Cetonurus Günther, 1887

Nakayama, Naohide, 2020, Grenadiers (Teleostei: Gadiformes: Macrouridae) of Japan and adjacent waters, a taxonomic monograph, Megataxa 3 (1), pp. 1-383 : 23

Genus Cetonurus Günther, 1887

[Japanese name: Dango-hige-zoku]

Cetonurus G̹nther, 1887:143 (as subgenus of Macrurus ; type species: Coryphaenoides crassiceps G̹nther, 1878, by original designation).

Diagnosis. Anus immediately anterior to anal-fin origin, surrounded by narrow but distinct periproct. Ventral light organ absent. Infraorbital ridge not connected with preopercular ridge, separated by distinct gap. Pelvic fin with 9–13 soft rays, its origin distinctly anterior to vertical through pectoral-fin base. Leading edge of second spinous ray of first dorsal fin weakly serrated. Head massive, soft, bones weak. Snout high, its tip above horizontal through midorbit. Chin barbel rudimentary. Teeth in narrow tapered bands in both jaws, none especially enlarged. Body scales covered with long, erect, needle-like spinules in quincunx order; buttresses of scale spinules well developed; reticulate structure developed over entire surface of unexposed portion. Scales along anterior part of second dorsal fin enlarged. Grooved lateral line interrupted, occurring as short segments. No modified scales along head ridges; tip and lateral angles of snout lacking prominent scutes; head almost completely scaled; scaly patches usually present on gular and branchiostegal membranes. Cephalic sensory canals broad, without open pores. Pyloric caeca 9–15. Branchiostegal rays 7. Body dark to gray overall, lacking prominent silvery reflections when fresh. [Modified from Sazonov & Shcherbachev (1985).]

Remarks. The genus Cetonurus comprises two valid species: C. crassiceps (G̹nther, 1878), the type species known from the South Atlantic, Kermadec Islands (type locality), and Hawaii; and C. globiceps (Vaillant in Filhol, 1884) widespread in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific including Japan. A nominal species, C. robustus Gilbert & Hubbs, 1916 originally described from Japan, was synonymized with C. globicep s by Marshall (1973). Sazonov & Shcherbachev (1985) provided a synopsis of the genus.