Onigocia lacrimalis

description

Description. Data for the holotype are presented first, followed by those for paratypes in parentheses or brackets. When non-type specimens have notable additional variations, they are also shown separately: first dorsal-fin rays I + VIII (I + VII – VIII, VII in three, VIII in five); second dorsal-fin rays 12 [12 (one non-type with 13)]; anal-fin rays 12 (12); pectoral-fin rays 2 (upper, unbranched) + 12 (middle, branched) + 9 (lower, unbranched) = 23 [2 + 10 – 11 + 9 – 11 = 21 – 24 (non-types with 2 + 9 – 12 + 10 – 12 = 23 – 25)]; pelvic-fin rays I, 5 (I, 5); branched caudal-fin rays 4 (upper) + 4 (lower) = 8 (4 + 4 = 8); scales in lateral line 35, anterior 3 scales with a spine (32 – 34, 2 – 4 with spine, often 3]; oblique body-scale rows slanting downward and backward above lateral line 35 (32 – 35); oblique body-scale rows slanting downward and forward above lateral line 35 [32 – 35 (a non-type with 36)]; gill rakers 0 + 4 = 4 (0 + 4 – 5 = 4 – 5). Proportions as % SL: HL 42.2 (39.3 – 42.6); predorsal length 39.6 (37.3 – 40.1); length of first dorsal-fin base 20.7 (16.9 – 21.7); length of second dorsal-fin base 25.6 (24.2 – 28.9); length of anal-fin base 30.2 (26.9 – 32.7); caud

A new species of the flathead genus Onigocia (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) collected from the Coral and Tasman Seas

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Onigocia with 12 – 13 (usually 12) second dorsal-fin rays, 12 anal-fin rays, 21 – 25 pectoral-fin rays (mode 23), 8 branched caudal-fin rays, anterior 2 – 4 scales in the lateral line with a spine, a single preocular spine, and lacking gill rakers on upper arch, ocular and interopercular flaps, and distinct antrorse lachrymal spines.

A new species of the flathead genus Onigocia (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) collected from the Coral and Tasman Seas

discussion

Remarks. Onigocia lacrimalis is easily separable from other members of the genus Onigocia in having 12 – 13 (usually 12) second-dorsal and 12 anal-fin rays [vs. both fins usually or always 11 rays in O. bimaculata Knapp, Imamura & Sakashita, 2000, O. grandisquama (Regan, 1908), O. oligolepis (Regan, 1908), and O. pedimacula (Regan, 1908)], 8 branched caudal-fin rays [vs. 9 or more in O. grandisquama, O. macrolepis (Bleeker, 1854), and O. spinosa (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)], anterior 2 – 4 scales of the lateral line with a spine (vs. 10 - 20 in O. spinosa), a single preocular spine (vs. 3 or more in O. bimaculata, O. oligolepis, O. pedimacula, and O. spinosa), and in lacking gill rakers on the upper gill arch [vs. a single gill raker present in others, except for O. pedimacula which also lacks rakers], lacking an ocular flap (vs. present in O. grandisquama, O. macrolepis, and O. spinosa), and lacking an interopercular flap (vs. present in O. bimaculata). Although partial overlap is recognized, the number of pectoral-fin rays is also helpful in separating O. lacrimalis from its congeners except for O. oligolepis [21 – 25 (mode 23) in O. lacrimalis, vs. usually 22 or fewer in others,

A new species of the flathead genus Onigocia (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) collected from the Coral and Tasman Seas

distribution

Distribution. Currently known only from the Chesterfield Islands, Coral Sea, and northern Norfolk Ridge, Tasman Sea, at depths of 111 – 330 m.

A new species of the flathead genus Onigocia (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) collected from the Coral and Tasman Seas