Record of the Armored Searobin Peristedion barbiger (Garman, 1899) (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Peristediidae) off Peru with Taxonomic Notes

Abstract

A large series of Peristedion barbiger (Garman, 1899) was collected in the eastern Pacific off Peru during a joint survey conducted by the Japan Deep Sea Trawlers Association and the Instituto del Mar del Peru in 1998-2003. No detailed description of P. barbiger has been published since the original description, and the availability of 285 new specimens provided an opportunity to determine the extent morphological variability within this species. Our study revealed that the presence or absence of nasal spines and the shape of the preopercular margin, both having been used previously as taxonomic characters, vary intraspecifically. The species is diagnosed as having 16-19 dorsal-fin soft rays; 31-34 bony plates in the upper lateral row; 14-19 lower gill rakers; 17-25 chin barbels in total; short pectoral fin, 13.3-17.8% of SL; a relatively short pair of filamentous barbel on the lip, 26.4-57.1% of HL; a broad, spatulate rostral projection of a length 19.7-39.5% of HL; and a large black spot on the spinous portion of the dorsal fin. In addition, we herein designate a lectotype for P. barbiger.