Seamed Bandfish

description

Description. (Characters of the 50 mm SL specimen that are observable are given in parentheses when they differ from the holotype; also see below Remarks.) A species of Owstonia with LL pattern type 3, consisting of a lateral line that does not contact posttemporal sensory canal near anterodorsal margin of gill opening, but instead continues posteriorly just below dorsal-fin base to soft rays 19 / 20 (16) and anteriorly for about 5 scale rows beyond dorsal-fin origin (on left side) and on right side slightly beyond dorsal-fin origin but too many scales missing on nape to determine if the lateral line makes a complete loop across nape (nape loop definitely incomplete in the small specimen). Dorsal fin III, 21; anal fin I, 14; pectoral fin 19 (21 / 23); gill rakers 16 + 29 (15 + 30) (left gill arch of holotype missing). Vertebrae: precaudal 11, caudal 17, total 28; anal-fin pterygiophores anterior to 1 st haemal spine 2. Oblique body scale rows in mid-lateral series about 50; nape scaly and cheek scale rows 2 or 3. Lower limb margin of preopercle with 5 − 6 very small blunt spines which could easily be overlooked (Fig. 8 F). Papillae in slight depression behind tip of premaxillary as

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 3; Dorsal fin III, 21; anal fin I, 14; nape scaly and cheek scale rows 2 - 3; dentary with 4 or 5 mid-lateral teeth noticeably enlarged and hooked backwards (Fig. 69).

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

discussion

Remarks. The small individual from near Malo Island is tentatively identified as Owstonia rhamma based, in part, on the Vanuatu locality and similarity of its dentition to that of the holotype, but in the absence of body and cheek row scale counts we cannot make an unequivocal identification. The relatively larger orbit diameter 13.5 % SL (vs. 16.4 %) and traces of melanophores on the spinous dorsal fin of Malo Island specimen are presumably size related.

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

distribution

Distribution. (Fig. 22) Known only from the Vanuatu type locality and Malo Island vicinity, where trawled in 400 – 440 and 321 – 336 m.

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