Zenopsis filamentosa (Zeidae), a new mirror dory from the western Pacific Ocean, with redescription of Zenopsis nebulosa

Abstract

A new mirror dory, Zenopsis filamentosa, is described from specimens collected off the Pacific coast of southern Japan (Mie and Tosa Bay), the Kyushu-Palau Ridge, Fiji, and Tonga. Within Zenopsis, the new species is most similar to Zenopsis nebulosa, widely distributed in the Pacific Ocean, in having nine dorsal-fin spines and similar buckler numbers along the anal-fin base. However, it can be distinguished from the latter in having 24–27 (modally 26) dorsal-fin soft rays (vs. 25–28, modally 27 in Z. nebulosa), 24–25 (usually 25) anal-fin rays (vs. 25–27, usually 26), filamentous membranes extending from the spinous portion of the dorsal fin, of length more than twice SL (vs. moderately elongated, not exceeding the caudal-fin posterior margin when adpressed); 6–9 (modally 7) bucklers between the pelvic and anus (vs. 7–10, modally 8), no bucklers above the anal-fin spines (vs. a small buckler present), and the pelvic fin with three to five dark stripes of all sizes (vs. lacking distinct markings in specimens >ca. 100 mm SL). Sequence variations on the mitochondrial DNA COI region demonstrated the validity of each species. Zenopsis nebulosa is redescribed, on the basis of western and Central Pacific Ocean specimens.