Description of a Pelagic Juvenile of the Poorly Known Anglerfish Sladenia zhui (Lophiidae) from the East China Sea

Abstract

A single pelagic juvenile (23.1 mm standard length) of a lophiid fish, collected from 100–115 m in depth in the East China Sea, was identified as Sladenia zhui Ni, Wu, and Li, 2002, originally described from the East and South China Seas, on the basis of meristic counts [I-I-I-I, 10 dorsal-fin rays (2 post-cephalic spines); 7 anal-fin rays; and 19 pectoral-fin rays] and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Reported here for the first time, juveniles of Sladenia Regan, 1908 are uniquely characterized by inflated, balloon-like skin surrounding the head and body, and undeveloped head spines. The Japanese names “Daruma-ankou-zoku” and “Daruma-ankou” are proposed herein for the genus Sladenia and S. zhui, respectively.