Leucicorus sp.

Schwarzhans, Werner W., Nielsen, Jørgen G. & Mundy, Bruce C., 2022, Revision of the circumglobal deep-sea genus Leucicorus (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) with two new species, Zootaxa 5100 (4), pp. 541-558 : 552

Leucicorus sp.

Table 1 , Figs. 3H–I , 5

Material examined. 2 specimens: SMF 28854, 75 and 85 mm SL, unripe, Arabian Sea, 10°01.56’N, 65°02.83’E, GEOMAR Exped. 1998 R / V Sonne, cruise 129, free vehicle trap, 4425 m, 14 Feb. 1998 .

These two specimens can undoubtedly be referred to Leucicorus , but they are juveniles and not in good condition (especially the larger specimen), thus preventing a specific identification. The otoliths are small and with a flat inner and a convex outer face similar to L. atlanticus and L. lentibus . They are characterized by an extremely small sulcus (otolith length: sulcus length = 3.0–4.8).

They are the only representatives of the genus known from the Indian Ocean.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Otolith drawings: A–D) Leucicorus atlanticus Garman, 1899; A, holotype, ZMUC P771813 (A1 anterior view, A2 medial view, A3 dorsal view); B, ZMUC P77585 (B1 medial view, B2 dorsal view); C, VIMS 06857 (C1 medial view, C2 dorsal view); D, BMNH 2020.11.16.1 (D1 medial view, D2 dorsal view). E–F) Leucicorus gerringerae n. sp.; E, holotype, VIMS 42888 (E1 anterior view, E2 medial view, E3 dorsal view); F, MNRJ 52795 (medial view). G) Leucicorus lentibus n. sp., holotype, ZMUC P771812 (G1 anterior view, G2 medial view, G3 dorsal view). H–I) Leucicorus sp.; H, SMF 28854, 85 mm SL (H1 medial view, H2 dorsal view); I, SMF 28854, 75 mm SL (I1 medial view, I2 dorsal view). J–K) Leucicorus lusciosus Garman, 1899; J, SIO 81–148 (J1 anterior view, J2 medial view, J3 ventral view); K, ZMUC P771814, medial view.

FIGURE 5. Distribution map of Leucicorus species.