The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of a New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei

Franz Uiblein*, Peter R. Møller, Jørgen G. Nielsen

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

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Abstract

After a preceding revision based on 87 specimens, the systematics of the abyssal giant cuskeel genus Spectrunculus Jordan and Thompson, 1914 has been revisited, based on the examination of 34 additional specimens and new otolith shape data of the holotype of S. grandis. From the latter, a clear distinction in otolith ostium width could be found in specimens from the Atlantic, Southern Indian Ocean, and Southwest Pacific, which were formerly identified as S. grandis. Consequently, the new species, S. stenostio, is described, which has a narrower ostium when related to its length or to sulcus length and differs also in the combination of three body shape characters, three meristic characters, and maximum size from the three other congeners, S. crassus (Atlantic, East Pacific), S. grandis (Pacific), and the previously synonymized S. radcliffei (Pacific, Southern Indian Ocean, Southeast Atlantic). The latter species is here resurrected based on a rather short pre-anal length and additional morphometric as well as meristic and maximum size differences. An identification key for the four species of Spectrunculus is provided.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftIchthyology and Herpetology
Vol/bind111
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)467-485
Antal sider19
ISSN2766-1512
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
For arranging collection visits, providing material, loans, or other collection-related assistance, we thank A. Kuwamoto (Blue Corner), J. Maclaine (BMNH), D. Catania, J. Fong, and T. Iwamoto (CAS), A. Graham (CSIRO), N. Camacho, R. Feeney, and C. Thacker (LACM), A. Williston (MCZ), G. Duhamel, Z. Gabsi, J. Pfliger, and P. Pruvost (MNHN), P. Konstantinidis (OS/OSUO), G. Hanke (RBCM), O. Gon, R. Bills, N. Mazungala, and the SAIAB collection staff (SAIAB), M. Lisher and M. Bougaardt (SAM), N. Straube and B. R. Olsson (ZMUB), and M. A. Krag (ZMUC). For photos, radiographs, or CT scans, we thank H. Lauridsen and C. Carøe Ejlskov Pedersen (Aarhus University), B. Clark (BMNH), J. Fong, A. Graham, M. A. Krag, M. Lisher, and J. Pfliger. For providing information on additional specimens of Spectrunculus from Japan which could not be included in this study, we thank Y. Fujiwara and K. Mita (JAMSTEC). Additional thanks go to all supporting colleagues acknowledged in our first revision of the genus Spectrunculus (Uiblein et al., 2008). The first author thanks the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, for sabbatical travel support.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

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