Studies on Echiodon (Pisces: Carapidae), with Description of Two New Indo-Pacific Species

Abstract

The carapid fish genus Echiodon contains ten named species including two new species described herein. The two new species, E. coheni from the western Indian Ocean and E. anchipterus from the Philippines, have the highest number of As0-fin rays (53-54) and the lowest number of precaudal vertebrae (19) of any named Echiodon. Echiodon coheni differs from E. anchipterus in having 18 (vs 15) pectoral-fin rays and Ds0-fin rays 42-43 (vs 45). The other named Echiodon are: E. cinereus from South Africa, E. cryomargarites from south of New Zealand and the South Atlantic Ocean, E. dawsoni from the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the western North Atlantic Ocean, E. dentatus from the Mediterranean and the eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, E. drummondii from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, E. exsilium from the eastern Pacific Ocean, E. owasianus from Japan and E. rendahli from the Tasman Sea. In addition, there are two Echiodon populations of unresolved taxonomic status: E. species A from off southern Brazil (Williams and Shipp, 1982) and E. species from off southern Chile (Markle et al., 1983). The three Indo-Pacific species, E. cinereus, E. owasianus and E. rendahli, are redescribed. Diagnostic adult characters are tabulated for all known Echiodon species and populations.