Coryphaenoides rudis Günther, 1878

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 : 73

Coryphaenoides rudis Günther, 1878

Figures 11A–C .

Coryphaenoides rudis Günther, 1878:24 (lectotype BMNH 1889.12.7. 74; Pacific, n of Kermadec I., Challenger sta. 171, 600 fm [1097 m]. BMNH 1887.12.7. 75–77 (paralectotypes: 3).— Shcherbachev and Iwamoto, 1995:301 (Indian Ocean).— Iwamoto and Williams, 1999:170 (4 spec., nw. and se. Australia, 1120–1700 m).— Merrett and Iwamoto, 2000:754 (3 spec., New Caledonia region, 1315–1862 m).— Iwamoto and Graham, 2001:467 (descr., 2 spec., NSW, Australia, 1050–1150m).— Shao et al., 2008: table 2 (1 spec., SCS, 1982 m; first record from Taiwan).

Macrourus paradoxus Smith and Radcliffe in Radcliffe, 1912:115–116, pl. 25, fig. 1 (holotype, USNM 72932, 585 mm TL, e. Palawan, Philippines, 9°13ʹ00ʺN, 118°51ʹ15ʺE, 1105 fm [2021 m]) .

Nematonurus macrocephalus Maul, 1951:17–22, figs. 3, 4c (holotype, MMF [mounted spec.], 210 HL, taken off Madeira) .

MATERIAL EXAMINED (1 spec.).— SCS: ASIZP 66117 (1, 132.6 HL), CD 325, 1982 m . SET: NMMB-P uncat. (1, 1240 TL), Taitung .

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— 1D II,9–11, P i19, V 9–11, inner GR-I about 10, outer GR-II 8–9 total, scales below 2D 6–7. (Proportional measurements of Taiwan specimen in square bracket): snout length [27] 23–29% HL; preoral [17]10–12%; orbit [20] 16–26%; interorbital [27] 26–30%; upper jaw [38] 37–43%; barbel [20]10–23%; greatest body depth 80–100%; height 1D [76] 43–73%; length V [62] 50–111%. Snout low, bluntly rounded (in adults) to bluntly pointed (juveniles), scarcely extending beyond mouth in adults; no stout angular ridges on head; suborbital region vertical. Second 1D spine serrated (serrations reduced in largest specimens), slightly produced; outer V ray moderately produced. Upper jaw extends to below hind margin of orbit. Premaxillary teeth in narrow tapered band, outer series enlarged; mandibular teeth in about 3 series tapering to one. Head fully scaled except for gular and branchiostegal membranes; modified, thickened scales on suborbital and small tubercles at snout tip and at lateral angles; body scales densely covered with small conical spinules in irregularly divergent rows. (Measurement and count data partly from Shcherbachev and Iwamoto [1995], and Iwamoto and Williams [1999])

DISTRIBUTION.— Possibly worldwide in warm seas; depth range 600–3500 m , but usually 1000–2000 m. One of Taiwanese specimens collected in the South China Sea in 1982 m and another one was taken from off Taitung as depth not less than 400 m.

REMARKS.— Our specimen is the first collected in Taiwan waters (recorded by Shao et al. 2008: table 2) and one additional specimen was collected from SW Taiwan off Taitung. Its presence is not surprising in that the holotype of C. paradoxus , a synonym, was captured off e. Luzon Island in the Philippines .

Figures

FIGURE 11. Coryphaenoides rudis Günther, 1878. A. ASIZP 66117, 133 mm HL, fresh. B. NMMB-P uncat., 1240 mm TL, fresh and C. same specimen, dorsal view of head.