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A review of the non-native Kyphosus species historically recorded in Galician waters (north-western Spain) based on morphological and molecular characteristics is carried out. The list is composed of 15 specimens recorded from 2002 to 2022, showing a clearly unbalanced ratio in favour of K. vaigiensis with respect to K. sectatrix (6.5:1). A similar analysis was performed by consulting ichthyological literature on the Kyphosus species reported in the subtropical–temperate Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The results seem to reflect a more recent and conspicuous appearance of K. vaigiensis in the Northeast Atlantic–Mediterranean area, suggesting a higher invasive capacity than that of its congener K. sectatrix, perhaps related to its greater mobility. DNA barcoding supports the morphological identification of K. vaigiensis from Galicia and confirms the Atlantic–Mediterranean and Indo–Pacific distribution of the species. In addition, the main distinctive morphological characters found in the ichthyological literature have been revised and the taxonomic status of one published record has been changed. The results indicate the need to monitor non-indigenous marine species in the current global warming scenario of the Anthropocene era. Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2019/28

A new species of rockling fish genus Gaidropsarus is described based on six specimens collected in Galicia and Porcupine Banks, in Atlantic European waters. An analysis of morphological characters has confirmed the specific status of specimens of a previously described clade by comparison of DNA sequences. Gaidropsarus gallaeciae sp. nov. it is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: 43–44 vertebrae; 54–60 third dorsal fin rays; 44–52 anal fin rays; 21–23 pectoral fin rays; head length 21.1–25.2% of standard length (SL); length of the pelvic fin 16.2–19% SL; length of the first dorsal fin ray 15.8–27% of head length (%HL); eye diameter 15.8–20.5% HL; and interorbital space 21.7–28% HL. Using the nucleotide sequence of the 5’ end of the mitochondrial COI gene as a molecular marker, the genetic p-distance between the new species and its congeners far exceeds the usual 2%, granting the former the status of an independent taxon, which is in accordance with the morphological identification. A comparison with the other 12 valid species of the genus is presented. The study also highlights the morphological diversity resulting from the meristic and biometric variability of Gaidropsarus species and lays the groundwork for future taxonomic studies on this genus., SI

One specimen of the shortfin neoscopelid Neoscopelus microchir Matsubara, 1943, has been recorded for the first time on the Porcupine Bank, southwestern Ireland, providing a new northern limit of distribution for the eastern Atlantic. Morphometric and meristic parameters confirm the taxonomic identification. However, DNA barcoding shows deficiencies in current taxonomy and the potential occurrence of cryptic species. On this basis, the specimen is cautiously reported as Neosopelus cf. microchir pending a taxonomic revision of the genus., SI

This study combined morphological and molecular approaches to the species assignment of several rare or poorly known deep-water fishes caught between 549 and 1371 m depth during a Spanish bottom trawl survey in the Porcupine Bank, west of Ireland. The following fish species were identified: Nessorhamphus ingolfianus (Schmidt, 1912), Borostomias antarcticus (Lönnberg 1905), Scopelosaurus lepidus (Krefft and Maul 1955), Bathypterois dubius Vaillant, 1888, Evermannella balbo (Risso, 1820), Antimora rostrata (Günther, 1878), Melanonus zugmayeri Norman, 1930, Lyconus brachycolus Holt and Byrne, 1906, Paraliparis hystrix Merrett, 1983, Neocyttus helgae (Holt and Byrne, 1908), Platyberyx opalescens Zugmayer, 1911, Howella atlantica Post and Quéro, 1991, Lycodes terraenovae Collett, 1896 and Pseudoscopelus altipinnis Parr, 1933. The presence of L. brachycolus, P. opalescens and P. altipinnis is reported for the first time in the Bank. The DNA barcoding results were largely consistent with morphological identification in 10 species but four did not fit the current taxonomy, indicating cases of potential cryptic speciation, misidentification, synonymy or recent diversification. Among them, the results strongly suggest that P. garmani and P. hystrix are conspecific, making P. hystrix a junior synonym of P. garmani.

