Species of the anglerfish genus Chaunax Lowe, 1846 from the New Zealand region are taxonomically reviewed with six species recognized and described: Chaunax penicillatus McCulloch; C. nudiventer Ho & Shao, a new record for New Zealand; and four species new to science. Chaunax flavomaculatus sp. nov. distinguished by having its skin covered with a mix of numerous bifurcated and simple spinules, large yellow spots on dorsal surface of fresh specimens, and brownish coloured escal cirri; Chaunax mulleus sp. nov. by having a uniformly pink body with a deep red colour on ventral surfaces of the outer pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin, and lower part of caudal fin; Chaunax reticulatus sp. nov. by having cirri on the dorsal surface of head, and a pale reticulate colour pattern on a greyish background dorsally; and Chaunax russatus sp. nov. by its very wide illicial trough that is usually as wide or wider than the diameter of the pupil, and uniformly deep red body colour with creamy white to fuzzy greyish spots or patches on its dorsal surface. A key to species recognized from the study area is given.

BERYX 11, BERYX 2, CHALCAL 2, LITHIST

Examination and taxonomic review of the batfishes collected from New Zealand and adjacent waters reveals five nominal species: Halieutopsis bathyoreos and Malthopsis mitrigera are recorded from New Zealand for the first time; the synonymy of Halieutaea maoria with H. stellata is confirmed, and two new species are described. Malthopsis asparata sp. nov. is unique in having stout principal bucklers with prominent spines. Malthopsis parva sp. nov. differs from congeners in having a naked abdomen, a short rostral spine directed upward, and all principal bucklers blunt.

BERYX 11, BERYX 2

Abstract Eyes within the marine gastropod superfamily Stromboidea range widely in size, from 0.2 to 2.3 mm—the largest eyes known in any gastropod. Despite this interesting variation, the underlying evolutionary pressures remain unknown. Here, we use the wealth of material available in museum collections to explore the evolution of stromboid eye size and structure. Our results suggest that depth is a key light-limiting factor in stromboid eye evolution; here, increasing water depth is correlated with increasing aperture width relative to lens diameter, and therefore an increasing investment in sensitivity in dim light environments. In the major clade containing all large-eyed stromboid families, species observed active during the day and the night had wider eye apertures relative to lens sizes than species observed active during the day only, thereby prioritizing sensitivity over resolution. Species with no consistent diel activity pattern also had smaller body sizes than exclusively day-active species, which may suggest that smaller animals are more vulnerable to shell-crushing predators, and avoid the higher predation pressure experienced by animals active during the day. Within the same major clade, ancestral state reconstruction suggests that absolute eye size increased above 1 mm twice. The unresolved position of Varicospira, however, weakens this hypothesis and further work with additional markers is needed to confirm this result.

ATIMO VATAE, CONCALIS, EXBODI, INHACA 2011, KAVIENG 2014, KOUMAC 2.3, MADIBENTHOS, MIRIKY, PAPUA NIUGINI

Walters Shoal

The diversity, ubiquity and prevalence in deep waters of the octocoral family Chrysogorgiidae Verrill, 1883 make it noteworthy as a model system to study radiation and diversification in the deep sea. Here we provide the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Chrysogorgiidae, and compare phylogeny and depth distribution. Phylogenetic relationships among 10 of 14 currently-described Chrysogorgiidae genera were inferred based on mitochondrial (mtMutS, cox1) and nuclear (18S) markers. Bathymetric distribution was estimated from multiple sources, including museum records, a literature review, and our own sampling records (985 stations, 2345 specimens). Genetic analyses suggest that the Chrysogorgiidae as currently described is a polyphyletic family. Shallow-water genera, and two of eight deep-water genera, appear more closely related to other octocoral families than to the remainder of the monophyletic, deep-water chrysogorgiid genera. Monophyletic chrysogorgiids are composed of strictly (Iridogorgia Verrill, 1883, Metallogorgia Versluys, 1902, Radicipes Stearns, 1883, Pseudochrysogorgia Pante & France, 2010) and predominantly (Chrysogorgia Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864) deep-sea genera that diversified in situ. This group is sister to gold corals (Primnoidae Milne Edwards, 1857) and deep-sea bamboo corals (Keratoisidinae Gray, 1870), whose diversity also peaks in the deep sea. Nine species of Chrysogorgia that were described from depths shallower than 200 m, and mtMutS haplotypes sequenced from specimens sampled as shallow as 101 m, suggest a shallow-water emergence of some Chrysogorgia species.

