Bellottia

Nielsen, Jørgen G., Ross, Steve W. & Cohen, Daniel M., 2009, Atlantic occurrence of the genus Bellottia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with two new species from the Western North Atlantic, Zootaxa 2018, pp. 45-57 : 46

Key to species of Bellottia spp.

1a Long rakers on anterior gill arch 5–6............................................................................................................................ 2

1b Long rakers on anterior gill arch 3–4............................................................................................................................4

2a Caudal fin rays 6, precaudal vertebrae 10, total vertebrae 45, anal fin rays 74 ............ B. armiger ( Philippine Islands)

2b Caudal fin rays 7, precaudal vertebrae 10–12, total vertebrae 48–51, anal fin rays 75–88.......................................... 3

3a Precaudal vertebrae 12, preopercular crest with spine ( Fig. 3 ), depth at origin of anal fin 17.5–23.0 % of SL ........... ........................................................................................................................................... B. robusta (Gulf of Mexico)

3b Precaudal vertebrae 10, preopercular crest without spine, depth at origin of anal fin 17.0 % SL................................. .................................................................................................................................. B. cryptica (off southern Georgia)

4a Dorsal fin rays 70–72, pectoral fin rays 19–20, origin of anal fin below dorsal fin ray no. 12–13, predorsal 44.0–45.5 % SL, spine on cleithrum present, no fangs on dentigerous bones................................................................................ ...................................................................................................... B. galatheae (Solomon Sea and Philippine Islands)

4b Dorsal fin rays 83–94, pectoral fin rays 21–26, origin of anal fin below dorsal fin ray no. 17–19, predorsal 35.5–40.0 % SL, spine on cleithrum absent, all dentigerous bones with retrorse fangs................................................................. .................................................................................................................... B. apoda (Mediterranean and NE Atlantic)

Figures

FIGURE 3. Bellottia robusta. Paratype. USNM 394118. SL 34. Head spines: 1 — spine on cleithrum, 2 — opercular spine, 3 — preopercular spines, 4 - spine on preopercular crest.