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| Nudiantennarius subteres (Smith and Radcliffe, in Radcliffe, 1912)
Pietsch & Arnold, 2017.
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The “Lembeh Frogfish” or “Ocellated Frogfish,” a distinct antennariid, known for many years, especially among members of the dive community, and suggested by some to represent an undescribed species, is identified as Nudiantennarius subteres (Smith and Radcliffe). Unique in several ways—including reduced dermal spinules, the body appearing naked; illicium short, about half the length of the second dorsal-fin spine; second dorsal-fin spine unusually long and narrow, without a posterior membrane; pectoral lobe narrow, somewhat detached from the body; membranes between the rays of the paired fins deeply incised; and all pelvic-fin rays simple—the species is redescribed and figured below. Morphological and molecular analyses indicate a close relationship with the Sargassumfish, Histrio histrio.
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| Nudiantennarius subteres, uncollected specimens: (A) Pantar Island, Alor Archipelago, Indonesia, 29 November 2006 (© 2006 David Hall); (B) Secret Bay, Anilao, Philippines, 18 April 2009 (photo by Stephane Bailliez); (C) Dauin, Negros Island, Philippines, 29 April 2015 (photo by Daniel Geary); (D) Ambon, Indonesia, 28 October 2015 (photo by Linda Ianniello); (E) hypothesized mated pair, male on the left, female on the right; Seraya Bay, northeast Bali, Indonesia, 1 November 2012 (photo by Vincent Chalias); (F) Secret Bay, Anilao, Philippines, ca. 2 m depth, 19 April 2009 (photo by Stephane Bailliez). |
Theodore W. Pietsch and Rachel J. Arnold. 2017. The “Lembeh Frogfish” Identified: Redescription of Nudiantennarius subteres (Smith and Radcliffe, in Radcliffe, 1912) (Teleostei: Lophiiformes: Antennariidae). Copeia. 105(4); 659-665. DOI: 10.1643/CI-17-651
