Spicomacrurus Okamura, 1970

Iwamoto, Tomio, Nakayama, Naohide, Shao, Kwang-Tsao & Table, Hsuan-Ching Ho, 2015, Synopsis of the Grenadier Fishes (Gadiformes; Teleostei) of Taiwan, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 62 (3), pp. 31-126 : 102

Genus Spicomacrurus Okamura, 1970

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— Snout low, pointed and slightly protruding, median and lateral processes of nasal bone forming broad horizontal plates; head about as broad as high; body and head cylindrical; head mucous canals moderately developed; head covering mostly transparent; light organ long, small lens on chest anterior to pelvic-fin bases connected by a black streak to elongated posterior lens immediately before anus; ventral striae well developed; inner GR-I, lower limb, 10–12; spinous ray of 1D completely smooth; chin barbel present; gular region with netlike epidermal cover; outer pelvic ray with narrow membranous flange that is somewhat expanded distally near tip.

REMARKS.— Spicomacrurus was originally treated as a subgenus of Hymenogadus , but Iwamoto et al. (2011) elevated the subgenus to full generic status. Although obviously related to members of the genera Hymenocephalus and Hymenogadus , the four species of Spicomacrurus are readily differentiated from them by the broad horizontal plates of their nasal bones, elongated posterior lens of the light organ, netlike gular covering, and membranous flange of the outer pelvic fin ray. Spicomacrurus kuronumai is the only member of the genus found in Taiwan.