Lestrolepis philippina Fowler, 1934

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 philippina Fowler, 1934

Figs 2 , 4 , Table 2

Paralepis philippinus Fowler, 1934: 281, fig. 42 (type locality: Varadero Harbor, Philippines).

Lestidium japonicum (not of Tanaka): 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 japonica (not of Tanaka): Fujii in Masuda et al. 1984: 77 ( Japan; short description); Nakabo 2000: 371 ( Japan; picture key); Paxton in Randall and Lim 2000: 592; Nakabo 2002: 371 ( Japan; key); Shinohara et al. 2005: 409 (Honshu; list); Kim et al. 2007: 64 ( Korea; new record); Ikeda and Nakabo 2015: 312 ( Japan; short description); Motomura et al. 2017: 51; Ho and Golani 2019: 578 (mentioned); Ho et al. 2019 a: 127 ( Taiwan and Japan; description); Kim et al. 2020: 67; Misawa et al. 2020: 273.

Taxonomy.

Fowler (1934) originally described Lestrolepis philippina from the Philippines. Subsequently, Harry (1953 a) synonymized L. philippina with L. japonica , providing a description based on the type series of L. japonica , L. philippina , and additional specimens. Although the name L. philippina was not mentioned in subsequent literature, it is likely that many records recognized as L. japonica are, in fact, misidentifications of L. philippina . In a more recent study, Ho et al. (2019 a) presented a detailed description of what was previously identified as L. japonica , now re-identified as L. philippina .

Distinguished features.

A species of Lestrolepis with DFO situated well before midline of V – A, V – D 32.5–43.1 % of V – A; anal-fin rays 36–40 (mainly 37–39); lateral-line scales: PVLL 30–32 (31), PDLL 38–40 (38–39), PALL 49–51, TLL 65–72 (65–68); vertebral counts: PHV 29–32, PVV 30–33 (30–32), PDV 36–40 (37–40), PAV 48–51, CV 52–58 (54–57), TV 82–88 (84–88); vertebrae between DFO and VFO 5–9 (7–8). Body moderately slender, body depth at pectoral-fin base 13–16 times in SL; narrow band of melanophores along abdominal margin. Attains 222 mm SL.

Distribution.

Widespread in the western Pacific Ocean, with confirmed records from Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, northwestern Australia, and the South China Sea.

Remarks.

Some minor differences are observed between the holotype and non-types (Table 2 ). The predorsal length (58.8 %, vs 60.2–63.5 % SL), preventral length (51.2 %, vs 52.3–55.2 % SL), and preanal length (72.8 %, vs 75.8–76.6 % SL) are slightly smaller in the holotype compared to paratypes and non-types. The head depth is slightly larger (30.9 % SL) compared to that of paratypes and non-types (27.8–30.8 % SL). These differences may be attributed to individual variation or long-term preservation effects. The meristic values of the type series fall well within those of the non-types (Table 2 ).

Figures

Figure 2. Types of Paralepis philippinus (= Lestrolepis philippina) A holotype, USNM 92323, ca 118 mm SL B paratype, USNM 93414, 126 mm SL; arrows point to origins of dorsal fin (DFO), pelvic fin (VFO), and anal fin (AFO).

Figure 4. Fresh condition of Lestrolepis philippina (Fowler, 1934), NMMB-P 027934 (1 of 17), ca 175 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.