Parabembras curtus

description

Description. Measurements are shown in Table 1. Body cylindrical, posteriorly weakly compressed, completely covered with ctenoid scales. Nasal spine simple, dorsoposteriorly directed. Anterior lachrymal with single robust spine, posterolaterally directed, in some specimens with small additional spine anteriorly; posterior lachrymal with sharp spine, posteroventrally directed. Single preocular spine present. Interorbital region narrow and weekly depressed, with 6 - 8 supraocular spines. Single postocular spine present, slightly larger than posteriormost supraocular spine. 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 robust and sharp, posteriorly directed. Three nuchal spines, one each on supratemporal, posttemporal, and supracleithrum, respectively; posttemporal in some specimens with additional spine. Pterotic with single sharp posteriorly directed spine. Preopercle with single robust posteriorly directed spine, in some specimens with supplementary spine; ventral margin of preopercle smooth. Opercle with upper and lo

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 curta is distinguished from P. robinsoni in the absence of a symphyseal knob on the lower jaw (vs. distinct symphyseal knob in P. robinsoni), presence of a single preocular spine (vs. two preocular spines), and presence of two robust lachrymal spines (vs. a single robust lachrymal spine). It is further distinguished from P. multisquamata, in having 6 - 8 supraocular spines (vs. 9 - 11 supraocular spines in P. multisquamata); nine (rarely eight) spines in the first dorsal fin (vs. 10 spines); 34 - 39 pored lateral-line scales (vs. 40 - 44 pored lateral line scales).

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. Known from the western Pacific Ocean; Wakasa Bay of Sea of Japan and Kumano-nada, Pacific coast of Japan and Korea south to China and Taiwan (East China Sea, Yellow Sea, Bohai, and northern part of South China Sea) (Fig. 3). Benthic, on sandy mud substrate from depths of 60 - 141 m (Chu and Jin, 1963; Nakabo and Kai, 2013; present study).

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. FAKU 12176, 12280, 12371, 14289, 41439, 41441, 41443, 41445 - 41447, 106.0 - 193.1 mm SL (10 specimens), East China Sea, coll. Matsui and Takai, 20 Oct. 1949; FAKU 34911, 145.5 mm SL (1), Yawatahama, Ehime, Japan, Kishida, Mar. 1962; FAKU 35093, 114.8 mm SL (1), Tosa Bay, Kochi, Japan,. K. Amaoka, Mar. 1962; FAKU 37892, 37893, 37897, 143.9 - 154.1 mm SL (3), Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan, N. Taniguchi, 10 Jun. 1965; FAKU 99918, 99919, 123.3 - 148.2 mm SL (2), Kii Ohshima, Wakayama, Japan; FAKU 101901, 123.3 mm SL (1), Tsushima, Nagasaki, Japan, 31 Jul. 1973; FAKU 144461, 144462, 94.8 - 135.4 mm SL, Dong-gang, Pingtung, Taiwan, F. Tashiro and M. Y. Lee; NMMBA 2820, 86.7 mm SL, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; NMMBA 8359, 87.9 mm SL, Dong-gang, Pingtung, Taiwan, 17 Mar. 2005; NMMBA 20313, 117.3 mm SL, Dong-gang, Pingtung, Taiwan, 25 May 2013.

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