Smalleye Pacific Opah

description

Description. Dorsal-fin rays I, 49 (I, 49 – 50); anal-fin rays 40 (40); pectoral-fin rays 22 (22); pelvic-fin rays 15 (15). Body laterally compressed and rounded, its greatest depth contained 1.4 (1.4 – 1.5) times in standard length; head length contained 2.8 (2.7 – 2.8) times in standard length; vertical eye diameter contained 5.4 (5.4 – 5.6) times in head length; jaws protractible and lacking teeth; upper jaw shorter than lower jaw; lower jaw protrudes slightly forward of upper jaw, the tip narrowing to a blunt point; palate without teeth. Lateral line angled above gill opening, arching above pectoral fins, and extending along mid-height of body through center of caudal peduncle. Scales small, thin, and easily removed over entire body. Dorsal fin long, the length of its base contained 1.8 (1.8) times in standard length, its height contained 3.5 (3.5 – 3.7) in standard length. Origin of pelvic fin below or anterior to middle of elongated portion of dorsal fin, its length contained 3.2 (3.1 – 3.2) times in SL. Coloration. In dead specimens (unpreserved), body steel grey on dorsal surface fading to bright silver on ventral surface. Spots small, circular, and of two size distinct siz

A taxonomic review of Lampris guttatus (Brünnich 1788) (Lampridiformes; Lampridae) with descriptions of three new species

description

Lampris guttatus (Brünnich 1778) Lampris guttatus Lineage 5. Hyde et al. 2014. Common name. Smalleye Pacific Opah

A taxonomic review of Lampris guttatus (Brünnich 1788) (Lampridiformes; Lampridae) with descriptions of three new species

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Lampris distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: dorsal rays I, 50; anal rays I, 39; pectoral rays 22; pelvic rays 15; origin of pelvic fin below or anterior to middle of elongated portion of dorsal fin; horizontal eye diameter less than 30 % HL; dorsal-fin height on average 21.3 % FL; pelvic-fin length on average 24.5 % FL; tongue generally pink; spots small, circular, and of two distinct size classes densely packed over entire body including head, chest and operculum; caudal fin with translucent edge.

A taxonomic review of Lampris guttatus (Brünnich 1788) (Lampridiformes; Lampridae) with descriptions of three new species

discussion

Remarks. Lampris incognitus is very similar to L. megalopsis with which it shares a small portion of its range. The most obvious difference is in the size of the eye. In L. incognitus, the horizontal eye diameter is typically 5.0 % FL and is contained ~ 4.7 times in head length.

A taxonomic review of Lampris guttatus (Brünnich 1788) (Lampridiformes; Lampridae) with descriptions of three new species