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Two deep-sea spiny eels, Notacanthus abbotti and Lipogenys gillii (Albuliformes: Notacanthidae), from the Hawaiian Archipelago and Emperor Seamounts with notes on their identification and biogeography

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Abstract

Deep-sea spiny eels (Notacanthidae) were previously reported from the Hawaiian Archipelago; however, these reports lacked detailed information to confirm the identity of the species. We provide collection and taxonomic data for the earlier records. The first central Pacific specimen of Lipogenys gillii is reported from Hawai’i Island. A record of Notacanthus abbotti from the Hancock Seamounts, at the northern end of the Archipelago, is confirmed. Specimens from Maui, main Hawaiian Islands, previously reported as N. chemnitzii, are reidentified as N. abbotti. The Hawaiian records of notacanthids are the only reports of the family from the Pacific tectonic plate.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the following for their assistance: Sara Peck (University of Hawai’i Sea Grant, Hawai’i Island) recognized the specimen of Lipogenys as unusual, saved it, and allowed us to publish its record. Dana Riddle (County of Hawai’i) photographed the specimen while it was fresh. The crews and scientific parties of the NOAA ship Townsend Cromwell cruises TC-59 and 86-06 collected the Notacanthus specimens; in particular we acknowledge Paul Struhsaker for recognizing the Maui specimens as noteworthy and preserving them. Michael P. Seki (PIFSC) photographed one of the Maui specimens of Notacanthus abbotti at our request and allowed us to use his photograph. Sandra Raredon (USNM) created the X-ray images. We thank the submersible pilots, crew, and scientists aboard the HURL cruises in which notacanthids were first recorded from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Christopher Tokita (PIFSC) provided the sampling data for the NOAA ship Townsend Cromwell stations, from the PIFSC data archives. Ani Au (PIFSC librarian) assisted in obtaining references. Arnold Suzumoto, collection manager of the BPBM ichthyology collection, cataloged the specimens into that permanent archive. Many useful suggestions for improvement of this paper were provided by Karen Underkoffler (Univ. Hawai’i Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies), Dr. Kenneth Sulak (US Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center), Dr. David G. Smith (USNM), Robert Humphreys (PIFSC), Audrey Rivero (PIFSC), Dr. Hiromitsu Endo (Kochi University), and two anonymous reviewers. Our research was supported by the Hawai’i Undersea Research Laboratory (NOAA National Undersea Research Program and University of Hawai’i), University of Hawai’i at Manoa Department of Zoology, and the NOAA NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Bruce C. Mundy & Robert B. Moffitt

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, 2538 McCarthy Mall, Edmondson 152, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Kathleen Cole

  3. Hawai’i Undersea Research Laboratory, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, 1000 Pope Road, MSB 303, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    E. H. Chave

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  1. Bruce C. Mundy
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  2. Kathleen Cole
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  3. E. H. Chave
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  4. Robert B. Moffitt
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Correspondence to Bruce C. Mundy.

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Mundy, B.C., Cole, K., Chave, E.H. et al. Two deep-sea spiny eels, Notacanthus abbotti and Lipogenys gillii (Albuliformes: Notacanthidae), from the Hawaiian Archipelago and Emperor Seamounts with notes on their identification and biogeography. Ichthyol Res 58, 263–271 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-011-0225-3

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