Owstonia lepiota

description

Description. A species of Owstonia with LL pattern type 1, consisting of a simple lateral line that originates from posttemporal sensory canal near anterodorsal margin of gill opening, curves upward and backward then continues posteriorly just below dorsal-fin base to soft ray 21. Dorsal fin III, 23; anal fin II, 15; pectoral fin 19; gill rakers 12 + 20. Vertebrae: precaudal 11, caudal 18, total 29; anal-fin pterygiophores anterior to 1 st haemal spine 3. Oblique longitudinal body scale rows in mid-lateral series about 95; nape naked and cheek scale rows 5 ‒ 6. Lower limb margin of preopercle without spines. Papillae in slight depression behind tip of premaxillary ascending processes 4, arranged in 2 almost equally spaced pairs. Teeth in outer row of each premaxilla 15 / 17, no inner teeth anteriorly. Teeth in lateral row of each dentary 8; symphyseal teeth 3, conical, and with 1 inner tooth anteriorly. Depressed pelvic fin extending to anal-fin origin. Caudal fin lanceolate. Caudal fin 2.7 times in SL; head 3.6 times in SL; body depth at anal-fin origin 4.6 times in SL. Color pattern in alcohol: Dorsal fin uniformly pale; membrane connecting premaxilla and dentary with brown strip

Hidden diversity in deep-water bandfishes: review of Owstonia with descriptions of twenty-one new species (Teleostei: Cepolidae: Owstoniinae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Owstonia with LL pattern type 1; about 95 oblique body scale rows in mid-lateral series (fewer than 60 oblique scale rows in other species, except O. mundyi); nape naked and cheek scale rows 5 ‒ 6..

Hidden diversity in deep-water bandfishes: review of Owstonia with descriptions of twenty-one new species (Teleostei: Cepolidae: Owstoniinae)

discussion

Remarks. Although the holotype is relatively large, it has a distinctly enlarged posttemporal and preopercle (Fig. 50). These features have otherwise been observed only in Owstonia larvae, suggesting that this individual remained in the water column for an extended period of time, presumably due to its failure to find or detect suitable benthic habitat prior to settlement.

Hidden diversity in deep-water bandfishes: review of Owstonia with descriptions of twenty-one new species (Teleostei: Cepolidae: Owstoniinae)

distribution

Distribution. (Fig. 27) Known only from off Tanzania where trawled in 200 m.

Hidden diversity in deep-water bandfishes: review of Owstonia with descriptions of twenty-one new species (Teleostei: Cepolidae: Owstoniinae)