimens including the holotype. Although this name has been synonymized under Ophichthus altipennis (Kaup 1856), the former can be distinguished from the latter by a relatively acute snout (vs. strongly acute), presence of irregular obscure bars on the body (vs. bars absent), 11-13 predorsal and 61-63 preanal vertebrae (vs. 8-9 and 52-58, respectively) and 10-14 predorsal and 59-64 preanal lateral-line pores (vs. 7-9 and 55-61, respectively), dorsal-fin origin usually above or behind the pectoral-fin insertion (vs. anterior to the insertion), and tail broad and tapered slowly (vs. becoming slender and tapered rapidly). Furthermore, Ophichthys intermedius Regan 1905 and Microdonophis fasciatus Chu, Wu and Jin 1981 are junior synonyms of O. zophistius, and Ophichthus melanochir Bleeker 1864 is that of O. altipennis.

Description of a new snake eel Ophichthus olivaceus (Teleostei: Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from the Red Sea.

A new species of snake eel Ophichthus olivaceus is described based on two specimens trawled from a depth of 35-63 m from a soft substratum off Jizan, Red Sea coast of southern Saudi Arabia. It differs from its congeners by the following combination of characters: vertebrae 141-145; tail moderately short (2.15 in TL); head short (9.6-11.1 in TL); uniserial teeth in jaws and on vomer; pectoral fins slightly elongate, not lanceolate, upper rays longer than the lower; dorsal-fin origin above middle of pectoral fin; and a generally uniform, dark tan body with an olivaceous hue shading to tan or pale orange ventrally, with two pale yellow blotches above pectoral-fin base, snout and lower jaw dark brown, and olivaceous median fins. Its divergence from other mitochondrial-analyzed species is shown by phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial COI barcoding region. A key to the Indian Ocean species is provided.

A new species of Muraenichthys (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Taiwan, with redescription of Muraenichthys thompsoni Jordan amp; Richardson, 1908.

Muraenichthys longirostris sp. nov. is described based on a single specimen 206 mm total length (TL) collected from off Dong-gang, southwestern Taiwan. The species is characterized by a long and slender snout (18% of head length), unique within the genus. It is also characterized by its position of the dorsal-fin origin (positioned at 2/5 of trunk; horizontal distance from the origin to a vertical through mid-anus 113% of head length), long tail (67% TL), and vertebrae 23-41-131. In addition, Muraenichthys thompsoni Jordan Richardson, 1908 is redescribed based on the holotype and 63 specimens from Fiji to Madagascar, north to Japan. Muraenichthys malabonensis Herre, 1923 is recognized as a junior synonym of M. thompsoni.

Snake eels of the genus Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Myanmar (Indian Ocean) with the description of two new species.

Two new species of ophichthid eels, subfamily Ophichthinae, are described and illustrated from specimens collected from Myanmar by the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen. Included are: Ophichthus nansen sp. nov., from 103-106 m depth, which is unique in its vertebral number (11-53-116), dorsal-fin origin (above mid-pectoral fin), jaw dentition (small, conical and mostly biserial), and coloration (dark gray-brown, fins black); and Ophichthus naga sp. nov., from 455-459 m depth, which is unique in its vertebral number (15-65-153), dorsal-fin origin (well behind pectoral fin), dentition (small, conical, biserial in upper jaw and uniserial in lower jaw and on vomer), and dark brown coloration. Also new to Myanmar are Ophichthus cephalozona Bleeker, 1864, and O. lithinus (Jordan Richardson, 1908), which are diagnosed and treated herein.

Systematics and biodiversity of eels (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) of Taiwan (II) (Cover Copyright page).

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Systematics and biodiversity of eels (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) of Taiwan (II) (Table of contents).

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Checklist of eels of Taiwan (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes): An update.

The eel fauna (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) of Taiwan is increased to 14 families, 79 genera and 232 species. Previous studies (Ho et al., 2015b, c) showed Taiwan had the highest diversity of eels in the world: this is further supported in the present updated work. Elsewhere in this volume, 16 species are newly described and 13 species are newly added to the Taiwanese ichthyofauna, mainly in the families Congridae and Synaphobranchidae. In addition, one new genus and four new species are described from adjacent waters in the Pacific Ocean. A total of 58 new species of the two eel orders are described from Taiwan; 52 of them are valid, and 37 are only found in Taiwan. Four names previously recorded in Taiwan are described as new in present special issue and are removed from the fauna of Taiwan accordingly. This work provides a foundation for the study of eel diversity in Taiwan.

A new species of Apterichtus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Marquesas Islands.

