Malacoctenus, Gill

Carvalho-Filho, Alfredo, Sazima, Ivan, Lima, Sergio Maia Queiroz, Almeida, Daniel, Mendes, Liana, Dias, Ricardo Marques, Britto, Marcelo R. & Gasparini, João Luiz, 2020, Review of the genus Malacoctenus (Actinopterygii: Labrisomidae) from the Southwestern Atlantic, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 4819 (3), pp. 499-520 : 515-516

Key to Atlantic species of Malacoctenus

(modified after Wirtz 2014).

1a. Length of shortest pelvic ray contained four or more times in length of longest ray; pectoral fin rays usually 15 ………....................................................................................…. Malacoctenus boehlkei

1b. Length of shortest pelvic ray contained fewer than four times in length of longest ray; pectoral fin rays 1417……………………………..................................................................... ……....2

2a. Pectoral fin rays usually 15-17; pectoral fin base scales, when present, same size as those on the body……………………………………............................................................... ……3

2b. Pectoral fin rays usually 14; pectoral fin base scales, when present, smaller than those on the body..................... 4

3a. Pectoral fin rays usually 16; pectoral fin base without scales; distinct dark blotch at bases of posteriormost dorsal-fin spines…….…....................................................................... Malacoctenus erdmani

3b. Pectoral fin rays usually 15; pectoral fin base usually with scales; no distinct dark blotch at bases of posteriormost dorsal-fin spines.......................................................................... .. Malacoctenus macropus

4a. Combination of conspicuous dark spot on anterior dorsal-fin spines and a dark ocellus extending from bases of posterior dorsalfin spines onto dorsal contour of body; nasal cirri 1..........................................…. Malacoctenus gilli

4b. Combination of conspicuous dark spot on anterior dorsal-fin spines and a dark ocellus extending from bases of posterior dorsalfin spines onto dorsal contour of body absent; nasal cirri usually 2 …..........................................….5

5a. Dorsal-fin spines usually 18; total nasal cirri (both sides) usually more than seven.............. .. Malacoctenus versicolor

5b. Dorsal-fin spines usually 19-20; total nasal cirri (both sides) fewer than six…..................................... 6

6a. Supraorbital cirri two on each side; nape cirri 9-13 on each side; anterior two dark bands often merging dorsally to form a humeral blotch; lateral line scales 42-55….............................................. Malacoctenus aurolineatus

6b. Supraorbital cirri usually more than two on each side; nape cirri 4-18 on each side; lateral line scales 48-62..........…….7

7a. Total nape cirri (both sides) 24-36; pectoral fin base without scales…......................... Malacoctenus delalandii

7b. Total nape cirri (both sides) usually fewer than 21; pectoral fin base with or without scales............................8

8a. Scales on midline before the dorsal fin absent............................................................….9

8b. Scales on midline before the dorsal fin present............................................................. 10

9a. Lateral line scales 60-66; two longitudinal rows of dark brown spots along the sides of the body….... .. Malacoctenus brunoi

9b, Lateral line scales 51-53; no longitudinal rows of dark spots along the sides of the body........ Malacoctenus zaluari sp. n.

10a. Preopercular canal extends onto the operculum..............................................................11

10b. Preopercular canal does not extend onto the operculum...................................................... 12

11a. Snout length shorter than the eye diameter; head length 26–30% of SL; a dark spot on anterior part of dorsal fin spines.................................................................................... Malacoctenus triangulatus

11b. Snout usually longer than eye diameter; head length 30 – 36% of SL (rarely less than 30); no dark spot on anterior part of dorsal fin spines....................................................................... Malacoctenus lianae sp. n.

12a. Belly completely scaled (from throat to anus); edges of dark bands on body in zigzag lines; dark bars on the body extend well onto the dorsal fin................................................................... Malacoctenus africanus

10b. Belly scaled behind pectoral fins to anus, but scales absent from pectoral and prepectoral region of belly; edges of dark bands in straight lines; dark bars on body barely enter the dorsal fin................................ .. Malacoctenus carrowi