Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
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Online Publication Date: 01 May 2007

A New Species of Pteropsaron (Teleostei: Trichonotidae: Hemerocoetinae) from the Western Pacific, with Notes on Related Species

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Page Range: 364 – 377
DOI: 10.1643/0045-8511(2007)7[364:ANSOPT]2.0.CO;2
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Abstract

Pteropsaron springeri, new species, is described from 18 specimens collected from the Philippines and Indonesia. It differs from all other species of the Pteropsaron/Osopsaron complex in that the first dorsal fin has only three spines and is displaced anteriorly to lie over the posterior end of the occiput. The proximal ends of the pterygiophores lie against the second and third neural arches, which are bent forward to form horizontal processes that accommodate the pterygiophores. Based on a synapomorphy in the suspensorium, we suggest that the relationships of Pteropsaron and related genera (subfamily Hemerocoetinae) lie with the Creediidae and Trichonotidae, and not with the Percophidae, where they have traditionally been placed. An abbreviated key is provided to the family Trichonotidae as we construe it, which contains three subfamilies: the Creediinae, Hemerocoetinae, and Trichonotinae. We tentatively recognize eight genera in the Hemerocoetinae: Hemerocoetes, and the “Pteropsaron-like” genera Acanthaphritis, Osopsaron, Pteropsaron, Dactylopsaron, Enigmapercis, Matsubaraea, and Squamicreedia, although the relationship of the former to the latter seven needs further investigation. The species of Osopsaron and Pteropsaron are treated briefly, and some new information is presented. We provisionally place two species in Osopsaron (O. verecundum and O. karlik) and seven species in Pteropsaron (P. evolans, P. formosensis, P. heemstrai, P. incisum, P. natalensis, P. neocaledonicus, and P. springeri).

Copyright: 2007 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Figure 1
Figure 1

Jaws and suspensorium in four species of Trichonotidae (sensu lato); (A) Hemerocoetes monopterygius, USNM 214077, 147.0 mm SL; (B) Pteropsaron springeri, USNM 368827, 28.2 mm; (C) Trichonotus setiger, USNM 265627, 85.0 mm; (D) Limnichthys sp., USNM 265325, 26.5 mm. ect—ectopterygoid; end—endopterygoid.

Figure 2
Figure 2

Pteropsaron springeri. (A) Holotype, USNM 367912, male, 27.5 mm SL; (B) same, dorsal view of head and snout; (C) paratype, AMS I21918, female, 26.5 mm SL.

Figure 3
Figure 3

Head pores in Pteropsaron springeri, holotype. an—anterior nostril; pn—posterior nostril. Scale bar = 1 mm.

Figure 4
Figure 4

Spinous dorsal-fin pterygiophores and anterior vertebrae of Pteropsaron springeri, USNM 368827, 28.2mm SL (upper); and P. heemstrai, USNM 265323 (lower). O—occiput; V—vertebra. Shading delineates pterygiophores; arrows indicate insertion points of dorsal spines.

Figure 5
Figure 5

Pteropsaron springeri; male (upper) and female (lower). Photo by R. H. Kuiter, Flores, Indonesia, on steep sand slope at 20 m depth.

Figure 6
Figure 6

Pteropsaron evolans. (A) Male, from Jordan and Snyder, 1902:fig. 2; (B) female, from Nakabo, 2002:1065.

Figure 7
Figure 7

Pteropsaron formosensis, from Kao and Shen, 1985:fig. 2.

Figure 8
Figure 8

Pteropsaron heemstrai, from Nelson, 1982:fig. 1.

Figure 9
Figure 9

Pteropsaron incisum, from Gilbert, 1905:pl. 87.

Figure 10
Figure 10

Osopsaron karlik, from Parin, 1985:fig. 1.

Figure 11
Figure 11

Pteropsaron natalensis, from Nelson, 1982:fig. 3.

Figure 12
Figure 12

Pteropsaron neocaledonicus, from Fourmanoir and Rivaton, 1979:fig. 11.

Figure 13
Figure 13

Osopsaron verecundum, from Jordan and Snyder, 1902:fig. 3.

Contributor Notes

Section editor: D. Buth.

Received: 25 Nov 2005
Accepted: 12 Dec 2006
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