Roughspine Batfish

description

Description. Morphometric and meristic data are provided in Table 1. Body depressed, disc markedly triangular in dorsal view, cranium elevated above the level of general surface of other part of disc (Fig. 2 B); caudal peduncle semi-cylindrical, flattened on ventral surface, tapering posteriorly; rostral spine relatively long (7.1 – 9.8 % SL, mean = 8.0 % SL), conical and pointed, directed rather upward than forward, usually more than 45 ° (Figs. 1 B, 2 B), overhanging illicial cavity and mouth; rostral spine longer than half of eye diameter; eye relatively large (11.0 – 13.1 % SL, mean = 12.0 % SL), directed dorsolaterally; no pupillary operculum; interorbital space relatively narrow (4.9 – 6.8 % SL, mean = 5.8 % SL), slightly concave, forming a groove (Fig. 2 A); illicial cavity relatively large, forming a rounded cave, its width about equal to height; esca a single bulb, bearing 2 small cirri on dorsal margin; mouth small, terminal; small villiform teeth on jaws forming narrow bands, those on 5 th ceratobranchial forming 2 large and elongated patches close together, and teeth on vomer and palatines in quadrangular patches. M. asperata sp. nov. M. parva sp. nov. Holotype All type

Revision of batfishes (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) of New Zealand and adjacent waters, with description of two new species of the genus Malthopsis

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A member of Malthopsis unique in having stout principal bucklers with prominent spines. It also differs from congeners in the combination of characters: 5 – 6 dorsal-fin rays; 12 pectoral-fin rays; ventral surface covered by small bucklers and minute prickles; subopercular buckler bearing 3 small spinelets, 1 directed forward, 1 directed outward and 1 directed backward, and a few blunt spinelets on its margin; interspaces of principal bucklers covered by small buckler and prickles; and rostral spine pointed, directed forward and upward.

Revision of batfishes (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) of New Zealand and adjacent waters, with description of two new species of the genus Malthopsis

discussion

Remarks. Malthopsis asperata sp. nov. is unique among its congeners in having the principal bucklers on the dorsal surface rough with prominent spinelets. It belongs to the species group with minute prickles on the ventral surface, which currently comprises three species, M. kobayashii Tanala, 1916 (northwestern Pacific, resurrected from M. lutea by Ho & Shao, 2010 b), M. gnoma Bradbury, 1998 (western Atlantic) and M. tiarella Jordan, 1902 (northwestern Pacific). Malthopsis asperata sp. nov. can be further distinguished from these three species in having black patches on the dorsal surface (vs. black rings or spots present), an anterior-directed spine on the subopercular buckler (vs. spine absent), and ventral surface covered by mixed small bucklers and minute prickles (vs. mainly minute prickles).

Revision of batfishes (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) of New Zealand and adjacent waters, with description of two new species of the genus Malthopsis

distribution

Distribution. Known from the type series collected from New Zealand and New Caledonia at depths of 240 – 510 m.

Revision of batfishes (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) of New Zealand and adjacent waters, with description of two new species of the genus Malthopsis