Epigonus tuberculatus Okamoto & Motomura 2013


Other Names: Keeling Deepwater Cardinalfish

Holotype of the Keeling Deepwater Cardinalfish, Epigonus tuberculatus, a female, from west of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Indian Ocean, CSIRO H 5677-08. Source: T. Carter / CSIRO. License: All rights reserved

Summary:

A slender deepwater cardinalfish with a toothless tongue, a tubercle on the inner symphysis of the lower jaw, 21-22 gill rakers on first arch, 19-20 pectoral-fin rays, no opercular spine and other internal characters.

In preservative, the species is uniformly dark brown with orange-brown lips and mouth cavity, and dark pigment on the caudal fin.

Described from two female specimens collected on the continental slope in the Australian EEZ south of Cocos-Keeling Islands, Indian Ocean (14 45' S, 95 24' E).


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2017, Epigonus tuberculatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4884

Epigonus tuberculatus Okamoto & Motomura 2013

More Info


Distribution

South of Cocos-Keeling Islands, Indian Ocean (14 45' S, 95 24' E).

Features

Dorsal fin VII + I, 10; Pectoral fin 19-20; Gill rakers 21-22; Lateral-line scales (pored) pored 46-48 + 3-4; Vertebrae 10+15=25; Pyloric caeca 8-10. 

No opercular spine; ribs on the last abdominal vertebra reduced or absent; tongue toothless; no maxillary moustache-like process; tubercle on inner symphysis of lower jaw present; orbital diameter 14.5-15.4 % SL; length of lower-jaw 16.0-17.6 % SL.

Biology

The holotype and paratype are females with "a great number of eggs at several developmental stages. The most developed eggs were ~0.5 mm in diameter, were round with a single oil globule." (Okamoto & Motomura 2013). 

Etymology

The specific name tuberculatus is from the Latin tuber meaning 'swelling' in reference to the tubercle on the inner symphysis of the lower jaw.

Species Citation

Epigonus tuberculatus Okamoto &  Motomura, 2013, Ichthyol. Res. 60(4): 305, figs 4 & 5. Type locality: south of Cocos-Keeling Islands, Indian Ocean, depth 473-570 m, 14°45'S, 95°24"E to 14°45'S, 95°22'E.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2017

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Epigonus tuberculatus Okamoto & Motomura 2013

References


Okamoto, M. & H. Motomura. 2013. Two new species of deepwater cardinalfish from the Indo-Pacific, with a definition of the Epigonus pandionis group (Perciformes: Epigonidae). Ichthyological Research: 60(4): 301-311. Abstract

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37327180

Depth:473-570 m

Habitat:Benthopelagic

Max Size:15.4 cm SL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map