TERRASSES

Morid cods, family Moridae, of the New Caledonian Exclusive Economic Zone are reviewed based on fresh specimens obtained during exploratory fishing by ORSTOM and preserved specimens held in research collections in Paris, Nouméa and Wellington, The following eleven species in six genera are described: Gadella brocca new species, endemic; Gadella norops Paulin, southern Indian Ocean and southwestern Pacific Ocean; Laemonema filodorsale Okamura, new record, western Pacific; Laemonema palauense Okamura, western Pacific Ocean; Lepidion inosimae (Günther), new record, western Pacific Ocean; Mora moro (Risso), new record, northwest Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, southern Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean; Physicidus longifilis Weber, new record, Flores Sea and northern Australia; Physicidus luminosus Paulin, new record,,South Pacific Ocean; Physiculus roseus Alcock, new record, Indian Ocean, South China Sea, Phillipines; Physiculus therosideros Paulin, southwestern Pacific Ocean; Tripterophycis svetovidovi Sazanov & Shcherbachev, new record, warm temperate South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. A key to the species is provided.

AZTEQUE, BATHUS 1, BERYX 11, BERYX 2, CHALCAL 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, SMIB 3, SMIB 4

The Australasian Eucla cod, Euclichthys polynemus McCulloch, family Euclichthyidae, is described for the first time from the New Caledonian Exclusive Economic Zone where it appears to be restricted to seamount "B" (24°55'S, 168°21 'E) on the northern Norfolk Ridge southeast of New Caledonia. The Eucla cod is superficially very similar to morid cods (family Moridae), but can be distinguished by a long filamentous pelvic fin with four to six distal elements, an unequally divided anal fin, and an asymmetrical caudal fin.

BERYX 11, BERYX 2, CHALCAL 2

Gemfishes of the genus Rexea from the New Caledonia Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are reviewed based on fresh and preserved specimens. Three species are recognized: Rexea aniefurcata Parin, 1989, confirming recent records (previously also recorded as R. prometheoides), distinguished by the presence of small scales on the caudal peduncle and extending anteriorly along the edges of the lower lateral line, lateral line branching below the 4th-5th dorsal fm spines, a long pectoral fm, and dusky colour of spinous dorsal fm membrane and (in adults) pectoral fm; R. bengalensis (Alcock, 1894), first record, distinguished by its small maximum size, lateral line branching below the 5th-6th dorsal fin spines, long pectoral fin, and naked body (except lateral line); and R. alisae sp. nov., endemic, distinguished by 3-4 dorsal finlets and 4 anal finlets, lateral line branching below the 6th to 7th dorsal fin spines, posterior extent of the upper lateral line, its naked body (except lateral line), and coloration. A key to New Caledonian gemfishes {Rexea spp., Rexichthys johnpaxtoni and Promethichthys prometheus) is provided.

BERYX 11, BERYX 2, CHALCAL 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5

The Australasian sandfish, Gonorynchus forsteri Ogilby, is recorded for lhe first time from the New Caledonian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The record is based on two adult specimens, one running ripe female and one spent or resting male, captured at 960-1233 m depth on the Loyalty Island Ridge and Lord Howe Rise. Their presence in bathyal depths over 700 nautical miles from the nearest known populations is discussed and compared with the occurrence of the species in New Zealand waters. It is hypothesized that adult sandfish migrate along oceanic ridges to spawn in southern New Caledonian waters.

BERYX 2, HALIPRO 2