Ocosia, D.S.Jordan & Starks, 1904

Chungthanawong, Sirikanya & Motomura, Hiroyuki, 2022, A new species of the waspfish genus Ocosia (Teleostei: Tetrarogidae) from the Coral Sea, with a key to species in the genus, Zootaxa 5091 (3), pp. 429-442 : 438

Key to the species of Ocosia

1 No papillae on upper and lower lips, spinous membrane of dorsal fin (in middle of fin) incised........................ 2

- Papillae on upper and lower lips, spinous membrane of dorsal fin not incised............................... O. vespa

2 Lateral-line pores on body 26 or 27................................................................ O. sphex

- Lateral-line pores on body fewer than 25.................................................................. 3

3 Supraocular spine absent............................................................................... 4

- Supraocular spine present.............................................................................. 5

4 Second dorsal-fin spine length 20.4–28.1% (mean 23.3%) of SL; body with 5 irregular dusky bands........... O. fasciata

- Second dorsal-fin spine length 25.9–36.6% (30.6%) of SL; body with large, irregular dark brown spots........ O. zaspilota

5 Third dorsal-fin spine length 59.0–64.9% of D 2 L. ........................................................... 6

- Third dorsal-fin spine length 74.8–105.1% of D 2 L. .......................................................... 7

6 Lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines present......................................................... O. apia

- Lateral lacrimal and suborbital spines absent......................................................... O. possi

7 Second dorsal-fin spine length 26.5–42.8% of SL; 1 or 2 irregular dark brown blotches on spinous portion of dorsal fin.......................................................................................... O. dorsomaculata

- Second dorsal-fin spine length 19.5–26.5% of SL; blotches absent on spinous portion of dorsal fin.................... 8

8 Body with blotches, spots, and indistinct bands.................................................... O. ramaraoi

- Body without distinct markings.................................................................. O. spinosa