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Issue: Vol. 5380 No. 4: 1 Dec. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-12-01
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5380.4.5
Page range: 380-386
Abstract views: 656
PDF downloaded: 26

Malakichthys formosus, a new species of small seabass (Acropomatiformes: Malakichthyidae) from southwestern Taiwan

Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan
Center of Excellence for the Oceans; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan; George Shark Research Center; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan; Institute of Marine Affairs and Resource Management; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan
Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan; George Shark Research Center; National Taiwan Ocean University; Keelung; Taiwan
Pisces ichthyology taxonomy biodiversity South China Sea

Abstract

A new species of Malakichthys is described based on six specimens collected from deepwaters off southwestern Taiwan, northwestern Pacific Ocean. The new species, M. formosus sp. nov., exhibits distinct morphological characters, primarily characterized by the absence of chin spines, distinguishing it from other congeners with the exception of M. levis and M. mochizuki. It differs from the two species by having more lateral-line scales, a shorter distance between the snout and dorsal-fin origin, a shallower head, fewer scale rows below the lateral line, and the structure of the first anal-fin pterygiophore. Eight species are now recognized in Malakichthys.

 

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