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| Careproctus io Kai, Morikawa & Misawa, 2024 |
Abstract
The new snailfish Careproctus io is described on the basis of three specimens collected from the western North Pacific, off northeastern Honshu Island, Japan. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by the following characters: vertebrae 40–42; dorsal-fin rays 36 or 37; anal-fin rays 30; pectoral fin deeply notched with 28 or 29 rays, lower lobe reaching to anal-fin origin; large pelvic disk 34.2%–34.5% HL (10.3%–10.9% SL); teeth strongly trilobed on both jaws, inner teeth weakly trilobed or shouldered; cephalic pore pattern 2-6-7-2, chin pores paired; gill slit above pectoral-fin base; body bright red, non-variegated in life. Species of Careproctus Krøyer, 1862 typically have fewer pectoral-fin rays than anal-fin rays, although some recently-described species, including the present new species, have similar ray counts in both fins. The relationships between such counts, as well as pelvic disk size, are investigated for various snailfish, genera, and the generic limits of Careproctus discussed.
Keywords: Actinopterygii, Scorpaeniformes, Careproctus, COI, pelvic disk size
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| Schematic drawing of Careproctus io, holotype, FAKU 148130, 37.3mm SL. A, Lateral and ventral views of head; B, teeth; C, pectoral girdle. Abbreviations: C, coracoid; DR, distal radials; F, interradial fenestra; MX, maxillary pores; N, nasal pores; PM, preoperculo-mandibular pores; PR, proximal radials; S, scapula; SP, suprabranchial pores. Scale bars: B, 0.25mm; C, 1.0mm. |
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| Holotype of Careproctus io, FAKU 148130, 37.3mm SL. A, Micro-CT scan image of head; B, fresh condition. |
Careproctus io sp. nov.
[New standard Japanese name: Mini-kon’nyakuuo]
Diagnosis. A species of Careproctus with the following combination of characters: vertebrae 40–42; dorsal-fin rays 36 or 37; anal-fin rays 30; pectoral fin with 28 or 29 rays, deeply notched, lower lobe reaching to anal-fin origin; large pelvic disk 34.2%–34.5% HL (10.3%–10.9% SL); teeth strongly trilobed on both jaws, inner teeth weakly trilobed or shouldered; cephalic pore pattern 2-6-7-2, chin pores paired; gill slit above pectoral-fin base; body bright red, non-variegated in life.
Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition after Io, a Greek mythological character who wandered the world without rest, due to the unsettled phylogenetic position of the new species (see under Remarks). The standard Japanese name “Mini” reflects its small body size.
Yoshiaki Kai, Eisuke Morikawa and Ryo Misawa. 2024. Careproctus io (Teleostei: Liparidae), a New Snailfish from the Western North Pacific, with Comments on Generic Limits. Species Diversity. 29(1); 111-117. DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.29.111
