John P. Sullivan

Wow, more 'myrids described in "Review of the southern African slender stonebashers, genus Heteromormyrus Steindachner 1866 (Teleostei: Mormyridae), with description of six new species" by Mutizwa, Kadye, Bragança & Chakona, open access in J Fish Biol. doi.org/10.1111/jfb....

This Deep-Sea Fish Has Teeth on Its Forehead—and It Uses Them for Sex Researchers suggest the rows of pointed structures on the heads of spotted ratfish are true teeth, offering the first known example of teeth located outside the jaw

On the teeth of the Spotted Ratfish

www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/t...

Loved this book. Gives one a sense that human progress in understanding the living world is so embedded in culture. Perhaps we’re on the eve of a Buffonian Renaissance.

Who knew such cuteness was lurking in the eastern Pacific abyssal zone? This is the bumpy snailfish, Careproctus colliculi n. sp., described by Gerringer et al. in Ichs & Herps., sequences now in GenBank. doi.org/10.1643/i202...

Can speciation leave essentially no phylogenetic signal? A fascinating study of the Caribbean hamlet (Hypoplectrus: Serranidae) radiation by Helmkampf et al. in Science. www.science.org/doi/full/10....

Chargé de recherche bioinformatique appliquée à la taxonomie intégrative (F/H) @ Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Muséum national d'Histoire naturellerecrute !

Postdoc position (24 mos) in Bioinformatics for Integrative Taxonomy at MNHN, Paris. Develop software tools for taxonomy research. Apply by Sept 7: https://recrutement.mnhn.fr/front-jobs-detail.html?id_job=1294&id_origin=0 #postdoc

Today at GenBank: sequences from the types of Synodus lautus sp. nov. from "A new species of Synodus from southern Japan, with a redescription of Synodus usitatus Cressey 1981 (Teleostei: Aulopiformes: Synodontidae)" from Furuhashi & Motomura in Ichthyol. Res. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Today at GenBank, sequences from the type series of new species Scorpaenopsis gigas (Scorpaenidae) from the Indo-West Pacific, courtesy of Matsumoto & Motomura, published in Ichthyological Research. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Today at GenBank: sequences from the holotype of Labeo niariensis sp. nov. from the Niari River of R. Congo, courtesy of Liyandja & Stiassny in J. Fish Biol. (open access) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

FIGURE 4 | Estimated mean dates for biogeographic events in Erythrinidae on tectonically active (Western) and passive (Eastern) continental margins. (A) Phylogenies of species in erythrinid genera from Figure 2A. Numbered circles represent biogeographic events dated using the geological literature (Table S3). Lettered tip labels represent biogeographic areas on the map. Red numbers at tree nodes represent mean divergence time esti- mates (Ma). (B) Lineage-age distribution of biogeographic events for clades in Panel A. Estimates are reported for minimum, median and maximum (mean dates from Figure 1) event age (Table S3). Ages of tectonic uplifts are indicated by horizontal rose bars. Note pulsed-age distribution of bio- geographic events in clades on the active Western margin, while the more continuous age distribution of events on the passive Eastern margin. Note opposite directions of watershed migration and geodispersal routes. Fish photographs: Hoplias and Erythrinus (Martin Taylor) and Hoplerythrinus (Jorge García-Melo)

Landscape Evolution Drives Continental Diversification in
Neotropical Freshwater Fishes of the Family Erythrinidae
(Teleostei, Characiformes)

Conde-Saldaña et al. @gymnotus.bsky.social 2025 Journal of Biogeography

doi.org/10.1111/jbi....

Shows connection between evolutionary history and geology.

Can you email me? jpsullivan65@icloud.com

Sure. Can we chat on a different app, or is there a chat feature on this?

YouTube video by PeerJ What ‘unexplored’ means: Mapping regions with digitized natural history records

Very proud of this paper led by @lsu.bsky.social students where we examine what ‘Unexplored’ means in a natural history context - we recommend ‘biodiversity blindspots’ instead for places that lack digitized public data

Paper here peerj.com/articles/185...

