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| [A-B] Stemonosudis dianea Ho & Bemis, 2026 Stemonosudis intermedia (Ege, 1933) |
Abstract
We examined specimens of slender barracudina in the genus Stemonosudis collected from the western Atlantic Ocean. Investigation revealed that seven specimens represent the first adult records of Stemonosudis intermedia (Ege, 1933), previously known only from juveniles. We redescribed S. intermedia based on the holotype and newly recognized adult and juvenile specimens, and using this ontogenetic series, we document changes in coloration from light-brown juveniles to black adults. We also determined that some specimens from the western Atlantic Ocean previously identified as S. intermedia represent a new species, which we describe herein based on three adults and five juvenile specimens. The new species differs from congeners by having 43–44 anal-fin rays, 117–121 total vertebrae and a pale mouth, gill chamber and gill arches, among a combination of other characters. We also provide information on the lectotype of S. similis (Ege, 1957), which remains known only from the type series.
Keywords: biodiversity, biogeography, Ichthyology, nomenclature, taxonomy
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| Stemonosudis dianea sp. nov., fresh coloration. (a) Holotype USNM 407498, 332 mm SL, photograph by Cristina Castillo. (b) Paratype USNM 407509, 348 mm SL, photograph by Sandra Raredon. |
Stemonosudis dianea sp. nov.
English name: Diane's Slender Barracudina
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| Stemonosudis intermedia (Ege, 1933), fresh coloration of adults. Right side photographed, reflected to face left. USNM 407096, 277 mm SL. (a) Lateral view of body. (b) Close up of head. Photographs by Ross Robertson. |
Hsuan-Ching Ho and Katherine E. Bemis. 2026. Redefinition of Stemonosudis intermedia (Ege, 1933) and Description of A New Species from the western Atlantic Ocean (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae). Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70342 [30 March 2026]
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/ferocious-predator-and-important-prey-new-barracudina-species-named-smithsonian
