INTRODUCTION
Ascension Island lies at 07°57′S, 14°22′W. St Helena Island is about 1200 km south of it. The distance to Brazil is about 2300 km and the distance to West Africa about 1500 km. The molluscs (Rosewater, Reference Rosewater1975), as well as the echinoderms (Pawson, Reference Pawson1978), and the fishes (Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980) contain species otherwise only known from the western Atlantic as well as species otherwise only known from the eastern Atlantic. This implies that propagules have reached Ascension from the east and from the west. Surface currents in the area are predominantly from east to west; however, during northern winter and spring, eastwards flows also occur (Stramma, Reference Stramma1991, Stramma & Schott, Reference Stramma and Schott1999). Accordingly, juvenile Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Ascension nesting grounds mainly drift to South America (Suriname) feeding grounds but some of them end up at the Cape Verde Islands (Monzon-Arguello et al., Reference Monzon-Arguello, López-Jurado, Rico, Marco, López, Hays and Lee2010). Simulated trajectories of ‘virtual larvae’ released at Ascension Island pointed towards Fernando de Noronha Island and slightly north of it (Rudorff et al., Reference Rudorff, Lorenzzetti, Gherardi and Lins-Oliveira2009).
Cadenat & Marchal (Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963) summarized the knowledge about the fishes of Ascension and St Helena Islands. Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980) and Bingeman & Bingeman (Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005) added a considerable number of records of shore fish species for Ascension Island. Bingeman & Bingeman (Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005) also gave the local names of the species.
In an annotated checklist, we here note the presence of 40 additional fish species at Ascension Island and point out some doubtful records in the literature.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Previous fish records for Ascension Island were extracted from the literature, in particular Cadenat & Marchal (Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963), Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980), Quéro et al. (Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990), and Bingeman & Bingeman (Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005). We have also included the records from Grattan seamount, 260 km south-east of Ascension Island, given by Trunov (Reference Trunov2006).
Classification follows Eschmeyer (Reference Eschmeyer2013), but subspecies have been raised to species level; references follow Fricke (Reference Fricke2013). Family arrangement follows Nelson (Reference Nelson2006). Popular names are from fishbase (www.fishbase.org). Recent photographic records were contributed by the members of the Shallow Marine Surveys Group expedition to Ascension Island (August–September 2012) and by Colin Chester. Specimens collected during the expedition and during a subsequent trip by the first author (February 2014) were deposited in the Zoologische Staatssammlung, Munich, Germany; their ZSM numbers are given in the species sections.
By far the largest number of the new records was accumulated by one of us (TH) while running a sport fishing boat out of Georgetown, Ascension Island, between 1995 and 2007; TH fished within 2 miles around the island.
We consider those species as ‘coastal fish species’ that that can be encountered in the first 60 m depth starting from shore and those open sea species that come close enough to the shore to be (occasionally) seen by swimmers.
RESULTS
(1) Chondrichthyes
Rhincodontidae
Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828 Whale shark
References: New record; TH has photos of the species taken at Ascension Island (e.g. Figure 1).
Fig. 1. Rhincodon typus and Remora albescens. Photo Tim Hook.
Alopiidae
Alopias superciliosus (Lowe, 1940) Bigeye thresher
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Lamnidae
Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 Shortfin mako
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Carcharhinidae
Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) Blue shark
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer2013 as Squalus adscensionis with doubt, based on Nakano & Seki, Reference Nakano and Seki2003.
Remarks: TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Carcharhinus galapagensis Snodgrass & Heller, 1905 Galapagos shark
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, pp. 60–61; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 43.
Remarks: TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has photos of it taken there. He notes that the species can be encountered in large groups of dozens of differently sized individuals. With a weight of 140 kg, the current sport-fishing world record for this species is from Ascension Island.
Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur, 1818) Dusky shark
References: New record, TH has fished a more than 300 kg specimen of this species at Ascension Island, which is far above the maximum recorded for the similar looking species Carcharinus galapagensis.
Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & LeSueur in LeSueur, 1822) Tiger shark
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island. Pictures of large individuals (500 kg plus) captured in the past are on display in the Saints Bar Club in Georgetown.
Remarks: TH notes ‘All the Tigers that I have seen at Ascension are big ones (1000 lb plus); they are normally only around for 2 or 3 months (starting November/December). They arrive at the same time as the first Green turtles but only stay for about half the turtle season’. Seen cruising shallow beaches at night, presumably searching for Green turtles.
Sphyrnidae
Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834) Scalloped hammerhead
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Remarks: More common at deep drop-offs on the east side of the island.
Hexanchidae
Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre [ex Broussonet], 1788) Bluntnose sixgill shark
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has photos of it taken there.
Remarks: Only caught at night, frequently near the pipeline deepwater mooring. With 588.76 kg, the current sport-fishing world record is from Ascension Island.
Squalidae
Euprotomicrus bispinatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) Pygmy shark
References: Springer in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 18.
Myliobatidae
Manta birostris (Walbaum, 1792) Giant manta
References: New record; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 38 as Mobula ?mobula.
Remarks: John Bingeman has taken the photo in Figure 2 off Comfortless Cove, which clearly shows M. birostris and not M. alfredi (Krefft, 1868).
Fig. 2. Manta birostris. Photo John Bingeman.
Mobula sp. Devil ray
References: Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 38 as Mobula ?hypostoma.
Remarks: According to Notarbartolo-di-Sciara (Reference Notarbartolo-di-Sciara1987), South Atlantic Mobula most probably either belong to Mobula rochebrunei (Vaillant, 1879) or to Mobula hypostoma (Bancroft, 1831). However, the first author has recently photographed Mobula tarapacana (Philipi, 1893) at St Helena Island.
(2) Osteichthyes
Muraenidae
Channomuraena vittata (Richardson, 1845) Broadbanded moray
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 23.
Remarks: A very common species in shallow water.
Echidna catenata (Bloch, 1795) Chain moray
References: Böhlke & Chaplin, Reference Böhlke and Chaplin1968, p. 87; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 24.
Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1838) Fangtooth moray
References: Smith & Böhlke in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 139; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 25 used this name for the species Muraena pavonina.
Enchelycore carychroa Böhlke & Böhlke, 1976 Caribbean chestnut moray
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980.
Remarks: A specimen from English Bay is deposited as ZSM 43054.
Enchelycore nigricans (Bonnaterre [ex Gronow], 1788) Mulatto conger
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980.
