Upeneus elongatus

description

Description. Measurements in % SL and counts are given in Table 3; morphometric data as ratios of SL for holotype: body elongate and laterally compressed, body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 4.9; body depth at anal-fin origin 5.5; head depth through eye 6.9; head length 3.7, much larger than maximum body depth and subequal to caudal-fin length (3.5); first dorsal-fin height 4.9, larger than barbel length (6.0) and second dorsal-fin height (6.6); pelvic-fin length 4.4, larger than pectoral-fin length (4.8) and body depth at first dorsal-fin origin; caudal-peduncle depth 12, distinctly larger than orbit length (15); and caudal-peduncle width 31, much smaller than pectoral-fin width (23). Colour. Fresh HT (Figure 1 B, C). Body with all scales missing, pale greyish dorsally above eye level with tiny dark-brown dots scattered along dorsal margin from below second dorsal fin to caudal-fin base; also, with a few tiny, similar-coloured dots further ventrally between first dorsal-fin origin and middle of second dorsal fin base; broad vermillion stripe of pupil diameter from behind eye to middle of caudal-fin base a; series of about 20 oblique red bands separated by thin silvery lines vent

Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus from the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, with an updated taxonomic account for U. itoui (Mullidae: japonicus-species group)

description

Iwanaga-himeji (new standard Japanese name) (Figures 1 B, C, 2; Tables 2, 3) Upeneus sp.: Tashiro et al. 2014

Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus from the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, with an updated taxonomic account for U. itoui (Mullidae: japonicus-species group)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Dorsal fins VII + 9; pectoral fins 13; gill rakers 8 + 19 – 20 = 27 – 28; body elongate and laterally compressed; measurements as % SL: depth at first dorsal-fin origin 21; body depth at anal-fin origin 18; caudalpeduncle depth 8.3; caudal-peduncle width 3.3; maximum head depth 18; head depth through eye 14; head length 27; snout length 10; orbit length 6.7; upper-jaw length 11; barbel length 17; caudal-fin length 29; anal-fin height 16; pelvic-fin length 23; pectoral-fin length 21; first dorsal-fin height 20, dorsal-fin spines proportionally decreasing in height; second dorsal-fin height 15; total oblique bars on caudal fin 12, upper caudal-fin lobe with 5 red bars; lower caudal-fin lobe with 7 red-brown blotch-like bars which are most conspicuous along middle of lobe and dorsally with a faint yellowish-beige stripe of less than orbit diameter in width that connects to caudal-fin base; bars mostly retained after preservation; first dorsal fin with large yellowish-beige triangular patch close to fin base covering central part of ventral half of fin; a similarly coloured, but much smaller patch at middle of second dorsal-fin base; barbels white when fresh; body and head c

Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus from the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, with an updated taxonomic account for U. itoui (Mullidae: japonicus-species group)

discussion

Remarks. Upeneus elongatus most likely also occurs in the Philippines as indicated by unvouchered in situ photos of shallow-bodied goatfish specimens with very similar colour patterns on caudal and dorsal fins (Figure 1 G – H). However, the body colour in those specimens differs considerably from the fresh HT from S Japan, which may be due to the absence of scales in the HT. Until preserved specimens with scales intact associated with colour photographs of fish in fresh condition become available for comparative studies, we refer to this form as U. cf. elongatus.

Three new goatfishes of the genus Upeneus from the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, with an updated taxonomic account for U. itoui (Mullidae: japonicus-species group)