Description of a new cryptic, shallow‐water tonguefish (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae: Symphurus) from the western North Pacific Ocean. Issue 3 (15th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, M.‐Y.; Munroe, T. A.; Shao, K.‐T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 85:Issue 3(2014)
• Page Start: 563
• Page End: 585
• Publication Date: 2014-07-15
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12440
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jfb12440-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p id="jfb12440-para-0001">Combined results based on morphological characters and analyses of partial sequences of the <italic>16s</italic> rRNA and <italic>coI</italic> genes confirm the validity of a new, cryptic, symphurine tonguefish from the western North Pacific Ocean. <italic>Symphurus leucochilus</italic> n. sp., a diminutive species reaching sizes to <italic>c</italic>. 67 mm standard length, is described from nine specimens that were collected from fish‐landing ports and from trawls made at <italic>c</italic>. 150 m off Taiwan and Japan. <italic>Symphurus leucochilus</italic> shares many similar features with those of <italic>Symphurus microrhynchus</italic> and that of several undescribed species that are morphologically similar to <italic>S. microrhynchus</italic>. <italic>Symphurus leucochilus</italic> has also been misidentified as <italic>Symphurus orientalis</italic> in fish collections because of shared similarities in some aspects of their morphology. The new species differs from all congeners by the following combination of meristic, morphological and pigmentation features: a predominant 1–2–2–2–2 pattern of interdigitation of proximal dorsal‐fin pterygiophores and neural spines; 12 caudal‐fin rays; 89–92 dorsal‐fin rays; 76–80 anal‐fin rays; 49–51 total vertebrae; four hypurals; 75–83 longitudinal scale rows; 32–35 transverse scales; 15–17 scale rows on the head posterior to the lower orbit; absence of a fleshy ridge on the ocular‐side lower jaw and a membranous connection between the anterior nostril and lower part of the eye; a narrow interorbital space and dorsal‐fin origin anterior to the vertical through the anterior margin of the upper eye; absence of both dermal spots at bases of anterior dorsal‐fin rays and melanophores on the isthmus; uniformly yellow to light‐brown ocular‐side colouration without bands; dorsal and anal fins with alternating series of dark rectangular blotches and unpigmented areas; a uniform white blind side and a bluish‐black peritoneum. Despite overall similarities in morphology between <italic>S. leucochilus</italic> and <italic>S. orientalis</italic>, as well as between two of the nominal species morphologically similar to <italic>S. microrhynchus</italic>, analyses of partial <italic>16s</italic> rRNA and <italic>coI</italic> gene sequences show that <italic>S. leucochilus</italic>, <italic>S. orientalis</italic> and the two other nominal species represent three distinct lineages within the genus <italic>Symphurus</italic>.</p> </abstract>