Stellifer gomezi ( Cervigón, 2011 )

Chao, Ning Labbish, Carvalho-Filho, Alfredo & Santos, Jonas De Andrade, 2021, Five new species of Western Atlantic stardrums, Stellifer (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) with a key to Atlantic Stellifer species, Zootaxa 4991 (3), pp. 434-466 : 458-459

Redescription of Stellifer gomezi ( Cervigón, 2011) from Brazil

Ophioscion sp. in Valdez & Aguilera (1987)

Ophioscion sp. in Cervigón (1993)

Ophioscion gomezi Cervigón 2011, p. 96 .

This species is recently found to be common in the littoral zone from the northeastern to southeastern Brazilian coast; we redescribe it to complement the original description of Cervigón (2011).

Diagnosis. Stellifer gomezi can be distinguished from all other Atlantic species of the genus with inferior mouth by the combination of ctenoid scales on top of head and five mental pores, except S. punctatissimus and S. menezesi , from which it differs by the elongated body and HL greater than body depth (both have a body depth greater or equal to HL); additionally, S. gomezi also differs from S. menezesi by having a longer pectoral fin, its tip posterior to the tip of pelvic fin, a long and thick second anal-fin spine, reaching beyond the tip of first anal ray, snout length less than 4.0 times in HL and nostrils rounded and almost the same height (anterior nostril slightly oval and forward directed, posterior nostril bean-shaped forming an angle between them in S. menezesi ) ( Fig. 18 ). Stellifer punctatissimus and S. menezesi have distinctly darker pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins than S. gomezi .

Description of Brazilian specimens. Dorsal-fin rays XI+I, 22–24; anal-fin rays II, 7; pectoral-fin rays 17–18; gill rakers 6–8 + 12–14 = 18–22; preopercular spines 9–11; pored lateral-line scales 48–51; 5–6 transverse scale rows from lateral line to dorsal fin origin and 8–10 rows to anal fin origin. Anterior chamber of gas bladder smooth without appendages; posterior tip of posterior chamber terminating anterior to base of first anal spine ( Fig. 1A , left). Drumming muscles in males only ( Fig. 1B , hatched area). Sagitta ( Fig. 3B ) thick with notch anterodorsally; sulcus with small ovoid ostium, deeply grooved L-shaped cauda, and shallow groove along the dorsal margin; outer surface with crest-like elevations. Lapillus ovoid, with thin anterior flange; inner surface smoothly convex, outer surface roughly concave. Asteriscus triangular, thin, with lanceolate groove near ventral margin of inner surface. Preopercular spines short, usually 10 or 11, more prominent at angle; upper spines progressively shorter and weaker, uppermost appearing as flat points, lower margin of preopercle weakly serrated. Head conical, interorbital region slightly convex, not cavernous in appearance. Snout conical, 3.2–3.8 in HL, projecting beyond upper lip, its tip with three upper and five marginal pores. Eye moderate, 4.2–5.9 in HL; orbit rounded, its diameter less than interorbital width. Mouth moderately large, inferior, upper jaw 3.2–4.0 in HL; jaws subequal with nearly horizontal gape. Anterior tip of upper lip, horizontally, passing much below ventral margin of orbit. Maxilla ends below anterior half of eye. Underside of lower jaw with six sensory pores, median pair set in common pit ( Fig. 6C ). Teeth thin and short on both jaws set in villiform bands, the longest not exceeding one quarter of pupil diameter. Tooth band on lower jaw slightly broader than upper jaw. Gill rakers moderately short and slender, longest at corner distinctly shorter than filament at angle of arch, less than one third of eye diameter. Nostrils below middle of eye, both rounded and with almost same height, distance between them almost equal as posterior nostril height ( Fig. 18B ). Anal fin truncate; second spine long and strong, 1.5–1.9 in HL, distal end extending almost to tip of first anal ray. Caudal fin rhomboidal, much shorter than HL. Tip of pectoral fin vertically passing short or equal to pelvic fin tip when depressed. Pelvic fins lack filamentous elongation. Scales moderately large, strongly ctenoid on body and head, except for small cycloid scales patch on preorbital and embedded under skin on lachrymal bones. Spinous dorsal with three or four rows of reduced cycloid scales along base, basal sheath not well-defined. Interspinous membrane naked, soft dorsal and anal fins uniformly covered with small cycloid scales on membrane behind each soft ray and extending distally to half of fin height. Caudal, pectoral, and pelvic fins finely scaled. Lateral line pored scales ctenoid, indented in middle of posterior margin, and much smaller than scales of adjacent rows. Lateral line canal system appearing arborescent on scales.

