Coelorinchus cf. spinifer, Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920

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 : 68

Coelorinchus cf. spinifer [sensu Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920]

Coelorhynchus spinifer Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920:516–519 , fig. 30 (holoype: USNM 78226 , Gulf of Tomini , Sulawesi [Celebes], 762 fm [1440 m]).

Coelorinchus spinifer : Shao et al., 2008: table 2 (1 spec., SCS, 1098 m; first record from Taiwan).— Iwamoto et al., 2009:47–48, fig. 4A–B (descr. of Taiwan spec.)

MATERIAL EXAMINED (1 spec.).— SCS: ASIZP 66748 (1, 52 HL, 180 TL), CD 322, 1098 m .

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— 1D II, 11; P i16; GR-I 2+7 (inner); GR-II 1+7 (outer); scales below midbase 1D about 7, below 2D 6; lateral line scales over distance equal to predorsal length ca. 43. Snout sharply pointed, about twice orbit diameter, 45–52% HL; anterolateral margin of snout completely supported by bone; orbit 22–23% HL, internasal width 19%, interorbital 25%, orbit to preopercle 30%, postorbital 30%, upper jaw 22%; length 1D base 1.2 times into 1D-2D interspace; underside of head almost fully covered with tiny deciduous scales. Light organ group II of Iwamoto (1990), fossa narrow and short, not extending to pelvic-fin bases. Scales strong and prickly, spinules on body scales in 3 slightly divergent, ridgelike rows, middle row larger. Ground color brownish, blackish over abdomen, opercles, jaws, and gular and branchiostegal membranes; mouth and gill cavity black; most fins dusky, but P and V blackish, outer V ray pale. Attains at least 185 mm TL.

DISTRIBUTION.— Indonesia off Sulawesi and South China Sea off Taiwan in depths of 1440 m and 1098 m, respectively.

REMARKS.— Coelorinchus spinifer is among the deepest-living members of the genus; only a handful of Coelorinchus species occur at depths greater than 1000 m. The Taiwan specimen is only the second known of the species ( Iwamoto et al. 2009). The notably long and strong spinules on the scales, especially on the head ridges, in the holotype and Taiwan specimen, may reflect a juvenile condition. Until a larger size series is obtained, we are uncertain of its status within the genus. It is otherwise similar in most characters to C. smithi .