Bathycongrus brunneus

discussion

Remarks. Newly described in this volume by Huang et al. (2018). The species is only found in eastern Taiwan off Taitung; collected by hook and line.

Checklist of eels of Taiwan (orders Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes): An update

description

Description. Body rather stout, rounded in cross section anteriorly, becoming more compressed behind anus and posterior portion; head moderately slender, its depth and width about same as these of trunk; trunk moderately long, its length 1.5 times head length; tip of tail tapering and presumably filiform (tip of tail slightly damaged and healed); anus near anterior third of total length. Dorsal fin begins over anterior half of pectoral fin, continuous around tip of tail with caudal and anal fins. Anal fin begins immediately behind anus. Pectoral fin well developed, pointed distally with a narrow base. Gill opening relatively large, about same as eye diameter, its upper end nearly opposite middle of pectoral-fin base. Interbranchial broader than gill opening and eye. Head relatively large, its length 40.5 % PAL (ca. 14.6 % TL), deepest at about occiput, slightly tapering anteriorly from this point; dorsal profile nearly flat from occiput to internasal space; snout long and broadly pointed, its length 1.5 times eye diameter, projecting beyond lower jaw; lower jaw longer than snout; fleshy part of snout with a high median keel on underside, projecting anteriorly beyond anterior end of

Two new species of the conger eel genus Bathycongrus (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from Taiwan

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A moderately slender species of Bathycongrus with tail presumably tapering, filiform; body uniformly brownish, and dorsal and anal fins black to gray with narrow white margin; vomerine teeth forming a long triangular patch, with 13 subequal teeth at front and sides; preanal vertebrae 44, precaudal vertebrae 59, total vertebrae 174 +; and preanal lateral-line pores 44.

Two new species of the conger eel genus Bathycongrus (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from Taiwan

discussion

Remarks. Bathycongrus brunneus sp. nov. may belong to the high-vertebral-count group. However, the teeth on the vomer are not especially enlarged as in the congeners. Of these species, it is most similar to B. wallacei and Bathycongrus longicavis Karmovskaya, 2009. It can be separated from B. wallacei by having 13 subequal teeth on the vomer (vs. 2 enlarged teeth followed by 2 or 3 smaller ones behind); relatively more preanal vertebrae (44 vs. 38 – 43, mainly 40 – 42); relatively more precaudal vertebrae (59 vs. 53 – 57); a relatively short trunk (59.5 % vs. 59.7 – 63.6 % PAL). It differs from B. longicavis in having 13 subequal teeth on the vomer (vs. 2 enlarged teeth followed by 3 small ones behind); a shorter trunk (59.5 % vs. 65.4 % PAL); a larger head (40.5 % vs. 34.3 % PAL); a shorter snout (25.7 % vs. 30.9 % HL); a larger eye (17.2 % vs. 15.9 % HL); more predorsal vertebrae (13 vs. 9); fewer preanal vertebrae (44 vs. 47); and fewer precaudal vertebrae 59 (vs. 67). The other species with similar vertebral count is Bathycongrus odontostomus (Fowler, 1934) (total vertebrae 164 – 177) which has a black mouth and branchial cavities and can be easily separated from the new specie

Two new species of the conger eel genus Bathycongrus (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from Taiwan