Lophiodes triradiatus ( Lloyd 1909 )

Ho, Hsuan-Ching & Lin, Chien-Hsiang, 2022, Redescription of Lophiodes lugubris (Alcock, 1894), with the largest record of Lophiodes triradiatus (Lloyd, 1909) from the South China Sea (Lophiiformes Lophiidae), Zootaxa 5189 (1), pp. 138-145 : 143

Largest record of Lophiodes triradiatus ( Lloyd 1909)

Ho et al. (2009, 2014) examined a number of specimens and synonymized two junior synonyms with L. triradiatus . The largest specimen examined by them was 337 mm SL (ZSI 878/1). The specimen reported herein (NMMB-P36204; Fig. 3 ) was also collected from near Dongsha Island (Pratas Island), South China Sea. It is measured 404 mm SL and is a mature female with large ovaries containing numerous small immature eggs. As a result, this specimen represents the largest known individual of L. triradiatus to date.

The measurements and proportions are showed in Table 1 . The morphology of present specimen agrees with previous description ( Ho et al., 2009, 2014), except for most spines on head are relatively blunt or reduced. The esca is damaged and the leaf-like structure is not detectable. These blunt or reduced spines on head may be attributed to the large body size, which is likely an old individual.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lophiodes triradiatus (Lloyd, 1909), NMMB-P36204, 404 mm SL, from South China Sea.