A new silverside, Atherinomorus aetholepis sp. nov., from the West Pacific (Atheriniformes: Atherinidae)

Abstract

Atherinomorus aetholepis sp. nov. is described from the holotype and 51 paratypes, 44–72 mm in standard length, collected from Indonesian and Philippine waters. The species is similar to other congeners in general body appearance, especially A. duodecimalis and A. regina, in having a slender body, a tubercle on the posterior end of the dentary, and a narrow midlateral band, but clearly differing from them in having a long spatular outgrowth on the posterior margins of most of the predorsal and interdorsal scales. Additionally, the species differs from A. duodecimalis in having a more slender body [body depth 17–22 (mean 19) % SL vs. 19–25 (mean 22) % SL], more midlateral scales [37–40 (mean 38.4) vs. 35–38 (mean 36.6)], more total vertebrae [38–42 (mean 39.9) vs. 36–40 (mean 38.0)], and fewer lower gill rakers [18–22 (mean 20.2) vs. 20–25 (mean 22.3)], and from A. regina in having more anal fin soft rays (12–14 vs. 9–10).