Ventrifossa macroptera Okamura, 1982

Iwamoto, Tomio, Nakayama, Naohide, Shao, Kwang-Tsao & Table, Hsuan-Ching Ho, 2015, Synopsis of the Grenadier Fishes (Gadiformes; Teleostei) of Taiwan, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 62 (3), pp. 31-126 : 111-112

Ventrifossa macroptera Okamura, 1982

Ventrifossa macroptera Okamura in Okamura et al., 1982:149 (holotype BSKU 32185, Kyushu-Palau Ridge, 27°55.1ʹN, 134°44.8ʹE, 685–710 m; paratypes BSKU 30432 [1 spec.], 30435–36 [2], 30467–69 [3], 29429 [1], 32153–84 [31], 32186–89 [4], 32192–200 [8]).— Okamura in Masuda et al., 1984:94 (compiled).— Iwamoto, 1990:303, figs. 682–683 (descr.).— Chiou et al., 2004:48, fig. 21 (2 spec.; Tungkang, Taiwan [ SWT]).

Ventrifossa atherodon (not of Gilbert and Cramer, 1897): Chiou et al., 2004b:46, fig. 18 ( ASIZP 61311 (1 spec., Da-xi , Taiwan [ NET]).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (103 Taiwan spec.).— NET: ASIZP 60253 (1, 286 TL), Da-xi; ASIZP 65533 (1, 190 TL), CD 210, 445– 1185 m; ASIZP 61311 (1, 245 TL), Da-xi; ASIZP 70682 (1, 47 HL), Da-xi; ASIZP 70729 (1, 254 TL), Da-xi. SWT: ASIZP 61244 (1, 199 TL), Dong-gang; ASIZP 61245 (1, 202 TL), Dong-gang; ASIZP 65525 (3, 170–190 TL0, CD 142, 227– 335 m; ASIZP 66947 (2, 235–250 TL), CD 140, 280– 452 m; ASIZP 67596 (3, 118–143 TL), CP 348, 395 m; ASIZP 70254 (1, 180 TL), Dong-gang. SCS: ASIZP 65522 (18, 90–185 TL), ASIZP 65590 (41, 143–221 TL), ASIZP 65612 (5, 175–225 TL), and ASIZP 65614 (4, 111–132 TL), CD 136, 998– 1211 m; ASIZP 65534 (1, 280 TL), CD 137, 316– 477 m; ASZIP 65623 (1, 208 TL), CD 233, 448– 526 m; ASZIP 65640 (1, 218 TL), CD 233, 448– 562 m; ASIZP 65679 (1, 21 HL, 97+ TL), CP 315, 509 m; ASIZP 66751(1, 125 TL), OCP 312, 517 m; ASIZP 66764 (2, 35–38 HL, 130+-160+ TL), CP 314, 506 m; ASIZP 66798 (6, 20–38 HL, 110–180+ TL) , CD 311, 516 m; ASIZP 66804 (2, 125–255 TL) , OCP 317, 515 m; ASIZP 66808 (1, 180 TL) , CP 314, 506 m; ASIZP 66832 (1, 143 TL) , CP 315, 509 m; ASIZP 66949 (2, 130+-144 TL) , CP 234, 547 m.

Other specimens: Japan (all from Kyushu-Palau Ridge). HUMZ 75049 (330+ TL); 75050 (325+ TL); 75051 (328+ TL); 75052 (332+ TL); 75053 (250+ TL); 75054 (338+ TL); 75055 (290+ TL); 75056 (356+ TL); 75057 (295 TL). CAS 52971 (3 paratypes, ex. BSKU spec.; 60.0–73.0 HL, 290+-376+ TL); CAS 52972 (7 paratypes, ex. BSKU; 58.2–70.3 HL, 235+-360+ TL) .

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— 1D II,9–10(11); P i19–i23; V 9–10; GR-I (outer/inner) (10) 13–15 / 16–18 total, GR-II (outer/inner) 16–18 / 16–18; scale rows below 1D origin 9.5–11.0 (12.0), below midbase 1D 6.0.0–7.5, below 2D 7.5–10.0; lateral line scales over distance equal to predorsal length 48–57. Snout length 27–32% HL; preoral length 12–17%; internasal 23–27%; interorbital 29–32%; orbit 26–31%; suborbital 12–15%; postorbital 42–48%; orbit to preopercle 45–52%; upper jaw 47–51%; barbel 20–27%; outer gill slit 26–33%. Second spinous ray of 1D smooth. Snout rather blunt, little protruding beyond mouth; suborbital shelf narrowly constricted anteriorly below posterior nostril. Premaxillary tooth band broad; outer series of recurved, caninelike teeth with arrowhead-shaped tips; lower jaw teeth in two series. Color overall dark, head swarthy to black, somewhat silvery on sides of head and body, blackish over gular region and chest, de-scaled areas on trunk and anterior part of tail bluish; mouth pale, gill cavities blackish posteriorly; gill arches dark; leading edge of snout blackish; fins blackish; broad lunate area mesial to P base black. Attains about 40 cm TL.

DISTRIBUTION.— Kyushu-Palau Ridge to Taiwan and the South China Sea. In Taiwan, specimens were collected off NET, SWT, and SCS, mostly at depths between 280 and 516 m, but one collection (CD 136) from 998–1211 m.

REMARKS.— Chiou et al. (2004b:46, fig. 18) recorded a specimen referred to V. atherodon that is now re-identified as V. macroptera . Okamura (in Okamura et al. 1982:151) considered this species to be the most dominant of the grenadiers off the Kyushu-Palau Ridge. It appears to be similarly abundant in the South China Sea. In respect to the smooth spinous 1D ray, the low blunt snout, and dentition, V. macroptera resembles V. atherodon (Gilbert and Cramer, 1897) , V. macrodon Sazonov and Iwamoto, 1992 from the se. Pacific, and V. sazonovi Iwamoto and Williams, 1999 from w., nw., and ne. Australia and the South China Sea. The last species is notable in having enlarged spinules on scales of the dorsum below the anterior portion of the 2D.