Open AccessRevision of southern African species of the anglerfish genus Chaunax <br />(Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae), with descriptions of three new species
Author(s) -
HsuanChing Ho,
Wen-Chun Ma
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
zootaxa
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.621
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1175-5334
pISSN - 1175-5326
DOI - 10.11646/zootaxa.4144.2.2
Subject(s) - biology , dorsum , genus , anatomy , chondrichthyes , fish fin , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery
Species of the anglerfish genus Chaunax occurring off southern Africa are reviewed and nine species are recognized: C. africanus, C. apus, C. flammeus, C. penicillatus, C. russatus, C. suttkusi, and three newly described species. Chaunax atimovatae sp. nov. is distinguished by having numerous tiny melanophores on the skin and a mixture of bifurcate and simple spinules on its dorsal surface, scattered rounded green spots circled by yellow on its dorsal surface, 9 or 10 rakers on the second gill arch, and 2 neuromasts in the upper preopercular, 11-14 in the pectoral, 31-37 in the lateral-line proper. Chaunax heemstraorum sp. nov. is distinguished by a combination of all dermal spinules simple, large green spots on the dorsal surface, 10-12 rakers on the second gill arch; and 3 neuromasts in the upper preopercular, 13-18 in the pectoral, 37-42 in the lateral-line proper, and usually 5 on the caudal-fin base. Chaunax hollemani sp. nov. is distinguished by cirri on top of the head, head width 16.0-18.5% SL, pre-preopercle length 26.8-28.5% SL, 9 rakers on the second gill arch, and 2 neuromasts in the upper preopercular, 11-14 in the pectoral, and 33-38 in the lateral-line proper. A key to species found in the study region is provided.