Nemipterus nematophorus (Bleeker 1854)

Figure 3

Dentex filamentosus Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1830: 254, pl. 155. ‘Suriname’ (locality in error, probably Indonesia) (name subjectively invalid; secondarily preoccupied by Cantharus filamentosus Rüppell 1828, first in Synagris and then in Nemipterus).

Dentex nematophorus Bleeker 1854: 500 (Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia).

Synagris macronemus Günther 1859: 380 (Trincomalee, Sri Lanka; replacement name for Dentex filamentosus Valenciennes 1830).

Material examined. NMMB-P 23609, 188.3 mm SL, purchased from Hengchun market, collected by hook and line at southern tip of Taiwan, ca. 100 m, 5 July 2016.

Diagnosis. Dorsal fin with anterior pair of spinous rays close together, almost fused and produced into a long, trailing filament; pectoral and pelvic fins long, reaching to between level of anus and origin of anal fin; caudal fin forked, upper lobe produced into a trailing filament. Colour: upper part of head and body pinkish, silvery-white below; broad golden-yellow stripe beneath lateral-line, with distinct gold patch anteriorly beneath origin of lateralline; three narrow golden-yellow stripes laterally along ventral half of the body (third indistinct); yellow stripe on either side of ventral midline; dorsal fin translucent pinkish, anterior dorsal filament and margin of fin yellow; anal fin translucent, faint yellow or orange stripe along fin extending from near base of first spine to middle of last ray, basal part of fin pale bluish-white; caudal fin pink, upper tip and caudal filament yellow (pale in some specimens); pectoral fins pale pink; pelvic fins pink, axillary scale lemon-yellow.

Distribution. Widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, Strait of Malacca, Philippines, South China Sea, Gulf of Thailand and Indonesia. Not previously recorded from Taiwan (Russell 1993).