Cypselurus nossibe Shakhovskoy & Parin 2022, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Shakhovskoy, Ilia B.
name: Parin, Nikolay V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Beloniformes
Exocoetidae
Cypselurus
Cypselurus nossibe

description: Cypselurus nossibe sp. nov.
Synonymy and bibliography.
Exocoetus brachysoma (non Bleeker).? Günther 1866: 296 (listed; in part: Zanzibar).
Cypselurus oligolepis (non Bleeker). Parin 1984: EXOC Cyp 11 (description, figures, distribution; Western Indian Ocean; in part).? Smale et al. 1995: 71–72, Pl. 36H (otoliths; Mozambique).
Material examined. Twelve specimens 16.5–183 mm SL.
Full morphological study. ZMMU 24454 (holotype), (1, 172 mm SL), Nossi-Be I., Madagascar, 13- 14.04.1983. IORAS 04048 (1, 117.5 mm SL), 5°11’S 52°09’E, 9.05.1967. IORAS 04049 (2, 115– 124.5 mm SL), 8°51’S 41°52’E, 13.03.1960. IORAS 04050 (1, 63 mm SL), 5°37’S 39°54’E, 16- 17.03.1960. IORAS 04051 (1, 165 mm SL), 12°28’S 48°29’E, 11- 12.04.1983. IORAS 04052 (1, 47 mm SL), 6°58’S 39°40’E, 14.03.1960. USNM 294610 (paratype), (1, 183 mm SL), Kenya, Shimoni, 3.11.1965. USNM 294611 (paratype), (1, 170 mm SL), Tanzania, Tanga Bay, 11.11.1965. ZMUC P.34942 (paratype), (1, 172 mm SL), 6°59’S 41°38’E, 25.12.1929.
Partial morphological study. SIO 63-664 * (1, 161 mm SL), 2°S 53°E, 10.08.1962. SOSC uncat. (1, 16.5 mm SL), 13°24’47”S 48°18’07”E, 3.02.1964.
Holotype (Figs. 33f–g, 34e, 35e). ZMMU 24454, R / V “Akademik Kurchatov”, Cruise 36, Sta. unnumbered, Nossi-Be Island (Madagascar), 13–14 April 1983, depth 23 m, captured at surface with dip-net and night-light, time of capture—20.30–01.30. Length 172 mm SL (immature male). D 12, A 8, P I 14, Spred 30, Str 9, Sp.br 22 (6 + 16), Vert 43 (28 + 15). Measurements (in % SL): aA 79.6, aD 72.0, aV 59.8, cV 35.0, pV 38.3, c 25.0, po 10.5, o 9.1, ao 4.5, io 10.0?, Hc 18.4, H 19.7, h 7.5, Dc 26.7, lP 66.2, lP 1 41.2, lV 30.8, lD 18.2, lA 10.9, HD 11.7, HA 8.0, p 15.5. Body brown, ventral side paler (Fig. 33f). Head with small dark specks under eyes and on gill covers (Fig. 33g). Pectoral fins brown to 8 th ray with pale tip and narrow posterior edging (Fig. 34e). Tip of pectoral fin reaching end of dorsal-fin base. Pelvic fins pale with a dark stripe between 3 rd –4 th rays distally (Fig. 35e), their tip reaching penultimate ray of anal fin. Dorsal fin gray (pale brownish anteriorly), tip of its last ray protruding beyond middle of caudal peduncle but not reaching origin of caudal-fin upper lobe. Anal fin translucent, its first ray beneath 5 th dorsal-fin ray. The 2 nd ray of dorsal and anal fins longest. Caudal fin brown (Fig. 33f). Lower jaw shorter than upper jaw (Fig. 33g). Jaw teeth numerous, small, mainly tricuspid; arranged in three rows. Palatine teeth numerous.
Paratypes. USNM 294610, 183 mm SL, Shimoni, Kenya, 3 November 1965. USNM 294611, 170 mm SL, Tanga Bay, Tanzania, 11 November 1965. ZMUC P. 34942, 172 mm SL, 6°59’S 41°38’E, 25 December 1929.
Description. Meristic and morphometric characters are given in Tables 1–6 and 10. D 11–13 (usually 12), A 8–9 (usually 8), P I 14–16 (usually I 15), Spred 26–30, Str 8½–9 (usually 8½), Sp.br 19–22 (5–7 + 14–16), Vert 41–43 (27–29 + 13–16), usually 42–43 (28 + 14–15). Snout short (especially in juveniles), upper jaw not pointed anteriorly (Fig. 33). Lower jaw shorter than upper jaw or of equal size (in a single fish 117.5 mm SL lower jaw slightly protruding before upper jaw). Chin barbel absent in all but smallest juvenile 47 mm SL, which has very short, barely noticeable flattened barbel (Fig. 33b). Jaw teeth numerous, small to medium (not visible to barely visible with the naked eye), tricuspid and with additional cusps, sometimes with small admixture of conical teeth. Juveniles 47–63 mm SL with only conical teeth. Jaw teeth of fish 47–125 mm SL arranged in two rows, in larger fish (165–183 mm SL) teeth in 3–4 rows. Palatine teeth present, in fish> 115 mm SL rather large and numerous.
