Two new species of Photonectes (Teleostei: Stomiidae) from the Indo-Pacific, and a re-examination of P. Achirus

Abstract

Flynn, A. J.and Klepadlo, C. 2012. Two new species of Photonectes (Teleostei: Stomiidae) from the Indo-Pacific, and a re-examination of P. achirus. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 69: 259–267. Two new species of the mesopelagic fish genus Photonectes (family Stomiidae) from the Indo-Pacific are described. Both are referred to the subgenus Photonectes because they lack pectoral fins, have no fleshy tissue on their dorsaland anal-fin rays, have a pelvic-fin insertion closer to the caudal-fin base than the snout, and have IP photophores located on the isthmus at a position midway along the mandible, posterior to the mandibular symphysis. Photonectes waitti sp. nov., known from the tropical western and central Pacific Ocean, northwestern Coral Sea and north Indian Ocean, is most similar to P. coffea, differing from it by the number of PV photophores (24—25 vs. 29—31), gill filaments reduced (vs. greatly elongate), jaw teeth long and short canines (vs. short canines only), and barbel length less than (vs. equal to or greater than) head length. Photonectes paxtoni sp. nov., known from the tropical western Pacific Ocean, off Papua New Guinea, has a short barbel, less than head length, ending in a very large bulb without any terminal filaments or appendages, and different photophore numbers compared to other members of the subgenus: VAV 15—16 (vs. 10—15), AC 13 (vs. 9—12), and IV 29 (vs. 30—46). Photonectes achirus is re-examined with respect to previously unreported dark pigment on the head.