Coelorinchus cf. spinifer [sensu Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920]

Coelorhynchus spinifer Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920:516–519, fig. 30 (holoype: USNM 78226, Gulf of Tomini, Sulawesi [Celebes], 762 fm [1440 m]).

Coelorinchus spinifer: Shao et al., 2008: table 2 (1 spec., SCS, 1098 m; first record from Taiwan).— Iwamoto et al., 2009:47–48, fig. 4A–B (descr. of Taiwan spec.)

MATERIAL EXAMINED (1 spec.).— SCS: ASIZP 66748 (1, 52 HL, 180 TL), CD 322, 1098 m .

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— 1D II, 11; P i16; GR-I 2+7 (inner); GR-II 1+7 (outer); scales below midbase 1D about 7, below 2D 6; lateral line scales over distance equal to predorsal length ca. 43. Snout sharply pointed, about twice orbit diameter, 45–52% HL; anterolateral margin of snout completely supported by bone; orbit 22–23% HL, internasal width 19%, interorbital 25%, orbit to preopercle 30%, postorbital 30%, upper jaw 22%; length 1D base 1.2 times into 1D-2D interspace; underside of head almost fully covered with tiny deciduous scales. Light organ group II of Iwamoto (1990), fossa narrow and short, not extending to pelvic-fin bases. Scales strong and prickly, spinules on body scales in 3 slightly divergent, ridgelike rows, middle row larger. Ground color brownish, blackish over abdomen, opercles, jaws, and gular and branchiostegal membranes; mouth and gill cavity black; most fins dusky, but P and V blackish, outer V ray pale. Attains at least 185 mm TL.

DISTRIBUTION.— Indonesia off Sulawesi and South China Sea off Taiwan in depths of 1440 m and 1098 m, respectively.

REMARKS.— Coelorinchus spinifer is among the deepest-living members of the genus; only a handful of Coelorinchus species occur at depths greater than 1000 m. The Taiwan specimen is only the second known of the species (Iwamoto et al. 2009). The notably long and strong spinules on the scales, especially on the head ridges, in the holotype and Taiwan specimen, may reflect a juvenile condition. Until a larger size series is obtained, we are uncertain of its status within the genus. It is otherwise similar in most characters to C. smithi .