En la presente obra se han analizado un total de 288 especímenes representantes de 2 órdenes, 4 familias, 8 géneros y 20 especies de peces marinos de aguas profundas presentes en el área del Atlántico Norte y el Mar Mediterráneo. En conjunto, se depositaron 641 nuevas secuencias en los repositorios internacionales, representativas de 4 marcadores mitocondriales (12S, 16S, COI y ND2) y dos nucleares (RAG1 y ZIC1), lo que supone un total de aproximadamente 900.000 nucleótidos leídos. Además, se obtuvo la información morfológica de 88 de estos especimenes a los que se les ha realizado un total de 1.664 mediciones. La técnica del DNA barcoding ha mostrado resultados dispares en función del grupo estudiado, con un 53% de identificaciones congruentes para el género Gaidropsarus y un 96% para el orden Notacanthiformes. La presente obra ha servido además para detectar errores en los repositorios públicos, y colaborar a su crecimiento al añadir una gran cantidad de información de grupos de peces normalmente poco estudiados. La eficacia del DNA barcoding ha dependido del nivel de conocimiento de la sistemática del grupo estudiado, aunque ha resultado útil como herramienta exploratoria para señalar posibles incongruencias taxonómicas cuando se emplea en un grupo específico. El uso combinado de información morfológica y molecular desde un punto de vista integrador ha mostrado la posible existencia de sinonimias entre especies estrechamente relacionadas, proponiendo la eliminación de algunos supuestos endemismos, y la posibilidad de nuevas especies de Gaidropsarus de aguas profundas en el Atlántico Norte. Por otro lado, estos análisis han demostrado sin lugar a dudas la sinonimia existente entre las especies Lepidion lepidion, considerada un endemismo del Mar Mediterráneo, y Lepidion eques original del Océano Atlántico. Los análisis filogeográficos han sugerido una compleja historia evolutiva para Lepidion lepidion; por un lado, se ha detectado la existencia de dos linajes relacionados con el origen atlántico/mediterráneo de los individuos y por otro, la presencia de variaciones en su historia demográfica en función del área geográfica. Los datos sugieren, además, la presencia de un gradiente de variabilidad morfológica norte/sur en esta especie, algo ya descrito en otras especies de peces marinos, lo que puede explicar su errónea clasificación como dos especies independientes. Esta obra ha representado el primer intento específico de estudiar el conjunto de las relaciones evolutivas entre las especies pertenecientes al orden Notacanthiformes. La inferencia filogenética ha mostrado el patrón general de especiación de este orden desde su origen hace aproximadamente 140 millones de años hasta la actualidad. Los resultados obtenidos han apoyado la hipótesis ya sugerida de que Lipogenys gillii representa el linaje hermano de los géneros Notacanthus y Polyacanthonotus A total of 288 specimens representing 2 orders, 4 families, 8 genera and 20 species of deepsea marine fish present in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea have been analyzed in this work. Altogether, 641 new sequences were deposited in the international repositories, representing 4 mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI and ND2) and two nuclear (RAG1 and ZIC1) markers, representing approximately 900,000 nucleotides reads. In addition, morphological information was obtained from 88 of these specimens on which a total of 1,664 measurements have been made. The DNA barcoding technique has shown differing results depending on the group studied, with 53% congruent identifications for the genus Gaidropsarus and 96% for the order Notacanthiformes. The present work has also served to detect errors in public repositories, and contribute to their growth by adding a large amount of information from groups of fish normally little studied. The effectiveness of DNA barcoding has depended on the level of knowledge of the systematics of the studied group, although it has been useful as an exploratory tool to point out possible taxonomic incongruities when it is used in a specific group. The combined use of morphological and molecular information from an integrative point of view has shown the possible existence of synonyms between closely related species, proposing the elimination of some supposed endemisms, and the possibility of new species of deep-water Gaidropsarus in the North Atlantic. On the other hand, these analyses have undoubtedly demonstrated the synonymies existing between the species Lepidion lepidion, considered an endemism of the Mediterranean Sea, and Lepidion eques original of the Atlantic Ocean. Phylogeographic analyses have suggested a complex evolutionary history for Lepidion lepidion; on the one hand, the existence of two lineages related to the Atlantic/Mediterranean origin of the individuals has been detected, and on the other, the presence of variations in their demographic history depending on the geographical area. The data also suggest the presence of a north/south morphological gradient of variability in this species, something already described in other marine fish species, which may explain their erroneous classification as two independent species. This work has represented the first specific attempt to study the set of evolutionary relationships between species belonging to the order Notacanthiformes. Phylogenetic inference has shown the general pattern of speciation of this order from its origin approximately 140 million years ago to the present. The results obtained have supported the already suggested hypothesis that Lipogenys gillii represents the sister lineage of the genera Notacanthus and Polyacanthonotus.

La finalidad de esta tesis es determinar el modelo de crecimiento de la merluza europea, Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758), a través de una serie de estudios que muestran la evolución del paradigma de dicho modelo. Para ello se han planteado tres objetivos específicos: i) determinar la edad y el crecimiento a escala anual a partir de la macroestructura del otolito; ii) determinar la tasa de crecimiento diario a partir de la microestructura del otolito; y iii) determinar la tasa de crecimiento mediante técnicas de marcado-recaptura de ejemplares en su medio natural.