Chaunax

Ho, Hsuan-Ching & Ma, Wen-Chun, 2016, Revision of southern African species of the anglerfish genus Chaunax (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae), with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 4144 (2), pp. 175-194 : 193

Key to species of Chaunax in southern Africa

1A. Illicial trough, black, deep and concave.................................................... Chaunax penicillatus

1B. Illicial trough flat, color as body ground color............................................................... 2

2A. Filaments present on supraocular membrane; usually 3 or more spinules on each side of neuromast..................... 3

2B. No filament on supraocular membrane; usually 1 to 3 spinules on each side of neuromast............................5

3A. Complicate reticulate pattern present when preserved............................................ Chaunax africanus

3B. Color pattern absent when preserved.......................................................................4

4A. Head width 16.0–18.5% SL, pre-preopercle length 26.8–28.5% SL; neuromasts: DG=3, GH=11–14, BI=33–38.......................................................................................... Chaunax hollemani sp. nov.

4B. Head width 20.7%SL, pre-preopercle length 30.7%SL; DG=4, GH=10, BI=31....................... Chaunax flammeus

5A. Gill chamber and gill arches grayish; 14–15 rakers on second gill arch.............................. Chaunax russatus

5B. Gill chamber and gill arches pale; 13 or less rakers on second gill arch...........................................6

6A. Neuromasts: FG=4; DG=4................................................................. Chaunax suttkusi

6B. Neuromasts: FG=3; DG=3.............................................................................. 7

7A. Dermal spinules slender and curved; body uniformly pinkish when fresh, creamy white when preserved...... Chaunax apus

7B. Dermal spines stout and straight; green spots on pinkish body when fresh.........................................8

8A. When fresh, small green spots circled by yellow color on dorsal surface; scattered bifurcate spinules on body........................................................................................... Chaunax atimovatae sp. nov.

8B. When fresh, large green spots on dorsal surface; simple spinules on body................ Chaunax heemstraorum sp. nov.