Key to species of Chaunax in Indonesia
1. Illicial trough black, deeply concave; illicium short, bearing many stout cirri ................................................. C. penicillatus
– Illicial trough same colour as body, shallow; illicium long, bearing many thin cirri............................................................ 2
2. Filamentous cirri present on head; usually more than three spinules bridging the lateral-line neuromast complex; dense greyish-green irregular spots and five large blackish markings on dorsal surface.................................. C. nebulosus
– No cirri on head; usually three or less spinules bridging the lateral-line neuromast complex; large scattered greenish spots on dorsal surface or uniformly pinkish......................... 3
3. Greenish spots on dorsal surface; peritoneum white ............... .................................................................... C. gomoni sp. nov.
– Dorsal surface uniformly pinkish when fresh, creamy white when preserved; peritoneum black......................................... 4
4. Head small, 37.7% SL; three neuromasts on upper preopercular (BD), more than 15 on pectoral series (GH); 11 or more rakers on second gill arch .................................. C. apus
– Head large, 44.4% SL; two neuromasts on BD, 12 or 13 on GH; nine rakers on second gill arch......................................... ........................................................... C. brachysomus sp. nov.