Coelorinchus multispinulosus Katayama, 1942

Coelorhynchus multispinulosus Katayama, 1942:332 (holotype, NSMT-P 18224; Tsuiyama Market, Yogo Pref., Japan [Japan Sea]).— Okamura, 1970:156–158, pl. XXXIII, text-fig. 63 (89 spec., 154–378 mm TL; s. Japan, Japan Sea, East China Sea, 150–300 m).

Coelorinchus multispinulosus: Okamura in Masuda et al., 1984:97, pl. 82–H (compiled).— Yatou in Okamura and Kitajima, 1984:223, fig. 158 (p. 222), 365 (7 spec., 230–325 mm TL; Okinawa Trough in 146–200 m).— Iwamoto, 1990:174–175, fig. 398 (compiled).— Shen et al., 1993:170 (descr.).— Kim et al., 2005:173 (Korea; compiled).— Shao et al., 2008: table 2 (11 spec., NET, 100–650 m).

Caelorinchus multispinulosus: Nakabo, 2002:430 (compiled).— Chiou et al., 2004b:37, 47 (in key, list).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (46 spec.).— NET: ASIZP 57306 (1, 202 TL), Da-xi; ASIZP 58021 (2, 179–274 TL), Da-xi; ASIZP 58635 (4, 158–255 TL), Da-xi; ASIZP 58699 (2, 179–214 TL), Da-xi; ASZIP 61084 (6, 210–245 TL), Da-xi, 100 m; ASIZP 61104 (1, 135 TL), Da-xi, 50 m; ASIZP 61333 (1, 236 TL), Da-xi; ASIZP 65174 (1, 227 TL), Da-xi; ASZIP 65651 (1, 180 TL), KSD sta. 4; ASZIP 65653 (1, 189 TL), KSD st. 4; ASIZP 66924 (2, 220–255 TL), CP 250, 220 m; ASIZP 61047 (3, 195–230 TL), Da-xi; ASIZP 70663 (13, 195–245 TL), Da-xi; NMMSTP 0183 (2, 208–220 TL), Da-xi; CAS 214597 (6), Da-xi. NT: ASZIP 55477 (1, 203 TL), Ye-liou; ASIZP 61215 (1, 215 TL), Jim-shan, 100 m.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— 1D II, 8–10; P i13–i17; GR-I (inner) 7–10 total; scales below midbase 1D 3.5–4.5, below 2D 3.5–4.5; pyl.caeca 11–20. Snout sharply pointed, length 40–45% HL, scattered paired papillae on underside, anterolateral margins incompletely supported by bone; orbit 22–27% HL; upper jaw 27–31% HL. Most of nasal fossa and broad areas atop snout naked; underside of head naked except along anterolateral margin of snout where scales broadly overlap edge; spinules on body scales weak, slender, in quincunx order. Light organ long, extends forward to near isthmus, Group IV of Iwamoto (1990). Dorsally on body and nape grayish with prominent vermiculations and blotches that extend below lateral midline, laterally mostly silvery, blackish ventrally on trunk, thorax, jaws, and gill membranes; fins dusky to blackish, 1D with blackish membrane behind long spinous ray; mouth white, gill cavities blackish; underside of snout with scattered paired papillae. Attains at least 378 mm TL.

DISTRIBUTION.— Pacific coast of s. Japan to ne. Taiwan, Japan Sea, and East China Sea (Okinawa Trough), in depth less than 400 m. Most abundant in depths less than 200 m.

REMARKS.— Coelorinchus multispinulosus is one of the most abundant grenadier in s. Japan and one of only a few grenadier species known to occur in the Japan Sea (Kim, I.S. et al. 2005; Kim, S.Y. et al. 2009). Its normal depth distribution is also one of the shallowest of all grenadiers from the general region. Its body marking is unique among the Taiwan members of the genus.