Vol. 51 No. 7, 2012

Pylorobranchus hoi, a New Genus and Species of Myrophine Worm-Eel from Taiwan (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae)

John E. McCosker1, Kar-Hoe Loh2, James Lin3, and Hong-Ming Chen3,4,*

¹California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
²Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
³Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan
⁴Center of Excellence for Marine Bioenvironment and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan

John E. McCosker, Kar-Hoe Loh, James Lin, and Hong-Ming Chen (2013) Pylorobranchus gen. nov. McCosker and Chen is described.  It differs from other genera of myrophin ophichthids by possessing a fleshy epidermal lappet in advance of the gill opening, and in the condition of its elevated posterior nostril location, elongated jaws and dentition, its laterally compressed body, and elevated median fins.  Pylorobranchus hoi sp. nov. McCosker, Loh and Lin, the type species, is described from 3 specimens caught by hook-and-line off eastern Taiwan.  A key to the genera of myrophine ophichthids is provided.

Key words: Fish taxonomy, Ophichthidae, New genus, Pylorobranchus, New species.

*Correspondence: Tel: 886-2-224622192 ext. 5232.  Fax: 886-2-24633150.  E-mail:hmchen@mail.ntou.edu.tw