Second record of Eustomias parini from Japan

Abstract

A single specimen of a dragonfish (Stomiiformes; Stomiidae) collected from Suruga Bay, Japan and identified as Eustomias parini Clarke, 2001, was distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: 2 pectoral-fin rays, closely bound together in membrane; 7 pelvic-fin rays; mid-ventral groove extending from isthmus to abdomen below 3rd–7th PV photopores; barbel stem darkly pigmented; a single terminal bulb; barbel length to standard length 7.1–13.5%; a single-based medial branch arising from stem well proximal to terminal bulb; a pair of lateral branches arising from medial branch well distal to stem; medial branch distal to origin of lateral branches absent or reduced. The first Japanese record of E. parini, a non-type specimen included in the original description, has been overlooked by Japanese ichthyologists. The Suruga Bay specimen, the second example of the species from Japan and a ca. 1,260 km northwestward extension from the previous northernmost record, is fully described. The new standard Japanese name “Matsuba-senko-hoshieso” is proposed for the species.