Samuel P. Iglésias

Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle · Origines et Évolution

Ce projet se propose de réaliser un ouvrage sur la diversité des poissons de l’Atlantique Européen, de la mer Méditerranée et des zones limitrophes (l'aire ICCANAM, Figure 1). Cette zone s’étend en latitude depuis le pôle nord jusqu’à l’équateur et en longitude de 45° Ouest à 45° Est. Des mises à jour sont réalisées pour rendre compte de l’avanceme...

Cryptobenthic fishes are bottom dwelling species that are easily overlooked because of their small size, their colouring similar to the surrounding, or because they live hidden. These species are also often difficult to identify. For these reasons, the diversity of cryptobenthic fishes is one of the least known of the marine world. This Notebook pr...

Centrophorus uyato (Rafinesque, 1810) has a complicated nomenclatural history which has led to multiple scientific names being ascribed to this species. In the Mediterranean Sea, and elsewhere in its range, this species was previously referred to as C. granulosus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801). The first paper in this revision series clarified that C. g...

La technique d’expertise moléculaire selon l’approche ADN environnemental (ADNe) est en pleine expansion cette dernière décennie, notamment dans le milieu aquatique (e.g., Belle et al., 2019 ; Garlapati et al., 2019). Elle permet de détecter des espèces rares, de suivre la progression des espèces exotiques envahissantes, ou de réaliser des inventai...

Opportunistic records, especially for rare species, are often the first available data revealing geographic expansions in a context of global change in marine ecosystems. On the basis of a first record in the north of the North Sea of the mesopelagic fish Diretmichthys parini (Post and Quéro, 1981), initially described as tropical and subtropical,...

Uncommon fish records may reflect local or global changes of fish composition resulting from environmental changes or anthropogenic activities. Significant records of uncommon marine fishes, including migrant, non-native, cryptic, rare and threatened species, collected in French waters or by French vessels in European waters, observed by scuba dive...

An updated and evidence-based checklist of Mediterranean Sea fishes is provided. Each of the fish species in the Mediterranean Sea listed here was either listed in the last published checklist of the Mediterranean fishes or in other, reports or new records, and the checklist is critically assessed. Out of the assessed 791 species previously reporte...

Skates are characterised by conservative body morphology which hampers identification and leads to frequent taxonomic confusion and market mislabelling. Accurate specimen classification is crucial for reliable stock assessments and effective conservation plans, otherwise the risk of extinction could be unnoticed. The misclassification issue is evid...

Chimaera compacta sp. nov., a new species of shortnose chimaera (Holocephali: Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae), is described from a single specimen collected at 595–655 m depth, off Amsterdam Island, in the southern Indian Ocean. The species is easily distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: massive head with sho...

Chondrichthyan egg cases are important elements for species-specific identification and also provide a valuable aid in determining a species spatial distribution, as well as for defining spawning areas. Considering the absence of a general key for the identification of the egg cases of the Mediterranean Chondrichthyes, this work aims to fill this g...

Gobius xoriguer sp. nov., a new offshore species of goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Gobiinae) is described based on three specimens collected in 2010, 2012 and 2018 in the western Mediterranean, off Menorca (Spain), in the Gulf of Lion and off Corsica (France), at 51–104 m depth on coralline algae sea bed. It is easily distinguishable from its Atlantic-...

Gobiesocidae are a moderate-sized family (currently 182 species, 51 genera) of predominantly coastal marine fishes, commonly referred to as clingfishes. Depending on the classification adopted, the species and genera of clingfishes are organized either across ten subfamilies, based on a classification scheme introduced in the 1950s (“traditional” c...

Uncommon records of fishes may evidence local or global changes in fish composition resulting from environmental change or anthropogenic activities. Significant records of uncommon marine fishes, including migrant, non-native, cryptic, rare and threatened species, collected in french waters or by french vessels in European waters, observed by scuba...

In Oceans Past News No.10 (November 2018), we featured Samuel Iglésias's and Frederik Mollen's ongoing research on the Bramble shark (Echinorhinus brucus) in our spotlight. Their 'coldcase' illustrated that the disappearance of large and charismatic species, such as the Bramble shark, may go totally unnoticed and even unsuspected from datasets of m...

