Abstract
A new rare species of deepwater Branchiostegus is described from two specimens collected from Bayangas, Laiya, Philippines(130 38.5’ N, 1210 25.6’ E). A total of four specimens were caught by hook and line in 2009 and 2011 between 210–220 m overa rocky-sand bottom, only two were preserved. The species may also be endemic to the Philippines and inhabit burrows as dothe other known species of this genus. The combination of the following characters distinguish the new species from its conge-ners: prominent dark predorsal ridge bordered by bright yellow-orange background (only B. semifasciatus from West Africahas a more prominent and dark predorsal ridge, but the ridge has no underlying orange-yellow colour), a great body depth (28–29% SL; other species of Branchiostegus, usually 27% SL) longer head length (30–31% SL; other species of Branchiostegus,usually 28%), greater head depth (26–27% SL; other species of Branchiostegus, usually 26% SL); long pre-dorsal length (35%SL; other species of Branchiostegus, usually 32% SL), and distinctive body, head and caudal fin colouration; skin over dorsal tips of branchiostegals characteristically bright yellow. A brief discussion of the status of tilefish systematics is included.References
Dooley, J.K. (1978) Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae) with descriptions of two new species. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Technical Report, National Marine Fisheries Service Circular, USA, 411, 1-78.
Dooley, J.K. (1998) Branchiostegidae, pp. 2630-2646. In: Carpenter, K.E. & Neim, V.H. (eds), Species identification guide for fishery purposes, the living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Food and Agricultural Organization, United Nations (FAO), Rome.
Dooley, J.K. (2000) Malacanthidae, In: Randall, J.E. & Lim, K.K.P. (eds), A Checklist of Fishes of the South China Sea. Raffles Bullettin of Zoology, Supplement (National University of Singapore), (8), 569-667.
Dooley, J.K. & Kailola, P.J. (1988) Four new tilefishes from the northeastern Indian Ocean, with a review of the genus Branchiostegus. Japanese Journal Ichthyology. 35(3), 247-260.
Dooley, J.K. & Paxton, J.R. (1975) A new species of tilefish (family Branchiostegidae) from eastern Australia. Proceedings of Linnaean Society of New South Wales, 99 (3), 151-156.
Dooley, J.K. & Rau, N. (1982) A remarkable tilefish record and comments on the Philippine tilefishes. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 28(4), 450-452.
Herre, A.W. (1926). Four rare Philippine fishes. Philippine Journal Science, 31 (2), 217-225, pl.2.
Herre, A.W. (1928) Three new Philippine fishes. Philippine Journal Science. 35 (1), 31-37, pl.3.
Hiramatsu, W. & Yoshino, T. (2011) A new tilefish, Branchiostegus sp., (Perciformes: Branchjiostegidae), from Okinawa Island, southern Japan. (in press).
Hubbs, C.L. & Lagler, K.F. (1958) Fishes of the Great Lakes region. Bullettin of Cranbrook Institute Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan, (26), xi+1-213 pp., 44 pls.
Imamura, H. (2000) An alternative hypothesis on the phylogenetic position of the family Dactylopteridae (Pisces: Teleostei), with a proposed new classification. Ichthyological Research, 47, 203-222.
Jimenez, L. (2007) Preliminary molecular phylogeny of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Malacanthidae) based on their mitochondrial cytochrome b and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Masters Thesis, Biology Department, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA. 76 pp.
Johnson, G.D. (1984) Percoidei: development and relationships, pp. 464-498. In: Moser, H.G., Richards, W.J., Cohen, D.M., Fahay, M.P., Kendall Jr., A.W., & Richardson, S.L. (eds), Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes. American Society Ichthyology Herpetology. Special Publication 1.
Kelleperuma, K. (2009) Polyphyly of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Malacanthidae) based on partial cytochrome b and 16S rDNA gene sequences. Masters Thesis, Biology Department, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA, 40 pp.
Kim Y.U. & Ryu, J.H. (1998). Taxonomic revision of the genus Branchiostegus (Perciformes, Pisces) from the adjacent waters of Korea. Korean Journal of Ichthyology 10, 40-48.
Marino, R.P. & Dooley, J.K. (1982) Phylogenetic relationships of the tilefish family Branchiostegidae (Perciformes) based on comparative myology. Journal of Zoological Society of London. 196, 151-163.
Nelson, J.S. (1984) Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (2nd ed.), 523 pp.
Nelson, J.S. (2006) Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (4th ed.), 601 pp.
Ryu, J.H. Kim, J.K. & Park, J.Y. (2009) Comparison of the genetic relationships and osteological aspects in six branchiostegid fish species (Perciformes). Animal Cells & Systems 13, 323-329.
Springer, V.G. & Johnson, G.D. (2004) Study of the dorsal gill-arch musculature of telestome fishes, with special reference to the Actinopterygii. Bulletin of Biological Society of Washington. 11:Text 260pp and plates 205 (with appendix by Springer, V.G. & Orrell, T.M.).
Yamada, U., Tokimura, M., Horikawa, H. & Nakabo, T. (2007) Fishes and Fisheries of the East China and Yellow Seas. Tokai University. Press, Tokyo, 1263 pp.
Yoshino, T., Hiramatsu, W., Tabata, O. & Hayashi, Y. (1984). First record of the tilefish Branchiostegus argentatus (Cuvier) from Japanese waters, with a discussion of the validity of B. auratus (Kishinouye). Galaxea 3, 145-151.