Ventrifossa garmani (Jordan & Gilbert, 1904)

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 : 109-110

Ventrifossa garmani ( Jordan and Gilbert, 1904)

Figures 28A–B .

Coryphaenoides garmani Jordan and Gilbert in Jordan and Starks , 1904:610 (holotype USNM 50933 , Sagami Bay, Japan, 110–259 fm [201–474 m]; paratypes ANSP 114108 [1 spec.], CAS-SU 8548 [5 spec.], USNM 51415 [9 spec.]) .

Ventrifossa garmani : Matsubara, 1955:1315.— Kamokara, 1964:96.— Okamura, 1970:74.— Iwamoto, 1979: 152.— Okamura in Okamura et al., 1982:145, 348.— Okamura in Masuda et al., 1984:94.— Okamura in Okamura and Kitajima, 1984:213, 360.— Iwamoto, 1990:300–301, fig. 678–679 (descr.).— Shen et al., 1993:172 (desc.).— Chiou et al., 2004b:37, 47 (in key, list).— Shao et al., 2008: table 2 (2 spec., SWT).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (8 spec.).— SWT: ASIZP 61306 (1, 260+ TL), Dong-gang . ASIZP 65586 (1, 235 TL), CD 140, 280– 452 m. Other materials: Japan : USNM 50933 (holotype, 52.8 HL, 292 TL), Albatross sta. 3695, Sagami Bay , 201– 474 m. USNM 51415 (5 of 9 paratypes, 32–46.1 HL, 180–250+ TL), Suruga Bay , Albatross sta. 3738, 305 m.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— 1D II,10–11; P i19–i22; V 8, rarely 9; inner GR-I 16–17 total, outer GR-II 16–17; scale rows below midbase 1D 7.5–9.0, below 2D 4.5–5.0; lateral line scales over distance equal to predorsal length 38–42. Snout length 25–27% HL; preoral length 18–19%; interorbital 29–32%; orbit 30–35%; suborbital 11–15%; orbit to preopercle 41–45%; upper jaw 42–47%; barbel 23–29%; outer gill slit 24–27%. Head and body relatively compressed; snout relatively short, high, forming obtuse angle viewed dorsally. Body scales covered with broad-based, triangular spinules in quincunx arrangement. Spinous ray of 1D usually less than HL, leading edge finely sawtoothed. Periproct occupying about half anterior space between V and A, close behind V bases, dermal window of light organ extends forward between V bases. Gill membranes narrowly united over isthmus and under midorbit. Color in preservative light to medium gray-brown overall, silvery over most of head, trunk, and anteriorly on sides of tail, but not over dorsum; jaws, gill membranes, and below suborbital ridge blackish; mouth pale, gill cavities blackish posteriorly; leading edge of snout blackish; 1D dusky, somewhat darker midlaterally; V blackish; P and A clear to dusky. Attains about 30 cm TL.

DISTRIBUTION.— From s. Japan to sw Taiwan [ SCS], in 280–452 m.

REMARKS.— This is one of the most abundant species of macrourid in Japan, but it is not particularly common off Taiwan. The broadly triangular scale spinules on body scales are unique among the Taiwan members of this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 28. Ventrifossa garmani Jordan and Gilbert, 1904. ASIZP 61306, 260+ mm TL, preserved. A. lateral view of whole fish. B. lateral view of right head, photo reversed laterally.