Body from elongate to rather deep (Fig. 24e–f), greatest body depth not changing with growth (slightly increasing only in fish 165–185 mm SL), 4.9–5.5 in SL. Body width 1.00–1.36 and caudal peduncle depth 2.24–2.64 in greatest body depth. Greatest head depth and head length nearly not changing with growth (Fig. 24d, f), 5.3–5.7 and 3.80–4.05 in SL, respectively. Head length 1.04–1.12 in dorso-caudal distance. Eyes large, eye diameter decreasing strongly as fish grows to about 110 mm SL, and afterwards nearly constant: in juveniles 47–63 mm SL eye diameter 9.25–10.75 in SL, 2.4–2.7 in head length, 1.17–1.35 in interorbital width and 1.16–1.22 in postorbital distance; in fish 115–183 mm SL, 11.00– 11.75 in SL, 2.90–2.95 in с, 1.0– 1.3 in io and 1.14–1.34 in po.
Pectoral fins long, their length increasing strongly with growth: in juveniles 47–63 mm SL pectoral fin 1.7 in SL; in fish 115–183 mm SL, 1.4–1.5 in SL. Tip of pectoral fin reaching from end of dorsal-fin base to middle of caudal peduncle (rarely slightly farther), in juveniles 47–63 mm SL reaching only to 7 th –8 th dorsal fin ray. First pectoral-fin ray unbranched, its length increasing with growth: in a 47 mm SL juvenile it fits 3.17 in SL and 1.88 in lP; in fish 115–183 mm SL, 2.3–2.75 in SL and 1.56–1.81 in lP. Pelvic-fin base slightly closer to posterior edge of head than to origin of caudal-fin lower lobe or about midway (cV / pV = 0.83–0.99); pelvic-fin base shifting slightly posteriorly with growth (Fig. 24c). Pelvic-fin length decreasing as fish grows: in juveniles 47–63 mm SL pelvic fin 2.49–2.52 in SL and 1.47–1.49 in lP; in fish 115–183 mm SL, 2.6–3.4 in SL and 1.80–2.33 in lP. Tip of pelvic fin in juveniles 47–115 mm SL slightly protruding beyond origin of caudal-fin lower lobe, in fish 117.5–124.5 mm SL nearly reaching origin of caudal-fin lower lobe; in fish 165–183 mm SL reaching penultimate or last anal-fin ray or slightly protruding beyond end of anal-fin base.
Anal-fin origin far posterior to dorsal-fin origin: 1 st anal-fin ray under 5 th –6 th (occasionally 7 th) dorsal-fin ray. Dorsal fin with 2–5 rays more than anal fin. Dorsal and anal fin height slightly decreasing with growth: in juveniles 47–63 mm SL, HD 6.45–6.85 and HA 10.5 in SL; in fish 115–183 mm SL, 7.3–9.1 and 10.55–15.4, respectively. In juveniles 47–117.5 mm SL, longest dorsal fin ray 7 th or 8 th (in a 115 mm SL juvenile—3 rd ray longest); in fish 124.5–183 mm SL—2 nd or 3 rd ray longest. The 2 nd or 3 rd anal-fin ray longest (in a 63 mm SL juvenile—4 th ray longest). Tip of last dorsal-fin ray in fish 47–165 mm SL reaching or nearly reaching origin of caudal-fin upper lobe (rarely slightly beyond); in fish 170–183 mm SL, the tip protruding beyond middle of caudal peduncle, never reaching origin of caudal-fin upper lobe. Middle and posterior dorsal-fin rays elongated in juveniles 47–117.5 mm SL, tips of penultimate rays protruding backwards beyond tip of last ray. In a fish 124.5 mm SL tip of penultimate ray at the same level with tip of last ray, and in larger fish (165–183 mm SL) tip of penultimate ray always well ahead of last ray tip.
Pigmentation. Body of juveniles 47–115 mm SL (Fig. 33a–c) pale brown to brown, ventral side darker (dark brown). A 47 mm SL juvenile with caudal peduncle somewhat paler. Body bands always absent. In fish 115–124.5 mm SL ventral side of body becoming appreciably paler, with golden brown pigmentation (Fig. 33d–e). Larger fishes (165–183 mm SL) with usual “pelagic” pigmentation.