Knowledge of skate ecology must be improved to ensure their effective protection. This study represents the first description of diet composition for one of the largest European rajid, the blue skate Dipturus cf. flossada . A total of 346 specimens collected in Celtic Sea from 2012 to 2015 were analysed for their gut content, with respect to indivi...

The tale of the Bramble shark description, Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Echinorhinidae) and the rediscovery of the drawings of the lost type. The Bramble shark, Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre, 1788) was first described by Broussonet in 1780 based on a type that has been lost and its unpublished illustration. In his description of the sp...

Age determination for stock assessments and conservation of cartilaginous fishes is mainly obtained by counting the annual growth bands in vertebrae. Recent studies show numerous inconsistencies and the need for systematic validation. We assessed the effectiveness of the fluorochrome alizarin red S, a common skeleton vital marker used as a time sta...

A group of French biologists interested in marine organisms (Charles Robin, Georges Pouchet, Lau-rent Chabry, Alfred Giard and Jules Bonnier), took from 1878 to 1890 regular trips to the Laboratoire maritime de Concarneau formerly the Vivier-Laboratoire founded by Victor Coste in 1859 on the south coast of Finistère. Their visits were registered as...

Cette liste d'espèces de poissons déterminants marins de Bretagne a été élaborée par un groupe de travail composé de quatre membres du CSRPN Bretagne, d’un expert extérieur du MNHN, de deux agents de la DREAL Bretagne et d’un représentant de l’OEB. Ce sujet a été mis à l’ordre du jour (priorité 1) de la feuille de route de la Commission « Milieux M...

French Atlantic Fauna. Slope flshes. l. Alepocephalidae (Craniata : Actinopterygii : Osmeriformes). A state of knowledge the French Atlantic slope fauna of the Alepocephalidae family is performed: 12 species are currently recorded from 500 to 2000 m depth.

Data collected by fishery observers on board French fishing vessels targeting Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), were examined to quantify and describe shark by-catch within the Kerguelen exclusive economic zone (EEZ). From 2006 to 2016, the fishing crews of longline vessels reported the total catches of the line and observers were as...

Uncommon records of fishes may evidence local or global changes of fish composition resulting from environmental modifications or anthropic activities. Significant records of uncommon marine fishes, including threatened species, collected in French waters or by French vessels in European waters are reported for the year 2017. They include first, ne...

In the original publication, the Supplementary Table S2 was published without accession numbers.

Under the impulse of Charles Robin and Georges Pouchet, other French biologists interested in marine organisms took regular trips from 1878 to 1890 to the Laboratoire maritime de Concarneau in the south of Brittany (France). They inventoried marine organisms that were observed during their coastal field excursions near to the laboratory in the Bay...

In our October Spotlight, Samuel P. Iglésias and Frederik H. Mollen discuss their work unraveling the “cold case” of the Bramble Shark, and how their historical detective work revealed a species considered rare today was not only common in the past, but had a life history and habits unknown to current scientists. Emily S. Klein

Biotic and abiotic forces govern the evolution of trophic niches, which profoundly impact ecological and evolutionary processes and aspects of species biology. Herbivory is a particularly interesting trophic niche because there are theorized trade-offs associated with diets comprised of low quality food that might prevent the evolution of herbivory...

The Cornish sucker, Lepadogaster purpurea (Bonnaterre, 1788), a clingfish species thus far known from the north-eastern Atlantic south to western Africa, the Canary Islands and Madeira, and the western Mediterranean basin, was recently collected in Sicily (Italy), Croatia and Greece. Species identification was based on morphological and/or molecula...

A list of the marine fish species occurring in the French EEZ was assembled from more than 500 references. No updated list has been published since the 19th century, although incomplete versions were available in several biodiversity information systems. The list contains 729 species distributed in 185 families. It is a preliminary step for the Atl...

Gaidropsarus Rafinesque, 1810 is a genus of marine fishes, commonly known as rocklings, comprising 14 living species and showing a high ecological diversity from the intertidal zone to the deep sea. The systematics of this group has been controversial due to a general lack of representative specimens and the conservative morphology exhibited. A mul...

