African deepwater flathead

description

Description. Measurements are shown in Table 1. Body cylindrical, posteriorly moderately compressed, completely covered with ctenoid scales. Anterior lachrymal with single robust spine, posterolaterally directed, in some specimens with small additional spine anteriorly; posterior lachrymal without spine. Two preocular spines present. Interorbital region narrow and slightly depressed, with more than 12 small spines, forming a serrated ridge. Single small postocular spine present. Suborbital ridge strongly or moderately developed, with three robust spines, tip of anteriormost spine below center of eye, second below posterior margin of eye; posteriormost below pterotic spine. Parietal spine sharp, posteriorly directed. Three nuchal spines, one each on supratemporal, posttemporal, and supracleithrum, respectively; posttemporal sometimes with additional spine. Pterotic with two sharp spines posteriorly directed. Posterior rim of orbit armed with small spines. Preopercle with single robust spine, posteriorly directed; usually with supplementary spine; ventral margin of preopercle smooth. Opercle with upper and lower spines, slightly directed dorsoposteriorly and posteriorly, respectively

Taxonomic review of the deep water flathead genus Parabembras with description of the new species Parabembrasmultisquamata from the western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei, Parabembridae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Parabembras robinsoni is distinguished from its congeners in having usually 11 spines in the first dorsal fin (vs. 8 - 9 in P. curta and 9 - 10 in P. multisquamata), a distinct symphyseal knob in the lower jaw (vs. symphyseal knob absent in P. curta and P. multisquamata), two preocular spines (vs. single in P. curta and P. multisquamata), and single lachrymal spine (two in P. curta and P. multisquamata).

Taxonomic review of the deep water flathead genus Parabembras with description of the new species Parabembrasmultisquamata from the western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei, Parabembridae)

distribution

Geographical distribution. Western Indian Ocean, from Durban to at least southern Mozambique, along the east coast of South Africa at depths of 200 - 600 m (Knapp 1986). According to Everett et al. (2015), the species may be distributed along the East African coast north to Kenya; however, these records need confirmation.

Taxonomic review of the deep water flathead genus Parabembras with description of the new species Parabembrasmultisquamata from the western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei, Parabembridae)

materials_examined

Material examined. BMNH 1921.3.1.19 (holotype of P. robinsoni, photo only), 24 - 35 km off Umvoti River, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa [ca. 29 ° 32 ' S, 31 ° 36 ' E], depth 120 - 130 fathoms [219 - 238 m], R. Robinson, 1921; MCZ 130275, 127.0 mm SL (1), off Mozambique, 25 ° 26 ' S, 34 ° 19 ' E, 356 m depth, RS Algoa- 014, 21 June 1994 (3 D CTs only); NSMT-P 129786 - 129792, 126.7 - 176.1 mm SL (9 specimens), east coast of South Africa, 25 ° 21 ' S, 34 ° 20.5 ' E 326 m depth, 6 Dec. 1970.

Taxonomic review of the deep water flathead genus Parabembras with description of the new species Parabembrasmultisquamata from the western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei, Parabembridae)