The spiny spider crab, Samadinia pulchra (Miers in Tizard, Moseley, Buchanan & Murray, 1885) (type locality: Bohol Sea, Philippines) has long been considered to be widespread in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, with Anamathia livermorii Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891, described from the Andaman Sea, in its synonymy. Reassessment of Samadinia pulchra from throughout its purported range indicates that it comprises a complex of three species: S. pulchra sensu stricto, occurring in the northwestern Pacific, from the South China Sea to Japan; S. livermorii, occurring in the Indian Ocean, ranging from southwestern Indonesia to East Africa; and a new species, S. jimlowryi sp. nov., ranging from northwestern Australia to southeastern Indonesia.

BENTHEDI, BIOMAGLO, KARUBAR, MAINBAZA, PANGLAO 2004

The spiny spider crab, Samadinia pulchra (Miers in Tizard, Moseley, Buchanan & Murray, 1885) (type locality: Bohol Sea, Philippines) has long been considered to be widespread in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, with Anamathia livermorii Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason & Alcock, 1891, described from the Andaman Sea, in its synonymy. Reassessment of Samadinia pulchra from throughout its purported range indicates that it comprises a complex of three species: S. pulchra sensu stricto, occurring in the northwestern Pacific, from the South China Sea to Japan; S. livermorii, occurring in the Indian Ocean, ranging from southwestern Indonesia to East Africa; and a new species, S. jimlowryi sp. nov., ranging from northwestern Australia to southeastern Indonesia.

BENTHEDI, BIOMAGLO, KARUBAR, MAINBAZA, PANGLAO 2005

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) are a species‐rich and distinct group of fishes characterized by cranial asymmetry. Flatfishes occupy a wide diversity of habitats, including the tropical deep‐sea and freshwaters, and often are small‐bodied fishes. Most scientific effort, however, has been focused on large‐bodied temperate marine species important in fisheries. Phylogenetic study of flatfishes has also long been limited in scope and focused on the placement and monophyly of flatfishes. As a result, several questions in systematic biology have persisted that molecular phylogenetic study can answer. We examine the Pleuronectoidei, the largest suborder of Pleuronectiformes with >99% of species diversity of the order, in detail with a multilocus nuclear and mitochondrial data set of 57 pleuronectoids from 13 families covering a wide range of habitats. We combine the molecular data with a morphological matrix to construct a total evidence phylogeny that places fossil flatfishes among extant lineages. Utilizing a time‐calibrated phylogeny, we examine the timing of diversification, area of origin and ancestral temperature preference of Pleuronectoidei. We find polyphyly or paraphyly of two flatfish families, the Paralichthyidae and the Rhombosoleidae, and support the creation of two additional families—Cyclopsettidae and Oncopteridae—to resolve their non‐monophyletic status. Our findings also support the distinctiveness of Paralichthodidae and refine the placement of that lineage. Despite a core fossil record in Europe, the observed recent diversity of pleuronectoids in the Indo‐West Pacific is most likely a result of the Indo‐West Pacific being the area of origin for pleuronectoids and the ancestral temperature preference of flatfishes is most likely tropical.

BIOPAPUA, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, PAPUA NIUGINI

Taiwan is a large island in north western Pacific waters with the sea floor connecting to two major deep-sea basins, the eastern waters facing the Pacific Ocean (to 4000 m depth) and linking to the Philippine Basin, whilst south western waters are associated with the South China Sea Basin (up to 1000 m). Previously, the biodiversity of Taiwanese deep-sea barnacles had not been studied extensively, due to a lack of deep-sea expeditions and sampling. Recently, several TAIWAN deep-sea cruises investigated the biodiversity of the deep-sea fauna of Taiwan and sampling was conducted to depths of 4000 m. The present study reports on the biodiversity of the deep-sea barnacles of Taiwan, a total of 18 species. One species was previously recorded from Taiwanese waters and 17 are new records, including two new species belong to the genera Litoscalpellum and Altiverruca.

