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Issue: Vol. 5636 No. 3: 19 May 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-05-19
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5636.3.2
Page range: 443-472
Abstract views: 143
PDF downloaded: 78

Revision of the bathydemersal fish genus Pycnocraspedum (Ophidiidae; Teleostei), with description of two new species

Natural History Museum of Denmark; University of Copenhagen; Universitetsparken 15; DK-2100 Copenhagen; Denmark; Ahrensburger Weg 103; D-22359 Hamburg; Germany
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB); Private Bag 1015; Makhanda; 6140; South Africa; South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity; Private Bag 1015; Makhanda; 6140; South Africa
Natural History Museum of Denmark; University of Copenhagen; Universitetsparken 15; DK-2100 Copenhagen; Denmark
Pisces Pycnocraspedum Ophidiidae bathydemersal taxonomy biogeography two new species

Abstract

A taxonomic revision of the deep-water ophidiid genus Pycnocraspedum Alcock, 1889 resulted in seven species being recognized, two of which are described as new: P. africanum sp. nov. from East Africa; P. armatum Gosline, 1954 from Hawaii, Japan and south to New Caledonia; P. fulvum Machida, 1984 from Okinawa Trough; P. microlepis (Matsubara, 1943) from off Japan to East China Sea; P. phyllostoma (Parr, 1933) tropical western Atlantic; P. rowleyensis sp. nov. northwestern Australia; P. squamipinne Alcock, 1889 previously thought to be widely distributed from East Africa to New Caledonia appears to be restricted to the Bay of Bengal. In addition, a fossil otolith-based species is recognized from the Early Pliocene of Italy: P. cetonaense (Schwarzhans, 1978).

Pycnocraspedum is characterized by the anterior position of the dorsal-fin origin with the first dorsal-fin pterygiophores positioned in front of the first neural spine (except above the first neural spine in one species), 4 to 6 developed gill rakers on the first gill arch, 11 to 14 precaudal vertebrae (mostly 12 to 13), and small, granular teeth resembling sandpaper with no discernable row or other pattern on jaws and palate. A revised key to the species of Pycnocraspedum is provided. Detailed descriptions, including otolith and morphological comparisons as well as geographical distributions are given for each species.

 

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How to Cite

Schwarzhans, W.W., Psomadakis, P.N. & Nielsen, J.G. (2025) Revision of the bathydemersal fish genus Pycnocraspedum (Ophidiidae; Teleostei), with description of two new species. Zootaxa, 5636 (3), 443–472. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5636.3.2