Nemipterus

Russell, Barry C. & Ho, Hsuan-Ching, 2017, A new species of Nemipterus (Perciformes: Nemipteridae) and first record of N. nematophorus (Bleeker) from Taiwan, Zootaxa 4231 (2), pp. 281-288 : 287

Key to species of Nemipterus from Taiwan

1a. Anal-fin rays III, 8................................................................. N. virgatus (W. Pacific)

1b. Anal-fin rays III, 7................................................................................... 2

2a First two dorsal-fin spines close together, almost fused, produced to form a very long filament; upper caudal lobe with long filamentous extension...................................... N. nematophorus (Eastern Indian Ocean and W. Pacific)

2b. First two dorsal-fin spines separated by a membrane, not produced into a long filament, and shorter than the following spines................................................................................................... 3

3a. Membranes between dorsal-fin spines deeply incised................................... N. peronii (Indo-W. Pacific)

3b. Membranes between dorsal-fin spines continuous or only slightly incised........................................ 4

4a. Pelvic fins very long, reaching to or beyond origin of anal fin................................................. 5

4b. Pelvic fins short or moderately long, not reaching to origin of anal fin.......................................... 6

5a Scales below lateral-line in ascending rows anteriorly; dorsal fin pale yellow, with a yellow margin and pale mauve submar- ginal stripe; distinctive broad, bicoloured submedial stripe (yellow above, orange below) along dorsal fin.................................................................................................. N. aurora (W. Pacific)

5b Scales below lateral-line in more or less horizontal rows anteriorly; dorsal fin pale pink, with broad yellow margin, edged below by red; greyish mauve submarginal stripe on posterior half of dorsal fin..... N. sugillatus n. sp. ( Indonesia, Taiwan)

6a. Pectoral fins very long, reaching to or beyond level of origin of anal fin.................. N. japonicus (Indo-W. Pacific)

6b. Pectoral fins short or moderately long, not reaching to level of origin of anal fin.................................. 7

7a. Upper lobe of caudal fin pointed or rounded, not produced................................................... 8

7b. Upper lobe of caudal fin produced to an elongate point, falcate or with a filamentous extension...................... 9

8a. Line drawn up from posterior edge of suborbital reaching dorsal profile at about origin of dorsal fin; pectoral fins reaching to or short of anus................................................................ N. furcosus (Indo-W. Pacific)

8b. Line drawn up from posterior edge of suborbital reaching dorsal profile about 2–6 scales before origin of dorsal fin; pectoral fins reaching to beyond level of anus....................................... N. hexodon (Andaman Sea, W. Pacific)

9a. Upper lobe of caudal fin produced to an elongate point; dorsal fin elevated, first dorsal spine long, 1.1–1.4 in length of longest dorsal spine.............................................. N. thosaporni (W. Pacific, southern Japan to Indonesia)

9b. Upper lobe of caudal fin falcate or extended into a short or long filament; dorsal fin not notably elevated, first dorsal spine short, 1.3–2.9 in length of longest spine................................................................. 10

10a. Body elongate, depth 3.8–4.6 in SL; upper lobe of caudal fin extended into a short filament; eye tangent to or above a line from tip of snout to upper base of pectoral fin............................................. N. zysron (Indo-W. Pacific)

10b. Body moderately deep, depth 3.2–4.0 in SL; upper lobe of caudal fin falcate, ribbon-like; eye tangent to or below a line from tip of snout to upper base of pectoral fin............................................... N. bathybius (W. Pacific)