Gymnothorax miliaris (Kaup, 1856) Goldentail moray
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Lycodontis miliaris; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 65; Smith & Böhlke in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 146–147 (as Muraena miliaris).
Remarks: All individuals seen by the first author were of the yellow ‘banana’ colour type.
Gymnothorax moringa (Cuvier, 1829) Spotted moray
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Lycodontis moringa; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 66; Smith & Böhlke in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 142–143; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 26.
Remarks: A very common species in shallow water.
Gymnothorax unicolor (Delaroche, 1809) Brown moray
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Lycodontis unicolor; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, pp. 66–67.
Gymnothorax vicinus (Castelnau, 1855) Purplemouth moray
Remarks: First record; observed by TH who notes ‘I was fishing with a St Helenian who had worked as fisherman in St Helena; when I brought the moray aboard he said straight away that it was a “Deepwater Conger”; this pointed me in the direction of Gymnothorax vicinus. When I got back to my accommodation I used Alasdair Edwards’ book to ID the moray; it ticked all the boxes (I can remember being pleased to ID the white margins to fins & purplish mouth). The only thing that was different to those recorded in Alasdair's book is that this one was taken from a water depth shallower, more in the region of 100 m.'
Monopenchelys acuta (Parr, 1930) Redface moray
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Rabula acuta.
Muraena pavonina Richardson, 1845 Whitespot moray
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman (Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 25) called this species Enchelycore anatina.
Remarks: A very common species in shallow water.
Uropterygius macularius (Lesueur, 1825) Marbled moray
References: Böhlke et al., Reference Böhlke, McCosker, Böhlke and Böhlke1989.
Ophichthidae
Callechelys bilinearis Kanazawa, 1952 Twostripe snake eel
References: Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 69.
Herpetoichthys regius (Richardson, 1848) Ornate snake eel
References: Trunov (Reference Trunov2006) records this species from Grattan seamount, 260 km southeast of Ascension Island as Ophichthus regius.
Remarks: This species has been considered endemic to the Ascension and St Helena area but J. McCosker (personal communication to PW) has examined two specimens from the St Paul's Rocks.
Ichthyapus insularis McCosker, Reference McCosker2004 Ascension snake eel
References: McCosker, Reference McCosker2004.
Remarks: An endemic species.
Ichthyapus ophioneus (Evermann & Marsh, 1900) Surf eel
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Sphagebranchus ophioneus; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 70.
Phaenomonas longissima (Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963) Short-maned sand eel
References: Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 71.
Remarks: Previously considered endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands but now also recorded from Ghana and in the western Atlantic from Brazil (J. McCosker, personal communication to PW) and Belize (B. Victor, personal communication to PW).
Quassiremus ascensionis (Studer, 1889) Blackspotted snake eel
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Ophichthus ascensionis, Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Ophichthus ophis. A photo of the species was taken during a night dive at English Bay (Figure 3).
Fig. 3. Quassiremus ascensionis. Photo Shallow Marine Surveys Group.
Derichthyidae
Derichthys serpentinus Gill, 1884 Narrownecked ocean eel
References: Smith in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 193.
Nemichthyidae
Nemichthys scolopaceus Richardson, 1848 Slender snipe eel
References: Nielsen & Smith, Reference Nielsen and Smith1978, pp. 38–47.
Congridae
Heteroconger camelopardalis (Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980) Brazilian garden eel
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980.
Platytroctidae
Barbantus elongatus Krefft, 1970 Elongate searsid
References: Quéro et al. in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 265.
Stomiidae
Eustomias intermedius Clarke, Reference Clarke1998 Intermediate dragonfish
References: Clarke, Reference Clarke1998, p. 679.
Synodontidae
Saurida brasiliensis Norman, Reference Norman1935 Brazilian lizardfish
References: Sulak in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 366–367.
Synodus synodus (Linnaeus, 1758) Diamond lizardfish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 73; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 32.
Trachinocephalus myops (Forster in Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Snakefish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 73; Sulak in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 369–370; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 32.
Giganturidae
Gigantura chuni Brauer, 1901 Chun's gigantura
References: Johnson & Bertelsen, Reference Johnson and Bertelsen1991.
Gigantura indica Brauer, 1901 Indian telescopefish
References: Johnson & Bertelsen, Reference Johnson and Bertelsen1991.
Lampridae
Lampris guttatus (Brünnich, 1788) Opah
References: Parin & Kukuev, Reference Parin and Kukuev1983.
Antennariidae
Antennarius multiocellatus (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1837) Longlure frogfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Pietsch & Grobecker, Reference Pietsch and Grobecker1987.
Carapidae
Carapus acus (Brünnich, 1768) Pearl fish
References: Markle & Olney, Reference Markle and Olney1990, p. 375, ANSP specimen.
Remarks: A specimen at the British Museum of Natural History, deposited by Robert Irving and labelled BMNH 1987.3.24.2, has the original register – ‘Carapus ?bermudensis, Ascension Is., Site no. 9, depth 20 m, within anal cavity of holothurian, 7.11.1985’.
Mugilidae
Mugil curvidens Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1836 Dwarf mullet
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Myxus curvidens; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 33.
Exocoetidae
Cheilopogon exsiliens (Linnaeus, 1771) Bandwing flyingfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Cypselurus exiliens.
Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus (Bennett, 1831) Bennett's flyingfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Cypselurus lineatus; Parin & Gibbs in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 586.
Cypselurus cyanopterus (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1847) Margined flyingfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963.
Exocoetus volitans Linnaeus, 1758 Tropical two-wing flyingfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963.
Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1847) Blackwing flyingfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Cypselurus rubescens.
Remarks: Doubtful record. There is no type material for Exocoetus rubescens Rafinesque, 1818 and Eschmeyer (Reference Eschmeyer2013) writes ‘Uncertain as Hirundichthys rondeletii (Valenciennes, 1847)’.
Hirundichthys rufipinnis (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1847) Redfin flyingfish
References: Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer2013 (as Exocoetus lamellifer which is a junior synonym according to Parin & Belyanina, Reference Parin and Belyanina2002, p. 40), based on original description from south-west of Ascension Island by Kner & Steindachner, Reference Kner and Steindachner1867, p. 364, pl. 2, Fig. 11.
Belonidae
Platybelone trachura (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1846) Ascension keeled needlefish
References: Collette & Parin, Reference Collette and Parin1970, p. 33 (valid as subspecies of P. argalus); Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987b; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 82; Collette & Parin in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 594; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 33 as Platybelone argalus trachura.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Tylosurus sp.
