Physiculus kaupi Poey, 1865

Pires, Alessandra M. A., Carvalho-Filho, Alfredo, Ferreira, Rômulo C. P., Viana, Danielle, Nunes, Diogo & Hazin, Fabio H. V., 2019, Review of the Brazilian species of Physiculus (Gadiformes: Moridae), with description of a new species from Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, equatorial Atlantic, Zootaxa 4671 (1), pp. 67-80 : 70-71

Physiculus kaupi Poey, 1865

Table 2 and 3 .

Diagnosis. This species differs from all other Atlantic species of the genus, except P. cyanostropus , P. maslowskii , and P. microbarbata , by the presence of scales on vertical fins and gular region and in having subequal rather than a graded series of teeth (graded in P. maslowskii , of which it also differs by the number of gill rakers, 2–3 + 5–10 vs. 4–5 + 9–12); from P. microbarbata it differs by the much longer chin barbel (4.3–6.2 in SL vs. 1.0); and from P. cyanostrophus it differs in all fins rays counts and by the higher number of scales between the first dorsal fin base and the lateral line (12–14 vs. 8), according to Paulin (1989, 1990), Trunov (1991), Anderson & Tweddle (2002), and our examination of vouchers of this species and of the new species herein described.

Brief Description. Light organ moderately large 8.8–11.2% InV-af and placed slightly closer to interventral line than anus; distance from interventral line to anterior margin of light organ 19.5–22.2% InV-af; distance from posterior margin of light organ to anterior margin of anus 26.4–28.8% InV-af; teeth subequal. Continuous tube of lateral line reaching beyond second dorsal fin origin, almost to tenth dorsal-fin ray; scales present on gular region, rarely absent; small scales present on vertical fin membranes; no scales on tip of snout and around nostrils. Nostrils contiguous, each covered by a skin flap. Gill rakers moderate, blunt or slightly club shaped, spiny, 2–3 + 5–10. Upper jaw reaching below almost to the posterior border of pupil; orbit 22–28% in head length. Dorsal-fin rays 11–12, 57–66; anal-fin rays 62–69; pectoral-fin rays 27–31; scales in longitudinal series 120–140; scales between base of first dorsal fin and lateral line 12–14; vertebrae 52–54.

Color of preserved specimens. Head and body light pinkish tan to grey; abdominal region bluish white to purple; pores of lateral line on the posterior part of body usually as dark spots over pale background; branchiostegal membranes, lips, anterior margin of orbit, upper and lower base of pectoral fins, upper snout, and tips of vertical fins dark brown; light organ dark brown to blackish. Color of fresh specimens: head and body uniform pinkish tan; abdominal region iridescent bluish often over whitish background; golden tinge on body sides; pores of lateral line on the posterior part of body usually dark; fins margins and lips dark brown; pelvic fins pinkish orange; light organ dark brown to blackish. Two of the fresh examined specimens were almost dark brown overall with a golden tinge on upper anterior body and head, the belly somewhat washed with white and fins borders black. These fishes become darker than the lighter morphs when preserved, the pores of lateral lines not conspicuous. Maximum known size 275.3 mm SL (DBUFC 74) collected off Ceará, Brazil.

Distribution. Tropical Western Atlantic, from Caribbean Sea ( Cuba, Nicaragua) to Southern Brazil. Depth range 200–500 m ( Paulin, 1989; Jordan and Evermann, 1898; Iwamoto and Cohen, 2002; Figueiredo et al., 2002; Paiva et al., 2011).