Acropoma musorstom, a new lanternbelly (Acropomatidae) from the South Pacific and the first record of Acropoma splendens from the Andaman Sea off southwestern Thailand

Abstract

A new species of the genus Acropoma, A. musorstom sp. nov. is described based on four specimens (126.3–143.0 mm in standard length: SL) collected from Vanuatu and the Molucca Islands, Indonesia. The present species is distinguished from other congeners by a combination of the following characters: luminous gland short, U-shaped around anus; luminous-gland length 10.3–13.7% SL; symphysis of lower jaw not protruded; proximal radial of first anal-fin pterygiophore with concavity on anterior surface; anus situated closer to pelvic-fin insertion than to origin of anal fin; weakly ctenoid scales on lateral side of body; vertical line on cheek absent; scales between first dorsal-fin base and lateral line 4; pectoral-fin rays 16–17; and gill rakers 20–21. Acropoma splendens (Lloyd 1909) collected from off Phuket, it represents the first record of this species from the Andaman Sea off southwestern Thailand. A key to the species of Acropoma currently known from the Indo-Pacific is provided.