Lophiodes triradiatus (Lloyd, 1909)

Ho, Hsuan-Ching, Bineesh, K. K. & Akhilesh, K. V., 2014, Rediscovery of Lophiodes triradiatus (Lloyd, 1909), a senior synonym of L. infrabrunneus Smith and Radcliffe (Lophiiformes: Lophiidae), Zootaxa 3786 (5), pp. 587-592 : 588-590

Lophiodes triradiatus (Lloyd, 1909)

Lophius triradiaus Lloyd, 1909: 166 (Holotype: ZSI 878 /1, Laccadive Sea , 10°08’43”N, 75°33’30”E, 300 fms [549 m]).

Lophiodes infrabrunneus Smith & Radcliffe in Radcliffe, 1912: 202 (Holotype: USNM 70265 ; the Philippines, 10° N, 125°06’45” E, 772 fms [1412 m]). Ho et al., 2009: 63 .

Lophiodes abdituspinus Ni, Wu & Li, 1990: 341 (Holotype: SCSFRI D-2583; South China Sea, 20°22’ N, 115°52’ E, 649–665 m).

Material examined. ZSI 878 / 1, 337 mm SL, 10°08’43” N, 75°33’30” E, off south India, Laccadive Sea, Investigator station 259, 300 fms [549 m] . ZSI 2446, 337 mm SL, off the Kerala coast, 9°21’ N, 75°48’ E, 230 m, May 2012 . CMLRE 2810311, 243 mm SL, Laccadive Sea, 8°21’601” N, 76°10’171” E, 995 m, 12 Oct. 2010 . SAIAB 3838 , 62 mm SL, possibly off Mozambique (no other data) .

Condition of specimens. The holotype of Lophius triradiatus ( ZSI 878/1) is in very poor condition ( Fig. 1B ). The skin has been totally lost and the muscles and skeleton are fragile. Three cephalic dorsal-fin spines are complete, except for the third spine, which is somewhat shorter than in the original drawing. The leaf-like esca, one of the diagnostic characters, is somewhat dried but detectable, and is identical to that of specimens examined by Ho et al. (2009). The first author took a series of photos, but no measurement can be made due to the fragile condition. The three newly found specimens are in excellent condition, except that the esca is somewhat dried in the 337-mm specimen, which is by far the largest known for the species. The esca of 62-mm and 243-mm specimens are in good condition.

Description. The following is based on the three recently discovered specimens listed above. Morphometric and meristic data of the three specimens examined are provided in Table 1 .

Body relatively high, head elevated. Two blunt spines on palatine, the posterior spine larger than the anterior spine. Frontal ridge and outer surface of premaxilla smooth, posterior portion of frontal ridge elevated, bearing 3 spines on right side, 4 spines on left side in 337 mm specimen, 3 spines on both sides in 243 mm specimen, and 2 spines in 62 mm specimens; spines blunt in two large specimen and sharp in small specimen. Inner frontal spine reduced and not detectable in two larger specimens, present in small specimen. Two sphenotic spines present, inner spine sharply pointed and long, outer spine broad and low. Pterotic spine broad, compressed and blunt in two larger specimens, conical in small specimen. Two blunt and tubercular hyomandibular spines, anterior spine larger than posterior spine in two larger specimens, one single sharp spine in small specimen. Opercular spine tubercular, low in two larger specimens, conical in small specimen. Subopercular and interopercular spines sharply pointed and long. Humeral spine very strong, simple with a knob at its dorsal base in two larger specimens, trifid in small specimen.

Illicium reaches level of inner sphenotic spines when fully laid back in two larger specimens, reaching anterior frontal spine in small specimen. Esca a leaf-like flap (somewhat dried in 337 mm specimen), its base at about distal 1/4 to 1/3 of illicial length. Second dorsal-fin spine slightly shorter than illicial length, reaching level of inner sphenotic spines when fully laid back, reaching posterior frontal spine in small specimen. Third dorsal-fin spine short, reaching level of cleithral spines when fully laid back, relatively long, and reaching nearly origin of soft dorsal fin. Fourth to sixth (post-cephalic) dorsal-fin spines absent.

Two irregular rows of small teeth on outer margin of premaxilla, those on outermost row small and fixed; three irregular rows of larger teeth on inner margin of premaxilla, those on innermost row largest. Two to 4 teeth on outer corner of vomer. Palatine with 2 (1 in smallest specimen) irregular rows of strong teeth. All teeth on vomer and palatines fixed.

Anal fin extends well beyond caudal-fin base.

Coloration. Uniformly deep brown with darker fins. Ventral surface dark brown in two larger specimens, uniformly pale brown in small specimen. Peritoneum black.

Distribution. Lophiodes triradiatus now includes the distribution of L. infrabrunneus plus the three newly- discovered specimens, and is therefore known from southern India, northwestern Australia, the Philippines, South China Sea, East China Sea, Japan, and western Indian Ocean, at depths 208–1412 m.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Original drawing of Lophius triradiatus Lloyd, 1909, 55 mm TL, after Lloyd, 1909: pl. xlv, fig. 5. B. Holotype of Lophius triradiatus Lloyd, 1909, ZSI F878/1. Photo by H.-C. Ho.