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Belone imperialis.
Remarks: The species Tylosurus imperialis (Rafinesque, 1810) was split into several subspecies, subsequently raised to species level (see Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer2013). It is currently unknown if the western Atlantic T. acus (Lacepède, 1803) or the eastern Atlantic T. rafale Collette & Parin, Reference Collette and Parin1970 is present at Ascension Island.
Scomberesocidae
Scomberescox saurus (Walbaum, 1792) Atlantic saury
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963.
Remarks: This identification needs verification. Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987b re-identified the record of Scomberesox saurus of Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 for St Helena Island as actually being Nanichthys simulans Hubbs & Wisner, 1980.
Diretmidae
Diretmoides pauciradiatus (Woods in Woods & Sonoda, 1973) Longwing spinyfish
References: Post & Quéro, Reference Post and Quéro1981, p. 56.
Holocentridae
Holocentrus adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765) Squirrelfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 85; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 46.
Remarks: A genetic study by Bowen et al. (Reference Bowen, Bass, Muss, Carlin and Robertson2006) showed little genetic variation between western Atlantic, mid-Atlantic and eastern Atlantic populations, with mid-Atlantic animals (from Ascension and St Helena Islands) being slightly more similar to western Atlantic populations.
Myripristis jacobus Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829 Blackbar soldierfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 85; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 45.
Remarks: A genetic study by Bowen et al. (Reference Bowen, Bass, Muss, Carlin and Robertson2006) showed very little genetic variation between western Atlantic, mid-Atlantic and eastern Atlantic populations.
Zenionidae
Zenion longipinnis Kotthaus, 1970
References: Karrer in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 629.
Aulostomidae
Aulostomus strigosus Wheeler, 1955 Atlantic cornetfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Aulostomus maculatus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 87; Bowen et al., Reference Bowen, Bass, Rocha, Grant and Robertson2001; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 52.
Fistulariidae
Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1838 Bluespotted cornetfish
References: Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer2013.
Remarks: Doubtful record, no source found.
Fistularia petimba Lacepède [ex Commerson], 1803 Red cornetfish
References: Trunov (Reference Trunov2006) records this species from Grattan seamount, 260 km south-east of Ascension Island.
Syngnathidae
Hippocampus sp.
References: One of us (JY) saw a seahorse on a fishing line at about 60 m depth well over 20 years ago. This is most likely to be the species Hippocampus erectus Poey, 1810, which is recorded, also from more than 40 m depth, from St Helena Island (Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 88).
Dactylopteridae
Dactylopterus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) Flying gurnard
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980.
Scorpaenidae
Pontinus nigropunctatus (Günther, 1868) Saint Helena deepwater scorpionfish
References: Trunov (Reference Trunov2006) records this species from Grattan seamount, 260 km south-east of Ascension Island; TH has fished it close to Ascension Island (Figure 4).
Fig. 4. Pontinus nigropunctatus. Photo Tim Hook.
Remarks: Edwards (Reference Edwards1993) predicted the discovery of this species at Ascension Island. Previously considered endemic for St Helena Island and the nearby Bonaparte seamount (Edwards, Reference Edwards1993), it has since also been discovered at St Peter and St Paul Archipelago (Vaske et al., Reference Vaske, de Lima, Ribeiro and Lessa2008).
Scorpaena ascensionis Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer1971 Ascension scorpionfish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980.
Remarks: An endemic species.
Scorpaena grandicornis Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829 Plumed scorpionfish
References: Eschmeyer (Reference Eschmeyer2013) with doubt.
Scorpaena grattanica Trunov, Reference Trunov2006 Grattan scorpionfish
References: Trunov (Reference Trunov2006) records this species from Grattan seamount, 260 km south-east of Ascension Island.
Remarks: An endemic species to Grattan seamount, which is included with Ascension Island sensu lato here, as stated in the Materials and methods section.
Scorpaena plumieri Bloch, 1789 Spotted scorpionfish
References: Günther, Reference Günther1881; Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, pp. 88–89; Eschmeyer & Dempster in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 674; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 41.
Scorpaenodes insularis Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer1971 Ascension scorpaenodes
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 89; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 40. One specimen deposited as ZSM 42236.
Remarks: Endemic species to Ascension and St Helena Islands and the St Paul's Rocks.
Serranidae
Epinephelus adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765) Rock hind
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Epinephelus ascensionis; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Heemstra, Reference Heemstra1991, pp. 17–20; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 39.
Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817) White grouper
References: Norman (Reference Norman1935); Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980).
Remarks: As noted by Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980), this is a doubtful record, possibly due to the accidental inclusion of West African samples in a collection from Ascension Island.
Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822) Atlantic goliath grouper
References: New record.
Remarks: There is a black and white photo of Epinephelus itajara on page 69 of an unpublished report, edited by John Taylor and Robert Irving, on a joint services expedition entitled ‘Operation Origin – Ascension Island 1985’. On 31 October and 4 November they saw the Jewfish illustrated to the east of Power House cove. They found it in a cave open at both ends and estimated it as 1.3 m long. Additionally, RAF dive instructor Malcolm Moss wrote to TH: ‘The one & only time I ever saw a Jewfish on Asi was when I was diving on an RAF exped on 8 Sep 98 diving in Eddies Gully from 1327 hrs to 1406 hrs according to my logbook. It was an awesome sight to say the least. Neither I nor my buddy (Dave Ball – ex RAF) had a camera at the time. My logbook tells me the fish was about 7 ft long. It was laying on a rocky plateau under an arch hardly moving but its huge eyes followed our every move. We were with it for approx 10 mins at a depth of approx 10 mtrs. The log goes on …‘2 other pairs of divers then turned up – glad too as no one would have believed us otherwise. We only found out what the fish was after we discussed it with some of the Sainty fishermen later that day. They told us that it was a fairly rare occurrence to see one. I did a further 4 military expeds on Asi after that but never saw another Goliath Grouper. I did however see some Jewfish whilst diving West Palm Beach Florida with Mac McDowell (CSR Asi) on 15 July 2008. Got them on video too.’ Finally, one of us (JY) has seen Jewfish at the deep tanker wreck off the pier head and near Klinka Club.
Holanthias caudalis Trunov, Reference Trunov1976 Ascension swallowtail
References: Trunov, Reference Trunov1976.