The alpha taxonomy of the globally distributed shark genus Squalus has been under intense investigation recently, and many new species have been described over the last decade. However, taxonomic uncertainty remains about several taxa. Without consistent nomenclature and the ability to reliably distinguish between the different Squalus species, bas...

The red pandora, Pagellus bellottii, is a tropical and subtropical demersal porgy (Sparidae) distributed in the eastern Atlantic, mostly along African coast. Several recent records in the Gulf of Cadiz suggests a northward migration of the species. Two specimens of the red pandora were caught in the southeast Bay of Biscay during the 2014 French fi...

Skates and rays constitute the most speciose group of chondrichthyan fishes, yet are characterised by remarkable levels of morphological and ecological conservatism. They can be challenging to identify, which makes monitoring species compositions for fisheries management purposes problematic. Owing to their slow growth and low fecundity, skates are...

The present study aimed to identify the Aetobatus species present in French Polynesia using DNA barcoding. Our study contributesto a better understanding of the distribution of species in the Aetobatus complex, which is necessary for a correct evaluation of the conservation status of the different species.

Gobius salamansa sp. nov., a new species of tropical eastern Atlantic goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Gobiinae) is described from the island of São Vicente in the Republic of Cabo Verde. With adults measuring less than 35 mm TL (total length) it is the smallest species among Gobius. It is easily distinguishable from its Atlantico-Mediterranean congeners...

The Mediterranean Sea, due to its connection to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal, its heavy maritime traffic, and the effects of climate change is a hotspot of invasion by alien species. A survey carried out around Cyprus during September 2014 documented the occurrence of 25 alien fishes. Seven Lessepsian migrants ( Hippocampus fuscus Rüppell, 1838,...

The goal of this project is to realise two volumes of a book (volume I: "Chondrichthyans and Cyclostomata" and volume II : "Actinopterygians") on the diversity of fishes of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and bordering areas (the ICCANAM area, Figure 1). In the end it will include about 1700 species. Annual updates are scheduled to giv...

The goal of this project is to realise two volumes of a book (volume I: "Chondrichthyans and Cyclostomata" and volume II : "Actinopterygians") on the diversity of fishes of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and bordering areas (the ICCANAM area, Figure 1). In the end it will include about 1700 species. Annual updates are scheduled to giv...

This is the first record of the black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus being found in the eastern English Channel. A specimen was caught on 15 October 2012 off the port of Courseulles-sur-mer. It measured 31.6 cm and weighted 800 g. From a study of its sagittal otolith, this specimen appeared to be 9 years old.

The combtooth blennies (f. Blenniidae) is a diverse family of primarily marine fishes with approximately 387 species that inhabit subtidal, intertidal, supralittoral habitats in tropical and warm temperate regions throughout the world. The Blenniidae has typically been divided into six groups based on morphological characters: Blenniini, Nemophini,...

The family Dactylopteridae comprises seven valid species mostly distributed in tropical and subtropical seas (Eschmeyer and Fong, 2013). The flying gurnard Dactylopterus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) is present in the Eastern Atlantic, apparently from the North Sea to Angola, including the entire Mediterranean Sea and the Azores, and in the Western Atl...

The goal of this project is to realise two volumes of a book (volume I: plates and volume II: text) on the diversity of Actinopterygians of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and bordering areas (the ICCANAM area, Figure 1). In the end it will include about 1500 species. Annual updates are scheduled to give an account of the project progr...

The goal of this project is to realise a book on the diversity of Chondrichthyans of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and bordering areas (the ICCANAM area, Figure 1). In the end it will include about 155 species. Annual updates are scheduled to give an account of the project progress. Thes version will be distributed in Pdf file at the...

The 2013 meeting of the ICES Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Ma-rine Organisms (WGITMO) was held in Montreal, Canada during 20-22. March with Cynthia McKenzie as host and Henn Ojaveer as chair. The meeting was attended by 21 participants from 16 countries. The physical participants were from Belgium, Can-ada, Estonia, Finland, Franc...

A new species of deepwater catshark (Pentanchidae) is described based on a single adult male measuring 676 mm TL that was collected at a depth of 953-1022 m on the Coriolis Bank off western New Caledonia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Within the genus Apristurus, the species belongs to the brunneus group whose members share a higher spiral valv...

