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| Spectrunculus stenostio Uiblein, Møller & Nielsen, 2023 DOI: 10.1643/i2023005 photos by F. Uiblein & P. R. Møller |
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.
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| (A–C) Spectrunculus stenostio: (A) HT, ZMUB 18493, 825 mm SL, N Atlantic (F. Uiblein); (B) SAIAB 11892, 706 mm SL, S Indian Ocean (F. Uiblein); (C) NMNZ P.033111, 1030 mm SL, SW Pacific (P. R. Møller). (D–F) S. crassus: (D) ZMUB 18355, 187 mm SL, N Atlantic (MAR-ECO cruise); (E) HT, MNHN 1886-0552, 284 mm SL, N Atlantic (J. Pfliger); (F) ZMUB 18463, 500 mm SL, N Atlantic (MAR-ECO cruise); (G–I) S. grandis: (G) HT, BMNH 1887, 675 mm SL (F. Uiblein); (H) NMNZ P.041204, 840 mm SL, SW Pacific (P. R. Møller); (I) CAS 25724, 1270 mm SL, NE Pacific (Moulin Studios, San Francisco, used with permission); (J–M) S. radcliffei: (J) HT (postlarva), FMNH 57123, 56 mm SL, NW Pacific (FMNH Zoological Collections, used with permission); (K) SAM 47240, 541 mm SL, S Atlantic (F. Uiblein); (L) ZMUC P2397445, 945 mm SL, NW Pacific (M. A. Krag); (M) ZMUC P2397724, 1020 mm SL, NW Pacific (M. A. Krag). Length of black or white scale bars is 5 cm. |
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| Spectrunculus stenostio: (A) HT, ZMUB 18493, 825 mm SL, N Atlantic (F. Uiblein); (B) SAIAB 11892, 706 mm SL, S Indian Ocean (F. Uiblein); (C) NMNZ P.033111, 1030 mm SL, SW Pacific (P. R. Møller). |
Spectrunculus stenostio, new species
Diagnosis.—Number of dorsal-fin rays 137–148, anal-fin rays 102–112, total vertebrae 80–88, pre-anal length 47–55% in SL, pelvic- to anal-fin origin 34–44% in SL, orbit length 9.9–12 in % HL, otolith ostium width 15–21 in % sulcus length and 19–29 in % ostium length; maximum size to 110 cm SL.
Etymology.—The new species name is composed of the Greek word for narrow “stenós” and the otolith structure “ostium.” The ablative of the combined term is “stenostio,” meaning “with a narrow ostium.”
Distribution.—This species is distributed in the North Atlantic and Southern Indian Ocean to the Southwest Pacific (1694 to 3050 m depth). There are no records from the South Atlantic.
Franz Uiblein, Peter R. Møller and Jørgen G. Nielsen. 2023. The Systematics of the Ophidiid Genus Spectrunculus (Teleostei, Ophidiiformes) Revisited with Description of A New Species and Resurrection of S. radcliffei. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 111(3):467-485 (2023). DOI: 10.1643/i2023005
