Revision of an armored searobin genus Scalicus Jordan 1923 (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Peristediidae) with a single new species

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific peristediid genus Scalicus Jordan 1923 is taxonomically revised with six species including a single new species: Scalicus engyceros (Günther 1872), Scalicus hians (Gilbert and Cramer 1897), Scalicus orientalis (Fowler 1938), Scalicus paucibarbatus sp. nov., Scalicus quadratorostratus (Fourmanoir and Rivaton 1979) and Scalicus serrulatus (Alcock 1898). The new species differs from its congeners in having a stick-like rostral projection with ball-like fleshy mass at the tip, rostral projection width 2.12–4.60 in rostral projection length; 4 lip and 3 chin barbels; 8–11 branches on filamentous barbel; filamentous barbel lacking membrane between its each branch, its length 13.1–20.4% of standard length; posteriormost chin barbel simple (rarely divided into two branches at the base); and presence of antrorse spines on posterior bony plates of upper lateral row. It is clear that Scalicus amiscus (Jordan and Starks 1904) and Scalicus investigatoris (Alcock 1898) are junior synonyms of S. hians, respectively, and Scalicus gilberti (Jordan 1921) is a junior synonym of S. engyceros. A key to the species of Scalicus is presented. In addition, lectotypes are designated for S. hians, S. quadratorostratus and S. serrulatus, respectively.