Phenacoscorpius longilineatus, a New Species of Deepwater Scorpionfish from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean and the First Records of Phenacoscorpius adenensis from the Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae)

Abstract

A new scorpionfish, Phenacoscorpius longilineatus n. sp., is described on the basis of 94 specimens from New Caledo- nia and New Zealand in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, at depths of 345–1089 m. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: 8–18 (mode 12) pored lateral-line scales, last of which is situ- ated from below base of seventh spine to below base of fourth dorsal-fin soſt ray; no slit behind fourth gill arch; palatine teeth present; second preopercular spine always absent; nuchal and parietal spines distinct; nape and anterior body strongly arched in adults of over ca. 80 mm standard length (SL); post-nuchal-spine length 5.0–9.7% (mean 7.2%) of SL; caudal fin length 21.4–26.7% (mean 23.4%) of SL; 1–5 (mode 2) black spots on posterior half of caudal peduncle; and body usually uniformly whitish without distinct dark saddles in preserved specimens. In addition, P. adenensis Norman, 1939, which is similar to P. longilineatus morphologically, is redescribed on the basis of 3 specimens from the western Indian Ocean and 52 specimens from the southwestern Pacific. The latter represent the first records of this species outside the western Indian Ocean.