First record of wavy jaw slopefish, Cymatognathus aureolateralis (Acropomatiformes: Symphysanodontidae), in Davao Gulf, Philippines

Two individuals of wavy jaw slopefish, Cymatognathus aureolateralis, were collected from a fish landing area in the coastal municipality of Governor Generoso in Davao Gulf, Philippines. This extends the species’ known geographic distribution northward, approximately 579 kilometers from Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, where it was first described. The specimens collected from Davao Gulf have similar overall appearance, including the elevated tooth patch that is distinct for this genus. Morphological and meristic characters were also comparable with the measurements and counts provided for the specimen from Indonesia. Although interconnectivity of C. aureolateralis between southern Mindanao and North Sulawesi is possible given the similar bathymetric contour along the stretch of the Sangihe arc, larval transport remains unclear due to the prevailing oceanographic currents. The new records of marine fishes reported recently in Davao Gulf emphasizes the importance of strengthened management measures through an ecosystem-based approach to sustain biodiversity amid various anthropogenic threats.