Lower surface of head in juveniles 47–115 mm SL dark brown, “lips” and distal parts of branchiostegal rays pale. A single chin barbel in a 47 mm SL juvenile with dark brown pigmentation on both sides (Fig. 33b). Fish 165–183 mm SL with small, usually numerous, dark specks on gill covers and under eyes (Fig. 33g).
Pectoral fins in juveniles 47–63 mm SL (Fig. 34a–b) brown or dark brown with pale tip and a row of 8–10 pale spots across the fin proximally, and with a small pale area near tip of 2 nd ray. In fish 115–124.5 mm SL (Fig. 34c–d) fins dark brown to 11 th –12 th ray with small pale tip. In fish 165–183 mm SL (Fig. 34e–f) fins brown or, more often, dark brown to 8 th –9 th ray with small pale tip and very narrow posterior edging (sometimes absent).
Pelvic fins in juveniles 47–124.5 mm SL (Fig. 35a–c) brown to dark brown (with paler 1 st and 6 th rays in fish 117–124.5 mm SL). In fish 165–183 mm SL (Fig. 35d–f) fins pale with dark spot or stripe (or dense aggregation of dots) between 2 nd –3 rd and 4 th rays distally.
Dorsal fin in juveniles 47–63 mm SL sparsely covered with brown melanophores. In fish 115–124.5 mm SL dorsal fin pale-brown to brown, its anterior part usually somewhat paler than posterior one. In fish 165–183 mm SL dorsal fin gray, sometimes pale brownish anteriorly.
Anal fin in juveniles 47–124.5 mm SL brown posteriorly and pale anteriorly (with pigmentation usually only near fin base); in fish 117.5–124.5 pigmentation along last ray nearly disappears. In fish 165–183 mm SL anal fin translucent (a fish 172 mm SL likely with pigment dots at tips of some rays).
Caudal fin in juveniles 47–63 mm SL (Fig. 33a, c) pale with pale brown to brown base and faint pigmentation along rays of lower lobe. Fish 115–124.5 mm SL with 1–2 dark bands on upper and lower lobes (Fig. 33d–e). In fish 165–183 mm SL caudal fin pale brown to dark brown, sometimes upper lobe slightly darker distally.
Coloration in life. No data.
Maximum size. The largest specimen of C. nossibe was 183 mm SL (USNM 294610 (paratype), Kenya, Shimoni); it was not dissected for sex and maturity. The length of the only (immature) female was 124.5 mm SL, the largest male was 172 mm SL.
Early life history stages. A single small juvenile 16.5 mm SL (Fig. 36) of this species differs from larger fishes in shorter pectoral fins (2.2 in SL), larger head (c 3.6 in SL and 0.97 in Dc) and eyes (7.35 in SL), more anterior pelvic-fin origin (cV / pV = 0.78). There is a tiny (perhaps with damaged tip), wide brown chin barbel (Fig. 36b). Jaw teeth conical, palatine teeth absent. Pigmentation of body and fins generally similar to larger juveniles, but pectoral fins without a row of pale spots and caudal fin with few dark dots on upper lobe. Tip of last dorsal-fin ray reaching origin of caudal-fin upper lobe, tip of penultimate ray slightly further.
Intraspecific variation. No data.
