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| Limnichthys koreanus Lee & Kim, 2024 |
Abstract
Limnichthys koreanus sp. nov. is described on the basis of the holotype and 11 paratypes from subtidal waters of Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Korea. The new species had previously been regarded as the Northern Hemisphere population of the anti-equatorial L. fasciatus, but molecular analyses of mitochondrial COI and 16S genes recovers deep genetic divergences of 9.4% and 15.0% between the new species and topotypical specimens of L. fasciatus. Limnichthys koreanus sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of Limnichthys based on the following combination of colouration and morphological characteristics: 38-40 vertebrae; 0–6 dorsal saddles joining mid-lateral stripe; small infraorbital sensory pores; a single median interorbital pore; and well-developed vomerine teeth. Summary characters for comparative congeneric species are provided.
Key words: benthic species, Jeju Island, sand burrower, taxonomy
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| Limnichthys koreanus sp. nov. A holotype, MABIK PI00060703 (PKU 63120), 37.3 mm SL, Moseulpo B paratype, MABIK PI00060704 (PKU 63121), 38.4 mm SL, Moseulpo C paratype, MABIK PI00060705 (PKU 63122), 40.0 mm SL, Moseulpo D paratype, PKU 21528, 34.5 mm SL, Moseulpo E paratype, PKU 21529, 33.6 mm SL, Moseulpo F paratype, PKU 21530, 33.4 mm SL, Moseulpo G paratype, PKU 22626, 33.8 mm SL, Seongsanpo H paratype, PKU 22627, 35.7 mm SL, Seongsanpo. Scale bars indicate 10 mm. Left images showing lateral views; right images showing dorsal views. Voucher numbers are annotated in the bottom right corner of each image. Scale bars: 10 mm. |
Acropomatiformes Gill, 1893
(new Korean name: Ban-dit-bul-ge-reu-chi-mok)
Creediidae Waite, 1899
(new Korean name: Byeol-ba-ra-gi-gwa)
Limnichthys Waite, 1904
(new Korean name: Byeol-ba-ra-gi-sok)
Limnichthys koreanus sp. nov.
English name: Korean sand burrower;
new Korean name: Tti-byeol-ba-ra-gi
Diagnosis: Combined number of dorsal and anal fin rays 52–55; vertebrae 38–40; lateral line scales 42–46; a single median interorbital pore; vomerine teeth well developed; pelvic girdle separated each other; dorsal saddle patterns 5–9; dorsal saddles joining mid-lateral stripe 0–6 (Fig. 3A, Table 2).
Etymology: The epithet of the new species, koreanus, refers to the type locality (Korea) where the species were collected.
Yu-Jin Lee and Jin-Koo Kim. 2024. Limnichthys koreanus, A New Species of Creediid Fish (Teleostei, Acropomatiformes, Creediidae) from Korea. ZooKeys. 1214: 59-75. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1214.128977