Revision of southern African species of the anglerfish genus Chaunax (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae), with descriptions of three new species Author Ho, Hsuan-Ching Author Ma, Wen-Chun text Zootaxa 2016 4144 2 175 194 journal article 38460 10.11646/zootaxa.4144.2.2 6d3dae45-756e-4254-ad92-fda051e93c5e 1175-5326 259081 39BEEF12-011C-48E8-9C38-5476922F5845 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).