Kumba gymnorhynchus Iwamoto and Sazonov, 1994

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 : 79-80

Kumba gymnorhynchus Iwamoto and Sazonov, 1994

Kumba gymnorhynchus Iwamoto and Sazonov, 1994:229 , figs. 3–4 (holotype, CAS 77313 [ex ZMMU P.17765]; Indian Ocean, West Australian Ridge (Broken Ridge), 30°46ʹS, 93°20ʹE, 1260–1370 m; 1 paratype, ZMMU P.17766).— Shao et al., 2008: table 2 (1 spec., Taiwan [ SCS], 736–1040 m; first record from Taiwan and SCS).— Iwamoto et al., 2009:48–49 , fig. 5 (data and photograph of Taiwan spec., ASIZP 65527).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.— SCS: ASIZP 65527 (1, 316 TL), CD 134, 1260–1370 m.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES [ ASIZP 65527 in square brackets; ranges from types and NMV 23944].— 1D II [10]11; P [i18] i20–i24; V [8] 10–11; inner GR-I [10] 12–13 total, inner GR-II [10] 12–13 total. Snout [27] 27–29% HL; orbit about [26] 25–26%; interorbital [24] 24–31%; suborbital [16] 16–17%; postorbital [40] 48–52%; orbit to preopercle [50] 48–50%; upper jaw [41] 39–43%; barbel [12] about 7–11%; length isthmus to anal-fin origin [44] 58–65%. Head relatively deep and compressed; snout blunt, scarcely protruding beyond wide mouth; upper jaw extends to below posterior 1 ⁄ 3 of orbit; suborbital region flat, without sharp ridge. Spinules on scales short, conical, aligned in 1–3 comblike rows; dorsal snout surface naked to lateral nasal angles but not posteriorly. Spinous second ray of 1D finely serrated. Attains at least 400 mm TL.

DISTRIBUTION.— Originally described from two specimens taken on the West Australian (Broken) Ridge in the e. Indian Ocean in 1260–1370 m. Our specimen was collected from the South China Sea off Taiwan in 736–1040 m.

REMARKS.— The Taiwan specimen, as reported by Shao et al. (2008), represents the first record of the species from the w. Pacific and only the fourth known specimen. The two type specimens were taken off the West Australian [Broken] Ridge ; a third specimen ( NMV 23944 ) was taken off Albany in Western Australia. The species should be expected in intervening areas of the Pacific and Indian oceans. In the Taiwan specimen the counts of the pelvic and pectoral fin rays, and the inner gill rakers on first and second gill arches, and the distance between the isthmus and anal-fin origin were low and must be confirmed when other specimens are captured from the area.