Taxonomic review of the Sebastes vulpes complex (Scorpaenoidei: Sebastidae)

Abstract

A taxonomic review of the Sebastes vulpes complex (S. vulpes, S. zonatus and S. ijimae) established the existence of two valid species, Sebastes vulpes Doderlein in Steindachner and Doderlein 1884 and Sebastes zonatus Chen and Barsukov 1976, despite evidence of hybridization between them. Similarities between the species include the following: top of cranium armed with robust nasal, preocular, postocular, tympanic and parietal spines; interorbital space flat; anterior and posterior lacrimals without distinct spines, forming two blunt lobes; thickened rays in ventral half of pectoral fin; dorsal fin usually with 13 spines and 13 soft rays; caudal fin rounded; and pored lateral-line scales usually 30–35. However, S. zonatus is distinguishable from S. vulpes in usually having distinct vertical dark bands on the dorsum (vs. usually lacking), minute cycloid scales usually present posteriorly on the lower jaw (vs. usually absent) and present on the entire basal portion of the spinous dorsal-fin membrane (vs. absent below first to ninth or to last dorsal-fin spine). Based on specimen and literature records, S. vulpes inhabits depths of 0–50 m, ranging from Hokkaido southward to Shimane and Sagami Bay, Japan, and along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, whereas S. zonatus inhabits depths of 50–100 m, from Hokkaido southward to Shimane and Tosa Bay, including the Seto Inland Sea, and along the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Sebastodes ijimae Jordan and Metz 1913 is considered to be a junior synonym of S. vulpes, based on examinations of type and other genetically assigned specimens. A lectotype is designated for S. vulpes.