A New Species of Soldierfish of the Genus Ostichthys and Records of O. archiepiscopus and O. sandix from Tahiti

Abstract

Three species of the soldierfish genus Ostichthys have been collected in the Society Islands at depths of 300-420m: O. archiepiscopus and O. sandix are new records for the South Pacific, and O. ovaloculus is described as new from one specimen taken off Tahiti. It is distinctive in having XI, 16 dorsal rays, 15 pectoral rays, 38 lateral-line scales (other species of the genus with 27-30), 3^1/2 rows of scales above the lateral line, a straight dorsal head profile, long snout, and oval eye; color when fresh, bright red, the centers of scales whitish, resulting in longitudinal banding on the body.