Remarks: An endemic species.
Holanthias fronticinctus (Günther, 1868) Saint Helena seaperch
References: David (Reference David2011) filmed this species at Grattan seamount, 260 km south-east of Ascension Island; also fished by TH close to Ascension Island (Figure 5).
Fig. 5. Holanthias fronticinctus. Photo Tim Hook.
Remarks: Previously considered endemic for St Helena Island and the nearby Bonaparte Seamount (Edwards, Reference Edwards1993).
Paranthias furcifer (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1828) Creole fish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Heemstra, Reference Heemstra1991, pp. 57–58; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, pp. 19–20. Three specimens deposited as ZSM 42248.
Remarks: A molecular study by Craig & Hasting (Reference Craig and Hasting2007) indicated that this species may belong to the genus Cephalopholis.
Pseudogramma gregoryi (Breder, 1927) Reef bass
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980.
Remarks: Pseudogramma gregoryi is easily confused with P. guineensis (Norman, Reference Norman1935); see Wirtz et al. (Reference Wirtz, Ferreira, Floeter, Fricke, Gasparini, Iwamoto, Rocha, Sampaio and Schliewen2007). The identity of the Ascension Pseudogramma needs checking.
Rypticus saponaceus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Greater soapfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Maugé in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 709; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 45. Two specimens deposited as ZSM 42240.
Remarks: Both juveniles and adults of the Ascension soapfish differ in colour from West-African individuals; adult animals also differ in body shape (PW, personal observations, cf. Figure 6). In a genetic study by Carlin et al. (Reference Carlin, Robertson and Bowen2003), Rypticus saponaceus specimens from the eastern Atlantic differed greatly from mid-Atlantic and western Atlantic specimens and mid-Atlantic specimens also differed considerably from western Atlantic specimens. As the type locality of Rypticus saponaceus is from the western Atlantic, the eastern Atlantic (and possibly also the mid-Atlantic) populations will have to be described as separate species.
Fig. 6. Rypticus saponaceus. Photo Peter Wirtz.
Serranus sanctaehelenae Boulenger, 1895 Saint Helena comber
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980, Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 90; Trunov, Reference Trunov2006.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Priacanthidae
Cookeolus japonicus (Cuvier [ex Langsdorff] in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829) Longfinned bullseye
References: New record, fished at Ascension Island by TH (Figure 7); also fished at Grattan Seamount, as documented in a photo by Ingrid Vincent-Andersen.
Fig. 7. Cookeolus japonicus. Photo Tim Hook.
Heteropriacanthus cruentatus (Lacepède, 1801) Glasseye
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Priacanthus cruentatus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 44.
Apogonidae
Apogon axillaris Valenciennes, 1832 Axillary-spot cardinalfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 92; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 14. Two specimens deposited as ZSM 42237.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Apogon pseudomaculatus Longley, 1932 Twospot cardinalfish
References: New record; a single individual was photographed (Figure 8) and captured during a night dive in English Bay in September 2012; the specimen is in the Zoologische Staatssammlung in Munich (ZSM 42234, one specimen). After its capture at São Tomé Island (Wirtz et al., Reference Wirtz, Ferreira, Floeter, Fricke, Gasparini, Iwamoto, Rocha, Sampaio and Schliewen2007), this is the second record of the species outside the western Atlantic.
Fig. 8. Apogon pseudomaculatus. Photo Peter Wirtz.
Phaeoptyx pigmentaria (Poey, 1860) Dusky cardinalfish
References: New record; two individuals were captured by spraying clove oil into a crack in the rock in English Bay in about 12 m depth in January 2014. The specimens are in the Zoologische Staatssammlung in Munich (ZSM 43055). This species has previously been recorded from Bermuda to Brazil in the Western Atlantic and from the Gulf of Guinea in the Eastern Atlantic (Baldwin et al., Reference Baldwin, Mounts, Smith and Weigt2009).
Malacanthidae
Malacanthus plumieri (Bloch, 1786) Sand tilefish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Dooley in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 720; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 50. One specimen deposited as ZSM 42247.
Coryphaenidae
Coryphaena equiselis Linnaeus, 1758 Pompano dolphinfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Coryphaena equisetis.
Remarks: This record needs confirmation.
Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758 Common dolphinfish
References: Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 22.
Remarks: TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has photos of it taken there. He notes that the species usually occurs in groups.
Echeneidae
Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, 1758 Live sharksucker
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963.
Remora albescens (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850) White suckerfish
References: New record; TH has photographed the species in association with a whale shark (Figure 1).
Remora remora (Linnaeus, 1758) Sharksucker
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963.
Remarks: Also documented in a photo by Colin Chester that shows a Remora remora attached to Mobula sp.
Carangidae
Caranx bartholomaei Cuvier, 1833 Yellow jack
References: New record; documented by a photo taken by Colin Chester near Boatswain Bird Island (Figure 9)
Fig. 9. Caranx bartholomaei. Photo Colin Chester.
Caranx crysos (Mitchill, 1815) Blue runner
References: Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987b; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 96; Smith-Vaniz et al. in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 732.
Caranx fischeri Smith-Vaniz & Carpenter, Reference Smith-Vaniz and Carpenter2007 Longfin crevalle jack
References: Smith-Vaniz & Carpenter, Reference Smith-Vaniz and Carpenter2007.
Caranx hippos (Linnaeus [ex Garden], 1766) Crevalle jack
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963, Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987b and Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 97 list Caranx hippos for Ascension Island; however, at that time the closely related species Caranx fischeri Smith-Vaniz & Carpenter, Reference Smith-Vaniz and Carpenter2007 had not yet been described. Edward's record based on specimen ‘BMNH 1927.12.7.49 (358), J. Simpson’ later even became a paratype of C. fischeri. TH is fairly certain that he has fished Caranx hippos (but not Caranx fischeri) at Ascension Island but the record of C. hippos for Ascension Island needs verification.
Caranx latus Agassiz in Spix & Agassiz, 1831 Horse-eye jack
References: Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 31; Smith-Vaniz et al. in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 733.
Caranx lugubris Poey, 1860 Black jack
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Caranx lugubris and as Caranx ascensionis; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 97; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 31; Smith-Vaniz et al. in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 734; Trunov, Reference Trunov2006.
Carangoides ruber (Bloch, 1793) Bar jack
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island; there is no photographic record but the species is unmistakable.
Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1833) Mackerel scad
References: Smith-Vaniz et al. in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 736–737; fished by TH, who has a photo of the species taken at Ascension Island.
Decapterus punctatus (Cuvier, 1829) Round scad
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Decapterus sanctae-helenae; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987b; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 100; Smith-Vaniz et al. in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 737–738.
Decapterus tabl Berry, 1968 Roughear scad
References: New record; fished by TH, who has a photo of the species taken at Ascension Island (Figure 10).
Fig. 10. Decapterus tabl. Photo Tim Hook.
Elagatis bipinnulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) Rainbow runner
References: Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 40.
Pseudocaranx dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) White trevally
References: Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987b; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 102; Smith-Vaniz et al.in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 742–743.
Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793) Bigeye scad
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963.
Remarks: A common species, also documented in photos taken by TH and by the Shallow Marine Surveys Group.
Seriola rivoliana (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1833) Longfin yellowtail
References: Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 30.
Remarks: Only the photo page 30 bottom right in Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005 shows Seriola rivoliana, the photo bottom left shows Seriola dumerili.
Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810) Greater amberjack
References: New record; the photo page 30 bottom left in Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005 shows this species but calls it Seriola rivoliana; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Trachinotus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Pompano
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Trachinotus glaucus; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 36; Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer2013 (as Scomber ascensionis, Scomber glaucus).
Uraspis helvola (Forster in Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Whitetongue jack
References: Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987b; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 105; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Lutjanidae
Lutjanus jocu (Bloch & Schneider [ex Parra], 1801) Dog snapper
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 44.
Sparidae
Diplodus ascensionis (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830) Ascension seabream
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 106 (as Diplodus sargus ascensionis); Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 42.
Remarks: An endemic species.
Mullidae
Mulloidichthys martinicus (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829) Yellow goatfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 107; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 29.
Kyphosidae
Kyphosus bigibbus Lacepède, 1801 Brown chub
References: Knudsen & Clements (Reference Knudsen and Clements2013)
Kyphosus sectatrix (Linnaeus, 1758) Bermuda sea chub
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 108; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 13.
Kyphosus vaigensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) Brassy chub
References: Knudsen & Clements (Reference Knudsen and Clements2013).
Chaetodontidae
Chaetodon sanctaehelenae Günther, 1868 Saint Helena butterflyfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Chaetodon sanctae-helenae; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 109; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 13.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Island but stray individuals, almost certainly transported by man, have been recorded at the Canary Islands (Brito et al., Reference Brito, Pascual, Falcón, Sancho and González2002).
Prognathodes dichrous (Günther, 1869) Bicolour butterflyfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, pp. 108–109; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 13, as Chaetodon dichrous; Maugé in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 839; Trunov, Reference Trunov2006.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Pomacanthidae
Centropyge resplendens Lubbock & Sankey, Reference Lubbock and Sankey1975 Resplendent angelfish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Lubbock & Sankey, Reference Lubbock and Sankey1975; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 8.
Remarks: An endemic species. The Brazilian Centropyge aurantonotus appears to be the most closely related species (Gaither et al., Reference Gaither, Schultz, Bellwood, Pyle, DiBattista, Rocha and Bowen2014).
Pomacanthus paru (Bloch, 1787) French angelfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 7.
Cirrhitidae
Amblycirrhitus earnshawi Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1978 Ascension hawkfish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1978; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 30.
Remarks: An endemic species. The colour pattern shows some similarity with the western Atlantic A. pinos (Mowbray, 1927), also present at St Helena Island, from which it is probably derived.
Pomacentridae
Abudefduf saxatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) Sergeant-major
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Abudefduf marginatus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 41.
Chromis multilineata (Guichenot, 1853)
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Chromis chromis; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Chromis sp.; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, pp. 109–110; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 21 as Chromis sp.
Remarks: Chromis multilineata from Ascension differ from the population at St Helena Island in having a bright spot at the rear end of the base of the dorsal fin (Figure 11). Rocha et al. (Reference Rocha, Rocha, Robertson and Bowen2008) could not find genetic differences between the populations of Ascension and of St Helena Islands. The population genetically closest to these mid-Atlantic islands appears to be the one at Brazil (Rocha et al., Reference Rocha, Rocha, Robertson and Bowen2008).
Fig. 11. Chromis multilineata. Photo Sue Scott.
Stegastes lubbocki Allen & Smith, Reference Allen and Smith1992 Lubbock's gregory
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Pomacentrus leucostictus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Stegastes sp.; Lloris & Rucabado in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 849–850 as Pomacentrus leucostictus (non Müller & Troschel, 1848); Allen & Smith, Reference Allen and Smith1992; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 21.
Remarks: An endemic species. The first author has observed juveniles of this species cleaning numerous other fish species. In the description of Stegastes lubbocki, Allen & Smith (Reference Allen and Smith1992) write that the most similar looking Stegastes species in the Atlantic is S. partitus (Poey, 1868) but the most similar one is in fact the Brazilian species S. pictus (Castelnau, 1855). See Figure 12.
Fig. 12. Stegastes lubbocki, territorial male. Photo Peter Wirtz.
Labridae
Bodianus insularis Gomon & Lubbock, Reference Gomon and Lubbock1980 Island hogfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Cossyphus rufus; Gomon & Lubbock, Reference Gomon and Lubbock1980; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 111; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, pp. 59–60.
Remarks: Endemic to the islands of Ascension, St Helena and the St Paul's Rocks.
Thalassoma ascensionis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) Greenfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 56.
Remarks: An endemic species. Juveniles have been observed by PW to clean many other species of fish. The sister species of the closely related Thalassoma ascensionis and T. sanctaehelenae is the eastern Atlantic species T. newtoni (Costagliola et al., Reference Costagliola, Robertson, Guidetti, Stefanni, Wirtz, Heiser and Bernardi2004).
Thalassoma sanctaehelenae (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1839) Saint Helena wrasse
References: Bingeman & Bingeman (Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 58).
Remarks: The presence of T. sanctaehelenae at Ascension Island was already suspected by Bingeman & Bingeman (Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005). We here confirm it. Figure 13 by TH shows a terminal male T. sanctaehelenae captured in a tide pool at English Bay. Thalassoma ascensionis and T. sanctaehelenae are clearly distinct in colour and in their mitochondrial genome (Costagliola et al., Reference Costagliola, Robertson, Guidetti, Stefanni, Wirtz, Heiser and Bernardi2004). We suspect that the recent appearance of T. sanctaehelenae at Ascension is due to human transport. The species has also been recorded by TH at the east coast of the island; to have such a large area of distribution, it must have been in the area for some time already.