TAIWAN 2001, TAIWAN 2002, TAIWAN 2004

Thought to be monotypic for decades, the only species in the goosefish genus Lophiomus Gill, Lm. setigerus (Vahl), shows a wide range of morphological variation and is distributed widely in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP). In this study, datasets for two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes sequences obtained from samples of Lophiomus collected in different localities across the IWP were constructed and analyzed to explore the phylogeny and species diversity within the genus. Our integrated approach with multiline evidence unveiled an unanticipated richness of at least six delimited species of Lophiomus. Herein, based on materials already available from museums and new specimens obtained primarily through the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program surveying IWP benthic fauna, we formally describe three new species: Lm. immaculioralis sp. nov., Lm. nigriventris sp. nov., and Lm. carusoi sp. nov. Also, we resurrect Lm. laticeps stat. rev. from synonyms of Lm. setigerus. These species can be diagnosed by genetics, body coloration, patterns on the floor of the mouth, peritoneum pigmentation, morphometric measurements, and meristic counts of cranial spines, dorsal-fin spines, and pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin rays from each other and from Lm. setigerus. The species Lm. setigerus, as well as the genus Lophiomus, are re-described accordingly based on the new results. Amended identification keys to the four extant lophiid genera and to species of Lophiomus are also provided.

AURORA 2007, EXBODI, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, SPANBIOS, ZhongSha 2015

The taxonomy of majid spider crabs collected from recent southwest Indian Ocean cruises belonging to Eurynome Leach, 1814, and allied genera is treated. Eurynome longimana Stimpson, 1857, long synonymised with the European E. aspera (Pennant, 1777), is here recognised as a distinct species. Stimpson’s (1857) species can be distinguished by the armature of granules on the third maxilliped, proportions and armature of the ambulatory merus, relatively shorter ambulatory dactylus, structure of the male sternopleonal cavity and relative proportions of the male first gonopod. The composition of Choniognathus Rathbun, 1932, is discussed and the type species, C. koreensis Rathbun, 1932, is figured. One species, C. verhoeffi (Balss, 1929), is not considered to be a member of Choniognathus and its taxonomy is discussed. A new spinose species, C. spinosus, is also described. Seiitaoides Griffin & Tranter, 1986, is revised, and two new species, S. mirabilis and S. kabuto, are described and compared with S. orientalis (Sakai, 1961) and S. stimpsoni (Miers, 1884). The poorly known Eurynome elegans Stebbing, 1921 is rediscovered, its taxonomy clarified and the species is shown to belong to Kasagia Richer de Forges & Ng, 2007. A second species of Kasagia, K. sudhakari Padate, Manjebrayakath & Ng, 2019, recently described from the Arabian Sea is recorded from southwest Indian Ocean.

BIOMAGLO, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, PANGLAO 2004

Imagery has become a key tool for assessing deep-sea megafaunal biodiversity, historically based on physical sampling using fishing gears. Image datasets provide quantitative and repeatable estimates, small-scale spatial patterns and habitat descriptions. However, taxon identification from images is challenging and often relies on morphotypes without considering a taxonomic framework. Taxon identification is particularly challenging in regions where the fauna is poorly known and/or highly diverse. Furthermore, the efficiency of imagery and physical sampling may vary among habitat types. Here, we compared biodiversity metrics (alpha and gamma diversity, composition) based on physical sampling (dredging and trawling) and towed-camera still images (1) along the upper continental slope of Papua New Guinea (sedimented slope with wood-falls, a canyon and cold seeps), and (2) on the outer slopes of the volcanic islands of Mayotte, dominated by hard bottoms. The comparison was done on selected taxa (Pisces, Crustacea, Echinoidea, and Asteroidea), which are good candidates for identification from images. Taxonomic identification ranks obtained for the images varied among these taxa (e.g., family/order for fishes, genus for echinoderms). At these ranks, imagery provided a higher taxonomic richness for hard-bottom and complex habitats, partially explained by the poor performance of trawling on these rough substrates. For the same reason, the gamma diversity of Pisces and Crustacea was also higher from images, but no difference was observed for echinoderms. On soft bottoms, physical sampling provided higher alpha and gamma diversity for fishes and crustaceans, but these differences tended to decrease for crustaceans identified to the species/morphospecies level from images. Physical sampling and imagery were selective against some taxa (e.g., according to size or behavior), therefore providing different facets of biodiversity. In addition, specimens collected at a larger scale facilitated megafauna identification from images. Based on this complementary approach, we propose a robust methodology for image-based faunal identification relying on a taxonomic framework, from collaborative work with taxonomists. An original outcome of this collaborative work is the creation of identification keys dedicated specifically to in situ images and which take into account the state of the taxonomic knowledge for the explored sites.

