Chaunax apus Lloyd, 1909

Ho, Hsuan-Ching & Ma, Wen-Chun, 2016, Revision of southern African species of the anglerfish genus Chaunax (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 4144 (2), pp. 175-194 : 190

Chaunax apus Lloyd, 1909

Tables 2 –4

Chaunax apus Lloyd, 1909:169 (type locality: Bay of Bengal, off Akyab coast, Myanmar, Investigator station 379, 530 fathoms [969 m]). Caruso, 1989:160; Ho & Last, 2013:444; Ho et al., 2015:307.

Material examined. Madagascar: MNHN 1977-0030 (1 of 2, 119), 22°17'9.6"S, 43°4'1.2"E, 450 m, 29 Nov. 1973 . MNHN 1977-0031 (1, 110.7), 22°16'8.4"S, 43°7'8.4"E, 195–200 m, 1 Dec. 1973. MNHN 1977-0040 (2, 194–195), 22°13'4.8"S, 43°1'58.8"E, 670–710 m, 2 Dec. 1973. MNHN 1977-0045 (3,66.5–117.2), 12°44'6"S, 48°10'4.8"E, 563–570 m, 5 Mar. 1971. SAIAB 31339 (1, 88.7), 12°28'S, 48°09'E, off Nosy-Be, 700–710 m, 12 Nov. 1988. South Africa: SAIAB 2727 (1, 142), 33°03'S, 18°00'E, off Saldanha Bay , Western Cape, 16 Oct. 1972 . SAIAB 4712 (1, 152), off Durban , KwaZulu-Natal, Sep. 1967 . SAIAB 10637 (1, 85.0), 27°44.4'S, 32°42.8'E, NE of Cape Vidal, 400–450 m, 26 May 1975 . SAIAB 44919 (1, 111), West of Saldanha Bay , Western Cape, 440 m, 10 Sep. 1994 . Kenya: SAIAB 13789 (1, 96.1), 4°22'S, 39°42'E, off Shimoni , 380 m, 9 Dec. 1980 . SAIAB 14043 (2, 106–234), 4°17'S, 40°07'E, off Mombasa, 687–750 m, 10 Dec. 1980 . SAIAB 14071 (1, 67.2), 3°04'S, 40°25'E, off Malindi, 280 m, 17 Dec. 1980 . Mozambique: SAIAB 82130 (1, 253), 21°52'S, 35°48.6'E, 742–758 m, 17 Oct. 2007 .

Diagnosis. A species of C. abei -species group with uniform pinkish color when fresh, creamy white when preserved; dermal spinules slender and curved; escal cirri colorless or with light brown tips; gill rakers on second gill arch; GR ii=11 or 12; and lateral-line neuromasts: BD=3, GH=13–17, BI=33–38, 3–5 (usually 5) on caudal-fin base.

Distribution. This species is most likely widespread in Indo-west Pacific and appear to be abundant (unpub. data). Specimens were collected from a broad range in western Indian Ocean at depths 195– 969 m.

Remarks. Ho & Last (2013) discussed the validity of this species, being the first species described in the C. abei -species group, and is considered a valid species.

Although this seems to be a common species found in Indo-west Pacific Ocean, we have observed several geographic populations in different regions. This species is thus currently recognized as a probable species complex, but more investigation is needed. It can be separated from two New Zealand species, C. russatus and C. mulleus , by mainly having 3 spines on each side of neuromast (vs. 1); 12 rakers on second gill arch (vs. 14 or 15); and pale gill arch and gill chamber (vs. grayish).