Neobythites solomonensis, Uiblein & Nielsen, 2021

Uiblein, Franz & Nielsen, Jørgen G., 2021, New record of the cuskeel genus Neobythites (Pisces, Ophidiidae) from the Solomon Sea with description of a new species and notes on colour patterns, Cybium 45 (2), pp. 83-88 : 84-85

Neobythites solomonensis n. sp. – Striped Cuskeel

( Figs 1 , 2 ; Tab. I)

Holotype. – MNHN 2006-0322 , female, SL 166 mm, Solomon Sea, 8°57’S, 157°48’E, Camp. Salomon 2; 2004, RV Alis, st. cp2273, 732- 839 m, beam trawl, 5 Nov. 2004.

Paratypes (n = 4, SL 137-162 mm). – MNHN 2002- 3834 , 2 specimens, SL 137-162 mm, Solomon Sea, 9°20’S, 159°56’E, Camp. Salomon 1 , RV Alis, st. cp1749, 582- 594 m, beam trawl, 25 Sep. 2001 ; MNHN 2002-3891 , SL 145 mm, Solomon Sea, 8°12’S, 160°41’E, Camp. Salomon 1 , RV Alis, st. dw1775, 498- 600 m, dredge, 28 Sep. 2001 ; MNHN 2006-0725 , female, SL 150 mm, Solomon Sea, 7°37’S, 157°45’E, Camp. Salomon 2, 2004 , RV Alis, st. cp2214, 550- 682 m, beam trawl, 26 Oct. 2004 .

Diagnosis

Hind margin of preoperculum with two spines; distal part of dorsal fin and posterior two thirds of anal fin mostly dark-brown greyish pigmented; pelvic fins not reaching beyond anus; distinct lateral body stripe at eye level from behind opercle to tail region; dark-brown or grey dorsal-fin margin; anal fin dark pigmented along posterior third; ocelli and dark vertical bars absent; dorsal fin-rays 100-109; anal fin-rays 84-90; pectoral fin-rays 27-28; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 58-61; long rakers on anterior gill arch 12-14; longest filament on anterior gill arch 4.6-5.3% head length.

Description

The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in table I. The morphological description is mostly based on the holotype: Elongate fish with complete, brown lateral line running close to dorsal edge; head and body covered with deciduous scales; origin of dorsal fin above middle of pectoral fin; origin of anal fin slightly in front of midpoint of fish; snout blunt and equal in length to diameter of eye window; anterior nostril with a small tube and posterior nostril a mere hole; two spines on hind margin of preoperculum; opercular spine strong; anterior gill arch with two short and three long rakers on upper branch, one long raker in the angle and lower branch with ten long and seven short rakers (paratypes with a total of 12-14 long and 7-9 short rakers); gill rakers on anterior arch 2-3 times the length of gill filaments. Pseudobranchial filaments indistinct.

Figures

Figure 1. – Neobythites solomonensis n. sp.; A, B: MNHN 2006-0322, HT, female, 166 mm SL; C, D: MNHN 2006-0725, PT, female, 150 mm SL (M. Krag).

Figure 2. – Right sagitta of the HT of Neobythites solomonensis n. sp. (MNHN 2006-0322, 8.6 mm otolith length) (F. Uiblein).