Sympterichthys, GILL, 1878

Carnevale, Giorgio & Pietsch, Theodore W., 2010, Eocene handfishes from Monte Bolca, with description of a new genus and species, and a phylogeny of the family Brachionichthyidae (Teleostei: Lophiiformes), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160 (4), pp. 621-647 : 634-635

GENUS SYMPTERICHTHYS GILL, 1878

Lophius Linnaeus, 1758: 236 (in part; type species Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus, 1758: 236 , by subsequent designation of Jordan & Gilbert, 1883: 844).

Brachionichthys Bleeker, 1855: 12 , 21 [in part; type species Cheironectes hirsutus (= Lophius hirsutus Lacepède, 1804: 210 ), by subsequent designation of Bleeker, 1865: 5].

Sympterichthys Gill, 1878: 222 [type species Lophius laevis Lacepède, 1804: 210 (= Chironectes unipennis Cuvier, 1817 ), by original designation and monotypy].

Diagnosis: A brachionichthyid genus unique and derived in having dorsal- and anal-fin rays deeply embedded within the skin; dorsal fin-base long, greater than 60% SL; hyomandibular foramen present; mesopterygoid and ectopterygoid absent; and posterior margin of opercle fimbriated. The genus is further distinguished from all other brachionichthyid genera in having the following combination of character states: neural spine of second anterior-most vertebra expanded anteroposteriorly; neural spines of sixth to tenth abdominal vertebrae spatulate; haemal spines of anterior-most abdominal vertebrae anteroventrally directed, becoming progressively directed posteroventrally; hypural notch absent; supernumerary rays of dorsal and anal fins absent; dorsal-fin rays 13-17; anal-fin rays six to ten; pectoral-fin rays six to nine; pelvic fin one spine and four rays; ninth (ventral-most) caudal-fin ray relatively well developed; skin naked, without dermal spinules.

Recognized species: Sympterichthys unipennis ( Cuvier, 1817) : holotype MNHN A.4630, 43.5 mm SL, ‘Mer de l’Australie, Voyage de Péron’ ( Pietsch et al., 1986: 142). Sympterichthys politus ( Richardson, 1844) : holotype, about 42 mm SL, apparently lost (see Eschmeyer, 1998), Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia. Sympterichthys verrucosus McCulloch & Waite, 1918 : holotype SAMA F 626, 33 mm SL, St. Vincent Gulf, South Australia.

Remarks: The original diagnosis of Sympterichthys was based on a single erroneous character, a connection of the spinous- and soft-dorsal fins by an incised membrane ( Gill, 1878). McCulloch & Waite (1918) redefined the genus based on several external and meristic features, some of which, however, are not unique to Sympterichthys (e.g. the possession of small depressible teeth, position of the gill opening, structure of the membrane of the spinous dorsal fin, etc.). In this study, Sympterichthys is diagnosed for the first time on the basis of derived external and osteological features.