Comparative remarks. Cypselurus nossibe differs from all species of the subgenus Poecilocypselurus in presence of a chin barbel in juveniles and pigmented pelvic fins in adults (except C. callopterus, C. simus and C. poecilopterus). Cypselurus nossibe differs also from C. poecilopterus, C. simus and C. callopterus in absence of spots on pectoral fins; from C. bosha and C. olpar in longer pelvic and shorter pectoral fins (index lP/lV in juveniles 1.13–1.49 vs. usually> 1.80; in large fish 1.80–2.33 vs.> 2.40), fewer caudal vertebrae (13–16 vs. 16–18) and rays in dorsal (usually 12 vs. usually 13–14) and anal (8–9 vs. usually 10–11) fins, in pectoral fin pigmentation (in adults dark to 8 th –9 th vs. 10 th –13 th ray) and morphology of jaw teeth (in adults mainly tricuspid vs. mainly conical); from C. starksi in fewer dorsal-fin rays (usually 12 vs. usually 13–14), transverse scales (usually 8½ vs. usually ≥ 9) and gill rakers on lower limb (h.br usually 15 vs. usually ≥ 16), in more posterior dorsal-fin origin (Dc usually <1.10 vs. usually> 1.10; in fish> 110 mm SL aD usually> 71 vs. <71% SL) and pelvic-fin origin (aV usually> 59.5 vs. <59.5% SL, pV usually <39.5 vs. usually> 39.5% SL; in fish> 110 mm SL index cV/pV> 0.86 vs. usually <0.86, see Fig. 24b–c), wider body (in adults p ≥ 14.8 vs. usually <14.8% SL), longer head (c ≥ 24.8 vs. usually <24.8, see Fig. 24d) and eyes (in fish> 110 mm SL, o ≥ 8.5 vs. ≤ 8.1% SL), shorter pelvic fins (in fish> 150 mm SL, lV ≤ 30.8 vs.> 30.8% SL) and dorsal-fin base (usually <19.2 vs. usually> 19.2% SL). Cypselurus nossibe differs also from C. oligolepis, C. izumii and C. clariangulatus in more predorsal scales (usually> 26 vs. usually 24–26), more posterior pelvic-fin origin (aV usually> 59.5 vs. usually <59.5% SL, cV usually> 32.5 vs. usually <32.5% SL, pV usually <40 vs. usually> 40% SL, index cV/pV usually> 0.85 vs. ≤ 0.85, see Fig. 24a–c), slightly more elongate body (H usually <20 vs. usually> 20% SL), shorter snout in juveniles (≤ 3 vs. usually> 3% SL), smaller pale tip in pectoral fins of adults and in some other features (see Tables 1–10); from C. clariangulatus also in pectoral and pelvic fin pigmentation of juveniles.
Cypselurus nossibe is most similar to C. neglectus (and especially to C. n. shcherbachevi), differing only (besides presence of chin barbel in juveniles and pelvic fin pigmentation of adults) in presence of a row of pale spots on pectoral fins of juveniles, more vertebrae (Vert. usually 42–43 vs. usually ≤ 41, Vert.pc usually 28 vs. usually 26-27) and slightly larger eyes in adults (≥ 8.5 vs. usually <8.5% SL).
Adult C. nossibe may easily be confused with three species of the subgenus Cypselurus s. str. — C. opisthopus (Bleeker), C. naresii and C. angusticeps (these species will be described in detail in the third part of this review). However, C. opisthopus differs most prominently from C. nossibe in more posterior pelvic-fin origin (index cV/pV> 1), C. naresii differs in more intense pigmentation of pelvic fins, fewer pectoral-fin rays and lower values of Dc, lD, o and p, and C. angusticeps differs in tooth morphology and arrangement (palatine teeth usually absent, jaw teeth mainly with additional cusps and conical, rarely tricuspid), lower values of Str, P, io, ao, p and h, and higher values of D, lD, lA and Dc.
Cypselurus nossibe is intermediate in external morphology between C. neglectus and C. opisthopus, thus bridging the two subgenera of Cypselurus. Based on presence of a chin barbel in small juveniles, we place C. nossibe into the subgenus Cypselurus s. str. However, ontogeny of this species should be thoroughly studied with more representative material including a developmental series.
Etymology. The species is named after Nossi-Be Island, Madagascar, near which several specimens (including the holotype) were collected.
Common names. The name “ Madagascar flying fish” (Russian: “мадагаскарский стрижехвост”) is proposed here.
Biology. All dissected specimens of this species were immature. The smallest juvenile (16.5 mm SL, SOSC uncat.) was captured on 3 February 1964 at 13°24’47”S 48°18’07”E; a larger 47 mm SL juvenile (IORAS 04052) was captured on 14 March 1960 at 6°58’S 39°40’E. With such limited information, we can only suggest that C. nossibe likely spawns in January.
Distribution. Cypselurus nossibe is distributed (Fig. 28) in neritic waters of the Western Indian Ocean from Kenya to Tanzania and from Madagascar to the Amirante Islands. A specimen of 223 mm TL from the deck of a ship in Mozambique Channel was identified by the first author as this species, based on a photograph kindly provided by Elaine Heemstra (SAIAB). This species was probably listed as Exocoetus brachysoma for Zanzibar by Günther (1866). Thus, C. nossibe is distributed mainly in the region influenced by Northeast Madagascar Current—East African Coast Current system (see Schott & McCreary 2001 and Painter 2020; but see also Lutjeharms et al. 2000 for an alternative nomenclature of currents in the region).
description: Published as part of Shakhovskoy, Ilia B. & Parin, Nikolay V., 2022, A review of the flying fish genus Cypselurus (Beloniformes: Exocoetidae). Part 2. Revision of the subgenus Poecilocypselurus Bruun, 1935 with descriptions of three new species and five new subspecies and reinstatement of Exocoetus apus Valenciennes and E. neglectus Bleeker, pp. 1-109 in Zootaxa 5117 (1) on pages 83-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5117.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6378619