Coryphaenoides cf. asper, Gunther, 1877

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 : 69-70

Coryphaenoides cf. asper [sensu Günther, 1877]

Coryphaenoides asper Günther, 1877:440 (holotype, BMNH 1887.12.7. 88; se. of Cape Nojima [se. of Boso Peninsula], Japan, 34°37ʹN, 140°32ʹE, 1875 fm [3429 m]). Shao et al., 2008: table 2 (1 spec., Taiwan [ SCS], 1982 m; first record from Taiwan).— Iwamoto et al., 2009:45–47 , fig. 3 (descr.; Taiwan [ SCS] spec.).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (1 spec.).— SCS: ASIZP 66107 (1, 92.9 HL, 435+ TL), CD 325, 1982 m .

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES (figures in square brackets are from original description).— 1D II [9] 11, P i19–i21 [25], V 10 [11], GR-I (inner) 2+5; GR-II outer 1+6/1+8; scales below 1D origin 7.5 [6], below midbase 1D 5, below 2D origin 5.5, over distance equal to pre-1D 37. Snout 29% HL, broadly pointed in lateral view, preoral length short, 16%, orbit small, 19%, about 1.5 into snout length, interorbital width 28%, orbit to preopercle 48%, upper jaw 33%, barbel 14% (about 1.3 times in orbit diameter), greatest body depth 81%, 1D-2D interspace 21%, height 1D 91%, length 1D base 26%, length V 83%. Second spine of 1D serrated, produced beyond segmented rays, outer V ray prolonged. Upper jaw extends posteriorly to below middle of orbit. Head fully scaled except over gular and branchiostegal membranes; modified, thickened scales above suborbital ridge; body scales covered with slender spinules in about 5 divergent rows.

DISTRIBUTION.— Known only from two specimens, the holotype taken off Japan in 3429 m and the Taiwan specimen taken in the South China Sea in 1982 m.

REMARKS.— The ASIZP specimen was first recorded by Shao et al. (2008) and subsequently described in more detail by Iwamoto et al. (2009). If correctly identified, it represents only the second known specimen of the species. The absence of previous captures since the H.M.S. Challenger made its historic voyage in 1873–1876 is probably owed to the paucity of trawl hauls made at depths exceeding 2000 m in the area. A few character differences that we found between this Taiwan specimen and the holotype have led to some uncertainty as to it identity; it is for this reason that we consider the identification as tentative.