Sunagocia omanensis, Knapp & Randall, 2013

Knapp, Leslie W. & Randall, John E., 2013, Sunagocia omanensis, a new flathead fish (Scorpaeniformes, Platycephalidae) from the Western Indian Ocean, with comments on the distribution of Sunagocia carbuncula, Zootaxa 3718 (1), pp. 97-100 : 98-99

Sunagocia omanensis , sp. nov.

Proposed common name: Omani flathead

( Figs. 1–2 )

Holotype. BPBM 36045 (129 mm SL), Oman, Kuria Muria Is., Sawda I. off SW side, edge of rocky bottom and adjacent sand and rubble, SCUBA, rotenone, 21 m, J. E. Randall, J. L. Earle, G. Rhodes, & D. M. Hardy, Nov. 7, 1993.

Paratype. USNM 329516 (116 mm. SL), same collection data as holotype .

Diagnosis. A species of Sunagocia with the following combination of characters: preocular spines 3; one pair of nasal spines; ethmoid spines forming a unique rosette on midline, 5–6 tips coming from a common base; base of lower opercular spine with 5–6 serrations; supraorbital ridge with about 15 small serrations; suborbital ridge with about 20 serrations; gill rakers 6; DSC 12 (11); and anal fin rays 11.

Description. D1, I, VIII, D2, 11; A 11; pectoral fin rays 21 (20); pelvic fin rays I, 4+1; pored LL scales 53, first 3 bearing small spines; preocular spines 3; supraorbital ridge with about 15 small serrations; suborbital ridge with about 20 serrations; base of lower opercular spine with 5–6 serrations; lateral line scale pores with 2 openings to exterior ( Fig. 2 ); gill rakers 6; DSC 12 (11); caudal fin branched rays 11(broken in holotype); interorbital width going into snout length 4.4(4.6) times. Iris lappet not visible in both type specimens, perhaps retracted. Measurements for type specimens appear in Table 1.

Color in alcohol. Body tan, 4–5 dark saddles crossing back with posterior ones reaching down to lower side; 1 st dorsal fin with broad submarginal dark band; 2 nd dorsal fin with dark spots on rays; anal fin with submarginal dark band; pectoral fin with 3–4 dark bands; pelvic fin with dark blotches; caudal fin with a broad basicaudal dark blotch, a pale central area and 2 dark bands posteriorly.

Etymology. Known only from the two type specimens from the Kuria Muria Islands of Oman.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Lateral view of holotype of Sunagocia omanensis, BPBM 16045 (120 mmSL) from Oman. Drawing by Elaine Heemstra.

FIGURE 2. Anterior lateral-line scale 12 (length 2.3 mm) from right side of holotype of S. omanensis, BPBM 36045.