Fig. 13. Thalassoma sanctaehelenae, terminal male phase. Photo Tim Hook.
Xyrichtys blanchardi (Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963) Marmalade razorfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Novaculichthys blanchardi; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 112; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 39.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Xyrichtys sanctaehelenae (Günther, 1868) Yellow razorfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Novacula sanctae-helenae; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 112.
Remarks: Considered endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands until a single individual was recorded from São Tomé Island (Wirtz et al., Reference Wirtz, Ferreira, Floeter, Fricke, Gasparini, Iwamoto, Rocha, Sampaio and Schliewen2007).
Scaridae
Cryptotomus sp.
References: First record. An initial phase specimen was collected by Ross Robertson in 1997 (personal communication to PW).
Remarks: This is most likely to be the western Atlantic Cryptotomus roseus Cope 1871.
Scarus hoefleri (Steindachner, 1881) Guinean parrotfish
References: Norman (Reference Norman1935) as Pseudoscarus guacamaia (Cuvier, 1829); Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980).
Remarks: Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980) notes that Norman's (Reference Norman1935) record is doubtful, possibly due to the accidental inclusion of West African samples in a collection from Ascension Island.
Sparisoma strigatum (Günther, 1862) Strigate parrotfish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 113; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 35.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands. The sister species of Sparisoma strigatum is the eastern Atlantic Sparisoma cretense (Robertson et al., Reference Robertson, Karg, De Moura, Victor and Bernardi2006).
Tripterygiidae
Helcogramma ascensionis Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 Ascension triplefin
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 113; Holleman, Reference Holleman2007.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands (Holleman, Reference Holleman2007).
Blenniidae
Entomacrodus textilis (Valenciennes [ex Quoy & Gaimard] in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1836) Textile blenny
References: Günther, Reference Günther1881 as Salarias vomerinus; Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 114; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 12. Two specimens deposited as ZSM 42244 and 42245.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Ophioblennius sp.
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 and Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Ophioblennius atlanticus; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 114; Bath in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 914–915; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 11 as Ophioblennius atlanticus atlanticus. Three specimens deposited as ZSM 42235 and 42241.
Remarks: Ophioblennius observed by the first author at Ascension Island differ from eastern Atlantic and from the Caribbean and Brazilian populations seen by the first author in colour pattern: they occasionally display yellow-orange to light brown bands on the head and/or body (e.g. Figure 14). Muss et al. (Reference Muss, Robertson, Stepien, Wirtz and Bowen2001) have shown that specimens from Ascension and St Helena Islands are genetically similar to each other and quite distinct from other populations. They are likely to belong to a separate species, endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands. Their closest relatives appear to be eastern Atlantic populations (Muss et al., Reference Muss, Robertson, Stepien, Wirtz and Bowen2001).
Fig. 14. Ophioblennius sp. Photo Shallow Marine Surveys Group.
Scartella nuchifilis (Valenciennes [ex Quoy & Gaimard] in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1836) Filamentous rockskipper
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Blennius cristatus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 114; Bath in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 913; Rangel et al., Reference Rangel, Gasparini and Guimaraes2004; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 11.
Remarks: An endemic species. Note that Scartella cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) is supposed to have been originally described from Ascension Island (see Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer2013); this may need clarification.
Callionymidae
Callionymus bairdi (Jordan in Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888) Lancer dragonet
References: Fricke, Reference Fricke2002. Two specimens deposited as ZSM 42245 and 42246.
Remarks: Also recorded during the Shallow Water Survey Expedition at Porpoise Rock, on gravel in about 15 m depth.
Gobiidae
Gnatholepis thompsoni Jordan, 1904 Goldspot goby
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 116; Larson & Buckle, Reference Larson and Buckle2012.
Gobius tropicus Osbeck, 1765
References: According to Miller in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 951, ‘unlikely to be a gobiid, since original description refers to a single long dorsal fin, and serrated preopercle’; Eschmeyer (Reference Eschmeyer2013) writes ‘status uncertain’.
Priolepis ascensionis (Dawson & Edwards in Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a) Ascension goby
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Quisquilius sp.; Dawson & Edwards in Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 116; Miller in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 946 (as Quisquilius sp.); Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 28. One specimen deposited as ZSM 42238.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Acanthuridae
Acanthurus bahianus Castelnau, 1855 Barber surgeon fish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 49.
Remarks: We confirm that Ascension individuals show the yellow margin of the caudal fin typical for the south-western Atlantic species A. bahianus and not the blue margin of the caudal fin typical for its north-western sister species Acanthurus tractus (Poey, 1860) (Bernal & Rocha, Reference Bernal and Rocha2011).
Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) Doctorfish
References: Rocha et al., Reference Rocha, Bass, Robertson and Bowen2002; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 49.
Acanthurus coeruleus Bloch & Schneider, 1801 Blue tang
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 48.
Paracanthurus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1766) Palette surgeonfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Acanthurus hepatus.
Remarks: Mistaken record. Paracanthurus hepatus is an Indo-Pacific species. Possibly a confusion with Acanthurus coeruleus.
Sphyraenidae
Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards in Catesby, 1771) Great barracuda
References: Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 9.
Gempylidae
Promethichthys prometheus (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1832) Roudi escolar
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Thyrsites prometheus; Nakamura & Parin, Reference Nakamura and Parin1993.
Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1833 Oilfish
References: New record, fished by TH, who has a photo of the species taken at Ascension Island.
Trichiuridae
Aphanopus intermedius Parin, 1983 Intermediate scabbardfish
References: Nakamura & Parin, Reference Nakamura and Parin1993.
Scombridae
Acanthocybium solandri (Cuvier, 1832) Wahoo
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island.
Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) Bullet tuna
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island.
Auxis thazard (Lacepède [ex Commerson], 1800) Frigate tuna
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Euthynnus alletteratus (Rafinesque, 1810) Little tunny
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758) Skipjack tuna
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre [ex Cetti], 1788) Albacore
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island. There is no photographic record but the species is unmistakable.
Remarks: TH notes that they are only caught rarely in the southern hemisphere winter when the sea temperatures are down.
Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre [ex Sloane], 1788) Yellowfin tuna
References: Cadenat Marchal, 1963 as Neothunnus albacora; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839) Bigeye tuna
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) Atlantic bluefin tuna
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963
Remarks: Presence at Ascension confirmed by Ezequiel Conde (to TH), who knows the species well from the Azores and recorded individuals of Thunnus thynnus of at least 300 kg weight.
Xiphiidae
Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758 Swordfish
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Istiophoridae
Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw in Shaw & Nodder, 1792) Indo-Pacific sailfish
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Kajikia albida (Poey, 1860) Atlantic white marlin
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Makaira nigricans Lacepède, 1802 Blue marlin
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island; see also Figure 15.
Fig. 15. Makaira nigricans. Photo Tim Hook.
Tetrapturus pfluegeri Robins & Sylva, 1963 Longbill spearfish
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Centrolophidae
Hyperoglyphe perciformis (Mitchill, 1818) Barrelfish
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Schedophilus sp.
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island; the photographic record was lost. This is most likely to be Schedophilus velaini (Sauvage, 1879).
Caproidae
Antigonia capros Lowe, 1843 Deepbody boarfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, pp. 86–87.
Remarks: TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Paralichthyidae
Syacium micrurum Ranzani, 1842 Channel flounder
References: Cadenat & Marchal (Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963).
Remarks: This is probably a mistaken record. The eastern Atlantic species Syacium guineensis (Bleeker, 1862) has in the past frequently been called Syacium micrurum, which is a western Atlantic species (see remarks in Wirtz et al., Reference Wirtz, Brito, Falcón, Freitas, Fricke, Monteiro, Reiner and Tariche2013). Moreover, Fraser (Reference Fraser1971) considered the record of S. micrurum by Cadenat & Marchal as misidentification of S. papillosum.
Syacium papillosum (Linnaeus, 1758) Dusky flounder
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980.
Bothidae
Arnoglossus capensis Boulenger, 1889 Cape scaldfish
References: Nielsen, Reference Nielsen1961; Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 131.
Bothus lunatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Platefish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Platophrys lunatus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 131; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 28.
Bothus mellissi Norman, 1931 Saint Helena flounder
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Platophrys mellissi; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 131; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 28.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands.
Cynoglossidae
Symphurus lubbocki Munroe, Reference Munroe1990 Ascension tonguefish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Symphurus sp.; Munroe, Reference Munroe1990; Desoutter in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, pp. 1053–1054 as Symphurus nigrescens (Rafinesque, 1810); Munroe et al., Reference Munroe, Brito and Hernández2000.
Remarks: Endemic to Ascension Island.
Balistidae
Balistes pellucidus Hermann, 1804
References: Eschmeyer, Reference Eschmeyer2013, no status assigned.
Remarks: Doubtful species; needs redescription if valid.
Balistes vetula Linnaeus, 1758 Queen triggerfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 51.
Canthidermis maculata (Bloch, 1786) Ocean triggerfish
Remarks: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Canthidermis maculatus.
Canthidermis sufflamen (Mitchill, 1815) Atlantic ocean triggerfish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 133.
Melichthys niger (Bloch, 1786) Black triggerfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Mellichthys buniva; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, pp. 133–134; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 51.
Remarks: The extraordinary population density of this species at Ascension Island has been remarked upon by many authors, e.g. Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980) and Kavanagh & Olney (Reference Kavanagh and Olney2006). Mass mortalities of this species have been recorded repeatedly (Pinheiro et al., Reference Pinheiro, Gasparini and Joyeux2010).
Xanthichthys ringens (Linnaeus, 1758) Sargassum triggerfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Balistes ringens.
Remarks: This is probably a confusion with the light colour phase of Melichthys niger, which does, on first glance, resemble Xanthichthy ringens (personal observation of the first author).
Monacanthidae
Aluterus scriptus (Osbeck, 1765) Scribbled leatherjacket filefish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Alutera scripta; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Harmelin-Vivien & Quéro in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 1063; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 27.
Cantherhines macrocerus (Hollard, 1853) American whitespotted filefish
References: New record, based on two photos by JY, identified by John Bingeman, and several photos taken by the Shallow Marine Surveys Group (Figure 16).
Fig. 16. Cantherhines monocerus. Photo Shallow Marine Surveys Group.
Ostraciidae
Acanthostracion notacanthus (Bleeker, 1863) Island cowfish
References: Günther, Reference Günther1881 as Ostracion quadricornis (non Linnaeus, 1758); Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Ostracion notacanthus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980 as Lactophrys notacanthus; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 135; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 12.
Rhinesomus bicaudalis (Linnaeus, 1758) Spotted trunkfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Ostracion bicaudalis; Duron & Quéro in Quéro et al., Reference Quéro, Hureau, Karrer, Post and Saldanha1990, p. 1068.
Remarks: This record needs confirmation.
Tetraodontidae
Canthigaster sanctaehelenae (Günther, 1870) Saint Helena sharpnose pufferfish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 135; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 37.
Remarks: Endemic to St Helena and Ascension Islands.
Sphoeroides pachygaster (Müller & Troschel in Schomburgk, 1848) Blunthead puffer
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Diodontidae
Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Spotfin burrfish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 137.
Diodon eydouxii Brisout de Barneville, 1846 Pelagic porcupinefish
References: New record; TH has fished this species at Ascension Island and has a photo of it taken there.
Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758 Longspined porcupinefish
References: Cadenat & Marchal, Reference Cadenat and Marchal1963 as Diodon holacanthus; Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Edwards & Glass, Reference Edwards and Glass1987a; Edwards, Reference Edwards1990, p. 138; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 9.
Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758 Spot-fin porcupinefish
References: Lubbock, Reference Lubbock1980; Bingeman & Bingeman, Reference Bingeman and Bingeman2005, p. 37.
DISCUSSION
We have recognized two previous records as identification errors and indicate 11 other records as doubtful. Including the 40 new records, we now list 173 fish species from Ascension Island. The species Ophioblennius sp. of Ascension and St Helena Islands almost certainly is an undescribed species; the species Rypticus (saponaceus ?) may also be undescribed (see the species sections above).