Video abstract youtu.be/QZ8wUrgJEao

Turns out the Snail Darter, which halted a TVA dam’s construction in the first major test of the Endangered Species Act, was never a distinct species. All species descriptions are hypotheses open to testing.

Do you actually work in that amazing building?

Hey mormyrophiles: Something just made me very happy and I want to share it with you. ChatGPT makes graphing single and multiple EOD waveform files produced by Mormyroscope and taking data from them super easy! Read about it here: mormyrids.efishgenomics.com/en/node/666

Ancient Egyptian sculpture of a mormyrid fish.

Korean painted screen depicting fishes in a pond.

Still life showing skate, dogfish, and other sea creatures.

"Watson and the Shark"; painting depicting man struggling in water and a shark about to attack. Several men on a dinghy attempt to spear the shark/rescue the man.

Fishes of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The "Oxyrhynchus fish" (Mormyrus god fish) itself is worth a visit to the Motor City. Would love to know how many of these there are in U.S. museums.

Low engagement is not the issue. A journalist baselessly called a pedophile and multiple death threats proffered. No consequences. Not off to a promising start.

It probably hasn't been. I'm mostly here for the fish. But when I read the story above my blood boils. Yours doesn't?

I wanted to like you Bluesky, I really did. You're a young platform still finding its legs. But if this is designed to be a "safe space" for people with views far left of center with no viewpoint diversity and you can't shut down murder threats against journalists my time here will be short.

The Cruelty Is the Point A blowup on Bluesky reveals what drives those who are most keen to say that they stand for the oppressed.

The Cruelty Is the Point
open.substack.com/pub/yaschamo...

A Mouse That Swims and Dozens More Species Are Discovered in a Peruvian Jungle A 38-day expedition in the remote Alto Mayo region, where development threatens wild habitats, turned up one previously unknown animal after another.

Quoted in this @nytimes.com article about a revolutionary expedition to Peru and the discovery of some neat new species to science including a blob-headed armored catfish www.nytimes.com/2024/12/20/s...

Two postdocs available to study cryptobenthic fishes

Simon Brandl's postdoc in Texas, with an emphasis in ecology
static1.squarespace.com/.../Postdoc_...

Luke Tornabene's postdoc in Washington, with an emphasis in systematics
static1.squarespace.com/.../Pursuit+....

#ichthyology #TeamFish

Tagliacollo et al. mine GenBank for 51 markers for 5,984 taxa and produce a "Time-calibrated phylogeny of Neotropical freshwater fishes" in Frontiers in Bioinformatics. A testament to the value of the database I help maintain for biodiversity studies. frontiersin.org/journals/bio...

Reflections on JRS' Exciting Biodiversity Achievements of 2024 - JRS Biodiversity Foundation It has been another amazingly busy and successful year for JRS! During 2024 I was privileged to engage with our outstanding grantees and personally monitor fieldwork progress through 21 site visits an...

JRS Biodiversity Foundation funds great projects across Africa. Check out their 2024 highlights. jrsbiodiversity.org/reflections-...
December 18, 2024 at 8:32 AM

Everybody can reply

Outrageous. I will leave this stupid platform if this happens again. There, that should fix it.

On behalf or the Editor-in-Chief and my fellow Guest Editors, I am pleased to announce a special issue in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society titled Mobilizing Natural History Collection in the Global South. Details are available on the journal website https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/pages/mobilizing-natural-history-collections Key details Submissions are welcomed from authors around the globe, but the manuscript must include research/findings on Global South NHCs (including the lack of infrastructure or NHCs). Global South researchers are particularly encouraged to submit to the issue. Accepted manuscripts in this special issue will be a standard publication that is free of APC (Article Publication Charge). Bilingual articles are encouraged, with one non-English version as supplementary material. Submission close: 31 March 2025