Coloration. Fresh specimens with silvery color, becoming darker dorsally through dense stippling of chromatophores, and with silvery blue tinge on nape; dorsal, anal and pectoral fins dusky with yellowish to lemon hue; pelvic fins pale to yellowish, dusky on base, eventually greyish on central area and distally; caudal fin dark greyish. Opercle with dark patch above level of angle; inside gill cover light dusky, darker dorsally around pseudobranchiae. Preserved specimens with body pale brown, slightly darker dorsally through dense stippling of tiny chromatophores. Opercle with dark patch above level of angle sprinkled with large chromatophores. Some concentration of chromatophores on snout and around orbit. Dorsal margin of anterior half of upper lip with conspicuous dark band, few chromatophores scattered posteriorly. Tongue and inside of mouth pale. Inside gill cover black dorsally around pseudobranchiae, variably dusky elsewhere. Skin covering cleithrum heavily dusted with large chromatophores. Spinous dorsal fin covered with large chromatophores, concentrated distally at apex of fin appearing dark; soft dorsal similar but less densely dusted. Lower half of pectoral fins sprinkled with chromatophores. Pelvic fin generally pale at base but densely punctuated distally. Caudal fin evenly dusted with small chromatophores. Peritoneum membrane silvery.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the central western Atlantic from the Caribbean coast of Venezuela, including the Dominican Republic, to Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Specimens examined. Venezuela: MCZ 157234 , 9 (40.8–108 mm SL), Playa Sauca, Estado Falcon , Venezuela, collected by O. Aguilera & J. Valdez, 6 June 1985; same as USNM 287532 and NMMBP 20781 . MCZ 157274 , 3 (61.8–81.6 mm SL), collected with MCZ 157234 . MCZ 157275 , 6 (51.8–88.3 mm SL), Playa Sauca, Estado Falcon , Venezuela, collected by O. Aguilera & J. Valdez, 4 October 1984. NMMBP 21569, 105 mm SL, same as USNM 287532 , Playa Sauca, Estado Falcon , Venezuela. NMMBP 21569, 105 mm SL, same as USNM 287532 , Playa Sauca, Estado Falcon , Venezuela. NMMBP 20733 , 97.2 mm SL, (clear & stained), same as MCZ 157273 . USNM 287532 , 3 (95.2–97.8 mm SL) , same locality as MCZ 157234 and NMMBP 22354 , Falcon , Venezuela. USNM 435341, 153 mm SL, Playa Sauca, Estado Falcon , Venezuela, collected by O. Aguilera and J. Valdez, 1 May 1985. NMMBP 20781 , 2 (89–103 mm SL), (clear & stained), same as MCZ 157234 . NMMBP 22354 , 2 (99.3–107 mm SL), same as MCZ 157234 . Dominican Republic: MCZ 157273 , 3 (52.2–112 mm SL), Mouth of Suco river, San Pedro de Macoris , Dominican Republic, collected by L. Sang, 30 June 1985 (received by the first author) . Brazil: AZUSC 5959 , 2 (165–175 mm SL), Ilha dos Remédios, Balneário Barra Sul, Santa Catarina , Brazil, 26°27’50”S, 48°33’12”W, trawl, 31 m, collected by Faria, A.N, 01 November 2019. AZUSC 5937 , 91 mm SL, Guarujá , São Paulo , Brazil, 24°00’26”S, 46°12’49”W, trap, 2.5 m, collected by Rotundo, M.M., 30 April 2018. MCZ 171854 , 3 (80.0– 117 mm SL), Fortaleza , Ceará , Brazil, collected by Cassiano Monteiro, 1991. USNM 435342 , 2 (79.0– 114 mm SL) , same data of MCZ 171854 . USNM 104297, 120 mm SL, Recife , Pernambuco , Brazil, collected by Von Ihering, 1932 (Comissão Téchnica de Piscicultura do Nordeste, Brasil). USNM 435343 , 2 (101–110 mm SL), Camburi Beach, Vitória , Espírito Santo , Brazil, collected by R. Teixeira, 24 August 1983. MZFS 17101, 132 mm SL, Porto de Trás, Itacaré , Bahia , Brazil. MZFS 17526, 106 mm SL, Praia de Ponta da Ilha, Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia , Brazil. MZFS 17678, 105 mm SL, Praia do Malhado, Ilhéus , Bahia , Brazil. MZUSP 13869 , 2 (90–101.2 mm SL), Guarujá , São Paulo , Brazil, collected by P.E. Vanzolini. MZUSP 13875 , 3 (62–77.1 mm SL), Praia da Avenida, Maceió , Alagoas , collected by J.G. Marques, 16 October 1978. MZUSP 70210 , 5 (91–101.5), Enseada De Ubatuba, Ubatuba , São Paulo , Brazil, collected by Jorge de Abreu, 15 December 1973 to 29 January 1974. MZUSP 70213 , 4 (3.9–5.7 mm SL), Praia de Itaguá, Ubatuba , São Paulo , Brazil, collected by J.L. Figueiredo, February 1971. MZUSP 70214, 101.6 mm SL, Guarujá , São Paulo , Brazil, collected by A. Carvalho-Filho, July 1984 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Two-chambered gas bladders of Stelliferinae, left & right halves represent different forms or taxa. A. left, Bairdiella, Corvula, Elattarchus, Odontoscion & Stellifer (Ophioscion); right, S. naso & S. venezuelae. B. left, S. microps, hatched area indicates drumming muscle patch; right, small knob-like such as S. griseus, S. colonensis, S. lanceolatus, etc. C. left, S. brasiliensis; right, S. rastrifer.

FIGURE 3. Otoliths of Stelliferinae.A. Bairdiella chrysoura. B. Stellifer punctatissimus. C. Stellifer rastrifer. A, B, C, Sagitta: left image, lateral view with medial surface facing to the left; right image, medial surface view. A’, B’, C’, Lapillus: left image, lateral view with medial surface facing to the left; right image, medial surface view. a, b, c,Asteriscus: left image, lateral surface, right image, medial surface (otolith orientations follow in situ position in Fig. 2).

FIGURE 6. Mental pore patterns of Stellifer species.A. Four pores (S. collettei new species); B. Five pores (S. stellifer); C. Six pores with the medial pair set in a pit (S. rastrifer); D. Six pores (S. colonensis).

FIGURE 18. Detail of nostrils shape for: A- Stellifer menezesi new species; B- Stellifer gomezi. Scale: 10 mm.