﻿First records of the seamoth, Pegasus nanhaiensis (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes: Pegasidae), from the southern South China Sea, with notes on fresh coloration

Takahiro Akaike,Hiroyuki Motomura,Sirikanya Chungthanawong

doi:10.3897/aiep.52.78260

Abstract

Three seamoth specimens (45.5–56.9 mm standard length; SL) (Syngnathiformes: Pegasidae), originally identified as Pegasus laternarius Cuvier, 1829, but now recognized as representing P. nanhaiensis Zhang, Wang et Lin, 2020, a species recently described from the northern South China Sea off Yangjiang and Beihai, China, were obtained at a local fish market in Maha Chai, Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand on 6 July 2012, having been caught in the northern Gulf of Thailand. In addition, single specimens, reported as P. laternarius or Spinipegasus laternarius from Bidong Island, South China Sea off the Malay Peninsula (46.1 mm SL) and from Ko Kradat, Trat Province, eastern Gulf of Thailand (66.1 mm SL), were re-identified here as P. nanhaiensis. Thai specimens and Malaysian record represent the first records of P. nanhaiensis from Thailand and Malaysia, respectively, and from outside Chinese coastal waters. Additionally, the Bidong specimen is the southernmost record for the species. The fresh coloration of P. nanhaiensis is described for the first time.

Highlights

IntroductionPegasus nanhaiensis was originally described on the basis of 17 specimens from the northern South China Sea (off Yangjiang and Beihai) (Zhang et al 2020), no further specimens having been recorded since
The Indo-West Pacific genus Pegasus Linnaeus, 1758, characterized by having 11 tail rings, no spine on the dorsal surface of the last dorsal ring, and the eyes not visible in ventral view (Palsson and Pietsch 1989), includes five valid species, viz., Pegasus lancifer Kaup, 1861, Pegasus laternarius Cuvier, 1829, Pegasus nanhaiensis Zhang, Wang et Lin, 2020, Pegasus tetrabelos Osterhage, Pogonoski, Appleyard et White, 2016, and Pegasus volitans Linnaeus, 1758.Pegasus nanhaiensis was originally described on the basis of 17 specimens from the northern South China Sea (Zhang et al 2020), no further specimens having been recorded since
The presently reported specimens were consistent with the diagnosis of Pegasus nanhaiensis, provided by Zhang et al (2020), all having a rounded hump-like tubercle on each of dorsal plates I, II, and III; clear, distinctly bounded hexagonal patterns on the dorsal plates (d1-3), and dorsolateral plates; two paired caudolateral plates overlapping the junctions between tail rings II and III and IV and V (Fig. 3); and a bulge on the margin of the ventral plate connecting with the paired pelvic fins

Summary

Introduction

Pegasus nanhaiensis was originally described on the basis of 17 specimens from the northern South China Sea (off Yangjiang and Beihai) (Zhang et al 2020), no further specimens having been recorded since. Three specimens, collected from the northern Gulf of Thailand prior to that description, were re-identified here as P. nanhaiensis, two having been reported as P. laternarius by Matsunuma (2013). These three specimens, represent the first records of P. nanhaiensis from the Gulf of Thailand and the first records outside Chinese coastal waters. Akaike et al.: First records of Pegasus nanhaiensis from the southern South China Sea the eastern Malay Peninsula were re-identified here as P. nanhaiensis. As Zhang et al (2020) described the coloration of dry specimens only, a fresh color description of P. nanhaiensis is provided here for the first time

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