Barathronus, Goode & Bean, 1886

Nielsen, Jørgen G., 2019, Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, Zootaxa 4679 (2), pp. 231-256 : 232

Key to the species of Barathronus

1a Peritoneum dark...................................................................................... 2

1b Peritoneum transparent................................................................................. 7

2a Dark-brown pigmentation along lateral line and between head and dorsal fin...................................... 3

2b No brown pigmentation................................................................................ 4

3a Anal-fin rays 54–66; total vertebrae 74–79; heavily pigmented on sides of body...................................................................................... maculatus (from South Africa to Japan and Southeast Australia)

3b Anal fin rays 73; total vertebrae 86; slightly pigmented on sides of body................ bruuni (Southwest Indian Ocean)

4a Anal fin rays 48–61; vertebrae 66–75..................................................................... 5

4b Anal fin rays 60–66; vertebrae 74–82..................................................................... 6

5a Fresh specimens brownish; ripe males with long and slender penis, thickness at basis of penis 13% of length of penis ( Fig. 7B )......................................................................... bicolor (West Atlantic Ocean)

5b Fresh specimens bright red; ripe males with less slender penis, thickness at basis of penis 31% of length of penis ( Fig. 11 ).................................................................. diaphanus (From Madagascar to Tonga Isls.)

6a Mouth cleft almost vertical; body of fresh specimen brown-yellowish; vertebrae 82....... roulei (Northeast Atlantic Ocean)

6b Mouth cleft oblique; body of fresh specimen bright red; vertebrae 74–76... algrahami (From Southeast Australia to Taiwan)

7a Males with pair of bulbs at base of penis ( Fig. 20 )............................. pacificus (Atlantic and Pacific Oceans)

7b Pair of bulbs absent (male only known of B. multidens )....................................................... 8

8a Ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae................................................................... 9

8b No ventral flexure.................................................................................... 10

9a Fangs on vomer 8; long rakers on anterior gill arch 25....................................... linsi (Northeast Brazil)

9b Fangs on vomer 2; long rakers on anterior gill arch 20................................. affinis (Central Indian Ocean)

10a Precaudal vertebrae 37; vomer with 1+ fang(s); long gill rakers 29................... parfaiti (Northeast Atlantic Ocean)

10b Precaudal vertebrae 32–34; vomer with 7–11 fangs; long gill rakers 23–25.............. multidens (North Atlantic Ocean)

Figures

FIGURE 7. Barathronus bicolor: A—ZMUC P77709, female, SL 105 mm, after 40 years of preservation (M. Krag photo). B—UF 222576, male, SL 105 mm, after 55 years of preservation (M. Krag photo).

FIGURE 11. Barathronus diaphanus MNHN 1995-914, male, SL 104 mm (M. Krag photo).

FIGURE 20. Right otolith from paratype of Barathronus multidens, ZMUC P77712, male, SL 83 mm.