The total number of species is low when compared with other tropical islands in the Atlantic, e.g. 314 coastal fish species from the Cape Verde Islands or 330 coastal fish species from the Canary Islands (Brito et al., Reference Brito, Pascual, Falcón, Sancho and González2002; Wirtz et al., Reference Wirtz, Brito, Falcón, Freitas, Fricke, Monteiro, Reiner and Tariche2013). This is probably due to the very isolated position, very small size and comparatively young geological age of Ascension Island. Ascension Island thus is better compared with the St Paul's Rocks, another isolated and even smaller mid-Atlantic island, where 117 fish species have been recorded up to now (Vaske et al., Reference Vaske, de Lima, Ribeiro and Lessa2008). As already pointed out by Floeter et al. (Reference Floeter, Rocha, Robertson, Joyeux, Smith-Vaniz, Wirtz, Edwards, Barreiros, Ferreira, Gasparini, Brito, Falcón, Bowen and Bernardi2008, figure 2), the families Muraenidae and Carangidae are by far the most species-rich families at Ascension Island.
One hundred and thirty-three of the recorded species might be considered ‘coastal fish species’. Table 1 lists their known distribution. Eleven of them (8.3%) appear to be endemic to the island and a further 16 species (12%) appear to be shared endemics with St Helena Island. Note, however, that cryptic species, like snake eels for instance, could merely be unrecorded from but present at other places.
Table 1. Distribution pattern of Ascension coastal fishes.
Four more species appear to be shared endemics of Ascension Island, St Helena Island and the St Paul's Rocks (Table 1). The St Paul's Rocks are about 1900 km to the north-west of Ascension Island. Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980) and Edwards & Lubbock (Reference Edwards and Lubbock1983) already noted that Bodianus insularis and Scorpaenodes insularis were endemic to Ascension and St Helena Islands plus the St Paul's Rocks and suggested a faunal link between these places. With two more species that are currently only known from Ascension and St Helena Islands plus the St Paul's Rocks, this has now been confirmed. The sea urchin Eucidaris clavata also is known only from Ascension and St Helena Islands plus the St Paul's Rocks (Edwards & Lubbock, Reference Edwards and Lubbock1983).
The level of endemism of 8.3% of the shore fishes is lower than the 15.7% indicated by Lubbock (Reference Lubbock1980) or the 11% indicated by Floeter et al. (Reference Floeter, Rocha, Robertson, Joyeux, Smith-Vaniz, Wirtz, Edwards, Barreiros, Ferreira, Gasparini, Brito, Falcón, Bowen and Bernardi2008). Note, however, that the percentage value of endemism depends on the somewhat arbitrary definition of ‘coastal species’, e.g. if one does or does not include those open water species that come close to the shore.
Endemic fish species of Ascension Island are derived from the eastern Atlantic as well as from the western Atlantic: The endemic Diplodus ascensionis clearly originated from the eastern Atlantic D. sargus; the endemic Centropyge resplendens has its closest relative in the western Atlantic; the endemic Amblycirrhitus earnshawi is probably derived from the western Atlantic A. pinos; the closest relative to Stegastes lubbocki appears to be the western Atlantic S. pictus; the sister species of Thalassoma ascensionis and T. sanctaehelenae is the eastern Atlantic T. newtoni; Sparisoma strigatum is the sister species of the eastern Atlantic S. cretense; the Ophioblennius sp. of Ascension Island appears to be derived from the eastern Atlantic (see species sections for references).
A similar picture of western Atlantic and eastern Atlantic origin emerges when looking at the distribution pattern of all shore fish species (Table 1). The largest fraction is taken up by species that occur on both sides of the Atlantic. Obviously, species that are able to cross the entire Atlantic are particularly likely to settle at mid-Atlantic islands.
The fraction of species derived from the western Atlantic is more than twice the size of the fraction derived from the eastern Atlantic. In a recent ‘Global biogeography of reef fishes’ (Kulbicki et al., Reference Kulbicki, Parravicini, Bellwood, Arias-Gonzàlez, Chabanet, Floeter, Friedlander, McPherson, Myers, Vigliola and Mouillot2013), Ascension Island also clusters with the western Atlantic. As pointed out by Briggs & Bowen (Reference Briggs and Bowen2012), the western Atlantic affinity of the Ascension fish fauna is with the Brazilian coast rather than the Caribbean area. This is indicated by the presence of Acanthurus bahianus rather than A. tractus and various genetic studies, e.g. on Chromis multilineata (see species sections for references). The most likely reason for the preponderance of western Atlantic species is that the Brazilian coast is much more speciose than the African coast and therefore propagules from a larger number of species from the western Atlantic are likely to arrive at Ascension Island.
Finally and surprisingly, a small fraction of the Ascension (and St Helena) marine fauna is of Indian Ocean origin. In the Atlantic Ocean, the Indo-Pacific carangid Uraspis helvola is only known from Ascension and St Helena Islands (Edwards, Reference Edwards1990) and the endemic Helcogramma ascensionis is the only Atlantic member of this otherwise Indo-Pacific genus (Holleman, Reference Holleman2007). The link with the Indo-Pacific is confirmed by the presence on Ascension Island of the crab Percnon abbreviatum, not know from any other Atlantic locality (Manning & Chace, Reference Manning and Chace1990).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first author is grateful to Paul Brickle and the Shallow Marine Surveys Group for the invitation to take part in the August–September 2012 expedition to Ascension Island. The funding for this work came from a grant to Dr Paul Brickle from the Darwin Initiative (EIDCF012). We are grateful to the Shallow Marine Surveys Group and the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute for organizing the expedition. We are also very grateful to the Ascension Island Government, the members of staff at the Conservation Centre and Ascension Island Dive Club for their cooperation, accommodation and hospitality. Finally we are grateful to British Forces South Atlantic Islands for their logistical support. Thanks to Malcolm Moss for drawing our attention to the presence of Epinephelus itajara at Ascension Island. Robert Irving informed us about a Carapus specimen from Ascension Island at the British Museum of Natural History and James Maclaine checked on it. Thanks also to Colin Chester and Olaf Grimskowski for sending us photos of rare species captured at Ascension Island, to Sue Scott for sharing all her Ascension Island underwater photos with the first author and to Ross Robertson for sending a list of species collected by him on Ascension Island. William Smith-Vaniz identified the Caranx bartholomaei photo, Carole Baldwin identified the Phaeoptyx pigmentaria, Alberto Brito, J. McCosker and D.G. Smith commented on moray and snake eel photos. Alberto Brito, Alasdair Edwards, Raphael Macieira and William Smith-Vaniz commented on an early draft of the manuscript. Vladimir Laptikhovsky contributed insights on Atlantic current systems. The Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR) partly financed the travel costs of the first author.