BENTHEDI, BIOMAGLO, BIOPAPUA, MADEEP, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, Restreint, Restreint, PAPUA NIUGINI

In recent collections from deep waters around Taiwan, numerous new records of brachyuran crabs were obtained for Taiwan. Thirty-one species are added to the known Taiwanese brachyuran fauna, including 13 new records of genera and two new records of families (Homolodromiidae and Cymonomidae). The established brachyuran crab fauna for Taiwan now stands at 604 species.

TAIWAN 2000, TAIWAN 2001

NanHai 2014

The identity of the mangrove sesarmid crab Clistocoeloma balansae A. Milne-Edwards, 1873, is clarified on the basis of the types from New Caledonia, and fresh material from Vanuatu and the Philippines. Sesarma (Sesarma) tectum Rathbun, 1914, is shown to be a junior subjective synonym of C. balansae A. Milne-Edwards, 1873. A new species, C. melanesicum, superficially similar to C. balansae, is described from Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and, Solomon Islands.

PANGLAO 2004, SANTO 2006

DongSha 2014, NanHai 2014, ZhongSha 2015

The deep-water epialtid spider crab (superfamily Majoidea) material collected from recent French expeditions to Papua New Guinea (BIOPAPUA 2010, PAPUA NIUGINI 2012, MADEEP 2014, and KAVIENG 2014) was studied. In addition to several new records for the country, five new species of Oxypleurodon Miers, 1885, Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, and Tunepugettia Ng, Komai & Sato, 2017, are described. The taxonomy of Tunepugettia is reappraised, and a new genus, Crocydocinus n. gen., is established, characterised by its smooth ambulatory legs and a distinct male first gonopod structure. Four species from the Bay of Bengal, Sumatra, and Réunion Island, currently placed in Rochinia and Tunepugettia are transferred to Crocydocinus n. gen. and four new species from Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Vanuatu are described. A new genus, Neophrys n. gen., with one new species from Papua New Guinea, is established, and is characterised by the supraorbital eave being fused with the carapace and the poorly developed pre-orbital angle.

BIOPAPUA, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SANTO 2006

The single most species-rich genus in the majoid family Epialtidae MacLeay, 1838, is Rochinia A. Milne-Edwards, 1875. Ng et al. (2008) listed 34 species and since then the number of species has continued to grow, especially in the Indo-West Pacific region (see Takeda, 2001; Takeda & Komatsu, 2005; Ng & Richer de Forges, 2007; Richer de Forges & Poore, 2008; Takeda, 2009; McLay, 2009; Ng & Richer de Forges, 2013; Richer de Forges & Ng, 2013; Takeda & Marumura, 2014; Lee et al., 2017; Lee et al., 2019). The systematic problems with the genus are well known; Rochinia, as defined by Griffin & Tranter (1986a) was too broad and clearly polyphyletic. Rochinia sensu Griffin & Tranter (1986a) includes four synonyms: Sphenocarcinus A. Milne-Edwards, 1875, Scyramathia A. Milne-Edwards, 1880, Anamathia Smith, 1885, and Oxypleurodon Miers, 1885. Griffin & Tranter (1986a) also transferred three species that were described under Hyastenus White, 1847, and Pugettia Dana, 1851, to Rochinia. Goniopugettia Sakai, 1986, a genus overlooked by Griffin & Tranter (1986a), included Rochinia sagamiensis (Gordon, 1930), and was recognised by Ng et al.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, DongSha 2014, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MUSORSTOM 5, NanHai 2014, PANGLAO 2005, SALOMONBOA 3, TARASOC, ZhongSha 2015

