A New Species of Cocotropus (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Aploactinidae) from South Africa, Western Indian Ocean

Abstract

A new aploactinid fish, Cocotropus roseomaculatus sp. nov., is described from a single specimen collected in coastal waters of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, western Indian Ocean. The new species differs from its congeners in having the following combination of characters: 12 dorsal fin spines, 13 pectoral fin rays, 26 vertebrae in total, four dorsal spines anterior to the third neural spine, no papillae on the posterior portion of the maxilla, the first pair of sensory pores of the lower jaw contralaterally fused, the isthmus tip almost reaching to the fifth sensory pore of the lower jaw, no vomerine teeth, the upper jaw longer than the lachrymal, five preopercular spines, lower jaw pappillae weakly developed, and pinkish spots on body and fins.