A comparative study of rostral morphology of extant mackerel sharks (Lamniformes, Lamnidae) is presented. Based on computed tomography (CT) scans of fresh specimens, 3D reconstructions, dried museum chondrocrania and the available literature, detailed morphological descriptions of the rostral cartilages are provided for the type species of all thre...

The goal of this project is to realise two volumes of a book (volume I: plates and volume II: text) on the diversity of Actinopterygians of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and bordering areas (the ICCANAM area, Figure 1). In the end it will include about 1500 species. Annual updates are scheduled to give an account of the project progr...

The goal of this project is to realise a book on the diversity of Chondrichthyans of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and bordering areas (the ICCANAM area, Figure 1). In the end it will include about 150 species. Annual updates are scheduled to give an account of the project progress. Thes version will be distributed in Pdf file at the...

A new species of softnose skate (Arhynchobatidae) is described, based on a single adult male measuring 895 mm TL that was collected at a depth of 953–1,022 m on the Coriolis Bank off western New Caledonia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The specimen conforms to the genus Bathyraja in having the rostral cartilage continuous with the neurocranium...

A new species of spurdog, Squalus formosus n. sp., from the lower continental shelf and upper continental slope off the coast of Taiwan and southern Japan, is described. It belongs to the 'highfin megalops group', the members of which share a short snout, high dorsal fins, robust dorsal spines, tricuspid denticles and a white posterior caudal margi...

A new species of chimaeroid, Chimaera opalescens n. sp., was described from 31 type specimens caught in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean at 950-1400 m depth. This species differed from all its congeners by the combination of the following characters: body uniformly pale brown to bronze, iridescent on fresh specimens; unpaired fins brown to purple,...

A new genus and species of deep-sea eelpout(Zoarcidae), Barbapellis pterygalces, is herein described from a single adult female specimen carrying eggs and measuring 204 mm in total length. It was collected on the eastern Antarctic continental slope, off Terre Ade´lie, at ca. 1,200 m depth, on muddy bottom. Barbapellis is placed in the subfamily Gym...

The goal of this project is to realise two volumes of a book (volume I: plates and volume II: text) on the diversity of Actinopterygians of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean and bordering areas. In the end it will include about 1500 species. Updates are scheduled depending on the project progress. This one will be distributed on Pdf file unt...

The goal of this project is to realise a book on the diversity of Chondrichthyans of the European Atlantic and bordering areas. In the end it will include about 150 species. Updates are scheduled depending on the project progress. This one will be distributed on Pdf file until the publication of a final version as a book. The greatest interests of...

In the winter 2007–2008, the CAML-CEAMARC cruises prospected in the Eastern part of the Antarctic continental shelf (Dumont d'Urville Sea, off Terre Adélie). The Australian R/V “Aurora Australis” and the Japanese R/V “Umitaka Maru” sampled in locations and at depths previously uninvestigated in this region. In total, 538 teleost specimens collected...

The goal of this project is to realise two volumes of a book (volume I: plates and volume II: text) on the diversity of Actinopterygians of the European Atlantic, the Mediterranean and bordering areas. In the end it will include about 1500 species. Updates are scheduled depending on the project progress. This one will be distributed on Pdf file unt...

The goal of this project is to realise a book on the diversity of Chondrichthyans of the European Atlantic and bordering areas. In the end it will include about 150 species. Updates are scheduled depending on the project progress. This one will be distributed on Pdf file until the publication of a final version as a book. The greatest interests of...

Fourteen specimens of the Norwegian skate, Dipturus nidarosiensis (Rajiformes, Rajidae), were caught off the Sardinian coasts (Central Western Mediterranean Sea) in 2005-2008 between 600 and 1420 m of depth. Their identification has been confirmed by the sequencing of three regions of the mtDNA (16SrDNA, control region and cytochrome c oxidase subu...

1.The iconic European common skate (Dipturus batis) has been described as the first clear case of a fish species brought to the brink of extinction by commercial fishing. Its listing was upgraded to Critically Endangered on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. According to FAO fishery statistics, France is responsible for 60.2% of the 502...