Euclichthys (Fahay & Markle, 1984)

Last, Peter R. & Pogonoski, John J., 2020, Revision of the fish family Euclichthyidae (Pisces: Gadiformes) with the description of two new species from the Western Pacific, Zootaxa 4758 (2), pp. 231-256 : 252

Juvenile Euclichthys

Juveniles of all species of Euclichthys are less common in fish collections than adults and as a consequence have not been discussed in the literature. Although limited material is available, there appears to be some fundamental differences between juveniles of the three species, with E. polynemus and E. robertsi being most similar in appearance ( Fig. 9 ). Juveniles of both species are more slender than their adults and much less robust than juveniles of E. microdorsalis . Compared to its congeners, the head of E. microdorsalis is massive. Dark luminescent pigmentation on the head and belly is more obvious in fresh material of E. polynemus and E. robertsi than in preserved E. microdorsalis . Euclichthys microdorsalis and E. robertsi juveniles do not appear to display any additional pattern of pigmentation. The skin of E. robertsi is uniformly covered with minute, widely spaced melanophores without scale pockets, whereas E. microdorsalis has very well-defined scale pockets and lacks melanophores. Euclichthys polynemus juveniles have a more complex coloration than their congeners: a row of large melanophores form a dark stripe along the dorsal-fin base; densely arranged melanophores form a broad, longitudinal mid-lateral band and these sometimes form small clusters resembling small dark spots on the posterior mid-upper tail.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Lateral view of Euclichthys juveniles: A. E. microdorsalis sp. nov., CSIRO H 579-07, 97 mm SL, near Swains and Saumarez Reefs, Queensland (preserved); B. E. polynemus CSIRO H 7725-08, 85 mm SL, off Coffin Bay, South Australia (fresh); C. E. robertsi sp. nov., CSIRO H 6031-03, 108 mm SL, off Lord Howe Island, Tasman Sea (fresh).