A new species of the shortnose batfish genus Halicmetus from Madagascar (Family Ogcocephalidae).

Abstract

A new species of the batfish genus Halicmetus is herein described as unique, having a body densely covered with variously sized bucklers. It is also distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: body disk relatively small, disk width 59.7% SL; orbit small, its diameter 8.3% SL; interorbital moderately wide, 7.4% SL; tail length 47.7% SL; illicial trough opening wide and high; dorsal fin absent; pectoral-fin rays 13; uniformly creamy white when preserved; peritoneal membrane pale with dense melanophores and scattered black dots.