Zoological Studies

Vol. 63, 2024

(update: 2024.8.16)

A New Deep-water Species of Saurida (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the South China Sea and Central Philippines

Barry C. Russell1,2,3,4,*, Maria Celia D. Malay5,6, and Roxanne A. Cabebe-Barnuevo5,7
doi:-

1Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, GPO Box 4646, Darwin NT 0801, Australia. *Correspondence: E-mail: barry.russell@nt.gov.au (Russell)
2School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina NT 0811, Australia. E-mail: mdmalay@msi.upd.edu.ph (Malay)
3Ichthyology, Australian Museum Research Institute, NSW 2010, Australia.
4Museums Victoria, Melbourne Museum, Victoria, 3053, Australia
5University of the Philippines Visayas, Miag-ao Iloilo 5023 Philippines. E-mail: racabebe@up.edu.ph (Cabebe-Barnuevo)
6Current affiliation: Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
7Current affiliation: Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima, Japan

(Received 22 February 2024 / Accepted 19 July 2024 / Published -- 2024)
Communicated by Hin-Kiu Mok

A new species of lizardfish, Saurida weijeni sp. nov., from deep water of the outer slope of the North Macclesfield Bank (Zhongsha), South China Sea, and Guimaras Island, Western Visayas region of the Philippines, is described and figured. The new species is characterised by the following combination of characters: dorsal fin with 11–12 rays; pectorals with 13–15 rays; lateral-line scales 49–52; transverse scale rows above lateral line 3½, below lateral line 5½; pectoral fins moderately long (extending to or just beyond a line from origin of pelvic fins to origin of dorsal fin); 2 rows of teeth on outer palatines; 0–3 teeth on vomer; tongue with about 3–4 rows of teeth posteriorly; 47–49 vertebrae; caudal peduncle compressed (depth greater than width); anterior part of stomach dusky or black, posterior extension pale whitish, intestine black. Saurida weijeni sp. nov. is genetically distinct from all other species of Saurida.

Key words: Saurida weijeni sp. nov., Macclesfield Bank (Zhongsha), Guimaras Island, Western Visayas region, Philippines

Citation: Russell BC, Malay MCD, Cabebe-Barnuevo RA. 2024. A new deep-water species of Saurida (Pisces: Synodontidae) from the South China Sea and central Philippines. Zool Stud 63:40.


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