ATIMO VATAE, BIOMAGLO, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, Walters Shoal

The use of phylogeny with uneven or limited taxon sampling may bias our interpretation of organismal evolution, for instance, the origin(s) of the deep-sea animals. The Mollusca is the second most speciose phylum, in which the Gastropoda forms the largest group. However, the currently proposed hypotheses of gastropod phylogeny are mainly based on part of their taxonomic diversity, notably on the large-sized and shallow-water species. In this study, we aimed at correcting this bias by reconstructing the phylogeny with new mitogenomes of deep-sea gastropods including Anatoma sp., Bathysciadiidae sp., Bayerotrochus teramachii, Calliotropis micraulax, Coccocrater sp., Cocculina subcompressa, Lepetodrilus guaymasensis, Peltospira smaragdina, Perotrochus caledonicus, Pseudococculinidae sp., and Shinkailepas briandi. This dataset provided the first reports of the mitogenomes for the Cocculiniformia, three vetigastropod superfamilies: Pleurotomarioidea, Lepetelloidea, and Scissurelloidea, and the neritimorph family Phenacolepadidae. The addition of deep-sea representatives also allowed us to evaluate the evolution of habitat use in gastropods. Our results showed a strongly supported sister-group relationship between the deep-sea lineages Cocculiniformia and Neomphalina. Within the Vetigastropoda, the Pleurotomarioidea was revealed as the sister-group of the remaining vetigastropods. Although this clade was presently restricted to the deep sea, fossil records showed that it has only recently invaded this habitat, thus suggesting that shallow waters was the ancestral habitat for the Vetigastropoda. The deep-sea Lepetelloidea and Lepetodriloidea formed a well-supported clade, with the Scissurelloidea sister to it, suggesting an early transition from shallow water to deep sea in this lineage. In addition, the switch between different chemosynthetic habitats was also observed in deep-sea gastropod lineages, notably in Neomphalina and Lepetelloidea. In both cases, the biogenic substrates appeared as the putative ancestral habitat, confirming the previously proposed hypothesis of a wooden-step to deep-sea vents scenario of evolution of habitat use for these taxa.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, CONCALIS, EXBODI, NORFOLK 2, PAPUA NIUGINI

Abstract The family Cocculinidae (Gastropoda: Cocculinida) consists of small, usually colourless benthic limpets living primarily at depths below 100 m, and on decaying plant or animal remains. These habitats are difficult to sample and the knowledge about Cocculinidae species diversity, biogeography, ecology and evolution is therefore poor. To explore the species diversity of the Cocculinidae, we examined 499 specimens collected from 196 sites, mainly explored during expeditions of the ‘Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos’ programme in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP). To propose a species hypotheses, we used an integrated approach to taxonomy in which we combined DNA-based methods, with morphological, geographical and ecological considerations. To classify the species hypotheses into genera, we used a combination of one mitochondrial and two nuclear gene fragments to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree. We then used six morphological characters to diagnose the identified genera. Our results revealed an exceptionally high diversity of IWP Cocculinidae, with 51 species hypotheses that were mostly not assigned to available species names. We also discovered a previously unknown type of copulatory structure in the group. At a higher taxonomic level, we identified ten main clades in the family. Although six of them matched existing genera, four others should be regarded as new genera awaiting formal description.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, BOA1, CONCALIS, DongSha 2014, EBISCO, EXBODI, KAVALAN 2018, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, MAINBAZA, MIRIKY, NORFOLK 2, NanHai 2014, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SALOMON 2, SALOMONBOA 3, SANTO 2006, TAIWAN 2013

