Redescription of a Poorly Known Deepwater Cardinalfish, Epigonus affinis (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Epigonidae), and Comparison with Related Species

Abstract

A deepwater cardinalfish, Epigonus affinis Parin and Abramov, 1986, is redescribed on the basis of the type specimens and two additional specimens collected from the eastern Central Atlantic, and compared with related species of the genus. This species differs from other congeners in having the following combination of characters: presence of a pungent opercular spine and palatine teeth; second dorsal-fin rays I, 9; pectoral-fin rays 18 or 19; total gill rakers 30-33; vertebrae 10+15; absence of maxillary mustache-like processes; and absence of ribs on last abdominal vertebra.