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Two new species of the deepwater cardinalfish genus Epigonus (Epigonidae) from deep reefs off Curaçao, southern Caribbean

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Abstract

Two new species of deepwater cardinalfish, Epigonus gemma [7 specimens, 37.7–76.7 mm in standard length (SL)] and Epigonus hexacanthus (22 specimens, 32.2–57.0 mm SL) are described based on specimens from deep reefs off Curaçao, southern Caribbean Sea. Epigonus gemma is distinguished from other congeners by a combination of the following characters: dorsal-fin rays VII-I, 9–10; pectoral-fin rays 16; total gill rakers 25–27; vertebrae 10 + 15; pyloric caeca 8–9; pored lateral-line scales 43–44 + 5–6; opercular spine absent; maxillary mustache-like processes absent; ribs on last abdominal vertebra absent; tongue toothless; endopterygoid teeth absent; and enlarged conical teeth on symphysis of lower jaw present. Epigonus hexacanthus is distinguished from other congeners by a combination of the following characters: dorsal-fin rays VI-I, 10; pectoral-fin rays 16–17; total gill rakers 25–27; vertebrae 10 + 15; pyloric caeca 6–7; pored lateral-line scales 32–35 + 3–5; opercular spine absent; maxillary mustache-like processes absent; ribs on last abdominal vertebra absent; lingual teeth present; endopterygoid teeth present; and enlarged conical teeth on symphysis of lower jaw absent. Eight specimens (37.6–54.4 mm SL) of E. hexacanthus are female with mature gonads, rendering the species the smallest in size at sexual maturity among its congeners. A key to the species of Epigonus currently known from the Caribbean Sea is provided.

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Acknowledgments

We are most grateful to the following persons and institutions for specimen loans: M. McGrouther, A. Hay, and S. Reader (AMS); M. Yabe, H. Imamura, F. Tashiro, and T. Kawai (HUMZ); P. Pruvost and R. Causse (MNHN); J. Williams, E. Wilbur, D. Pitassy, and K. Murphy (USNM), W.-J. Chen, M.-Y. Lee, H.-S. Lin, and J.-N. Chen (NTUM); L. M. Page, R. H. Robins and R. A. Singer (UF). We also thank M. Matsunuma (Kyoto University Museum), G. Shinohara and K. Fujiwara (National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba) for taking x-rays. B. Brandt, B. Brown, T. Christiaan, L. Schenk, A. ‘‘Dutch’’ Schrier, and B. van Bebber assisted in various ways with submersible operations; C. Castillo and T. Devine provided project management and DNA technician services for DROP. M. Girard for capturing and editing video. This is Ocean Heritage Foundation/Curacao Sea Aquarium/Substation Curacao (OHF/SCA/SC) contribution number OHF/SCA/SC#55.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 6F Techno Wave 100, 1-1-25 Shin-urashima-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 221-5829, Japan

    Makoto Okamoto

  2. Department of Vertebrae Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 20560, Washington D.C., USA

    Carole C. Baldwin

  3. Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA

    Douglas J. Long

Authors
  1. Makoto Okamoto
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  2. Carole C. Baldwin
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  3. Douglas J. Long
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Correspondence to Makoto Okamoto.

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Fish species, treated in this study, are not listed as threatened or endangered by the IUCN Red List or CITES. Specimens registered in fish collections of natural history museum were used in this study.

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Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM Video S1 Underwater video of Epigonus gemma sp. nov. taken by the submersible Curasub, at 308 m near the bottom of rock wall at Curaçao (MP4 169879 KB)

ESM Video S2 Underwater video of Epigonus hexacanthus sp. nov. taken by the submersible Curasub, at 300 m near the bottom of rock wall at Curaçao (MP4 149186 KB)

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Okamoto, M., Baldwin, C.C. & Long, D.J. Two new species of the deepwater cardinalfish genus Epigonus (Epigonidae) from deep reefs off Curaçao, southern Caribbean. Ichthyol Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-024-00948-2

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