With 11 species, the genus Chelidoperca is a small group of teleost fishes belonging to the Serranidae. They are bottom-dwelling fishes living on continental shelves/slopes in offshore areas or on remote seamounts/banks at depths ranging from around 40–400m mostly in the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Over the past few years, efforts have been made to resolve the taxonomy of Chelidoperca, and subsequently four new species were described. However, these recent advances were made with a traditional approach (i.e., morphology) and limited examinable materials, usually preserved specimens, from ichthyological collections. Further investigations are still needed to address the gaps in our knowledge about their diversity, phylogeny, and biogeography. In this study, we collected 65 new samples, mainly during eight biodiversity expeditions carried out between 2007 and 2016 in the West Pacific under the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program. Specimens were photographed after collection to record fresh color patterns, which are essential for species diagnosis. Our analytical approach includes state-of-the-art DNA-based methods for species delimitation. The combined evidence from both molecular and morphological examinations, as well as other information such as geography, is used to test species validity. This reveals 15 species, including six new ones. We formally describe herein C. leucostigmata sp. nov., C. microdon sp. nov., and C. barazeri sp. nov. on the basis of specimens collected on Macclesfield Bank in the South China Sea, on the Chesterfield and Island of Pines plateau of New Caledonia, and off the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea, respectively. These new species are morphologically distinct from all other known species of Chelidoperca by body color pattern and combinations of a few identified characters. We also redescribe one of the lesser known species, C. lecromi, from fresh specimens collected close to its type locality and a new site in the Coral Sea. The distributional records for this and other known species are updated accordingly. Genetic references of the species as well as an updated identification key to western Pacific species are also provided.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, EXBODI, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, ZhongSha 2015

The poorly known majid genus Majella Ortmann, 1893, is revised. The genus was previously known only from one species, M. brevipes Ortmann, 1893, described from Japan and reported from east Africa. Majella brevipes is redescribed and figured in detail from the type and material from the type locality, Sagami Bay in Japan. This species is now restricted to Japan. Specimens from east Africa are herein described as two new species: M. skolopion n. sp. and M. pristis n. sp.; they differ markedly from M. brevipes (now restricted to Japan) in the arrangement of spines on the carapace and pereopods, third maxillipeds, male pleon and gonopods.

MAINBAZA, MIRIKY

Additional spider crab (superfamily Majoidea) material from four major French-led expeditions to the Papua New Guinea region were examined in this study. One new genus and four new species from the families Inachidae and Oregoniidae are described. Dorhynchus profundus n. sp. is close to D. rostratus (Sakai, 1932) but can easily be separated by the shape of the ambulatory dactylus and the proportionately lower protogastric spines. Achaeus pholcus n. sp. is unusual in that it occurs in deeper waters (beyond 500 m), and can be separated from A. lacertosus Stimpson, 1857, A. villosus Rathbun, 1916, and A. brevidactylus Sakai, 1938, by its distinctive carapace shape, structure of the frontal margin, regions of the carapace, antennular fossa, ambulatory dactylus, male pleon, and proportions of the chela. Parapleisticantha aie n. sp. is closest to P. japonica Yokoya, 1933, but differs in its proportionately longer carapace, more elongated basal antennal article, longer third maxilliped ischium and the relatively less curved male first gonopod with the distal part differently structured. A new genus (Orbicantha n. gen.) with one new species (Orbicantha sacrebleu n. gen., n. sp.) is also described; it is allied to Pleistacantha Miers, 1879, Parapleisticantha Yokoya 1933, and Pleisticanthoides Yokoya, 1933, but is distinctive in its subcircular carapace, shorter regions, short pseudorostral spines, possession of spines on the gastric, cardiac and branchial regions, some of which have rounded tips, a short ocular peduncle, a very short third antennal article, a quadrate epistome, and the more reduced P4 and P5. New records from the family Epialtidae are also reported: Griffinia gilloloensis (Rathbun, 1916), Hyastenus borradailei (Rathbun, 1907), and Oxypleurodon luzonicum (Rathbun, 1916). The taxonomy of Grypachaeus tenuicollis Takeda, 1978 (Oregoniidae) and Griffinia lappacea (Rathbun, 1918) (Epialtidae) is also discussed.

