Protoblepharon mccoskeri

Taxonavigation

Taxonavigation: Trachichthyoidei
Superregnum: Eukaryota Cladus: Unikonta Cladus: Opisthokonta Cladus: Holozoa Regnum: Animalia Subregnum: Eumetazoa Cladus: Bilateria Cladus: Nephrozoa Superphylum: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Megaclassis: Osteichthyes Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii Infraclassis: Teleostei Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai Supercohors: Clupeocephala Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha Subcohors: Neoteleostei Infracohors: Eurypterygia Sectio: Ctenosquamata Subsectio: Acanthomorphata Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii Subdivisio: Berycimorphaceae Ordo: Trachichthyiformes Subordo: Trachichthyoidei

Familia: Anomalopidae
Genus: Protoblepharon
Species: Protoblepharon mccoskeri

Name

Protoblepharon mccoskeri Ho, H.-C. & Johnson, 2012

Holotype (unique): NMMB P10807.

Type locality: East Taiwan, Taitung, Fugang Fishing port, ca. 22°47.5’N, 121°11.6’E, ca. 300 m depth.[1]

Diagnosis. A species of Protoblepharon differing from its only congener, P. rosenblatti, in having the following: body deeper (2.3 in SL vs. 2.8 in SL in P. rosenblatti); dorsal profile more strongly convex ; pelvic fin origin anterior to (vs. posterior to) vertical through origin of dorsal fin, prepelvic length and pectoral fin much shorter, the appressed fin falling short of (vs. reaching) lateral line; pelvic fin shorter, the appressed fin falling short of (vs. reaching well beyond) midpoint between pelvic and anal fin origins; eye and light organ smaller; longest dorsal-fin spine the second (vs. the seventh); first, second and sixth dorsal-fin spines longer; seventh dorsal-fin spine much shorter; pseudobranch filaments 38 (vs. ca. 27); scale rows along vertical between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line ca. 30 (vs. ca. 18); scale rows along body axis over 260 (vs. ca. 145); enlarged scales surrounding anal fin base 37 (vs. 21 at anal fin base); single row of enlarged cycloid, plate-like scales along the margin of gill cavity (vs. 2–3 irregular rows of small scales).

Etymology: The species is named after Dr. John E. McCosker, senior scientist of the California Academy of Sciences, in recognition of his interest in and contribution to our knowledge of flashlight fishes.

References

Ho, H.-C. & Johnson, G.D. 2012. Protoblepharon mccoskeri, a new flashlight fish from eastern Taiwan (Teleostei: Anomalopidae). Zootaxa 3479: 77–87. Preview PDF Reference page.

Vernacular names

English: Taiwanese flashlight fish