Abstract
The genera of the Myripristinae consist of Myripristis, Ostichthys, Plectrypops, Corniger, and a new monotypic genus, Pristilepis, which is proposed for the soldierfish first described as Holotrachys oligolepis by Whitley (1941) This genus is distinguished from the other genera principally by having well-developed nasal bones as adults which extend anteriorly to the median upper lip (believed to be a neotenic character), a long narrow premaxillary groove, 29 vertebrae, and the vomerine teeth in a subtriangular to elliptical patch P.oligolepis is known from Western Australia, Lord Howe Island, Easter Island, Hawaii, Japan and Réunion, thus appearing to be antitropical in its distribution The following species of Ostichthys are recognized: O.japonicus (Cuvier) (Holotrachys major Whitley appears to be a junior synonym), the type species, known from the western Pacific and Andaman Sea; O.acanthorhinus, a new species from the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and Bali Is., distinctive in having a sharp spine anteriorly on each nasal bone and a high gill-raker count of 10-12+16-18; O.sandix, a new species from the Hawaiian Islands similar to the preceding two in possessing 3 1/2 scales above the lateral line, but differing from O.japonicus in having 15 or 16 lower-limb gill rakers (O.japonicus has 12-14) and the last two dorsal spines about equal in length (last spine is longer in O.japonicus);O.hypsipterygion, a new species from Japan related to O.sandix, differing in having a higher spinous dorsal fin, 13 lower-limb gill rakers, and 15 pectoral rays; O.kaianus (Günther) (Myripristis guezei Postel is a junior synonym) from the western Pacific and Indian Oceans; Oarchiepiscopus (Valenciennes) (Myripristis pillwaxii Steindachner is a junior synonym) from Hawaii, Japan and Réunion (hence antitropical);O.delta, a new species from Réunion and Samoa, unique in having XI dorsal spines; and O.trachypoma (Günther) (Myripristis fulgens Poey is a junior synonym) from the western Atlantic. Keys are given to the genera of the Myripristinae and the species of Ostichthys.