Chers collègues, Au nom du rédacteur en chef et de mes collègues éditeurs invités, j'ai le plaisir d'annoncer un numéro spécial du Biological Journal of the Linnean Society intitulé Mobilizing Natural History Collection in the Global South (Mobiliser les collections d'histoire naturelle dans le Sud). Les détails sont disponibles sur le site web du journal https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/pages/mobilizing-natural-history-collections Principaux détails Les soumissions d'auteurs du monde entier sont les bienvenues, mais le manuscrit doit inclure des recherches/constatations sur les collections d'histoire naturelle du Sud (y compris le manque d'infrastructures ou de collections d'histoire naturelle). Les chercheurs des pays du Sud sont particulièrement encouragés à participer à ce numéro. Les manuscrits acceptés dans ce numéro spécial feront l'objet d'une publication standard exempte de frais de publication d'article (APC). Les articles bilingues sont encouragés, avec une version non-anglaise comme matériel supplémentaire. Date limite de soumission : 31 mars 2025 J'ai également joint une annonce et un PDF avec des détails supplémentaires. Les versions non anglaises (français, espagnol et portugais) sont incluses (avis de non-responsabilité : basé sur des traducteurs en ligne). N'hésitez pas à diffuser largement l'information et à nous faire part de vos questions.

stimados colegas, En nombre del Editor Jefe y de mis colegas Editores Invitados, me complace anunciar la publicación de un número especial en la Revista Biológica de la Sociedad Linneana titulado Movilizando la Colección de Historia Natural en el Sur Global. Los detalles están disponibles en el sitio web de la revista https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/pages/mobilizing-natural-history-collections Detalles principales Se aceptan colaboraciones de autores de todo el mundo, pero el manuscrito debe incluir investigaciones o hallazgos sobre las CNH del Sur Global (incluida la falta de infraestructuras o CNH). Se anima especialmente a los investigadores del Sur Global a participar en este número. Los manuscritos aceptados en este número especial serán una publicación estándar libre de APC (Article Publication Charge). Se fomentarán los artículos bilingües, con una versión en lengua no inglesa como material suplementario. Plazo de presentación: 31 de marzo de 2025 También he adjuntado un anuncio y un PDF con detalles adicionales. Se incluyen versiones en otros idiomas (francés, español y portugués) (descargo de responsabilidad: basado en traductores en línea). Por favor, difúndalo y no dude en hacernos llegar sus preguntas.

Caros Colegas, Em nome do Editor-Chefe e dos meus colegas Editores Convidados, tenho o prazer de anunciar uma edição especial do Biological Journal of the Linnean Society intitulada Mobilizing Natural History Collection in the Global South. Os pormenores estão disponíveis no sítio Web da revista https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/pages/mobilizing-natural-history-collections Detalhes principais São bem-vindas submissões de autores de todo o mundo, mas o manuscrito deve incluir investigação/conclusões sobre NHCs do Sul Global (incluindo a falta de infra-estruturas ou NHCs). Os investigadores do Sul Global são particularmente encorajados a submeter trabalhos para esta edição. Os manuscritos aceites para esta edição especial serão uma publicação padrão isenta de APC (Taxa de Publicação de Artigos). Os artigos bilingues são encorajados, com uma versão em língua não inglesa como material suplementar. Encerramento da submissão: 31 de março de 2025 Anexei também um anúncio e um PDF com pormenores adicionais. Estão incluídas versões não inglesas (francês, espanhol e português) (aviso: com base em tradutores em linha). Partilhe amplamente e não hesite em enviar-nos quaisquer perguntas.

Advertisements for the special issue in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese ... please encourage folks from the Global South to submit a manuscript to this special issue.

The macroevolutionary dynamics of pharyngognathy in fishes fail to support the key innovation hypothesis - Nature Communications Key innovations are traits that trigger the rapid evolution of new species occupying novel niches. Fresh genetic evidence reveals that the modified throat jaws of some fishes, thought to be a textbook...

Pharyngeal jaws in fishes not a "key innovation" in this new comparative phylogenomics study.

"The macroevolutionary dynamics of pharyngognathy in fishes fail to support the key innovation hypothesis" Borstein et al. 2024

www.nature.com/articles/s41...