Thysanophrys springeri, Knapp, Leslie W., 2013

Knapp, Leslie W., 2013, Descriptions of four new species of Thysanophrys (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) from the Western Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 3608 (2), pp. 127-136 : 131-133

Thysanophrys springeri sp. nov.

Proposed common name: Red Sea flathead ( Figs. 6–7 )

Thysanophrys chiltonae (non Schultz, 1966): Knapp, 1984; Knapp, 1986: 485.

Holotype: USNM 344831 (89 mm SL), Red Sea, Eritrea, mouth of Melita Bay, 15°15'N 39°49'E, 13 Aug. 1969, depth to 7 m, rotenone, Victor G. Springer.

Paratypes: USNM 362819 (2, 61–75 mm SL) Red Sea, Eritrea, Dahlak Archipelago, ½ mile off SW shore of Sciumma Island, 15°32'31"N 40°00'E, 9 Aug. 1969, 7 m, Victor G. Springer; USNM 362820 (4, 29–93 mm SL), Red Sea, Eritrea, Sheikh el Abu, off lighthouse, just west of south end of Harat Island, 16°08'N, 39°26.5'E, 14 Aug. 1969, 4 m, Victor G. Springer; HUJ 12615 (5, 38–86 mm SL), Dahlak Arch., Um Abak, 6 Apr. 1962, Coll. ISRSE; NMW 11204 (69), Red Sea, Kamaran Island, 1897–98, 2nd Red Sea Expedition; BPBM 18274 (42m SL) Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, 1 km N of Fijord, patch reef, 26 Sept. 1974, to 21 m, John E. Randall & O. Gon.

Non-type material: J.M. Rose 246-005 (90 mm SL) Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Tadjoura, Djbouti.

Comparative material of T. chiltonae : ROM 69848 (2, 113–117 mm SL), Andaman Sea near Phuket, Thailand, 07°47'52"N 98°32' E, 15 Nov. 1993, 17– 21 m, R. Winterbottom et al.; ROM 69847 (2, 140–142 mm SL), Thailand, Andaman Sea, 07°35'10"N 98°28'05"E, 25 Nov. 1993, 15– 23 m, R. Winterbottom et al.; ROM 69849 (2, 133 & 150 mm SL), Thailand, Andaman Sea, 07°35'10"N 98°28'05"E, 25 Nov. 1993, 15– 30 m, R. Winterbottom et al.; USNM 362794 (1, 127 mm SL), Andaman Sea, R/V Anton Bruun Cruise I, Sta. 21, 09 °54'N 97°42'E, 24 Mar. 1963, trawl, 70 m, R. Taylor & J. Tyler; MCZ 46963 (1, 42 mm SL) Sri Lanka, Trincomalee Bay, CCK 69-134, 3 Apr. 1970, 7.6 m, C. Koenig; USNM 362786 (2, 131 & 162 mm SL) Sri Lanka, Trincomalee, south side of bay, CCK 69-135, 4 Apr. 1970, 9– 17 m, C. Koenig; USNM 362790 (1, 48 mm SL) Sri Lanka, Trincomalee, center of second bay, N of harbor, CCK 69-136, 4 Apr. 1970, 7.6 m, C. Koenig; BPBM 18778 (1, 164 mm SL) Sri Lanka, Trincomalee, off E side of Fort Frederick, 4 Apr. 1975, 25 m, spear, J. E. Randall; USNM 362788 (1, 166 mm SL) Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, M/V Darbat, Sta. 8, 23 °54.3'N 57°38'E to 23°55.5'N 57°38'E, 12 Mar. 1977, 26–30.5 m, W. Smith-Vaniz; ROM 41767 (1, 100 mm SL) Oman, Sur, Simm 81-09, 10 June 1982, B.N.G. Simm; ROM 41769 (5, 82–158 mm SL) Oman, Sur, Simm 82-18, 10 June 1982, B.N.G. Simm; ROM 41768 (1, 173 mm SL) Oman, Sur, NW of Kalhat Spit, 22°43' E 59° N, Simm 82-17, 12 Mar. 1982, 8 m, B.N.G. Simm; CAS 35039 (1, 99 mm SL) Western Indian Ocean, Grand Comoro Island, N of Hotel Itsandra, in front of “Coelacanth Grotto”, 19 Feb. 1975, 20– 30 m, J.E. McCosker et al.; SAIAB 28190 (1, 97 mm SL), Grand Comore Island, N of Moroni, 20 Oct. 1986, P. Heemstra et al.; SAIAB 52146 (2, 110–127 mm SL) Western Indian Ocean, Madagascar, off Antsmantsara, 7 Sept. 1995, P. Heemstra; BPBM 20245 (1, 161 mm SL) Western Indian Ocean, west coast, off Flic en Flacq, cave, 20 Nov. 1973, 30 m, J. E. Randall; SAIAB 11650 (2, 122 & 125 mm SL) Western Indian Ocean, mouth of Durban harbor, 16 Apr., 1980, P. Heemstra et al.

Diagnosis. A small species of Thysanophrys closely resembling T. chiltonae , but apparently having a maximum size of about 93 mm SL (cf. about 200 mm for T. chiltonae ). Other differences include a DSC of 5 scale rows (6–8 in T. chiltonae ) and 19 pectoral-fin rays in 15 specimens, 20 rays in one, (usually 20–21 in T. chiltonae ).

Description. Dorsal fin spines I, VIII, rays 11; anal fin rays 12; P rays 19; pored LL scales 52 (50–53); anterior 3 scales bearing small spines (2–4); GR 1 + 5 =6; branched caudal-fin rays 10; vertebrae 27. Villiform teeth in bands on jaws, with small canines at symphysis, on palatines and in two separate patches on vomer. LL scale pores with two openings to the exterior ( Fig. 7). Iris lappet with short branches. Orbital diameter 1.1–1.4 in snout length ( Fig. 11 ); snout length 3.1 (2.8–3.2) in HL.

Color in alcohol. Body tan above, pale below; 2 dark bars below D1 fin, D2 fin with faint bar under middle and bold dark bar towards rear of fin; a 5th small bar anterior to C peduncle. Cheek with small, suborbital dark band. D2, A and P fins with black margins; pelvic fin mostly dark; C fin with dark basicaudal band, faint dark bar crossing middle and a bold dark band at rear margin.

Distribution. Primarily restricted to the Red Sea, with one specimen having been recorded from the Gulf of Tadjourna, off Djbouti.

Etymology. Named for Victor G. Springer, who collected the holotype and five paratypes from several localities off Massawa, Eritrea.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Lateral view of Thysanophrys springeri, sp. nov., holotype, USNM 344831, 89 mm SL, from Melita Bay, Eritrea.

FIGURE 11. Ratios of greatest orbital diameter in SNL in five species of Thysanophrys from the western Indian Ocean.