BIOPAPUA, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, PANGLAO 2004, PANGLAO 2005, PAPUA NIUGINI, SANTO 2006

The new serranid fish Chelidoperca cerasina is described on the basis of 13 specimens from the Coral Sea (off New Caledonia and eastern Australia), southwest Pacific Ocean, at depths of 245–338 m. The new species can be readily distinguished from all congeners by having the following combination of characters: an orange spot on pectoral-fin and caudal-fin bases; 4 scale rows between lateral line and base of spinous dorsal fin; cheek scales in 8 or 9 (modally 8) rows; tip of upper caudal-fin lobe elongated, slightly longer than lower lobe in specimens > ca. 100 mm; no longitudinal dark stripe or row of dark blotches laterally on body; interorbital scales extending beyond mid-orbit level, but not reaching anterior margin of orbit; scales on ventral surface of lower jaw restricted to angular, absent on dentary; pelvic fin short, tip not reaching anus when adpressed.

CHALCAL 2, EXBODI, KANADEEP, LITHIST, MIRIKY, MUSORSTOM 5

Left-eyed flounders of the genus Chascanopsetta Alcock 1894 (Bothidae) occur in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans at depths ranging from 120 to 1500 meters. They possess some unique features in bothid fishes including a strongly compressed and elongated body and a tremendously large mouth. Currently, nine species of Chascanopsetta are recognized, and three of them (C. micrognatha Amaoka & Yamamoto 1984, C. lugubris Alcock 1894 and C. prognatha Norman 1939) are distributed in the West Pacific. We collected 25 specimens of Chascanopsetta during 11 biodiversity expeditions carried out mainly in the West Pacific. Among them, eight specimens taken off Papua New Guinea present morphological features that differ from those of the three nominal species known in the West Pacific. In this study, we examined these eight specimens of unknown affinity and compared their morphology to that of specimens of other congeneric species. Results of these comparisons showed that these specimens represent an undescribed species of Chascanopsetta, named herein, C. novaeguineae sp. nov.. The new species resembles C. elski Foroshchuk 1991, which is known only from the Saya de Malha Bank in the western Indian Ocean, in having a high number of gill rakers (> 13). However, the combination of the following characters further distinguishes C. novaeguineae sp. nov. from C. elski: longer jaws, narrower interorbital width, and number of pseudobranches (21–25 vs. 26–27). The DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from C. novaeguineae sp. nov. and other species were obtained and compared to confirm its taxonomic status and to infer its tentative phylogenetic position within the Chascanopsetta.

AURORA 2007, BIOPAPUA, DongSha 2014, KANACONO, KANADEEP, KARUBENTHOS 2, KAVIENG 2014, MADEEP, NanHai 2014, SALOMONBOA 3, ZhongSha 2015

With six valid species, Luciobrotula is a small genus of the family Ophidiidae, commonly known as cusk-eels. They are benthopelagic fishes occurring at depths ranging from 115–2300 m in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Among them, Luciobrotula bartschi is the only known species in the West Pacific. Three specimens of Luciobrotula were collected from the Philippine Sea, Bismarck Sea, and Solomon Sea in the West Pacific during the AURORA, PAPUA NIUGINI, and MADEEP expeditions under the Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program, and all of them were initially identified as L. bartschi. Subsequent examination with integrative taxonomy indicates that they belong to two distinct species, with the specimen collected from the Solomon Sea representing a new species, which is described here. In terms of morphology, Luciobrotula polylepis sp. nov. differs from its congeners by having a relatively longer lateral line (end of the lateral line below the 33rd dorsal-fin ray) and fewer vertebrae (abdominal vertebrae 13, total vertebrae 50). In the inferred COI gene tree, the two western Pacific species of Luciobrotula do not form a monophyletic group. The genetic K2P distance between the two species is 13.8% on average at the COI locus.

AURORA 2007, MADEEP, PAPUA NIUGINI