Neobythites ocellatus Günther, 1887

Uiblein, Franz & Nielsen, Jørgen G., 2023, Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups, Zootaxa 5336 (2), pp. 179-205 : 191

Neobythites ocellatus Günther, 1887

Figure 4 , Tables 1 , 3

Neobythites ocellatus Günther, 1887: 103 , pl. 21 (fig. B) (off Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, 09°05′S, 34°50′W, 350 fathoms; holotype: BMNH 1887.12.7.43).

Diagnosis. No or one thin and flat spine on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal-fin rays 95–100; anal-fin rays 81–85; pectoral-fin rays 24–27; precaudal vertebrae 12; total vertebrae 56–58; pseudobranchial filaments 3–4; long rakers on anterior gill arch 14–16; head length 21–24% SL; pelvic-fin length 16–22% SL, fins not extending beyond anus; orbit length 5.3–6.1% SL and 22–28% HL; longest gill filament 1.7–2.6% SL and 7.3–8.4% HL; dorsal fin with two ocelli, one smaller ocellus placed closer to fin origin, spot distance 28–30% SL and spot covers 5–7 dorsal-fin rays, and slightly larger central ocellus placed behind line through anus, spot distance 45–50% SL and spot covers 8–11 dorsal-fin rays; both ocellus spots not extending ventrally onto body; preserved specimens with two black ocellus spots; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.6–5.8% SL, sulcus length 4.0–4.3% SL, and ostium height 18–21% sulcus length and 28–34% ostium length.

Distribution and size. SW Atlantic, off Bahia, E Brazil at 233–641 m depth. Known up to 148 mm SL.

Comparisons. Neobythites japonicus n. sp. differs from N. kenyaensis and N. ocellatus in having two vs. 0 or 1 reduced preopercular spines, fewer dorsal-fin rays, anal-fin rays, and vertebrae, more pseudobranchial filaments, smaller eyes, and shallower otolith ostium height; furthermore, it differs from N. kenyaensis in having both ocelli placed more anterior on the dorsal fin and longer head and pelvic fin; and it differs from N. ocellatus in having fewer gill rakers and shorter gill filaments.

Neobythites kenyaensis differs from N. ocellatus in having more precaudal vertebrae, fewer gill rakers, shorter upper jaw and pelvic fin, and more posteriorly placed ocelli.

Remarks. Okamoto et al. 2011 considered the colour structure close to the dorsal-fin origin to be merely a black blotch. However, our re-examination revealed a clear ring surrounding the spot ( Fig. 4A ).

Neobythites ocellatus only has posterior spots, but no posterior ocelli ( Nielsen et al. 2009)

Figures

FIGURE 4. Species of the kenyaensis group. (A) Neobythites japonicus n. sp., HT, KAUM I.37071, 167 mm SL, off Okinawa (H. Motomura); (B) N. kenyaensis, SAIAB 82154, 136 mm SL, off S Mozambique (O. Alvheim); (C) N. ocellatus, MOVI 39146, 147 mm SL, off E Brazil (G. Brovad); with 10 mm scale bars.