A new finless ophichthid eel, Apterichtus succinus sp. nov., is described based on a single specimen collected from the Marquesas Islands. The new species closely resembles A. klazingai Weber, 1913 in the shape and coloration of its head and its total vertebral count. The former differs from the latter in having more preopercular pores (4 vs. 3), fewer preanal vertebrae (54 vs. 56-63), a single tooth on the prevomer (generally absent), a shorter head (14.8 in TL vs. 12-14 in TL), and larger spots on its head and nape. Three species of Apterichtus (A. succinus, A. klazingai, and Apterichtus mysi McCosker & Hibino, 2015) are recognized from the Marquesas Islands.

Introduction to the systematics and biodiversity of eels (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) of Taiwan.

The eel fauna (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) of Taiwan is one of the richest in the world. Recent genetic and morphological studies have improved the taxonomic resolution and increased the known diversity of the eels of Taiwan, and the overall diversity is comparable to that of adjacent marine zoogeographic regions with rich biodiversity, such as Australia and the Philippines. In this special issue, we verified the historical records and examined numerous recently collected specimens, and conclude that the eel fauna of Taiwan is represented by 207 species in 75 genera and 14 families, with several undescribed species still likely to be discovered. The Muraenidae (71 species), Ophichthidae (60), Congridae (29) and Synaphobranchidae (17) are the most abundant and species-rich in Taiwanese waters. We add 42 species to the Taiwanese fish fauna, including one new genus and 13 new species. Two further species are newly described, one from the Philippines and one from Indonesia.

Renaming of three recently described eels of the genus Neenchelys (Teleostei: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the western Pacific.

In our earlier paper (Ho et al., 2013), we described three new species of the eel genus Neenchelys Bamber, 1915. Unfortunately, the critical step of registering the work in ZooBank was omitted, thus rendering the names unavailable. In this paper, we present abbreviated descriptions of the new species in order to make these names available in accordance with the amended Article 8.5 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

New species of the snake eels Echelus and Ophichthus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from Taiwan.

Three new species of ophichthid eels, subfamily Ophichthinae, are described and illustrated from specimens collected at fish markets in Taiwan. Included are: Echelus polyspondylus sp. nov., which is unique in its vertebral number (172-183), dorsal-fin origin (behind gill openings), and coloration (anal-fin membrane black posteriorly); Ophichthus bicolor sp. nov., which is unique in its mean vertebral formula (18-64-158), dorsal-fin origin (well behind gill openings), dentition (teeth large and conical), and contrasting coloration (tan dorsally, white ventrally); and O. shaoi sp. nov., which is unique in its mean vertebral formula (11-69-159), and prominent lip barbels. A key to Taiwanese species of Echelus and Ophichthus is provided.

Annotated checklist of eels (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes) from Taiwan.

An annotated checklist of eels, orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes, occurring in Taiwanese waters is presented. The checklist is the result of a series of systematic studies conducted by the authors in the past few years. The eel fauna of Taiwan is one of the richest in the world with a total of 206 species in 74 genera and 13 families in Anguilliformes and a single species in Saccopharyngiformes. The most species-rich families are the Muraenidae with 71 species, followed by the Ophichthidae with 60 species, the Congridae with 29 species, and the Synaphobranchidae with 17 species. Moreover, three genera and 42 species have been described based on at least one type specimen collected from Taiwan. Of these, 36 species are recognized as valid and 23 species are known only from Taiwanese waters at present. Historical records of all Taiwanese eel species are reviewed by examining the original descriptions and figures, vouchers, as well as the recently collected specimens, where available. This represents the first detailed checklist of eels from Taiwanese waters.

A review of the finless snake eels of the genus Apterichtus (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), with the description of five new species.

The 18 species of finless snake eels of the genus Apterichtus (family Ophichthidae, subfamily Ophichthinae) are reviewed. Included are: A. anguiformis from the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic; A. ansp from the Carolinas to Brazil in the western Atlantic; A. australis from South and Central Pacific islands, including Japan; A. caecus from the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic; A. equatorialis from the eastern Pacific; A. flavicaudus from Hawaii, Midway Island, and possibly Australia and Seychelles; A. gracilis from the eastern central Atlantic; A. hatookai from Japan and China; A. kendalli from the western Atlantic and St. Helena Island; A. klazingai from South Africa to Hawaii; A. monodi from the eastern Atlantic; A. moseri from Japan; and A. orientalis from Japan. Five new species are described and illustrated: A. dunalailai from Vanuatu and Fiji at 291-450 m; A. jeffwilliamsi from Vanuatu at 4-16 m; A. malabar from New South Wales, Australia at 44-66 m; A. mysi from the Marquesas Islands at 35-64 m; and A. nariculus from Ambon Island, Indonesia at 28-30 m. A neotype is designated for Apterichtus caecus. An identification key is provided. The synonymy of the genus Apterichtus is reviewed. Apterichtus keramanus Machida, Hashimoto & Yamakawa 1997, is referred to ----------------Ichthyapus.

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.

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.

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.

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.