Lestrolepis japonica ( Tanaka, 1908 )

Ho, Hsuan-Ching & Kawai, Toshio, 2024, Verification of two barracudina species Lestrolepis japonica (Tanaka, 1908) and L. philippina (Fowler, 1934) (Aulopiformes, Paralepididae), ZooKeys 1220, pp. 79-92 : 79-92

Lestrolepis japonica ( Tanaka, 1908)

Figs 1 , 3 , Table 2

Lestidium japonicum Tanaka, 1908: 27 (type locality: Sagami Sea, Japan); Jordan et al. 1913: 50 (Sagami Sea, Japan; list); Okada and Matsubara 1938: 61 (Sagami Sea, Japan; key); Matsubara 1941: 8 (in part: Japan); Matsubara 1955: 262 (in part: Sagami Sea, Wakayama and Mie, Suruga Bay, Japan; key); Matsubara 1963: 262 (in part: Sagami Sea, Wakayama and Mie, Suruga Bay, Japan; key).

Lestrolepis intermedia (non Poey, 1868): Fujii in Masuda et al. 1984: 77 ( Japan; short description); Chen and Yu 1986: 324 ( Taiwan; synopsis); Nakabo 1993: 319 ( Japan, picture key); Shinohara et al. 1996: 164 (Honshu; list); Nakabo 2000: 371 ( Japan, picture key); Nakabo 2002: 371 ( Japan, picture key); Shinohara et al. 2005: 409 (Ryukus Is.; list); Kim et al. 2007: 63 ( Korea; new record); Ikeda and Nakabo 2015: 312 ( Japan; short description).

Lestrolepis nigroventralis Ho, Tsai & Li, 2019: 123 (type locality: off Dong-gang, Pingtung, southwestern Taiwan).

Status of the holotype.

Tanaka (1908) indicated that the holotype of his Lestidium japonicum was registered as 2013 (now ZMUT 2013) with a length of 174 mm SL, and the paratype (in the Table, without a catalog number) was 190 mm SL. Regardless, Harry (1953 a) gave the holotype as ZMUT 2014, and the paratype as ZMUT 2013. Notwithstanding, Post (1972) documented the types and recognized ZMUT 2013 as the holotype and ZMUT 2014 as the paratype. We examined both types and re-measured the holotype ( ZMUT 2013) as 159.5 mm SL and the paratype ( ZMUT 2014) as approximately 180 mm SL, the latter being in poor condition.

Synonym name.

Lestrolepis nigroventralis was described to accommodate the Pacific population of L. intermedia . However, because of its nearly identical morphology (Table 2 ), it is now recognized here as a junior synonym of L. japonica . The following data are mainly derived from types and non-types of L. nigroventralis , combined with the type series examined by us.

Distinguishing features.

A species of Lestrolepis with DFO situated at about midline of V – A, V – D 46.8–55.0 % of V – A; anal-fin rays 41–43 (mainly 41–42); lateral-line scales: PVLL 33–36 (34–35), PDLL 43–46 (44–46), PALL 53–57 (55–56), TLL 75–81 (77–80); vertebral counts: PHV 32–35 (mainly 32–34), PVV 33–35 (34–35), PDV 43–46 (44–45), PAV 53–57 (54–55), CV 60–66 (61–64), TV 94–98 (94–97); vertebrae between DFO and VFO 9–11. Body slender, body depth at pectoral-fin base 15–19 times in SL; band of melanophores along abdominal margin. Attains 249 mm SL.

Distribution.

Known from the northwestern Pacific Ocean off Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. Records from other localities require verification.

Remarks.

The taxonomic concept of what has long been called Lestrolepis japonica is now revised based on the type series and additional specimens. A review of the literature with documentation of L. japonica is listed in the synonymy above, although there might be more records that are not included therein. Detailed comparisons with congeners are provided in Ho et al. (2019 a, as L. nigroventralis ).

There are some minor differences found in the types compared to the non-types (Table 2 ). The head length is slightly larger (20.9–21.1 %, vs 18.9–20.7 % SL); the predorsal length is slightly larger in the holotype (63.7 %, vs 61.7–63.3 % SL; not available for the paratype); the eye diameter is slightly larger (17.9–20.1 %, vs 14.8–17.3 % HL); the upper jaw of the holotype is slightly longer (51.4 %, vs 47.2–50.4 % HL). These proportional measurements may be attributed either to population variation or due to long-term preservation of the types. The meristic values of types fall entirely within the range of non-types (Table 2 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Holotype of Lestidiun japonicum Tanaka, 1908 A lateral view; arrows point to origins of dorsal fin (DFO), pelvic fin (VFO), and anal fin (AFO) B lateral view of head.

Figure 3. Fresh condition of Lestrolepis japonica (Tanaka, 1908), NMMB-P 027930, 244 mm SL A lateral view B lateral view of head C lateral view of body showing origin of dorsal fin (DFO), pelvic fin (VFO), and anal fin (AFO) D lateral view of caudal region.