Minous, Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829

Matsunuma, Mizuki & Motomura, Hiroyuki, 2018, Three new species of the Indo-Pacific stingfish genus Minous (Synanceiidae: Minoinae) with redescriptions of M. trachycephalus (Bleeker 1855) and M. pictus Günther 1880, Zootaxa 4455 (2), pp. 201-257 : 204

Key to species of the genus Minous

[modified from Eschmeyer et al. (1979) with data from Amaoka & Kanayama (1981), Mandrytsa (1990, 1993) and this study]

1a. First dorsal-fin spine subequal to or longer than second spine, well separated from second spine base................... 2

1b. First dorsal-fin spine much shorter than second spine (usually less than half length, sometimes extremely small), close to second spine base........................................................................................ 6

2a. Posterior lacrimal spine relatively short, not bayonet-shaped ( Eschmeyer et al. 1979: fig. 2a; Fig. 2A ); caudal fin without transverse dark bands; pectoral fin inner surface with dark brown stripes along rays ( Fig. 4B )............................................ M. quincarinatus (western Pacific Ocean: Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and northern Australia) ( Figs. 3C , 4B )

2b. Posterior lacrimal spine longer than anterior spine, bayonet-shaped ( Eschmeyer et al. 1979: fig. 2b; Fig. 2B ); caudal fin with transverse dark band(s) ( Fig. 3A, D–F ); pectoral fin inner surface generally without distinct markings along rays ( Figs. 4A, C– E ).................................................................................................. 3

3a. Dorsal-fin rays IV, 18 or 19 (Table 1)..................... M. andriashevi (off Seychelles and Somalia) ( Figs. 3A–B , 4A )

3b. Dorsal-fin rays VIII–XI, 9–14............................................................................ 4

4a. Body with numerous dark spots ventrally, oblique alternating dark and light stripes dorsally ( Fig. 3D )....................................................................................... M. usachevi (Gulf of Aden) ( Figs. 3D , 4C )

4b. Body without dark spots ( Fig. 3D, E )...................................................................... 5

5a. Dorsal-fin spines usually 9 (Table 1); caudal fin usually with 3 or 4 transverse wavy bands; soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin with wavy bands ( Fig. 3E ); pectoral fin inner surface with irregular light blotches on dark background (preserved specimens) ( Fig. 4D )............................................................. M. versicolor ( Australia) ( Figs. 3E , 4D )

Figures

FIGURE 2. Anterior and posterior lacrimal spines in Minous quincarinatus (A), M. monodactylus (B), M. longimanus (C) and M. inermis (D). (A) KAUM–I. 9952, 99.6 mm SL; (B) KAUM–I. 58276, 101.0 mm SL; (C) SAIAB 84308, 1 of 17 specimens, 69.6 mm SL; (D) BMNH 1939.5.24.1661–1670, 1 of 11, 82.3 mm SL. Red and blue arrowheads indicate anterior lacrimal spine (ALS) and posterior lacrimal spine (PLS), respectively.

FIGURE 3. Specimens of Minous andriashevi (A–B), M. quincarinatus (C), M. usachevi (D), M. versicolor (E), M. monodactylus (F), M. pusillus (G, H), M. longimanus (I), M. inermis (J), M. coccineus (K) and M. dempsterae (L). (A) ZIN 49334, holotype, 56.8 mm SL, western Indian Ocean; (B) CAS 64623, 25.4 mm SL, Somalia; (C) BSKU 117662, 92.4 mm SL, Japan; (D) ZIN 50132, paratype, 112.7 mm SL, Gulf of Aden; (E) WAM P.31888.002, 71.4 mm SL, Australia; (F) KAUM–I. 29961, 63 mm SL, Japan; (G) KAUM–I. 24581, 35.9 mm SL, Japan; (H) KAUM–I. 31342, 57.2 mm SL, Japan; (I) SAIAB 84308, 1 of 17 specimens, 82.5 mm SL, Saya de Malha Bank; (J) BMNH 1939.5.24.1661-1670, 1 of 11, 70.8 mm SL, Gulf of Aden; (K) KAUM–I. 33291, 103.0 mm SL, Thailand; (L) USNM 218419, 1 of 4, 78.2 mm SL, India. A, B, D, E, I, J and L specimens preserved; C, F–H and K specimens fresh. Photos: Gota Ogihara (A and D).

FIGURE 4. Inner surfaces of pectoral fins in Minous andriashevi (A), M. quincarinatus (B), M. usachevi (C), M. versicolor (D), M. monodactylus (E) and M. pusillus (F–H). (A) ZIN 49334, holotype, 56.8 mm SL, western Indian Ocean; (B) KAUM–I. 9941, 107.0 mm SL, Taiwan; (C) ZIN 50132, paratype, 112.7 mm SL, Gulf of Aden; (D) HUMZ 64248, 71.3 mm SL, Australia; (E) KAUM–I. 31082, 71.5 mm SL, Japan; (F) KAUM–I. 31342, 57.2 mm SL, Japan; (G) KAUM–I. 24425, 50.6 mm SL, Japan; (H) KAUM–I. 24581, 35.9 mm SL, Japan. A, C and D specimens preserved; B and E–H specimens fresh. Photos: Gota Ogihara (A, C and D).