Abstract
A new species of numbfish is described from the Gulf of Oman on the basis of an adult female specimen that contained three late-term pups in utero. Narcine atzi, sp. nov., is distinguished from all other species of Narcine by a unique combination of characters, including the first dorsal fin clearly taller, and with a longer base, than the second dorsal fin; preoral snout length greater than preorbital snout length; and dorsal coloration composed of numerous small dark brown spots over disc, tail, and inside spiracles, coupled with faint larger blotches on dorsal disc region. Narcine atzi is also recorded from Sri Lanka and Myanmar. The numbfishes from the Arabian Sea and Gulfs of Oman and Aden are briefly summarized. Three additional species of Narcine are confirmed from these regions, along with one peripheral species from the coast of central Somalia. A key is provided to identify the numbfishes from the Arabian Sea and Gulfs of Oman and Aden.
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Received: November 27, 2001 / Revised: September 26, 2002 / Accepted: October 21, 2002
Acknowledgments The first author is grateful for the generosity of the following people during visits to their institutions, or for sending material on loan: J. Paxton, S. Richardson, and M. McGrouther (AMS); A.Y. Suzumoto (BPBM); D.H. Catania, J.D. Fong, T. Iwamoto, and W.N. Eschmeyer (CAS); L. Walschaerts (IRSNB); G. Duhamel, F. Meunier, B. Séret, and P. Pruvost (MNHN); A.C. Gill, O. Crimmen, D.J. Siebert, P. Campbell, and S. Davidson (BMNH); M. van Oijen and H. Tegelaar (BMNH); F. Krupp (SMF); J.D. McEachran (TCWC); J.B. Hutchins, G.R. Allen, and S. Morrison (WAM); L.R. Parenti, J. Williams, S. Jewett, L. Palmer, and L. Knapp (USNM); I. Isbrücker and H. Nijssen (ZMA); H.-J. Paepke, P. Bartsch, and C. Lamour (ZMB); and H. Wilkens and G. Schulze (ZMH). R.C. Schelly commented on the manuscript before submission. The staff of the Department of Ichthyology of the AMNH is also thanked for assistance in many ways related to this article. The first author is especially grateful to J.W. Atz, for whom the new species described here is named, for continuous stimulating discussions on all matters ichthyological, and for his esteemed friendship. Financial support to the first author was provided by a fellowship from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) of the Brazilian Federal Government, a graduate student fellowship from the Office of Grants and Fellowships of the AMNH, the USNM (short-term visitor), the Department of Ichthyology of the AMNH, and The City University of New York.
Correspondence to:Marcelo R. de Carvalho
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de Carvalho, M., Randall, J. Numbfishes from the Arabian Sea and surrounding gulfs, with the description of a new species from Oman (Chondrichthyes: Torpediniformes: Narcinidae). Ichthyol Res 50, 0059–0066 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s102280300008
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s102280300008