Mephisto albomaculosus, a new spikefish (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Triacanthodidae) collected off Myanmar, Indian Ocean

Abstract

A new spikefish, Mephisto albomaculosus, is described based on a single specimen (94.4 mm SL) collected off Myanmar, eastern Indian Ocean in 2015. It is distinguished from the only other species of the genus, M. fraserbrunneri Tyler 1966, by many white spots on the ventral half of the head and body, fewer gill rakers (15 vs. 19), fewer pseudobranch lamellae (16 vs. 18‒19), more upper and lower jaw teeth (25 in both jaws vs. 17 and 19–20, respectively) and a narrower pelvis (width 7.8% SL vs. 11.3–11.7% SL; pelvic width in pelvic length 4.0 vs. 2.7–2.8).