Studies of recent bathyal collections mainly made during MUSORSTOM cruises have shown an extremely diverse grenadier fauna in the New Caledonian region. A total of 932 grenadier specimens (families Bathygadidae and Macrouridae) representing 49 species in 16 genera were collected from 102 samples taken from depths between 395 and 2105 m (mid-depth sounding). Of the 49 species, 15 (31%) were found to be new (one recently described) and two are treated as indeterminate. The collections were dominated by the genera Caelorinchus (14 spp., 5 new), Ventrifossa (7 spp., 2 new, but one not named), Hymenocephalus (sensu lato) (7 spp., 2 new), and Nezumia (5 spp., 3 new). This paper reports the taxonomic findings on the collections. A subsequent paper will report on aspects of the distribution and biology of grenadiers in the New Caledonian region.

AZTEQUE, BERYX 11, BERYX 2, BIOCAL, BIOGEOCAL, CHALCAL 2, CORAIL 2, HALIPRO 2, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 6, MUSORSTOM 7, SMIB 1, SMIB 3, VOLSMAR

Spicomacrurus, formerly classified as a subgenus of Hymenogadus, is elevated to full generic status after the discovery of two new species from the southwestern Pacific. The following synapomorphies characterizing the genus are not shared with either Hymenogadus or Hymenocephalus, although Spicomacrurus obviously belongs within this clade of grenadiers: net-like pattern of black epithelium covering gular region; elongate posterior dermal window of light organ; membranous flange on distal portion of outer pelvic fin ray; and protruding snout formed by three broad horizontally flattened processes of the nasal bones. Spicomacrurus dictyogadus sp. nov. is described from one collected off Vanuatu in 657–685 m. It can be distinguished by its relatively deep and compressed body and head, greatest body width about 2 times into greatest depth; suborbital depth about 3.5 into orbit diameter; and scale rows below origin of second dorsal fin 5½. Spicomacrurus mccoskeri sp. nov. is described from six specimens collected off Chesterfield Plateau in 650–710 m. It can be distinguished by its shallow, cylindrical body and head, greatest body width slightly less than greatest depth; suborbital depth 5–6 into orbit diameter; and scale rows below origin of second dorsal fin 3½. A key to all four species of Spicomacrurus is provided.

BOA1, MUSORSTOM 4, MUSORSTOM 5

Species of grenadier fishes (Order Gadiformes) in Taiwan are reviewed. The species list of Shao et al. (2008) is revised. A total 71 species in 21 genera and 3 families is recognized, including 5 species that are tentatively identified and 5 species, Coelorinchus hexafasciatus, C. cf. macrorhynchus, C. cf. notatus, Hymenocephalus papyraceus, and Ventrifossa sazonovi, that are first records for Taiwan. Ventrifossa fusca is recognized as a junior synonym of V. misakia. Keys to families, genera and species are provided. Species descriptions are based mainly on Taiwanese specimens but supplemented with specimens from various other sources. Figures of species firstly reported by Shao et al. (2008) are provided.

AURORA 2007, SMIB 3, TAIWAN 2001

Two new deep water Coelorinchus species were captured during a joint Australia/New Zealand marine fauna survey of the West Norfolk and South Norfolk Ridges and south Lord Howe Rise in May-June 2003. Coelorinchus Osipullus sp. Nov. Is similar to the Australasian C. celaenostomus McMillan and Paulin and had been mistakenly identified as such in French collection surveyx off New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, but the new species has pale to dusky lips and mouth compared to the intense black markings of C. celaenostomus. It is also very similar to C. sheni Chiou, Shao, and Iwamoto from Taiwan, but has shorter and narrower snout and blackish gums compared to the pale gums of C. sheni. Coelorinchus obscuratus sp. Nov. Is most similar to C. occa (Goode and Bean) from the western North Atlantic, but the latter has a larger orbit, lacks a blackish orbital rim, and has much more coasely spinnulated scales.

BERYX 2, HALIPRO 2

Two new species of Hymenocephalus are described from the New Zealand region and Tasman Sea. Hymenocephalus fuscus sp. n. has 11–12 pelvic fin rays, is darkly pigmented, with enlarged bony ridges on the dorsal aspects of head, lacks a chin barbel, has few (16–19) gill rakers on inner side of first arch and is similar to other species in the H. aterrimus species group. Hymenocephalus maculicaudus sp. n. has 8 pelvic fin rays, a mid-lateral line of melanophores on body and tail that extends about a head length posterior to anal fin origin, a short (7–16 % HL) chin barbel and is similar to other species in the H. megalops species group. Hymenocephalus nascens has 12–14 pelvic fin rays, lacks a chin barbel, has a mid-lateral stripe of silvery (fresh) or brownish (preserved) pigment running along trunk and tail. Hymenogadus gracilis has a serrated (weak, near tip) first dorsal fin spine, 7–9 pelvic fin rays, long (20–30% HL) chin barbel, and one row of enlarged melanophores along lateral mid-line of the tail. Hymenocephalus nascens and Hymenogadus gracilis are recorded for the first time from the New Zealand region. A key to the known New Zealand species of Hymenocephalus and Hymenogadus is provided.

BERYX 11

We reported in an earlier paper the great species richness of the grenadier fauna (families Bathygadidae and Macrouridae) from recent bathyal trawl collections made mainly during MUSORSTOM cruises in the New Caledonian region. Here we add information from further samples to complement earlier taxonomic findings, and descriptions of 2 new species, together with comments on species, distribution and ecology. Thus a total of 2055 specimens from 221 samples examined representing 20 genera and 63 species were found to have closest similarity in composition with New South Wales, Western Australia and New Zealand. As expected, dissimilarity increased with distance from New Caledonia. Four genera dominated in species richness: Caelorinchus (17), Hymenocephalus (8), Nezumia (5) and Ventrifossa (6), comprising 2/3 of the total fauna. The generic make-up of the faunas closest to New Caledonia were most consistent with that region; propordons varied radically from there in the more distant regions invesdgated. Bathymetrically, the smaller trawls of the MUSORSTOM surveys collected grenadiers over a range of tows shallower than that reflected by the commercial gear used on the HALIPRO 2 cruise, with a generally smaller size of fish sampled. Co-occurrence of grenadier species within similar depth strata on the slope was remarkably high, with only two of the 63 species not represented, at least over part of their depth range, in the upper 1600 m. Species richness peaked at 37 in both the 700 and 800 tn strata, although it did not drop below 20 across the depth range 400-1100 m and reduced substantially only deeper than 1400 m.

BATHUS 1, BATHUS 3, HALIPRO 2, MUSORSTOM 7, MUSORSTOM 8

We recognize six species of Mataeocephalus : M. acipenserinus, M. adustus, M. cristatus sp. nov., M. tenuicauda, M. kotlyari sp. nov., and M. hyostomus. The last species was formely considered to belong to Hyomacrurus, a genus that was thought, based on its six branchiostegal rays, to be most closely related to Coryphaenoides, but differing in the advanced placement of the anus. We consider Hyomacrurus to be a synonym of Mataeocephalus, but retain it as a subgenus containing two species, M. kotlyari and M. hyostomus. Mataeocephalus microstomus Regan and M. nigrescens Smith and Radcliffe are relegated to the synonymy of M. acipenserinus. A revised diagnosis of Mataeocephalus is provided, and its status within the group of macrourids with seven branchiostegal ray is discussed.

BIOGEOCAL, MUSORSTOM 5, MUSORSTOM 8